Guest Blogger: Carol Ann Erhardt

Please welcome author Carol Ann Erhardt as she celebrates the release of Trapped, the first installment of her new romantic suspense series Havens Creek.

Inspirational romantic suspense writer, Carol Ann Erhardt, touches the hearts and emotions of her readers. Fans categorize her books as emotional, suspenseful and inspirational. Carol Ann spent her early writing years working at a corporate job and writing late at night. Her first novels, contemporary romantic suspense, sold well, but she didn’t feel fulfilled—in fact, felt as if she’d compromised on what her heart wanted to write. She began praying for God’s guidance in her writing. In the quiet solitude of prayer, God showed her the path He wanted her to take. Her third novel was an inspirational romantic suspense. Now she writes each and every day hoping to bring messages of hope, happiness, and inspiration to those who read her novels. She gives all the glory to God.

A Hardened Heart Does Not Forgive

by Carol Ann Erhardt

I’m not proud of having a quick temper. I suppose it’s something I inherited from my mother, for she was always quick to anger. This is something I’ve struggled with all my life and I believe it’s the biggest reason I had trouble learning about forgiveness.

Anger comes from pride. When we perceive someone has wronged us, we sometimes strike back through angry words or deeds. We justify it through holding to a belief that the other person deserves our anger. But what happens to that anger? It doesn’t hurt the other person. Instead anger infiltrates our heart where it festers and grows like an infected sore that refuses to heal.

So how do we get past the anger? How do we forgive?

Forgiveness doesn’t happen because we choose to forgive. Forgiveness is not just saying the words. It’s the action that goes along with the words. It’s how we deal with letting go of the anger. It’s an ongoing process that takes root within us and heals us from the inside out.

A few years ago, when I was President of a writing group, two people who were in charge of
our annual conference got into a spat which escalated rapidly. One approached me in tears. The other approached me in anger. Neither would talk to anyone but me…in private. I commiserated with the tears and retaliated against the anger. That old devil temper of mine reared its ugly head. What happened as a result? I prayed for forgiveness and through God’s grace I was able to find peace. I apologized to both women. The angry woman apologized, too. The teary woman could not move past her perceived hurt inflicted by the angry woman. She refused reconciliation. And, sadly, she eventually left the group.

This was my first experience with a hardened heart. Christ commands us to love one another. It isn’t a suggestion that we do so. Romans 12:17-19 (MSG) says: “Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”

We don’t have to like someone to love them. It’s impossible for us to live in this fallen world without getting angry. We Christians can only ask God for the grace to love and forgive. We are not perfect, yet every day of our lives we experience God’s unfailing love and forgiveness.

When I wrote my newest book TRAPPED, I didn’t realize how deeply the issue of forgiveness was woven into the story until I wrote the end. But God knew. I’m a work in progress and I’m learning how to pray for the grace to love and forgive.

©Carol Ann Erhardt

Blurb:

She’s a woman who doesn’t trust cops. He’s a cop. She’s determined to keep her past a secret. He’s determined to find out what she’s hiding.

High school bus driver, Summer Grant, flees from death threats and winds up trapped in Havens Creek, a small town not far enough away from danger. With a broken leg and no transportation, she is forced to accept the hospitality of strangers. Staying with the police chief’s sister and five-year-old daughter in an isolated mountain home might be the ideal place for her to hide until she can get back on her feet, but if the man she’s hiding from learns her whereabouts, no one will be safe.

Havens Creek Police Chief, Jake Taylor, always protects his own. He feels duty-bound to help Summer when she ends up in his small town claiming she has no family. He has a soft spot for strays, but this two-legged one is hiding something, and he’s determined to solve the mystery.

An unwanted attraction draws them together. Evil threatens to rip them apart.
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Trapped is available in ebook format from Amazon.com.