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Smoke River #1
Grounds to Believe
From RITA Award® winning author Adina Senft comes a series of domestic suspense novels flavored with faith. In the small town of Smoke River, Washington, everyone knows the Elect of God. They’re good religious people, honest, hardworking—and they’re hiding some dreadful secrets.
He’d find Kailey some day. One assignment at a time. One prayer at a time.
A cult took Ross Malcolm’s ex-girlfriend and baby daughter six years ago. He’s never stopped looking for his little girl ... and now he has a sidearm, a badge, and a soul-deep commitment to protect the innocent. When the state's elite Organized Crime Task Force assigns him to Smoke River, Washington, to find out why the death rate among children belonging to an obscure religious group is so high, he’s sure it’s going to be one of the toughest cases of his career. But first, he has to find a way in …
Julia McNeill is the daughter of an Elder and the almost-fiancée of a prospective Deacon in the plain church known as the Elect of God. Her future position is secure … except that she’s not sure she wants it. She’s never quite been able to fit in, to measure up in comparison with her dazzling sister, who married an Elder and produced two beautiful kids. It breaks Julia’s heart that her nephew Ryan is so close to death and no one can figure out why … but when she asks questions, the church leadership shuts her out.
And then a biker with eyes that have seen too much walks into the bookstore where Julia works, and everything about her life begins to change … including her belief in God’s ability to keep her and her nephew safe …
The RITA Award® winning novel, now back in print!
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2004
43 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
Shelley Bates
9 books9 followersShelley Bates holds an M.F.A. in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University in Pennsylvania, where she teaches as adjunct faculty. She was the winner of RWA's RITA Award for Best Inspirational Novel in 2005, a finalist for that award in 2006, and, writing as Shelley Adina, was a Christy Award finalist in 2009. Three of her books have shortlisted for the American Christian Fiction Writers' Carol Award for book of the year.
A transplanted Canadian, Shelley returns there annually to have her accent calibrated. Between books, she enjoys traveling with her husband, playing the piano and Celtic harp, and spoiling her flock of rescued chickens.
A transplanted Canadian, Shelley returns there annually to have her accent calibrated. Between books, she enjoys traveling with her husband, playing the piano and Celtic harp, and spoiling her flock of rescued chickens.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 10, 2021
Wow!
I’m going through exactly what the main character, Julia, did in Grounds to Believe. This book has helped me in my journey to learn who God is and how to better serve Him.
I’m going through exactly what the main character, Julia, did in Grounds to Believe. This book has helped me in my journey to learn who God is and how to better serve Him.
February 17, 2013
http://ceceliadowdy.com/blog/2013/02/...
Ross Malcolm has a young daughter and he’s desperate to find his child. Years ago, he was involved with a woman (the mother of his child) who ran away with his daughter to join a cult. Ross has not seen his child in years, and wonders about her fate. A Christian, Ross is determined to investigate cults, hoping to stop their unreasonable practices.
Ross is alerted to investigate a cult when a pattern of mysterious children’s deaths becomes suspicious. When he rolls into town on his motorbike, he meets Julia, a member of The Elect, the cult he’s been called to investigate. He finds himself attracted to the beautiful plain-dressed woman. His ruse requires him to act as if he’s interested in becoming one of the Elect – the Elect feel that they are the only saved ones on this earth – all other religions are worldly and influenced by Satan.
I really loved this book because I saw several elements that were familiar in the cult environment. For example, The Elect don’t believe in having a personal relationship with Jesus – their salvation depends upon their Shepherd and his rules – God only speaks to them through their Shepherd and he decides their fate, not God. Also, they watch one another, if one rule is broken or bended, you could be Silenced, scorned for life, doomed to a life of Hell. Makes me wonder how one can stay enmeshed within a cult for so long – but, I suppose after being in it for so long and it’s all you know, you become close to the other members, and they’re like your family. It’d be kinda hard to give all that up if you don’t have others in the world in which to turn. The members of the Elect kinda reminded me of the Amish and the Shakers with their judgmental attitudes.
This was a good read over all!
Ross Malcolm has a young daughter and he’s desperate to find his child. Years ago, he was involved with a woman (the mother of his child) who ran away with his daughter to join a cult. Ross has not seen his child in years, and wonders about her fate. A Christian, Ross is determined to investigate cults, hoping to stop their unreasonable practices.
Ross is alerted to investigate a cult when a pattern of mysterious children’s deaths becomes suspicious. When he rolls into town on his motorbike, he meets Julia, a member of The Elect, the cult he’s been called to investigate. He finds himself attracted to the beautiful plain-dressed woman. His ruse requires him to act as if he’s interested in becoming one of the Elect – the Elect feel that they are the only saved ones on this earth – all other religions are worldly and influenced by Satan.
I really loved this book because I saw several elements that were familiar in the cult environment. For example, The Elect don’t believe in having a personal relationship with Jesus – their salvation depends upon their Shepherd and his rules – God only speaks to them through their Shepherd and he decides their fate, not God. Also, they watch one another, if one rule is broken or bended, you could be Silenced, scorned for life, doomed to a life of Hell. Makes me wonder how one can stay enmeshed within a cult for so long – but, I suppose after being in it for so long and it’s all you know, you become close to the other members, and they’re like your family. It’d be kinda hard to give all that up if you don’t have others in the world in which to turn. The members of the Elect kinda reminded me of the Amish and the Shakers with their judgmental attitudes.
This was a good read over all!
August 8, 2018
Despite the heavy subject matter, this was a delicate treatment. Julia lives her life among the Elect, a patriarchal religious system that shuts out all Outsiders. Ross, a cult expert with the police, comes in undercover investigating potential child abuse. Ross lost his daughter to a cult 6 years ago, so he’s personally invested.
Ross uses Julia to gather information on the group and on her family, who has a young child constantly in the hospital. He also leads her to think more critically about the group she’s in as well as revealing to her the personal relationship he has with God.
Ross finds his daughter, he and Julia solve the mystery of her nephew’s illness and Julia leaves the group and is taking steps to find her own relationship with God. I’m not sure this is really a romance however. There has been a lot of talk about the RITA’s and the question, “was this a satisfying and optimistic ending for the couple?” Optimistic? Sure I guess. They are spending time together and seem happy-ish. Satisfying? Not really. No exchange of “I love yous”, no promise they will be together forever ... I’m not sure I can count this even as a HFN! And Julia is still really unsettled about her relationship with God. So not even that relationship is an HEA or HFN.
Ross uses Julia to gather information on the group and on her family, who has a young child constantly in the hospital. He also leads her to think more critically about the group she’s in as well as revealing to her the personal relationship he has with God.
Ross finds his daughter, he and Julia solve the mystery of her nephew’s illness and Julia leaves the group and is taking steps to find her own relationship with God. I’m not sure this is really a romance however. There has been a lot of talk about the RITA’s and the question, “was this a satisfying and optimistic ending for the couple?” Optimistic? Sure I guess. They are spending time together and seem happy-ish. Satisfying? Not really. No exchange of “I love yous”, no promise they will be together forever ... I’m not sure I can count this even as a HFN! And Julia is still really unsettled about her relationship with God. So not even that relationship is an HEA or HFN.
May 19, 2025
Sweet book!
I got my copy for free but the review is my own. Just what the subtitle says, a faith based romance mystery. I appreciated the handling of the plain church, could relate from my own upbringing.
I got my copy for free but the review is my own. Just what the subtitle says, a faith based romance mystery. I appreciated the handling of the plain church, could relate from my own upbringing.
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September 4, 2007while investigating a secretive cult in washington, police investigator ross malcolm seeks evidence from the latest recruit's aunt, julia mcneill. though disdainful of the restricted lifestyle practiced by her religious group, ross finds himself wanting to teach julia the truth of god's love--and protect her from the evil that threatens.
March 4, 2011
While investigating a secretive cult in Washington, police investigator Ross Malcolm seeks evidence from the latest recruit's aunt, Julia McNeill. Though disdainful of the restricted lifestyle practiced by her religious group, Ross finds himself wanting to teach Julia the truth of God's love--and protect her from the evil that threatens.
March 13, 2013
I really liked this book. Ross and Julia were interesting and unpredictable. It is a romance, so it may be a given that they end up together, but the journey was enjoyable and took a number of detours along the way. The cult aspect was handled well and Julia's difficulties with it were believable. I look forward to reading more about the Elect.
September 21, 2010
it was an interesting read, but very easy to see where it's going to end.
October 14, 2011
it was a good story once it got going however it took my over 1/2 the book to get interested. Slow going book.
April 25, 2017
I really enjoyed this book, it kept me wondering what would happen to the two conflicts in the story and how they would both resolve themselves or if they even would! It's a very well written story.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews