Houses Built by Faith: Jailhouse. God's House. Courthouse.

by Kaysia Monica Earley

259 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 16, 2026

About the author

Kaysia M. Earley, Esq. Bio

Kaysia (pronounced Kay-see-ah) M. Earley is a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® rated Criminal Defense attorney and owner of Earley Law Firm, PLLC. She practices both criminal and civil litigation. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at Howard University, Washington, DC (’04) and her Juris Doctor degree from St. Thomas University School of Law, Miami, FL (’13). Kaysia has tried over 100 trials to verdict, ranging from first-degree felonies to misdemeanors, and won dismissals in over 300 criminal cases.

Kaysia is a firm believer of the biblical principle, “for unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required” (Luke 12:48 KJV). She founded Seeds of Manna, Inc., a nonprofit organization committed to providing critical relief supplies and sustainable support to underserved residents affected by natural disasters. She has represented clients in pro bono criminal and civil cases and is an active community leader as a lecturer at her church, local homeless shelters, detention centers, and universities, on topics relating to criminal law, trial practice, and oral presentation skills.

Kaysia is a journalist for her local newspapers and regular guest legal analyst on CourtTV, Law & Crime, CBS, NewsNation, iCrimes, and other legal shows. She is also an acclaimed award-winning author, most recently awarded the 2026 Christlit Book Award for her first memoir, Houses Built by Faith. She resides in Broward County, Florida with her husband David of over 20 years, and the proud mother of four children.

Awards and Accolades

• Christlit Book Award – Houses Built by Faith (2026)
• City of Tamarac Black History Month Proclamation (2026)
• City of North Miami Women in Law Proclamation (2024)
• National Trial Lawyers Top 100 (2024)
• Top 40 Under 40 by the National Trial Lawyers (2017-2022)
• Top 40 Under 40 by the National Black Lawyers (2017-2022)
• AV Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell Award (2024)
• Avvo Top Rated Lawyer (2024-2026)
• Lawyers.com Highest Possible Rating (2023)
• Top Lawyer of Distinction (2019-2021)
• Top Ten Best Attorney American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys (2017, 2018)
• Women of Tomorrow, Broward County Mentor of the Year (2022)
• Broward County Criminal Defense Lawyers Award (2015)
• Most Influential and Prominent Women in Business & Industry Award (2020; 2024)
• Client Champion Platinum Distinction (2022, 2023)
• The American Registry: America's Most Honored Florida Lawyers (2023)
• Highest Rating Judicial Edition (2023)
• South Florida Business & Wealth Ultimate Advocate Award (2024)
• Numerous Pro Bono and Certificates of Appreciation Awards for hundreds of hours of volunteer/community service

Reviews

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Houses Built by Faith is a redemption memoir that follows author Kaysia M. Earley from a noisy Bronx childhood to Florida, through her father’s abandonment, deep poverty, a jail sentence while four months pregnant, and then into a life as a criminal defense attorney and jail minister who walks back into the same courtroom that once sentenced her, this time as counsel. The story is built around three “houses” in her life, the Jailhouse, God’s House, and the Courthouse, and each section shows how faith reshapes her identity, heals family wounds, and eventually turns her into an advocate for people who stand where she once stood. The book moves from family history and cultural roots, to the shock of incarceration and a supernatural encounter with God in solitary confinement, then into years of slow rebuilding through church, education, bar hearings, and work with incarcerated clients, ending with a practical “blueprint” that invites readers to apply those lessons to their own lives.

The voice is vivid and very cinematic. The childhood chapters in New York and Jamaica felt alive to me, full of smells, sounds, and small details that made the settings stick in my mind. The courtroom framing at the start, with Faith on trial and the reader cast as the jury, is a clever hook, and it sets the tone for the mix of legal language and spiritual language that runs through the book. The style leans more into preaching than storytelling, with scripture woven through almost every chapter and direct exhortations to the reader, yet it still feels honest rather than polished for show. I could feel her background as both a trial lawyer and a church speaker in the rhythm of the sentences, the repetition, the build, the way key lines land like closing arguments. The prose is clear and accessible, and even when it gets intense, it stays easy to follow, like listening to someone talk to you across the table, not reading a legal brief.

Emotionally, the book hit me hardest in the jailhouse and courthouse sections. Her description of solitary confinement, pregnant, stripped of everything, and then experiencing what she understands as God entering that cell, carries a weight that stayed with me long after I finished the chapter. The later scenes with the Florida Board of Bar Examiners and her son’s simple letter about how “Mommy changed” pulled me in too, because they show how redemption has to be proven in ordinary, slow, sometimes humiliating ways, not only in dramatic encounters. I appreciated that she does not pretend the system is kind or fair, yet she also refuses to let her story become only a complaint about injustice. The strongest idea in the book, for me, is how she treats her legal career as a pulpit inside the jail and courtroom, a calling more than a job, planting “spiritual wisdom” in letters to clients and then seeing that seed grow over time. Even when I wished she lingered more on systemic analysis, I respected the way she kept bringing the focus back to responsibility, mercy, and service.

The house metaphor, with God as master architect who repurposes every crack and fracture, gives the memoir a strong spine and makes the closing “blueprint” section feel earned. For readers who come from Christian or church backgrounds, though, especially Black women who know the mix of cultural pride, family fracture, and spiritual resilience that she describes, the tone will feel like home. I also think law students, public defenders, and anyone who works in criminal justice can get a lot from her reflections on how her own incarceration shapes the way she now stands beside her clients.

I would recommend Houses Built by Faith to readers who want a spiritually grounded, emotionally honest story of failure, resilience, and calling, not a detached legal memoir or a sociological study. It will speak most strongly to Christians, to women navigating family wounds and single parenthood, to people who have touched the criminal justice system in any way, and to those who are trying to make sense of their own “houses” in life and wonder if God still has a plan for them. For that audience, I think this book will feel like sitting in church and in court at the same time, and will leave them encouraged, a little undone, and more willing to believe that broken foundations can still be rebuilt.

[Louise Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable creation that warrants the highest recognition. This book is not merely a series of words; it stands as an extraordinary source of hope and inspiration, capable of bringing miracles into the lives of its readers.

Kaysia Monica Earley emerges as a guiding light, illuminating a path through the darkness that many may find themselves in. Her writing resonates with the warmth and understanding of a true friend, offering comfort and guidance to anyone weathering life's storms. Having faced her own moments of despair, Earley’s journey serves as irrefutable proof that God meets us in our darkest hours. Her candid honesty reflects the depth of her faith, her commitment to God, and her compassion for those facing difficulties. With bravery, she reveals her experiences, and by opening her heart and exposing her soul in order to save others, she undoubtedly exemplifies a devoted servant of the Lord.

This is not merely a tale of struggle; it is a testament to the power of faith and the ability to rise from the ashes when we put all our trust in our loving Father. At its core Earley’s memoir illustrates how our suffering and losses can ultimately lead to unexpected blessings, a concept that may seem difficult to grasp during times of hardship. Yet, her writing beautifully articulates the truth that healing and transformation are possible, even in the most challenging circumstances. Filled with raw emotion, Earley’s writing captures the essence of a journey that is both painful and redemptive, her insights and experiences break the chains of despair, reminding us that no matter how low and lost we may feel, salvation is always within reach. It also emphasizes that our suffering is not in vain; rather, it serves a greater purpose as God uses our trials to shape us for good.

Ultimately, Kaysia’s unwavering belief and courage is a powerful motivator; it reminds us we are not defined by our past, but rather by the strength we find in our faith, encouraging readers to rebuild their lives and embrace the transformative power of God’s grace and love.

[Cristain Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Faith!

This book ....whew was absolutely amazing. A true story of faith, hope, trust, obedience, sacrifice, grit, and perseverance. From tears to praise. By far this is one of the best books I've ever read. Thank Mrs. Kaysia for sharing your life's journey. You have truly blessed my soul!