Trial by Patience (2019) — A Celebrate Lit Tour: A Guest Post, My Thoughts, and a Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Trial by Patience

Author: Tabitha Bouldin

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

Release Date: August 12, 2019

Danny Solomon operates Break Away Acres, an equine therapy center for abused kids and teens. As a former abuse victim, Danny knows how important it is to let these kids know that someone still cares. God has blessed Danny with a gift: the ability to see the past of anyone who meets his eye. The information he is given through this gift allows him to know how he might best help those around him.

Phoenix Nichols is Danny’s new trail guide. Her job is to help with the horses and keep an eye on the kids. With a past more painful than anything Danny has ever encountered, he finds himself unable to resist trying to help. When her past becomes her present, her trust in Danny is the only link she has to finding God…and peace.

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About the Author

Tabitha is a small-town girl with an oversized imagination. She grew up creating characters and enjoys giving them life through words and pages. Just one year shy of obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing, she plans to make sure her characters stand the test of time. When not writing or reading, you’ll find her either homeschooling her two boys or outside digging a new flower bed for her roses.

More from Tabitha

Danny and Phoenix are the main characters in Trial by Patience, but Danny isn’t a new character. As part of The Trials series, Danny is introduced in book 1 as a scrappy six-year-old. Two years after I finished writing book 1, he’s twenty-eight. (Don’t you love how time can be manipulated in the literary world?) Fun fact: When I wrote book 1: Trial by Courage, I had no idea Danny would get his own book. God works in mysterious ways and His sense of humor astounds me. I had a million ideas and half-started manuscripts littered my desk but I had no idea what to focus on next. Within two weeks of Trial by Courage’s release, three people asked me when Danny’s story would be ready. The first time, I blinked slowly and shrugged (I wasn’t about to tell them I had no intention of writing about Danny). Second time, I laughed. Third time, I knew it was an honest question and I started writing. A year later, I typed THE END, had an author copy printed and handed it over to my sister for proofing. Little did I know I wasn’t anywhere near finished. Danny’s story would NOT leave me alone. I was constantly trying to reassure myself that it was done, just minor adjustments…boy was I wrong! Six months ago, I realized I needed to change the ending, which led to a complete rewrite of the last half of the book and major changes in the beginning chapters. Talk about scary, and exciting, but mostly scary. I even made another copy of the original script in case I changed my mind about this new ending. I shouldn’t have worried. I’m in love with this new copy and every angsty minute that went into making Trial by Patience the book it is today.

My Thoughts

Hope. It’s a dynamic four-letter word. It’s a little bit elusive. It’s a hard word to really explain. But without it, life is torturous. According to Dictionary.com, hope is “the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.” According to Hebrews 11:1, “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” So, as stated in God’s Word, hope exists when we have faith. And, if we are truly honest, genuine hope only exists IF we have faith in God.

In Trial by Patience, Phoenix (the heroine) is trapped in an abusive situation. Since she was a very young girl, Phoenix has been violently abused by someone she should have been able to trust. Now, as an adult who is constantly on the run from her tormentor, Phoenix is bitter, angry, and hopeless. She trusts no one and is always certain the other shoe will drop. She has no relationship with God because Phoenix is sure He’s abandoned her. She cannot fathom having a dream for her life because all her dreams turn to nightmares. Phoenix is one assault away from losing all hope and possibly ending her life. She’s fought so many battles alone, why fight anymore? Death would be a welcome break from all she has been through.

But then Phoenix makes her way to Danny Solomon’s equine therapy ranch, Break Away, and her life changes forever. She slowly, slowly comes to realize that hope is essential, and that God is the only way to a true sense of hope. As Danny ponders early in the novel, “There had to be hope. Hope could get you through situations when you thought you might not survive one more day.” Of the many issues and themes weaved throughout the pages of Trial by Patience, the discussion on hope is my favorite. Life on this earth is, for many, extremely painful. Losing one’s hope is easy. This is why it is imperative to maintain a deeply authentic relationship with God. In Psalm 34:18 the psalmist says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Those who love God have hope no matter what because they know He is always present. I am so blessed to have read Trial by Patience for this reminder that hope saves!

Trial by Patience is a tough story. The heartache and suffering portrayed broke my heart hard, and several times I needed Kleenex. As difficult as the subject matter is, I’m so glad I read this story because I needed the reminder that God is good all the time, He is bigger than anything I may face here on earth, and with Him by my side I will never lose hope.  A fabulous and timely message we all need in this day and age.

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the author via Celebrate Lit. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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GIVEAWAY

To celebrate her tour, Tabitha is giving away the grand prize of an eBook copy of her book and a $25 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway!

Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/e685/trial-by-patience-celebration-tour-giveaway

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BLOG STOPS

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The Christian Fiction Girl, August 24

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Stephanie’s Life of Determination, August 25

Just Your Average reviews, August 26

Books, Life, and Christ, August 27

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, August 27

Godly Book Reviews, August 28

Remembrancy, August 29

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 30

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 31

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A Reader’s Brain, September 2

Inklings and notions, September 3

Emily Yager, September 4