Hi! My name is Dafne Santoro, and I’m taking over the blog today for my author, Valerie Comer. If you’ve been hanging around in her fictional world for a while, we’ve probably already met, since she’s recorded the romances of my older brother and sister and a whole bunch of my cousins over the past few years. I’ve popped in and out of many of those stories.
But I volunteered to come here today and ask you this: have you ever messed up in a really big way and then spent years trying to atone for it?
No? Just me?
I was a rebel as a teen and dated a guy my parents didn’t approve of. I knew best, of course. I was sixteen. Of course, I knew best. [Insert eyeroll here!]
I panicked when I realized I was pregnant. Connor went ballistic, demanding I get an abortion and not tell anyone. I think he figured my dad would kill him for violating his baby girl, so this was just easiest.
For whom, right?
I couldn’t go through with it. I ran away and found myself miles from Spokane on Christmas Eve, heartbroken and alone. Then I realized I wasn’t too far from my cousin Rob’s place, and I phoned him. He and his fiancée rescued me and smoothed things for my return home.
You can read all about that in Rob and Bren’s story, Other Than a Halo, if you’re interested. I mean, it’s not all about me, but I do make an appearance. I owe them a lot.
For the rest of my Junior year, I debated whether to keep the baby or give him up for adoption. When Gavin was born in July, I knew I had to keep him. My mom and dad fixed up the basement for us then did everything they could to support me for the next six years.
Oh, they didn’t take over Gavin’s care, but they sure pitched in. So did my sister, Ava. I finished high school and went on to college. My parents gave up so much because of my mistake. They’d been planning their empty-nest lifestyle with a lot of travel, and there they were with a baby/toddler in the house.
I was super determined to do everything right from there on out. Be the best mom Gavin could ever have hoped for. Figure out how to support him all by myself. Let my parents have their life and house back.
So, when I finally got my teaching degree (because that made the most sense to me – keeping my schedule and Gavin’s as meshed as possible), I began looking for a full-time position. My sister is also a teacher (music and dance), and she’d struggled to put together the equivalent of a full-time job, so when all I found was substitute teaching gigs, I began looking farther afield.
The posting at Creekside Academy in Jewel Lake, Montana, jumped out at me. Not only was it full-time (teaching high school Social Studies and History), but it was a private Christian school, and – get this – Gavin could attend for free! That’s right, my precious boy was ready to enter first grade. AND, there’s a daycare in the building, so he could have after-school care right on the premises. Win, win, right?
My parents, brother, sister, nonna, cousins – everyone – did not agree with my assessment. How could I move so far away from the family nest? I mean, practically every Santoro lives within a few blocks of each other in Bridgeview, the greatest neighborhood in Spokane.
But I had something to prove, you know? It seemed the best way to thank my parents for everything was to cut off my reliance on them. Chop the apron strings or umbilical cord or whatever. Prove they hadn’t wasted their sacrifices. They didn’t see it that way. My sister was sure I’d get my new rebellion out of my system and move back home the next summer, find a great guy, and stay forever, preferably next door to her.
That’s not what I intended, and that’s not how things turned out. But I certainly never meant to meet a cowboy. Never meant to ride a horse — have you seen how huge those beasts are???? Never meant to let Gavin do anything remotely dangerous.
I certainly never planned to kick a man’s feet out from under him and land him on his tailbone on a coffee shop floor because he mistook me for someone else.
Oh, you hadn’t heard about that? That’s how Kiss Me Like You Mean It, Cowboy begins. Also, I’m super embarrassed about that title. I mean, I would never say words like that, especially not to Blake Cavanagh. Except… well… you’ll have to read the story, I guess.
It’s coming soon on Amazon, and I hear it will be in Kindle Unlimited.
P.S. That isn’t a real photo of Gavin and me up at the top, since I’m all about protecting his identity online. One can never be too careful these days. My author downloaded that image from Deposit Photos to represent us. Also, Gavin is much cuter in real life.
P.P.S. Do you ever have trouble forgiving yourself? I found a lot of scriptures that helped me overcome that issue. What verses or advice would you share with someone like me? Please let me know in comments.
One commenter will win an Advance Reader Copy (e-book only, worldwide via Bookfunnel) of Kiss Me Like You Mean It, Cowboy. If you’d like to put your name in the hat, please comment before Friday, January 14. Winner will be contacted privately and announced in the Sunday Edition.
“Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.”
Valerie Comer is a USA Today bestselling author and a two-time Word Award winner who writes where food meets faith and fiction. She injects experience laced with humor into her green clean romances. Her life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary inspirational romance. Like many of her characters, Valerie and her family grow much of their own food and are active in the local foods movement as well as their church. She only hopes her creations enjoy their happily-ever-afters as much as she does hers, shared with her husband, adult kids, and adorable granddaughters.
There are things in my past that I regret and was hard to forgive myself for, but with the Lord’s assurance that I am forgiven, I have to forgive myself. The book sounds great!!😊
Hi Valerie! To ire is human, so we all have regrets. Sometimes in our personal life choices or in relationships. So often we forget to let go and let God give us guidance to overcome or to let God’s grace cover our shortcoming! Interesting character blog that peaked my interest. Stay warm and healthy. After a balmy fall and December we have frigid temperatures. Best wishes.
Isn’t it crazy how we sometimes think God shouldn’t forgive us “so easily?” What part of “He covered our sins on the cross” do we not remember? I’m so guilty!
Good advice for Dafne and all of us!
It’s snowing here in SE BC again today, after the three-plus feet we got last week. I’ll need to get out snowshoeing a time or two this week. Stay warm!
Oh, wow, this sounds good!!
The story reminded me of a schoolmate when I was 18 years old, he was a “bad boy”, he did not attend classes and did not study at that time, pregnant with his girlfriend and everyone thought that he would leave her alone without recognizing the child.
Instead he recognized the baby, started going to class again and after graduating he got into college all because he realized he wanted to be a good father to the baby. In the bachelor’s degree the baby had already been born and he went to see his parents leave school together with his grandparents … he was a very cute baby hehe.
It was fun pulling a well-fleshed out character into a different series!
Good for him! There are pivotal moments in people’s lives, right? Where they can choose to take the easy way or brace up. Good for your schoolmate.
This book series sounds like a great read! I love the verse “For God so loved the World that He gave His only Son”. (not entering this ebook giveaway, but thank you) I will definitely be looking for your books, in print, for sure as they sound like Must reads to me. (I am not tech savvy at all. ) Have a great week and stay safe. I loved this interview.
Hi Alicia! All my books (except for a few short novellas) are available in paperback.
Thanks for the verse for Dafne!
Great cover too
I’m looking forward to their story. The landing on the tailbone is a painful memory for me. I did that literally once trying to deflate an air mattress. It deflated rather too quickly. I couldn’t believe I hurt myself deflating an air mattress! It took months and months and a special cushion before it finally healed.
I think it’s harder to forgive myself than it is to forgive someone else. I’ve always wondered why? Maybe because there’s so much guilt when I mess up, or regret or some other emotion like that. What I need to do, is realize when I ask the Lord to forgive me that He does just that and “as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12). If He no longer calls me guilty, then why should I call myself that?
Easier said then done, but your post encouraged me Valerie! I need to take those thoughts captive & claim His freedom. Thanks for the reminder :-)
Great post, and great cover too! I think most people are good at beating themselves up over their mistakes but we have to remember that we can’t change the past we can only move forward and learn from past mistakes.
This books sound so interesting!
One verse that has helped me greatly is Psalms 103:12: “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”
Thanks, Jcp!
Oh, wow! Now I’m thinking I let Blake get off too easily with no lasting injuries!
Big hugs, Trixi. It really is much harder to give ourselves grace.
Excellent advice, and what Dafne is trying to do.
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it.
That’s a really good verse to keep in mind. Thanks!
The verses already given are great. This one from Isa 1:18 came tome. Dafne saw herself as a scarlet woman, but God made her white as snow.
“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.
Isaiah 1:18 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.1.18.NLT
Looking forward to her story!
Thanks for that great verse, Margaret :)
The Lord died for all our mistakes and errors in life. Jesus is the only person who was born perfect and never sinned. You are a precious child of the Lord. That makes you royality. Love yourself just like the Lord loves you. God bless you. Thank you for sharing.
There is regrets but you can’t fix them & you learn from it. It makes your life better. I would just remember that & tell others to always remember to learn from your past if it’s something your not happy about.
We all have regrets & things we wish we could go back on but I just think it was my past & not something I’ll do again.
Thank you for those comforting AND TRUE!!!!! words.
You’re right. We all have regrets, and God loves us anyway!
That’s repentance, right? Turning from the thing we did and going a different direction. Thanks for sharing.
I do!
Psalm 103:12
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does He remove our transgressions from us.
Excellent reminder, thanks!