A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED

A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED
Friday, October 24, 2025 by BARBARA M. BRITTON

Categories: Friday's Fiction / GUEST AUTHORS / Reviews and Interviews

PLEASE WELCOME

BARBARA M. BRITTON

FICTION FRIDAY

THE AUTHOR’S STORY

Do you have a best friend? One who has traveled difficult roads with you.

In my latest novel, Emma Uranova finds herself embroiled in a white-collar scam. She flees from Wisconsin to Tennessee to stay with her bestie, Samantha, in Whispering Creek. When Emma takes a job with a grumpy and difficult boss who happens to be the older brother of her friend’s boyfriend, Emma may have more trouble than white-collar scammers.

Emma’s life verse is Psalm 18:2a:

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

Even though Emma finds solace in the counsel of her friend Samantha, she never loses sight of God’s providence in her life. Many prayers go up to God as hardships fall upon Emma.

Creating characters is fun for a writer. Emma was the sassy sidekick in “Christmas at Whispering Creek,” so placing her in trying times made for exciting scenes. Even though I fling conflict and tension at Emma, she is blessed to have a relationship with God and friends who not only offer support but have a relationship with God as well.

Emma’s parents are not Christians, so the church community and faithful mentors have grown her faith in God. One of the blessings of writing Christian Fiction is that the author has the privilege of placing a “faith thread” in their novels. Stressful times can be challenging, but having a support system that loves Jesus is a blessing.

I hope readers will see the importance of Christian friends as we travel the roads of life. When I received a breast cancer diagnosis nine years ago, I was blessed to have prayer support and physical support from my church family and numerous friends. I appreciated the help from all my friends, but the prayer support gave me supreme comfort.

During my cancer treatments, I received emails, cards, meals, offers of rides to radiation therapy, and little reminders that I was loved.

Is there a friend or church member whom you can encourage today? Their life may not be as exciting as Emma’s, but we all need faithful and faith-filled friends.

ABOUT BARBARA M. BRITTON

Barbara M. Britton is a multi-published author of Christian Fiction. Her Tribes of Israel series brings little-known Bible characters to light. You can also travel to Whispering Creek, Tennessee with her sweet romance duology. Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. You can find out more about Barbara and her books on her website barbarambritton.com.

MORE ABOUT ESCAPE TO WHISPERING CREEK

Emma Uranova enjoys her office job until her boss disappears with the investors' money. To avoid the media storm and false accusations, Emma flees to Whispering Creek, Tennessee, to live on her best friend's secluded property. When a temporary position opens up in Nashville, Emma leaves small-town anonymity to pad her depleted bank account. With a handsome new boss and a steady income, Emma believes life is looking up... until she discovers she has transported the scandal in her backpack. Where is God when her life is falling apart?

Wade Donoven is recuperating from a crash that sidelined him from the family electrical business. Worse yet, his prodigal younger brother is getting the glory for Wade's accomplishments. Desperation and physical setbacks have him agreeing to let Emma help him manage the business office. But when trouble follows her to his doorstep, Wade must make some difficult choices. Sending Emma back to Whispering Creek may unknowingly place the woman he's come to love in danger.

If you like Grumpy Sunshine Christian romance, you will enjoy Emma and Wade’s story.

Purchase “Escape to Whispering Creek” on Amazon or wherever books are sold.

https://www.amazon.com/Escape-Whispering-Creek-Barbara-Britton-ebook/dp/B0CWLCR93N/ref

Follow Barbara on social media and be notified of her January release: “Across the Lake: Traveling with Jesus Around the Sea of Galilee.”

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/barbara-m-britton

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbarambritton/

X: https://x.com/BarbaraMBritton

MY REVIEW ***** Everything you’d want in a romance

As well as conflict on nearly every page, the story is full of suspense as the romance blossoms, not just when Emma’s danger escalates, but also as Wade’s growing affection for Emma is weighed against the risks to his company. The author skillfully balances the subplots of Wade’s debilitating condition as he strives to improve to help his parents’ business and the stabilizing influence of Emma’s long-time friend, whose boyfriend is Wade’s younger brother … a prodigal. The subplots provide tension throughout.

I give this story five stars because it kept my interest from the first page to the last.

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