Ruth’s Redemption

Bo Peace, a free black man in pre–Civil War Virginia, meets his future bride, Ruth, on an auction block. In her debut Christian historical novel, Banks-Benn expertly immerses readers in Ruth’s painful past as the former slave is transformed by her husband’s deep faith and love. The narrative pivots quickly through the homes of slaves, like Mara, who is jealous of Bo’s marriage, or Ephraim, who risks his life to save Mara from immoral slave catchers who threaten the uneasy stability of the free blacks living on Peace’s land. A violent confrontation seals the couple together in peace, though the rebellion of Nat Turner unwittingly provides a new start for the Peace family that leads them on a journey beyond the confines of their former lives. Banks-Benn’s writing is vivid and engaging, with some familiar tropes related to the tenuous relationship between slavery and Christianity woven into the narrative. While redemption, forgiveness, and freedom inform most of the novel, its central love story is both familiar and unforgettable. Agent: Diana Flegal. (Feb.)