Caragin Farm

By Renee Hodges

Description:

Liz and Jim Caragin, the first interracial couple to marry in their county, are used to whispers and stares. As their family grew to include 15 kids of different ethnicities and different abilities, they taught patience by example, answering rude remarks and ignorance with kindness.

Now, a television developer has convinced them to film a pilot for a reality series. The cameras bring out the best and worst in the family. Victoria, a twenty-year-old budding social influencer, struggles with her childhood faith. When Jim makes a remark that blows up on social media, the whole family comes face to face with outrage culture. And Liz, who regrets the day she allowed herself to be convinced this was a good idea, is compelled to reveal her deepest secret.

Oldest child, Elliot Caragin, is happy to be off camera. He’s flourishing in his youth pastor role, searching for his birth father, and planning to propose to Bekah so they can start their happily ever after. This isn’t a fairy tale, though. A shocking secret from Bekah’s past claws its way to daylight and threatens to ruin everything.

Pride and secrets grow side by side with forgiveness and mercy in the pages of Caragin Farm, a novel that sensitively tackles race relations, conflicting world views, the reality of sin, and the depth of grace.

Book Takeaway:

Sin is real. Hurt can be raw. God’s love is redemptive. There is joy found when secrets are revealed and forgiveness given. Even when things are messy - and aren’t they always?

Why the author wrote this book:

This sequel to my first novel continues to follow the main characters, but develops others. Through them, I’ve been able to talk about real life pain that is sometimes buried in our Christian world. Unplanned pregnancy. Abortion regret. Church hurt. All of these serious topics wrapped in an understanding of a true-to-life family who follows Jesus with humility in a read that is winsome and hopeful.