“Not everyone who looks like an angel . . . is one.”
Emma Daring can’t believe Eric Montclaire loves her. Not only is he a successful businessman, he’s known far and wide as the “most handsome man west of the Appalachians.” But her husband’s angelic looks mask a self-serving, monstrous soul—one that warps Emma’s dream life into a horrifying nightmare. Her only hope? Her husband’s upcoming expedition to the west. Not even Eric would take a woman on such an arduous journey.
Cartographer Luke Bowen is delighted when Eric Montclaire hires him for an expedition. And not just any expedition. They’re to follow the trail Lewis and Clark blazed a few years earlier to the Pacific Ocean. But something’s not right. Why has Montclaire insisted his wife accompany them? And why does Emma Montclaire seem so…haunted?
When the dark truth comes to light, it’s too late for Luke or Emma to escape what has become a twisted path of lies, theft, and murder. Only God can show them the way out…”
Dear Readers,
When I began Angel's Den I had no idea what God would reveal to me about abused women and the complex relationships that surround domestic violence. In 1808—Angel Den's setting—women who were emotionally and physically abused had little recourse. The law didn't recognize their situation as a problem, the church gave them little support, even society as a whole (including friends and family) looked the other way and hoped the woman would figure out how to be a good wife and stop making her husband frustrated and angry.
I learned the sad truth that while today's laws have changed to better protect the abused, the church and society still grapples with answers for this rampant problem that destroys lives.
Approximately 1.3 million women and 835,000 men are physically assaulted by an intimate partner annually in the United States. (Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000)
In the face of such a statistic there's only one thing I'm sure of. God has an answer for every case. In Angel's Den I was surprised by how God saves Emma. I had it planned one way, but God had another "landing place" in mind. 1 Corinthians 10:13Amplified Bible) "For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not [a]adjusted and [b]adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently."
In the midst of the devastation of our sin toward one another, our Heavenly Father stretches out his hand of hope and salvation. This book impacted me in ways I never expected. My prayer is it brings hope to those who have suffered in this way and brings awareness to us all.
Jamie Carie
6 comments:
I love stories with these themes. But you know that about me. :)
joyfulhutch(at)msn(dot)com
LOL, Michelle. Yes, you do. You need to put Angel's Den on your TBR pile.
The book sounds interesting. Thanks for bringing the tragedy of abuse to light. Women in those situations need to know they aren't alone and, hopefully, your post will reach out to someone in need.
These stories need to be told to bring abuse in the light, not hushed and hid. Even today, even with laws, some women still find themselves with little recourse and to some that little piece of paper called a restraining order is no better than the paper it is written on. I have long wanted to write on this topic and found many publishers afraid to touch it.
I feel this topic could be one of my platforms. I also have others.
Robin, there is so much tragedy these days in the lives of women and children.
Barbara...very true. But I think publishers today want real stories told from the heart. I've found most publishers aren't closed to any good story just because of its subject matter.
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