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Her Brother's Keeper
(2005)An omnibus of novels by Valerie Hansen, Shirlee McCoy and Cheryl Wolverton
Church secretary Rebecca (Becky) Tate is happy living with her elderly Aunt Effie in rural Serenity, AR, until she discovers an old family photograph and realizes she looks exactly like the woman in the picture. Could that be the mother she' never known? If so, is she the baby in the woman's arms? Aunt Effie never mentioned her having a brother, either, so who is the little boy holding the man's hand? On the back of the picture is the name, 'Keringhoven'? and a date very near her birthday! Becky decides to look into the puzzle without telling her aunt because the old woman often acts disoriented and paranoid, especially lately, and she doesn't want to upset her already fragile emotional health.
Logan Malloy was ordanied as a preacher before a stint in the army redirected his life. He's now a private investigator. One of Becky's anonymous calls to a Keringhoven listing in IL has resulted in Logan's firm being hired to seek her out. He suspects Becky may have been stolen as an infant and raised by her kidnapper! He decides to handle the case personally when he finds he has an old friend in Serenity, Brother Fred Fleming, the pastor for whom Becky works. Fred agrees to let Logan work undercover at the church while gathering evidence only because he trusts Logan to be fair and honest and doesn't want a stranger sent in his place.
Becky views Logan as an enigma and suspects he's not the innocent associate pastor he claims to be. Brother Fred is getting ready to retire, yet Logan shows no interest in applying for his job. Moreover, Aunt Effie is frightened of Logan for no reason. The more Logan learns, the more sure he is that Becky is the kidnap victim he's seeking. Brother Fred urges him to probe deeper, hoping to delay the inevitable. Widowed Fred has loved Effie for years and doesn't want to believe she's guilty of such a cruel crime.
Becky's office is ransacked and she's repeatedly followed by sinister men in a black sedan. Logan tries to intervene and protect her. He's beginning to wonder if he's chosen the wrong side. He's been putting off reporting his full findings to Keringhoven so it's possible the impatient man has sent additional agents. The black sedan finally forces Becky off the road. She crashes into a tree and is taken to the hospital to be checked for injuries. Logan realizes he's fallen in love with her so he's doubly defensive when Keringhoven and his grown son, Cody, arrive to see for themselves. Effie's so afraid she collapses in Fred's arms.
The whole story finally comes out, including Logan's real reason for being there. Becky is furious with everyone. They've lied to her. There's no one left to trust, yet she still loves them all, even Logan. What will happen to poor Effie? Will she go to jail? Cody plays peacemaker and convinces his father not to press charges. Becky's late mother had lied to Effie about her home life, then been accidentally killed while running away. Effie had concluded that the woman was murdered by an abusive spouse and had hidden baby Becky to protect her, loving and raising her with the purest of motives.
His job complete, Logan prepares to leave Serenity. Brother Fred insists he must preach first, leading Logan to reevaluate his life and recommit to Christ in front of the congregation. Becky is thrilled for him. Her prayers are further answered when he decides to stay and apply for Fred's job after all. Brother Fred and Effie are married quickly, making up for lost time. Fred retires but returns to the pulpit to perform the ceremony uniting Becky and Logan. That Christmas, they host the whole reunited family and some of the members of Becky's Sunday School class for a holiday celebration. The single women in the group are disappointed to hear that Cody has also picked out a bride. No one suspects that a future disaster while whitewater rafting will drastically change his plans.
Genre: Inspirational
Logan Malloy was ordanied as a preacher before a stint in the army redirected his life. He's now a private investigator. One of Becky's anonymous calls to a Keringhoven listing in IL has resulted in Logan's firm being hired to seek her out. He suspects Becky may have been stolen as an infant and raised by her kidnapper! He decides to handle the case personally when he finds he has an old friend in Serenity, Brother Fred Fleming, the pastor for whom Becky works. Fred agrees to let Logan work undercover at the church while gathering evidence only because he trusts Logan to be fair and honest and doesn't want a stranger sent in his place.
Becky views Logan as an enigma and suspects he's not the innocent associate pastor he claims to be. Brother Fred is getting ready to retire, yet Logan shows no interest in applying for his job. Moreover, Aunt Effie is frightened of Logan for no reason. The more Logan learns, the more sure he is that Becky is the kidnap victim he's seeking. Brother Fred urges him to probe deeper, hoping to delay the inevitable. Widowed Fred has loved Effie for years and doesn't want to believe she's guilty of such a cruel crime.
Becky's office is ransacked and she's repeatedly followed by sinister men in a black sedan. Logan tries to intervene and protect her. He's beginning to wonder if he's chosen the wrong side. He's been putting off reporting his full findings to Keringhoven so it's possible the impatient man has sent additional agents. The black sedan finally forces Becky off the road. She crashes into a tree and is taken to the hospital to be checked for injuries. Logan realizes he's fallen in love with her so he's doubly defensive when Keringhoven and his grown son, Cody, arrive to see for themselves. Effie's so afraid she collapses in Fred's arms.
The whole story finally comes out, including Logan's real reason for being there. Becky is furious with everyone. They've lied to her. There's no one left to trust, yet she still loves them all, even Logan. What will happen to poor Effie? Will she go to jail? Cody plays peacemaker and convinces his father not to press charges. Becky's late mother had lied to Effie about her home life, then been accidentally killed while running away. Effie had concluded that the woman was murdered by an abusive spouse and had hidden baby Becky to protect her, loving and raising her with the purest of motives.
His job complete, Logan prepares to leave Serenity. Brother Fred insists he must preach first, leading Logan to reevaluate his life and recommit to Christ in front of the congregation. Becky is thrilled for him. Her prayers are further answered when he decides to stay and apply for Fred's job after all. Brother Fred and Effie are married quickly, making up for lost time. Fred retires but returns to the pulpit to perform the ceremony uniting Becky and Logan. That Christmas, they host the whole reunited family and some of the members of Becky's Sunday School class for a holiday celebration. The single women in the group are disappointed to hear that Cody has also picked out a bride. No one suspects that a future disaster while whitewater rafting will drastically change his plans.
Genre: Inspirational
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Used availability for Cheryl Wolverton's Her Brother's Keeper