While those other novels are straight-up contemporary Christian romance, Come Back to Me is more general contemporary Christian fiction with a struggling marriage at its heart. That’s what I got to do in Come Back to Me. But I hadn’t written a married couple kiss. Up to this point, I’d written a caught-in-the-rain kiss ( Stay With Me), a closet kiss ( Ornamental Graces), a first kiss ( Rightfully Ours), and, oops, another caught-in-the-rain kiss ( All in Good Time). My latest novel, my fifth, was launched on Valentine’s Day. And that’s the sensation I want to re-create when my characters finally come together. Yes! This is a foretaste, pale and flimsy as it may be, of the all-consuming love of God, our Father in heaven. God placed this desire to know, love, and serve him deep in our hearts.” It’s a manifestation of our desire to know and to experience God’s love for us. They capture and convey a longing that seems universal, as if the whole world is holding its breath, waiting for love to erupt in their lives. “Think of all the books, movies, TV shows, songs, and soap operas that gain dramatic tension by observing two people on the verge of falling in love. Tom McGrath, author of Raising Faith-Filled Kids, wrote this: My children would often bring home pages of their religion textbooks with messages related to the day’s lesson addressed to the parents. I found one of the most satisfying answers in my daughter’s take-home folder of all places. Where does it come from? Why do we crave it? Sometimes, like Shakespeare’s Romeo, we fall in love with the mere idea of being in love! Why?Īs I began reading and writing Christian romance, I gave more thought to this love of falling in love. I can still recall the rush of attraction and spine-tingling hope of something more–of love! (Only he gave me a guinea pig, not flowers).

I was in my twenties before I experienced a Valentine’s Day that held any romance. I longed to have the boy who occupied my daydreams suddenly reveal his affection for me, but, alas, each year the special day passed without me being the recipient of flowers, chocolates, or even a cute card.

Her characters give an amazing example of how to live that out.Valentine’s Day often held disappointment for me. Yet, the beauty in all of this is how she shows us that we’re all still lovable and capable of loving others.

I think you’ll find Carolyn’s work to be relatable and relevant because she’s not afraid to write about characters who deal with issues that many Catholics (and non-Catholics alike) have faced but won’t talk about, like infidelity and pornography addiction. In episode 20 of Treasures in Heaven, Catholic novelist Carolyn Astalk shares her journey to becoming a published author, while also being a wife and the mom of 4 kids.

All in Good Time by Carolyn Astfalk