The first book in the Change and Cherish trilogy from the CBA
bestseller and WILLA Literary Award Winner, Jane Kirkpatrick.
Young Emma Wagner chafes at the constraints of Bethel colony, an 1850s
religious community in Missouri that is determined to remain untainted
by the concerns of the world. A passionate and independent thinker, she
resents the limitations placed on women, who are expected to serve in
quiet submission. In a community where dissent of any form is
discouraged, Emma finds it difficult to rein in her tongue--and often
doesn't even try to do so, fueling the animosity between her and the
colony's charismatic and increasingly autocratic leader, Wilhelm Keil.
Eventually Emma and her husband, Christian, are sent along with eight
other men to scout out a new location in the northwest where the
Bethelites can prepare to await "the last days." Christian believes
they've found the ideal situation in Washington territory, but when Keil
arrives with the rest of the community, he rejects Christian's choice in
favor of moving to Oregon.
Emma pushes her husband to take this opportunity to break away from the
group, but her longed-for influence brings unexpected consequences. As
she seeks a refuge for her wounded faith, she learns that her passionate
nature can be her greatest strength--if she can harness it effectively.
