Shattered Resolve

by Elizabeth Morquecho, Tonya Andrews (Editor), Tristen Dulany (Illustrator)

“Leaning his head against the rain-soaked windowpane, Josh quietly wept as panic and fear were replaced by something he’d only dreamed of—unconditional love. The heathen was home.”

Josh Cameron is a closed book to all who know him. After running away from home at seventeen, he’s never looked back. The callouses around his heart are a deterrent to all except the one man who sees through his walls and recognizes the lost soul inside. But when Josh pushes him to his breaking point and finds himself without a friend, he’s left to find his own way–and ends up almost killing himself in a high-speed police chase that leaves him handcuffed to a hospital bed. The last person he expects to see when he wakes up is his best friend from his hometown.

When Josh is forced to face his past, he must choose whether to embrace it or continue evading accountability. Can Jordan Hendricks convince Josh to return to the life he ran from or is redemption an unattainable dream for “The Highsore Heathen?”

628 pages, Paperback

Published June 22, 2025

About the author

Elizabeth lives in Houston and serves alongside her husband and children at a small Baptist church. She homeschools her three girls and enjoys bringing them up in the ways of the LORD. She has been writing since she was a child, and honed her craft as she grew older. Her passion is for writing Christian fiction dealing with hard life issues and the redemption that only God can bring. Elizabeth is also an editor for writers who need a helping hand. When editing, she loves sharing her art for bringing a story to life with others and enjoys watching a writer when they catch the flame of passionate writing. When she isn't writing or editing, Elizabeth can be found at the church with her family or teaching piano lessons to those with a longing to use their talent for Christ. She also enjoys puzzles and playing with her kids and the dog, Django. And she is majorly addicted to all things coffee.

Reviews

[Alice Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morquecho delivers a raw and moving story about love, survival, and the fragile balance between hope and despair. Josh’s journey is heartbreaking yet deeply human, and Jordan’s presence brings a quiet stability that feels both necessary and real. With moments that are gut wrenching and tender, this novel beautifully captures the difficulty of loving someone who isn’t ready to be loved and the power of simply being there.