Hello dear readers!
As the holiday season rolls in, it’s the perfect time to talk about journeys. Not just the kind that involves packing bags, but the ones that pack memories and moments of self-discovery. In my book, Royally Unexpected, I explored this theme through Emmie and Dorian’s adventure across the U.S., where each stop is more than just a place—it’s a journey of growth and understanding.
One of my favorite parts? Their impromptu escape in Memphis. Here’s a little snippet of that scene – Dorian is just about to eat his very first grilled cheese sandwich.
Here goes nothing. Dorian lifted the sandwich to his mouth and bit off a huge bite. The bread was crisp in contrast to the soft cheesy noodles and rich sauce. It was like nothing he’d ever tasted, and it was pure bliss. “This is amazing, Em,” he said around a mouthful of sandwich.
“If the press could see you now,” she laughed. “Speaking of which, are you missing the three musketeers yet?”
“Who?”
“Trevor, Brody and Chet. I don’t know how you can handle them breathing down your neck all the time, watching every move you make. It would drive me nuts.”
Dorian had just taken another huge bite and almost choked on his sandwich. He’d never heard his bodyguards referred to as the three musketeers before and the reference made him want to laugh out loud. He swallowed and said with a chuckle, “I never thought about how strange that must be to you. For me, this is strange. I can’t remember being out in public without bodyguards or staff.” Dorian thought for a moment. “Ever.”
This was more than a simple detour—it was Dorian stepping out from his royal shadow to experience the city as a regular person. This allowed Emmie to see a side of him that was unguarded, genuine. This got me thinking about faith and joy. Often, we look for these in monumental events, but they’re also hidden in the quiet, unplanned moments of our lives.
Faith isn’t always about the grand gestures. It’s found in the small acts of kindness, the quiet moments of reflection, the unexpected smiles, and the simple joys that we encounter every day. These moments, though fleeting, are deeply powerful and profoundly moving.
As we navigate our holiday travels or snuggle up with a good read, let’s remember to keep an eye out for these tiny sparks of faith and happiness. It’s in these slices of life that we often discover the most about ourselves and the world around us.
And now, for some fun! I’m excited to give away an eBook copy of Royally Unexpected. To enter, just answer this question in the comments:
“Have you ever found a moment of faith or joy in an unexpected place? Share your story with us!”
I’m eager to hear about your experiences and the unexpected places or moments where you’ve found joy or faith. The winner will be chosen randomly, and I can’t wait to see who gets to dive into Emmie and Dorian’s adventure next!
If you would like to read Royally Unexpected, you can find it HERE.
Laura Ashwood is an award-winning, USA Today Bestselling author of sweet contemporary and historical western romance, and women's fiction. Laura and her husband live in northeast Minnesota. She works a full time day job, and in her spare time, she likes to read, cook and spend time with her husband. She is a devoted grandmother and chihuahua lover.
I was recovering from breast cancer and found myself quite depressed. I kept praying about what to do with my homebound state and all the “downtime” (literally and figuratively!)
God impressed upon my heart to start writing again, and I pulled out a 10-year-old manuscript. That manuscript is now The Counting Tree, a book centered around thankfulness. Every time I look at it, I realize that God brought me unexpected joy from a long, difficult healing period :)
Oh, wow, yes!! I was at a funeral Monday, and have been waiting for results from my stereotactic biopsy. I honestly didn’t care which way the test came out, I just wanted to KNOW yes it was breast cancer or no it wasn’t. I texted my doctor, and she told me she’d go look for the report and let me know. So, before the funeral, I kept checking my phone, no text yet. As soon as the funeral was over, I checked my phone again. I finally had a text that it was NOT cancer! So, I told my friend I had sat with, and she was thrilled, and both of us then told others around us that we knew. So, though we were all gathered there for a sad thing, it became a good thing!!
Mine is less of an big moment, but times I was up in the night feeding or soothing fussy babies, I would often be feeling exhausted or sad, but there were some moments when I would sit quietly and pray, afraid to move in case the baby woke up, one time particularly as the sun coming up and the first light coming through the window, I can remember really feeling a sense of God’s peace and his closeness.
One day I was quite angry and depressed in college after a classmate was quite rude to me as a way of showing resentment because I didn’t want to go out with him (um he was very non-Christian in his ways) then a little bird landed right there next to my table very close to me, he looked at me and left.
My bad mood went away, I felt like it was a little gift from God to distract me.
This may sounds strange, but I found joy in celebrating my Mom’s transition to heaven. She had been in a nursing home for two years. She battled kidney stones, infections and open wounds. She had been an active woman before becoming disabled. We moved in to keep her home and care for her as long as we could. I think we lived with her eight to ten years. It was hard watching her decline. I miss her so much, but I know she is free from the pain and decaying body. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
That’s so wonderful, Jennifer. Thank you for sharing.
Trudy, I’m so happy for your good news and I’m sure it’ helped make the funeral a little less sad too. Congrats on the news.
Hi Ruthie, I remember those nights too. Thank you for sharing
Hi Lilly, what a wonderful memory and story – thank you for sharing.
Hi Debra, I completely understand that feeling. God Bless you too.
Travelling by train isn’t my favourite as people always appear miserable. One day the woman opposite me received a phone call and her face transformed with joy. Leaving the train station I tapped her on the shoulder and thanked her because her small moment of joy transformed the trip for me. She was initially shocked and then so happy about what she had uninentionally accomplished on her journey to work.
An unexpected moment of joy for me was when u did something outside of my comfort zone with a dear friend and had a blast. I have a friend that is pretty opposite to me and pushes me to grow, which I need sometimes. It’s amazing the enjoyment you can find in things you thought you disliked.