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The Calling
Esau Fitzpatrick is bad at being good—and even worse at being bad. As he waits for his sweetheart, Ella Allen, inside the Paisley Settlement church, a brewing storm erupts and lightning strikes, setting the church aflame. Ella and her parents pull Esau from the fire, but his parents are lost in the blazing inferno. Angry at God, Esau flees his home and all he holds dear, only to fall in with the notorious Covington-Jones gang. He journeys down the path to destruction and darkness, reliving the hellish fire in his nightmares. Ella clings to the prayer that Esau will find his way back to a godly path – and to her. But Esau is gone, and her world is falling to pieces. Ella must lean on God in a way she’s never had to before as she follows her heart against everyone’s wishes. Can she dare to believe that Esau will ever change? Esau’s life as an outlaw comes to a head during an epic cattle rustle. He is forced to choose between eternal hellfire and the rocky path of the Lord. Will Ella still be waiting for him? Or has he lost her forever? God reaches out to Esau again, but will it be in time
126 pages, Paperback
First published March 25, 2014
3 people want to read
About the author
Sara Barnard
24 books231 followersSara Harris has authored close to thirty books for both children and grown ups. She and her family – plus their menagerie of rescue pets – make their home in Katy, Texas where the ice cream is perfection and the ocean is close enough to visit every weekend. Sara has her BA in History and wishes that someone who majored in Engineering would hurry and invent a time machine.
Visit Sara online at https://saraharrisbooks.com/
Visit Sara online at https://saraharrisbooks.com/
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 22, 2020
God will never leave you or forsake you! Even when you turn from God, He's still be your side! This godly man turns his back on God and leads a life of crime until the Lord saves his life and redeems him! It reminds me a bit of Scrooge's return to a life of goodness and joy!
Great narration!
Great narration!
September 6, 2016
I've been wanting to read The Calling for a while -- not because I'm a follower of Christian fiction, but because I'm definitely a follower of Sara Barnard, whose writing has been getting stronger and stronger with each of her releases.
The Calling didn't disappoint. Wow. What lovely use of language and detail. I could feel Ella's paralysis as the laudanum "turned her to little more than a breathing stone" when she was trying to come to terms with the loss (physically and spiritually) of her beloved. I felt I was right there with her and Esau during their confrontation at the clothesline as the "rogue breeze swirled through the clearing, lending sway to the bluebonnets that ringed the homestead."
Ms. Barnard knows her 19th century history, and details about architecture, firearms, clothing, and current events of that time are seamlessly woven into the narrative. A wonderful way to learn about this period of history. The lawmaker looking for Esau is also chasing after Billy the Kid and hopes to have him "taken care of" by the following week-end. A fun tidbit that grounds this story in reality.
Ms. Barnard's book is satisfying on so many levels -- not only does she tell the story of salvation in a fresh way for her Christian readers, but her prose is satisfying as a love story, a history lesson, and a tale of adventure for everyone else! Sara, you are on a roll! I can't wait to read your next book!
The Calling didn't disappoint. Wow. What lovely use of language and detail. I could feel Ella's paralysis as the laudanum "turned her to little more than a breathing stone" when she was trying to come to terms with the loss (physically and spiritually) of her beloved. I felt I was right there with her and Esau during their confrontation at the clothesline as the "rogue breeze swirled through the clearing, lending sway to the bluebonnets that ringed the homestead."
Ms. Barnard knows her 19th century history, and details about architecture, firearms, clothing, and current events of that time are seamlessly woven into the narrative. A wonderful way to learn about this period of history. The lawmaker looking for Esau is also chasing after Billy the Kid and hopes to have him "taken care of" by the following week-end. A fun tidbit that grounds this story in reality.
Ms. Barnard's book is satisfying on so many levels -- not only does she tell the story of salvation in a fresh way for her Christian readers, but her prose is satisfying as a love story, a history lesson, and a tale of adventure for everyone else! Sara, you are on a roll! I can't wait to read your next book!
February 1, 2021
The Calling is a beautiful story of redemption and second chances. The story has a nice flow and the characters are interesting with their realistic flaws. The narrator gave a wonderful performance to enhance the author’s work.
May 14, 2014
The Calling by Sara Barnard is essentially the story of a prodigal son. After life deals Esau Fitzpatrick a bad hand he runs away from God and the people that love him only to find himself in a much worse place.
The story is well paced and interesting, drawing the reader in through the present troubles and back to the journey that brought Esau to where he is. I found myself really caring about the character and hoping he could make everything alright, despite making some really dumb decisions.
I liked the religious aspect of it. It came across as real and genuine and I think it added to the character development.
Overall a good story. I wasn't as hooked as I could have been, but it was a nice quick read that kept me interested.
4 out of 5 stars.
The story is well paced and interesting, drawing the reader in through the present troubles and back to the journey that brought Esau to where he is. I found myself really caring about the character and hoping he could make everything alright, despite making some really dumb decisions.
I liked the religious aspect of it. It came across as real and genuine and I think it added to the character development.
Overall a good story. I wasn't as hooked as I could have been, but it was a nice quick read that kept me interested.
4 out of 5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews