Shelley Bates A Sounding Brass

A Sounding Brass

Shelley Bates

Warner, Jun 2006, $12.99

ISBN: 0446694924

In Hamilton Falls, Washington, true believer Claire Montoya belongs to the cult Elect as she has all her life. She firmly believes that the Elect are the only way to heaven. However, her life takes a negative spin and her belief system is somewhat battered when the Shepard is convicted of rape. At work, her superiors warn her to drop out of the Elect and to stop wearing her all black wardrobe, one of the tenets of her sect; refusing neither to quit the cult nor to modify her clothing, Claire is fired.

However, Claire gets a break when popular charismatic radio evangelist Luke Fisher hires her at the same time she meets police investigator Ray Harper on a case involving fiscal fraud amidst the Elect that brings them in contact. Claire has a few fantasies about Luke, but it is Roy who turns her on; however, she could never consider a relationship beyond friendly with an outsider even if he seems to know God's way better than anyone she ever met before.

A SOUNDING BRASS is a strong inspirational chick lit romantic suspense that will surprise the audience with its message of celebrating religious tolerance as Shelley Bates makes the case there is plenty of room in God's tent. The storyline is character driven especially by the bewildered Claire who after two plus decades of true understanding no longer understands. Fans of powerful Christian fiction will appreciate this fine look that emphasizes spiritual awareness and comprehension can come from many varying unexpected sources as the Lord works in mysterious ways.

Harriet Klausner