On Shifting Sand

As far as inspirational love stories go, Pittman (Crossroads of Grace series) has crafted an unconventional one. She mires her protagonists in grit with a tale of sex, physical abuse, infidelity, and betrayal. Nola Mitchum endured a harsh upbringing after her mother died. Smalltown Oklahoma preacher Russ Merrill became her exit strategy. Now 13 years old with two children, Nola’s marriage is no better than her father’s abuse was. Her soul becomes as dry as the Dust Bowl they live in until Jim Brace, an old friend of Russ, appears, and Nola begins to tread the treacherous territory of emotional infidelity. The sexual consummation of her relationship with Jim buries Nola deeper in guilt. Her shame is overshadowed only by the fear of Russ’s response to her indiscretion. The drama is slow to start as Pittman develops the setting, meticulously detailing the difficulties of dealing with deadly dust storms. Nola is vividly fleshed out, and, through her viewpoint, Pittman effectively contrasts the repercussions of forgiveness when it is withheld and granted. [em]Agency: William K. Jensen Literary Agency. (Apr.) [/em]