Sacred Tears

Iris Straton stands as the last survivor as her home of 24 years smolders around her. A mysterious enemy descended like a plague the night before and slaughtered all in sight. Desperate to stop the carnage, Iris races down the road to warn other villages of the danger. Narrowly avoiding the clutches of a bandit, Iris collides into Darren, a secretive woodsman who joins her on her quest. Together they raced to the kingdom capital, Alaster, in hopes of speaking with the king. Darren is a wanted criminal who has spent the last five years in hiding, but when a panicked woman accosts him in his own campsite, he has no choice but to get involved. Iris's pleas for help stir memories of a dark secret for the kingdom of Fitsengea. Coming out of hiding, it isn't long before Darren is forced to face his past in the form of his old thieving partners Kyle and Bryant. Now Darren must battle between keeping his ghosts a bay, protecting Iris from his ex-partners, and regaining her trust. “Sacred Tears” is the first installment of a fast-paced Epic Fantasy Adventure filled with corruption, mystery, determination, and wit. This is a story of defiant persistence against despair. Iris knows there's only one way to stop her living nightmare, she must chase after it. Yet, nothing can prepare her for where this journey will take her.

"I did this. It's all my fault." Thief. Traitor. Murderer. Darren has been called many things, most of them are true. The woods were his haven from their hatred. There, he thought he could hide from his haunting past. Then came Iris. Her pleas forced Darren to confront Fitsengea's prophesied doom. The sadness in Iris's eyes dragged Darren out of hiding and into the jaws of a perilous journey. For a moment, she made him believe he could be more than his darkest shame. Now, Iris's screams haunt his dreams. Darren plunges ahead to free her from Yansair's bloodthirsty clutches. Will Darren be forced to sacrifice Iris for the greater good, losing her forever? Or will he destroy himself first? Iris sits in the hands of her greatest enemy awaiting her death sentence. Dragged out of her cell in the middle of the night, she is suddenly thrust into the center of a royal conspiracy. Eye to eye with the ones who murdered her family the Holy Father requests an impossible task, "Love them."

You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Psalm 56:8 NLT Whatever you are going through as you read this, you need to hear these words: God sees you, He loves you, and your story is not over. Every tear you shed is precious to Him. Your suffering is not in vain. This collection of heartfelt essays, eye-catching word art, inspiring Scripture verses, honest prayers, and uplifting photography will meet you in your place of pain, offering solace and refuge for your weary soul. Lovingly written by Lindsey Wheeler, a pastor's wife and adoptive mom who lives with chronic pain, Sacred Tears will bring you the blessed respite you've been longing for and remind you that you are never alone. You'll discover what to do when you feel far from God, how to trust Him even when you don't understand His plan for you, and how to handle the difficult decisions that often accompany painful situations. All this and more await inside. Experience the hope and comfort only God can provide. This collection of heartfelt essays, eye-catching word art, inspiring Scripture verses, honest prayers, and uplifting photography will meet you in your place of pain, offering solace and refuge for your weary soul. Lindsey Wheeler is the founder and curator of Bottle of Tears, an online gift retailer dedicated to sending small tokens of hope and encouragement to the hurting, Lindsey lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with her husband, Chris, and adopted daughter, Eliana.