Heartache of Promise

Based on a True Story

Can a lost self ever be restored?

Rose-Marie Clarke lives in a culture of silence and “perfection” with an undertow of family secrets. In this dynamic, she fails to recognize her deep love for one man. She ignores her heart until she can no longer hear it, making choices that can never be undone.

Failing to recognize the lie she is living, Rose-Marie strives to obtain love’s promise within a marriage, with children, poverty, and a fledgling faith.

When her first love returns, Rose-Marie’s repressed emotions awaken, but fear arises. Is emotional honesty worth the risk of losing all she’s worked for? Does God have the answers to free her heart?

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By Merita Atherly Engen

Garden Surrender

Meditations

Can God be trusted when a culture of silence induces debilitating shame? That was my question. Identify? With no hope for future creativity, God’s love, once again, inspired me, and I crafted this book of short meditations. Share in my God-journey to healing and joy. Order now.

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Heartache of Promise

It’s Here! Kindle and Audible now available. Paper versions coming September 22.

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Words that kept me going and still bring tears...

I am impressed that you have done a great job in describing the spiritual searching of Rose-Marie and the effects of childhood sexual abuse.

– Carrol Grady

I know, it’ll be easy to look at your manuscript and feel overwhelmed or discouraged at this point, but DON’T. You have a powerful story, and it is worth it to dig it out, plot it, and make it amazing... I believe in you. Your writing is beautiful.

– BRK of A Little Red Ink

I like the story a lot. I was engaged and interested.... The writing is beautiful... an outstanding novel.

– Megan Whitson Lee

I think your theme/message is timeless and could actually be therapeutic... To be honest, I identified with Rose-Marie in several ways.

– Anonymous

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“Every human being has a true, genuine, authentic self which can never be destroyed.”

– Gabor Maté in The Wisdom of Trauma

"Am I not a spark of Him who is the light?"

– George MacDonald

“It’s in a dynamic, emergent process of confrontation with the truth that solutions will arise.”

– Gabor Maté in The Wisdom of Trauma

“God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.”

– 1 John 1:5

Author

Merita Atherly Engen

Merita Atherly Engen weaves true stories with a novel (as in creative) twist. They focus on discovering one’s authentic personhood and subsequent freedom through the power and grace of God. Breaking silence enforced by shame and trauma is a recurring theme. The mountains of Appalachia and the beauty of nature continue to inspire. She lives in Virginia with her husband and enjoys her children and grandchildren. She stays active by hiking, biking, skiing, and working the land.

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR