The Girl From Chapel Hill: Her Journey of Faith, Forgiveness, and Freedom

Awarded the "2022 Outstanding Religious/Christian Fiction" Category Winner (IAN)

Growing up, Laura never knew her father or even his last name. Many years later, an encounter with a stranger would drastically impact her life and cause her to question her own identity. Then through a spiraling chain of terrifying events, she learns there's an unknown enemy who appears to stop at nothing to do her harm. Meanwhile, she carries a painful burden of a dark haunting secret, hidden unforgiveness, and low self-esteem.

Her story begins and ends with reflections on lessons she learned from her dear mama (her maternal grandmother) who reared her from birth. Embracing these lessons of faith, hope, love, and forgiveness would often be challenged as she journeyed from victim to victory toward freedom. Even though her thoughts often turn to Mama's faith and these lessons, she finally declares, "Enough is enough," and uses her own measure of faith to survive in a life so filled with ups and downs, twists and turns. At every juncture, one thing remains constant-the ever-loving presence of God.

If the stranger's information was based on facts, Laura knew her mind would soon find its way frantically going down a rabbit hole in search of "who am I?"

Afterward, Laura catches her breath and helplessly stares at Tina and asks, "Will God still love someone like me, someone as awful as me? Will He ever forgive me for that awful, fateful night?"