Frayed Promises by Lynn U. Watson
Series: Promised Destiny – Book 2
Publisher:  Independently published
Release Date:  April 2, 2025
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

​​Late 1800s historical romance
Sequel to The BookFest® award winning, Tangled Promises

God gives impossibilities beautiful endings

Clara and Daniel Becker married secretly circumventing nobility’s rules. When denial no longer serves her, how does Clara hide the truth of their wedding night conception and their nuptials from her father, the Baron?

If Vati sends her away, Daniel promises to follow. But unexpected circumstances bring them face-to-face with the words of Proverbs 16:9. A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.

Her grandmother’s last warning spins like a tempest threatening to shipwreck their joy and fray every promise they have made.

A Life-Affirming Story

A portion of the royalties will go to support https://lifechoicesmemphis.org/

PURCHASE LINKS:
Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

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More In This Series

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About the Author

Award-winning author, Lynn U. Watson is the great-great-granddaughter of a baron from Southwest Germany. From stories whispered down generations to the vibrant threads of her own life, Lynn’s journey is a testament to creativity and compassion. Nurtured by her grandmother’s love of needlework, Lynn built a thriving custom clothing business, and with her husband, Steve, they created The Lynn’n Butterfly Collection (cross-stitch designs). In 2007, Lynn became a certified reflexologist, opening Footsteps in Eden, a haven where she uses touch therapy and prayer to relax her clients. She combines her passions and heritage Stepping through Time Stitching Stories of Faith. Lynn, Steve, and their feline overlord, Jasmine, call Bartlett, Tennessee home.

Connect with Lynn by visiting lynnuwatson.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates

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Author Q&A

CB: You’ve had a diverse creative career—from counted-cross-stitch designs to devotional writing to historical fiction. What inspired you to finally transition into writing full-length novels? 

Watson: I’ve always loved to write, but lacked the confidence to attempt fiction. Each chapter in my devotional books is broken down into four different parts. The books are fashioned around a fictional coffee cottage where friends meet to share life and faith. One selection in each chapter is fictional based on someone’s real life experiences, and the part God and faith played in each one.

My great grandmother’s ‘story’ begged to be told, but I had no idea if I could create a whole novel around the little bit I knew of what happened in her life. I did know I had trusted God to inspire the transition of real stories into fiction for the devotional books. With the task He laid on my heart, I said, ‘yes’, trusting Him for the creativity I would need.

(A little aside.) There is a small design in one of the counted cross-stitch leaflets my husband and I published back in the 1980’s which I have adapted to go along with Frayed Promises. With the resurgence of cross-stitching as a hobby, the pattern for it will soon (and maybe already by the time you read this) be sent to my newsletter subscribers and then become a lead magnet for new subscribers. You can sign up for the newsletter at https://bit.ly/LynnUWatsonJoinMyCommunity

CB: Your books weave together elements of faith, history, and personal experiences. What is your research process like when crafting stories inspired by real-life events? 

Watson: Faith was always important in our family. My personal relationship with Jesus made sharing elements of faith easy.

As to the history, that was a different story. Genealogy records, family members, and digging into what life was like in the era. Records were slim, but we found some. A cousin had learned enough to ask about the circumstances around our grandmother’s birth. Our oldest uncle confirmed what I’ll share below in answer to another question. I instinctively knew when presented with the few details, that they were accurate. They answered some questions I just didn’t know how to ask as a twelve-year-old. My grandmother had told me when her mom married her dad, he said she could use his name, because she didn’t have a dad. They married when she was just a year old. Thinking back, I believe she may have had this memory from using his name when she started school. She would have been more than willing to fill in some details if I had only known what to ask.

CB: Faith plays a central role in your books. How does your personal faith journey influence the themes and messages you incorporate into your stories?

Watson: The themes and messages I bring to my stories are often tough issues. They were tough in the era the books are written. They are tough today. Jesus didn’t shy away from the tough truths, but delivered His words with love.

1 Corinthians 13 (NIV) opens with these words: “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” 

Every person has a story. Every person is created in the image of God. It is my prayer even in the tough themes like the ones in Frayed Promises that I look on my characters and their situations with these verses in mind.

CB:  You’ve written devotionals as well as fiction. How do you see storytelling as a tool for spiritual encouragement and growth? 

Watson: Jesus used storytelling to teach truth. People relate to story, often seeing themselves in the fictional characters. When the characters face impossible looking challenges with courage, their faith grows, they see the hope and redeeming grace God offers.

CB:  Frayed Promises explores themes of inconvenient pregnancy, sanctity of life, and past abortion. What led you to address these issues in your novel, and what do you hope readers take away from the story? 

Watson: What a great question.

Frayed Promises, like Tangled Promises, was inspired by some tiny snippets of my family’s story. From the bits I’ve learned, my great grandmother was the daughter of a baron in Germany. He had chosen a man he intended for her to marry—one that met the strict qualifications of nobility’s rules. She despised the man, and she was in love with the carriage driver. When she became pregnant by the carriage driver she was disowned and sent to America.

For years I pondered what her story may have been. Women have always known ways to bring their menses back. Those that were Christian also knew Scriptures like Psalm 139. The prevailing belief of the day however, was that there was not a baby until the woman felt the quickening. Within that parameter there was no stigma connected to the decision.

My grandmother was that baby. She had nine children. I have many cousins. I look around at the generations since and see the Lord’s hand in them all. My grandchildren are the sixth generation (including my great grandmother), and I cannot imagine life without them. None of us would be here without my great- grandmother’s decision to face the formidable challenges ahead of her with faith and courage.

Except for the small snippets I have mentioned, the rest of the story comes from my imagination spawned by much prayer and godly inspiration. I pray I have honored my great-grandmother, a child of God in need of His grace and forgiveness, just like the rest of us. I’d like my readers to know God continues to give beautiful endings to what look like impossibilities today. Choose and cherish life. Life is precious. Every life.

I’ve long been an advocate for life, and a supporter of our local Christian pregnancy medical center, Life Choices of Memphis, Inc. God tapped me on the shoulder one day and asked, “Why don’t you dedicate this book to Life Choices?” I knew immediately it was His leading. The book is dedicated to their staff and volunteers, and a portion of my royalties will benefit their ministry. (https://lifechoicesmemphis.org)

CB:  Clara and Daniel’s love story is set against the backdrop of nobility’s rigid expectations. What drew you to this historical setting, and what challenges did you face in bringing it to life? 

Watson: Before I even wrote the first words of Tangled Promises or contemplated Frayed Promises and its upcoming sequel, Planted Promises, plans were to visit the specific area of Germany where the real story took place. A friend here in the states who had grown up less than an hour away from that community was excited to be my tour guide. God had other plans. It became necessary to postpone the trip from Fall of 2019 to May of 2020. We all know why the trip didn’t happen. This became one of the biggest challenges bringing the story to life. My friend shared much about life as she knew it in the setting, and then she sat with me for hours in front of her computer, locked unto her German keyboard. We searched and learned all we could about the area and the times. (The name of the specific town will remain anonymous. Gut Apfelhof is my fictional recreation of the community.)

Thank you for sharing your story with everyone. 

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