Abby was young, only a junior in high school. Her entire life waited before her, with big plans to go to college. Her parents were strict, stricter than most parents, and sex before marriage was not tolerated in her church. Jimmy was a high-school senior with a basketball scholarship to an ivy-league college. When they meet at a party, one that Abby snuck out of the house to attend, their lives head down completely different paths when she ends up pregnant. Jimmy is determined to stand by Abby, but when her overbearing parents, and their extremist church find out about the pregnancy, the young couple is torn apart, with devastating consequence. Pastor David Owens answers Abby’s call for help when she appears at his church. She is on the brink of suicide, threatening to take her infant daughter with her.
Victoria Schwimley is the author of the Jessica Crawford romantic suspense series: Coveting Love and Confronting Truths. She also writes children’s mystery/adventure stories, and a YA Faith series: Capturing Faith and Twisted Faith. Her stand-alone novels are In The Victim’s Shadows and Lacy’s End.
Victoria lives in Elk Grove, California with her husband, children and many loving grandchildren who entertain her with wild antics and loads of laughs that give her plenty of story ideas.
In the opening scene, David Owens, Pastor of New Hope Christian Church, is looking forward to a night at home with his pregnant wife, Betty, and her Stewed chicken and parsley dumplings. But when he decides to answer a last minute call, his plans immediately change. This scene is based on a sermon my pastor once gave about how a desperate man saw the light on the church office and was drawn to it for help.
Book Excerpt
Twisted Faith
If anyone had ever told me I would save someone’s life, I would laugh in his or her face. They teach us about this kind of stuff in seminary, but no one ever thinks they will actually use the training. I, like many pastors, expect our careers to deliver many sermons, pep talks, and a lot of advice, but we hope we never have to talk anyone out of suicide. This would be the second time in my career that I would have to pull from my memory all the things I had learned and be an instrument for God.
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