Devil in the Dust - Cara Luecht

June 1933: — Their small Oklahoma town is dying. Lillian remembers how acres and acres of wheat once waved under jewel-blue skies. Now the dirt stretches across the flat land as far as she can see.

Though Emma's husband is missing, she keeps house — and keeps her five children fed as best as she can — even as her hopes fade. But when the days stretch to weeks, she considers the possibility that he will never come home. Left with the likelihood of losing their farm, and the ever-present pangs of hunger, she is forced to consider opportunities that, under normal circumstances, no woman should ever have to contemplate.

Jessie, Emma's oldest daughter, completes her daily chores with tired repetition. Forced to wear her mother's shoes to avoid the humiliation of bare feet, she watches the dead, dirt road for signs of life.

And then he arrives in his new car and shiny shoes and generous way with gifts and money. Much to the dismay of her mother he catches Jessie's eye. 

Lillian knows he's too smooth, too willing to help, and much too eager to spend time with a girl less than half his age. But what's to say he is not the miracle they all prayed for? In times of desperation the wind carries more than one kind of evil.

'The author's familiarity with this time period and her ability to write a story of hope makes this a fantastic book.' ~ Romantic Times

Selah Awards Finalist

Written for the General Market (G) (I): Contains little or no; sexual dialogue or situations or strong language. May also contain content of an inspirational nature.