About the Book

Book: No Longer A Captive

Author: Carol James

Genre: Christian Fiction

Release date: October, 2021

When Ethne O’Connor’s brother tells her of father’s unexpected death, Sean asks her to do something she promised herself she’d never do. Come back home.

A victim of childhood abuse, Ethne left her father and the small Texas town of Crescent Bluff ten years ago on the night of her high school graduation. She’s determined to end the cycle of abuse and believes the only way to do that is remain single. If she has no husband, she’ll never have children that can be abused.

Then she meets Daniel Spenser, a handsome doctor with chocolate-kiss eyes. Daniel understands her past in a way no one else does. He’s lived it.

Will Daniel be able to help Ethne break the chains of captivity around her heart?

And will God release her from her past, to be free to trust the man she comes to love?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Carol James is an author of inspirational fiction. She loves creating Redemptive Romance. She lives in Lilburn, Georgia, a small town outside of Atlanta, with her husband Jim, and a perky Jack Russell Terrier, Zoe.

Having always loved intriguing stories with happy endings, she was moved to begin writing to encourage others as she’d been encouraged by the works of other authors of inspirational fiction.

Her debut novel, Rescuing Faith, was an Amazon number one best-seller. Visit her website to sign up for her newsletter to be the first to learn about new releases: www.carol-james.com

Just recently, Carol allowed Zoe to start Instagram and Facebook pages with two of her dog friends. Follow them at Instagram: 3DogsandtheirAuthorsIG or Facebook: 3DogsandtheirAuthorsFB to learn the behind the scenes info about being a writer.

Carol enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren, traveling with friends, and serving in the production department at her church. And most days, in the late hours of the night or the wee hours of the morning, she can be found bringing her newest novel to life.

 

More from Carol

One question people always ask me is, “Where do you get the ideas for your books?” Oh, ideas hover all around us. We need only open our eyes and see the common and everyday through the lenses of our faith.

 

Several years ago, my husband and I began attending a large church near our home. We’d heard people talk about the inspiring sermons their pastor, Buddy Hoffman, preached.

 

Buddy was unlike any preacher I had ever heard. He had a folksy manner, and he absolutely delighted in tripping all over the English language. Once he told us about a recent mission trip to Asia where he saw Kubotas (i.e. pagodas) dotting the landscape. A picture of a hill covered with riding mowers and tractors popped into my mind.

 

One Sunday morning, he preached about forgiveness. Ten years later, I don’t remember the major points of the sermon. I remember only one statement he made. “Unforgiveness is a prison.” My English-major self tensed, knowing unforgiveness wasn’t even a word. My husband would have called it a Buddy-ism. But it didn’t matter that unforgiveness wasn’t listed in the dictionary or that spell-check would underline it. That brief statement carried a depth of meaning that entire books might not. Later, in the same service, our worship pastor led us in the song “No Longer Slaves.” And from this service, the idea for No Longer a Captive was born.

MY REVIEW 

I did like the book even though the subject was extremely hard for me to read. I instantly connected to Ethne and what  she went through starting at a young age. My scars are mainly emotional which is hard to forget. Like Ethne I can still here my dad say, “You are stupid and will never amount to anything.” Ethne overcame those words by being a successful business owner. Now she has to face her past once again when she returns to her hometown. Walking through the doors where her father practiced as a doctor pierced her heart with a sense of fear. What really intensified the story was when she went upstairs to the apartment where she and her family lived. I use to hide in my closet just like Ethne did. Those moments that Ethne remembered sent shivers down my arms as I understood her feeling of anxiety. 

Daniel has come by an inheritance that he never expected. I liked how his dream came true to have his own practice. Ethne and her brother were generous in giving him their dad’s place where he once was a doctor. Getting to know Daniel better helped me understand why he is cautious at times. His childhood was filled with foster parents and an absent mother who thought of Daniel as a mistake. The similarities between Ethne and Daniel’s past is the pathway where forgiveness needs to take place. Both have held onto bitterness and allowed others to hold them emotionally captive. Will they find their way to the cross and seek to forgive those who have hurt them? 

I liked how the author explained how forgiveness works. Ethne tells Daniel that she has tried to forgive her dad over and over but he never repented. That’s not how forgiveness works. Once we forgive it is done. We are not held captive anymore. Just because we forgive someone doesn’t mean they are going to confess their sin. That was something I had to learn. It took me many years to forgive but now I do feel free. Ethne has a hard lesson to learn and hopefully she will find a way to forgive her dad.

The story is one that I would recommend to everyone. It illustrates how our heart can become hardened if we don’t forgive. We are held captive by our anger and lack of trust. If we continue with an attitude of bitterness then the enemy wins. I appreciate how the author used Ethne and Daniel to show us the steps we can take to forgive and be set free. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, April 28

Inklings and notions, April 29

Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 30 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 30

For Him and My Family, May 1

deb’s Book Review, May 2

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 3

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 4

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 5

Splashes of Joy, May 6 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 7

Blossoms and Blessings, May 8 (Author Interview)

Spoken from the Heart, May 9

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 10

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, May 11 (Author Interview)

Miriam Jacob, May 11

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carol is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and an e-copy of No Longer a Captive!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1d3b9/no-longer-a-captive-celebration-tour-giveaway