The Velvet Box - Free Kindle Download!

The Velvet Box - available free until 6.2.13 

My latest novel, The Velvet Box, is now available on Kindle free until midnight June 2, 2013! Feel free to go to my Amazon author site to find it and download now.

http://www.amazon.com/Caroline-Friday/e/B00A4461ZA/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Here is a summary: 

To Kill a Mockingbird meets The Secret Life of Bees in this historical southern drama that combines the tragedy of abuse with humor, faith, and forgiveness. 

Nellie Cox longs to be free from the torment of her abusive uncle. But in 1920s North Carolina where the sin of incest is hidden in shame, she has nowhere to go and no one to help her, other than her own resourcefulness. When her mama returns home from years spent in a mental hospital, Nellie hatches a plan to marry her off to the handsome Dr. Walker, hoping to be whisked away to a new life in Raleigh. But as each plan fails, Nellie loses hope, finally learning to rely on a power greater than anything she has known. 

Combining humor, revenge, romance, and spiritual truths, Nellie’s story encompasses the beauty of an innocent child with the violence of a horrific sin. But as she soon learns, the love and forgiveness of a wonderful and all-powerful God far outweighs the evils of man.

Here is a bit of background regarding the story: 

The sin of sex abuse came to my attention about ten years ago when I was privileged to read an autobiography written by a friend. I was horrified at what she endured, but even more horrified that no one helped her out of her situation, especially professing Christians who knew of her situation—family, school employees, and church members. From that point on, my heart yearned to minister the love and deliverance of Jesus Christ to hurting men, women, and children suffering in silence. Without any effort on my part, sex abuse survivors came to me for prayer and Bible study, and before I knew it, a small, one-on-one ministry grew.

My prayer partner and I spent countless hours ministering the Gospel of God’s grace through Jesus Christ to these women, pouring God’s love into their lives. As I heard their stories, my heart broke even more. I learned of the grisly statistics of child sex abuse in our society, cringed at the growing number of teens trapped in forced and consensual prostitution, and wept at the news accounts of adults coming forward, implicating men who society viewed as pillars of the community. My research grew and the testimonies increased. I stumbled upon a website where hundreds of victims told of sex abuse from parents and loved ones in authority, as well as date rape. The stories had a familiar ring to them—oppression, fear, and shame lingered on, creating emotional wounds that are far worse than the harm done to the physical body. After two years of ministering and being exposed to the ramifications of this terrible sin, the story of Nellie Cox began to germinate in my soul.

While there are many wonderful nonprofit organizations offering help to sex abuse survivors, I have come to the conclusion that the only definitive answer for anyone who has experienced this trauma, whether perpetrator or victim, is the Lord Jesus Christ and His forgiveness. He is the only one who can cleanse a tarnished past and make a life brand new. If, after reading this book, just one person experiences His love and forgiveness and is delivered from this bondage, then I will be blessed beyond measure.

May God bless you!

Caroline Friday