James "JE" Thomas hadn't thought much about his classes-or God-before his classroom at the University of Missouri inColumbia was stormed by armed gunmen. As they murdered anyoneChristian, JE's guilt at denying his faith was assuagedby the comfort of Pearl-a classmate he'd noticed, but hadn't met.Realizing how much they had in common-includingtheir attraction to each other-Pearl and JE developed a love like neither hadever felt. Along the way, Pearl and her family even reignited JE's love for thechurch they had both grown up in.As the twists and turns of life come at JE and Pearl, scandal and divisiveness forcethem out of the church they love. When someonethreatens their daughter, the call of God takes them halfway around theworld into an unknown life.Will they be able to return home? And-if they do-will they come home as a family? With almost-legendary family history to liveup to, JE shoulders the weight of the world to do what's right-and is changedforever in the bargain."