Shredded: Is a Trafficking Victim the Only One Who Can Help Jean Break Free?: Rae's Characters Are Realistic and Endearing. - Pu - Kimberly Rae

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Résumé :
Jean has been called Blue Jean since childhood, but not because of her clothing. She wears nondescript colors and avoids people when she can. Her world is unhappy but predictable, until the new pastor and his handsome brother move into town. A chance encounter brings the town prostitute to church that Sunday, starting a chain reaction that will shake the church to its core.
Will Jean embrace the truth that will set her free, or will fear keep her captive forever?


Shredded was inspired by the Biblical story of the scandalous woman wiping Jesus' feet with her hair. If that story happened in a modern context on a larger scale, who would respond like the judgmental religious leader, who would respond like Jesus, and what would happen to the woman who'd been forgiven much?

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Brookside Baptist Church, in Oakview, N.C., is bound by years of tradition and a powerful deacon. But when Pastor Stewart and his wife arrive in town, changes begin to take hold at the dusty church. Candy, a local prostitute, attends Pastor Stewart's first sermon and her life is transformed. To some of the elderly ladies' dismay, the ebullient town outcast begins to engage wholeheartedly with the church while learning to reform her life--providing an example of the redemptive power of Christ's love to even the most devout members. Candy's bubbly spirit brightens the church, inspiring the lonely Jean, a longtime church member, to come to engage with painful memories. For 15 years Jean has been holding a troubling secret about the church's deacon. In light of her knowledge, over the years Jean has made it her duty to guard the church children. Now, with the community slowly changing, Blue Jean is able to let down her defenses and find unexpected comfort with the pastor's handsome brother, Grant, who helps her heal at last. Rae brings to light difficult subject matter with empathy and restraint, gracefully exploring the pain of overcoming violation and trauma through the eyes of the victims. Rae's characters are realistic and endearing. This is an uplifting story about the courage it takes to reform a community and care for the marginalized and neglected.
- Publisher's Weekly

/Fiction-Overcoming Child Abuse /Fiction-Freedom from the Past /Fiction-Fighting Human Trafficking /Fiction-Christian Suspense /Fiction-Christian Romance /Fiction-Facing Fears

Biographie:
Award-winning author of over 20 books, Kimberly Rae has been published over 200 times and has work in 5 languages. Rae lived in Bangladesh, Kosovo, Uganda, and Indonesia, before Addison's disease brought her permanently back to the U.S. She now lives at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains with her husband and two young children.

Rae's suspense and romance novels on international human trafficking and missions (Stolen Woman, Stolen Child, and Stolen Future) are all Amazon bestsellers.

Since the release of her trilogy on human trafficking, Rae has become a sought after speaker and trainer on the topic. Recognizing the lack of books about slavery and trafficking that focus on those who are making a difference rather than glorifying the evil or being overly graphic or despairing, she has also since created a series on modern day slavery for teens and pre-teens (Capturing Jasmina, Buying Samir, and Seeking Mother), and is currently working on a project for adults to help train children to recognize and avoid childhood sexual abuse (I AM SAFE), a major risk factor in childhood and adult exploitation. Printable handouts and other resources, as well as autographed books, are available on her website, www.kimberlyrae.com.

People out there care and want to make a difference, Rae says. I love getting to help them do that.