I am pleased to have Author N. Y. Dunlap on my blog for a guest post!
N. Y. Dunlap is an emerging Christian romance novelist who loves to string together words in a creative, poignant way. God called, and she listened. You can expect to read romantic stories that abide by faith, hope, and love.
Nicole graduated with a Masters in Educational Counseling from Azusa Pacific University, where the motto, "God first," encouraged her to work with inner-city youth and their families. Nicole lives in Sunny California with her husband and three children.
Why I Wrote a Novel About Church Hurt
For most of my life, I had no idea what church hurt truly was. I’d heard the phrase, but it had never touched me personally. I hadn’t endured it. I didn’t know the ache of walking into a sanctuary full of hope and walking out wounded.
Before writing Praise Through the Pain, I spent eight years as a social worker in Southern California. In Extended Foster Care (EFC), we supported youth until age twenty-one, helping them navigate college, vocational training, and recovery from unimaginable trauma—including sex trafficking. I saw resilience, sorrow, and tiny miracles, but also the fragility of trust.
When Brave Authors—a group of twelve Christian fiction authors who aren’t afraid to tackle the messy stuff, and yes, I’m one of them—announced a new anthology, I jumped in. Naturally, I thought I’d write about something I knew well: trafficking. But then I remembered a foster youth who mentioned her grandfather was a pastor at a “good church,” though the way she said it made me pause. I prayed quietly for her, asking God to help her heal, and felt a little nudge to explore this other side of faith—the side that can hurt.
And, of course, like any author with decent taste in procrastination, I turned to music. YouTube. “Church hurt songs.” Church Hurt by Hannah Kerr popped up, and the raw testimonies in the comments—stories of believers surviving judgment, rejection, and spiritual manipulation—stuck with me.
And just like that, the story came together. Alexis is a lifelong praise dancer and an off-duty paramedic. She’s also a devoted aunt to her nonverbal nephew. But she’s been wounded by the very church she once loved. And her love interest? Elijah is the son of a mega-church pastor and a police officer—yes, there’s a little suspense there. He’s been searching for the woman who saved his life. Only to discover she refuses to step foot in any sanctuary.
Their journey is tender, messy, sometimes funny, and deeply rooted in truth: God uses community, compassion, and love to restore what fear tries to break.
Though I haven’t endured church hurt myself, I’ve seen what God can rebuild. Praise Through the Pain is my offering, my hope, and my prayer—for anyone who longs for God but fears people, anyone needing time to trust community again, and anyone who simply loves a tender, faith-filled romance.
Elijah and Alexis are waiting. I hope you grab their story on Kindle Unlimited, as well as the remainder of this amazing anthology. May we all continue to praise Him—even through the pain.
Here's about her book!
Praise Through the Pain by N. Y. Dunlap
She walked away from the church. He’s finding his way back. One year after tragedy, their paths cross, and God’s not finished with either of them. A poignant Christian romance about rediscovering faith, and the kind of love that gently leads you home.
Make sure to follow N. Y. Dunlap on Social Media:
Website: https://www.nydunlap.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNicoleDunlap
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nydunlap/