from this day forward | excerpt + giveaway

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about the book

Can a woman rediscover herself after spending decades putting everyone else first?

With an empty nest and a marriage that leaves her feeling less like a soulmate and more like a roommate, Brenda throws herself into helping everyone around her. But no amount of serving can fill the ache inside. When her mother’s health fails, Brenda embraces the role of caregiver, convinced that the only way for her to feel loved is by being needed.

As the responsibilities of caring for an aging parent intensify, she slowly loses sight of herself. The more she pours her energy into serving others, the more depleted she feels. A friend’s divorce forces her to take a hard look at her own marriage, while Marcus’s health struggles reveal a side of her husband she has overlooked for years.

Caught in the midlife demands of the sandwich generation, Brenda wonders if she can find purpose after motherhood.

From This Day Forward is a stand-alone book in the Dearly Beloved series. This Christian novel has themes of marriage renewal, caregiving, and reinventing yourself in the second half of life. For fans of Karen Kingsbury, Katie Powner, Sara Brunsvold, and Amanda Cox.

publisher: peshina publishing

release date: 

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other books in the series

to have and to hold

excerpt

After being forced from the care center, I step into the house that has become more of a place I visit than a place I live. Princess meets me at the door, yipping and threading in and out of my legs.

“Okay, okay. You need to go out, do you?” I hold open the sliding door and watch as she bounds across the deck and onto the grass below, sniffing before assuming the position and relieving herself. She bounces up the stairs, then pauses, exploring the deck.

“Come in, Princess.” My bladder twinges with urgency. “It’s my turn now.”

The dog traces a random pattern on the deck, nose to the ground.

“Princess. Come!” I assert myself, the need to run to the bathroom growing as each second ticks by.

Crossing my legs and breathing deeply, I watch as Princess meanders toward the stairs.

“No, Princess!” The dog pauses, staring up at me, with no attempt to come to the door. Keeping my legs crossed, I scissor-walk across the deck. When I lean down to grab her collar, whatever hold I had on my sphincter releases and urine slides out. I try to stop the flow, but it’s as if a dam has broken. No amount of convincing myself to stop will work. I stand frozen in place on the deck while warmth streams down my thighs.

I gaze up at the stars in the sky. “Are you kidding me right now?” I shout to God, or whoever might be listening.

The cool night air blows through my damp pants, and Princess pops up on her hind legs and sniffs me. I tug her away and drag her into the house.

about the author

Deb L. Brown is an Amazon bestselling author and Carol Award finalist who writes stories that explore loyalty in marriage and faith in God in the face of life’s challenges. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Women’s Fiction Writers Association, her books handle heavy issues with a touch of humor. She’s mom to her five children and Graham Cracker to her grandchildren. She lives with her husband in Minnesota.

Connect with Deb by visiting debbrownauthor.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.

giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of From This Day Forward and To Have and to Hold, plus a $25 Amazon Gift Card and some surprise swag to go with each book!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 2, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 9, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

tour schedule

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