Into the Fire

Christa Parrish is the featured author for the CFBA Tour with her second novel Watch Over Me. Creating two unique characters in an unlikely marriage, we watch the destructive ways of two wounded believers struggling to keep a faltering relationship alive in the small town atmosphere of Beck County, South Dakota.

Abbi and Benjamin at their best conduct a playful and spirited relationship, but at their worst don’t speak, touch, or spend time together. At various stages of disarray in their Christianity, neither of them knows how to deal with the personal trauma from Ben’s experience in Afghanistan where he lost his best friend Steven in combat or Abbi’s inability to have children combined with her scrutiny of the food she eats then purges with laxatives.

Abbi, the vegan greenie pacifist, fell for Ben, the National Guardsman, son of east Indian immigrant parents, in college when her best friend Lauren introduced Abbi to her guy Steven’s best friend Ben. When Steven was killed in action, Lauren bid Abbi and Ben farewell because she couldn’t take the loss of her husband and be in their company. All the while, Ben can’t communicate anything about his time in Afghanistan and blames himself for Steven’s death.

Now a deputy, Benjamin is called to a vacant field where the discovery of an abandoned baby girl is discovered by two teens headed for a romantic encounter. Ben falls instantly for the tiny girl and secures the infant for his and Abbi’s foster care. Abbi guards her heart unsuccessfully against an attachment to the child fearing the baby’s eventual removal from their lives as the search continues for the mother and father.

A brilliant 16 year old deaf boy named Matthew, who lives with his dysfunctional aunt after surviving an ugly life with his even more dysfunctional mother, nurtures and befriends his four female cousins while attempting to keep some order in the chaotic household. Matthew has a rare kidney disease which forces him to dialysis three times a week, knowing he needs a kidney transplant.

Matthew’s life intersects Abbi’s and Ben’s when he looks for ways to earn money for a trip to find his father in New York. When Abbi puts him to work doing chores and babysitting, their lives become entwined in unforeseen ways.

Christa Parrish paints a sorrow-filled tapestry of emptiness in the lives of her characters with the brush stroke of a tangible ache. Hopelessness, fear, loneliness, angst, intense anger toward God—all present in all their pain and vivid imagery. With just enough light filtered into the story to keep it from becoming totally depressing, this is a meaningful tale about self-inflicted torture foisted upon oneself if we choose to resist, blame, or remain distant from our loving Lord. Searching for the constancy of someone to “watch over me” will always end in the only One who can truly provide that kind of care.

This story is real, sometimes raw, excruciatingly touching at times, and well done. No surprise when you view Christa’s credentials but it’s always a pleasure to read a different voice telling a unique tale.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764205544

Father, you’ve brought Christa to this place of writing stories to honor you. I pray you would continue to go before her and bless all that she does for your glory. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.