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I would like to introduce you to my good friend, Patti Shene. She writes on the joy that can be found in hardships and getting through the difficult times with God’s help through family and friends.

Make sure you check out the Christmas in July giveaway featuring Patti’s book!

Christmas in July

Finding Joy in the Midst of Sorrow

Patti Shene

If you’ve suffered the death of a spouse, you are familiar with the crushing sense of loss that darkens the world around you. Everything in your life changes. A piece of you is missing and that hole brings you pain in so many ways, from the subtle to the agonizingly acute.

My husband passed away almost a decade ago during open heart surgery. I was blessed to have supportive family members in his brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, and my sister, my children and my granddaughter. They walked me through the emotional darkness and helped me navigate the financial and legal decisions that confronted me. My church family strengthened me with their compassion and prayers.

A few friends had lost spouses within months on either side of my husband’s passing. We bonded in a hospice support group. I came to realize that not everyone can rely on a strong network of family or friends to help them through the storms of life.

One way I have been able to reach out to others dealing with grief is through my book, Cathys’ Christmas Confession. My heroine, Cathy, has been a widow for a couple of years and therefore has weathered the Christmas holidays without her husband. She notices the signs of grief in David, a church acquaintance. Reaching out to the recent widower, she supports him through this most difficult first Christmas without his beloved wife. Together, they embark on a mission to bring joy to others at Christmas. Does God have plans in mind for the two of them they did not anticipate?

Cathy's Christmas Confession: Book 3 in The Christmas Ridge multi-author series available in print, on Kindle  and Kindle Unlimited

BIO:

Patti is a Jesus follower, retired registered nurse, and novelist. She is under contract with Wild Heart Books for a three-book Western historical romance series, the first release scheduled for June of 2026. Cathy’s Christmas Confession is her first full-length work, independently published through KDP. To learn more about Patti and her writing, visit her website at pattishene.com.