Before Grace

Coming Summer 2025!

When love runs out...is grace enough?

Young mother and widow Katie Kaminski is chasing happiness at any cost—even to her children. When her in-laws ask her to photograph Grace Church’s fall festival, Katie reluctantly agrees to spend a week in her late husband’s hometown. But where she expected to find ghosts of his past, she instead finds her own.

Standing next to her in-laws is former flame Isaac Torres. The soldier-turned-police officer isn’t at church for God, though. He has no need for religion or women—especially the ones who have lied to him, like Katie.

As the past and present collide, a week on the Texas coast turns into two when an accident forces Katie to stay. The pain she runs from is catching up to her, threatening what remains of her family. For two people who know the high cost of love, will it be worth the risk?

Early Praise for Reaching for Grace

"Anna Daugherty delivers a tale of two journeys—recovering from tragedy when responsibilities leave no time for personal grief and the seemingly impossible path toward ever loving again.

A beautiful story about faith, friends, family, and a path to the locksmith who will set you free."

— Cam Torrens, award-winning author of the Tyler Zahn series.

Pre-Order Links Coming Soon!

Book Quotes

Katie preferred to skip the pain and sorrow and jump straight to the joy.

Survival wasn’t brave or strong, it was an instinct.

God was her last resort, when he should have been her first.

Like weeds tangled around the roots of beautiful flowers, every good and terrible thing was locked up together.

Bonus Content

Resources

Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full: Gospel Meditations for Busy Moms by Gloria Furman

Walk the Blue Line: Real Cops, True Stories, by James Patterson

Surprises of Joy on the Journey of Grief, by Joyce Daugherty (A book from my own grandmother-in-law about grief in widowhood.)

Want more?

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FAQs

Is this a prequel?

Before Grace was actually the first book I wrote. When I wrote my next two (Outside of Grace and Reaching for Grace), they occurred canonically after the events of Before Grace. At that time, I wasn't sure if Katie and Isaac's story would ever be ready to share! Eventually though, I knew their story had to be told.

So while it is my third book to be published, it is canonically first in the series. It is a prequel, in that sense. However, each book can be read as a stand-alone novel, and most readers will not notice the small mentions of side character ages or church timeline.

Also, there WILL be an actual prequel coming out with this book! Because this is a second-chance love story, we have to get a glimpse at the first time Katie and Isaac met. Keep an eye out for Before We Begin, launching summer 2025.

What research did you do for Isaac's character?

My father was a police officer long before I was born, and then a prosecutor who taught at police departments in our region for several decades. I've heard endless cop stories from him that I had to incorporate into Isaac's character!

But I also needed the 2025 update, so I did a ride-along with the Austin Police Department to compare notes from my father's 80's career to today. It was a great experience.

Are there any triggers?

This story deals with several difficult topics that many believers face in their own lives. These are handled with Biblical truth and grace.

Before Grace discusses:

The loss of a spouse
Pain from a past abortion
Child custody issues
Divorce from a cheating spouse
One brief but tense scene of police action