“From Burden to Rest” is the first book in the "How Love Freed Us" series. It is a Christian Fiction novella that is mixed with elements of romance, action, and suspense telling the riveting story of three teenagers, James, Sara, and Ellen. These three live in a small unpopular Georgia town called Hentsville and end up going through an unexpected set of twists and turns. Two of them go to extreme lengths in their pursuit of true love, but start out looking in all the wrong places. Ironically, two of the three in the group are interested in another member of the group, but none of them share mutual interests. This quickly becomes a tangled tale of jealousy and envy.
Both James, the rugged handsome alpha male, and Ellen, a promiscuous untamed hooligan of sorts, are viewed as immoral villains, while the beautiful Sara Clines is considered a perfect saint in the eyes of the small town. However, after each of the three individually experience some major life-changing events, they all end up becoming what no one would have expected. From a sordid blend of lustful desire, bloodshed, deceit, gang violence, riches, and utter despair emerge both tragedy and the bright rays of light that can only come from hearts that have been changed by Jesus Christ. When all seems lost, two of these main characters independently discover a path that utterly frees them from the unbearable burdens in their lives. However, even though they didn't find true love yet, will true love find them?
This story will take you on a roller coaster ride of both tears and laughter. It will tug on your heart by reminding you of how depressing and void this life can be until the love and grace of Christ pierces through the darkness, bringing rest to the burdened soul.
