Why I Wrote Coast Guard Sweetheart

The Eastern Shore of Virginia is a real and very dear place to me. I visited the Eastern Shore for the first time at the age of twenty-one. The summer I lived there getting to know the wonderful people and unique culture of the Shore was transformational. And after all these years, I revisit this splendid Tidewater destination as often as I can with my family.

In Coast Guard Sweetheart, Honey and Sawyer grapple with doubt, anger and faith. If we live long enough, most of us will experience the pain of loss. While writing this book, I walked with my father through the last days of his life as together we grappled with his advanced Alzheimer’s. But though life is often hard, God is always good. And enough for our every need—past, present or future. This truth became reality for me as my father passed from this life to the next on February 12th.

My prayer for each one of us is that when difficulties come, we would run to Him and not away from Him. That though we might never understand the why, we’d be willing to take that enormous step of faith to believe He is for us.

Photo courtesy of D. Riley

His love for us is summed up by two remarkable truths: grace—getting what we don’t deserve, and mercy—not getting what we do deserve. Because, praise God, this world isn’t our final home.

I love the Eastern Shore and its people. I hope you will enjoy taking this journey of faith with me, Honey and Sawyer.

For more behind the scene photos from Coast Guard Sweetheart, visit https://www.pinterest.com/lisacoxcarter/coast-guard-sweetheart/.