No Turning Back

By Katie Vorreiter

Description:

Livvy Fischer’s life has become derailed. Having sung for audiences since she was a child, the classically trained opera soprano is now terrified to sing publicly. Stuck in a dead-end job, she musters the courage to audition for Opera San Jose. Though she starts strong, the audition is a disaster. She decides to begin with a smaller goal—she’ll try singing at her church. Partly due to a mix-up, partly to her crush on the young pastor leading the outreach, Livvy joins a worship team bound for the chapel at San Quentin. When a riot breaks out, she is separated from her pastor and the rest of her church group, sheltered by a Christian inmate. Though the plan is to keep hidden and ride out the storm, Livvy becomes the obsession of a serial killer. Livvy must rely upon God, find her own courage, and trust a small cadre of protectors as she flees the hunter, escapes burning buildings, and hatches schemes to get herself and the others rescued. Yet, through all of the uncertainty and danger, the biggest surprise Livvy encounters is her feelings for her inmate rescuer.

Book Takeaway:

• Lucas, the young pastor, fears his selfish desire to spend time with Livvy might now get her killed. He has no idea “what Jesus would do” in the middle of a prison riot, and must dig deeper than bumper-sticker catch phrases to survive.

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. Heb. 12:3-4

• Livvy, tiny with a big soprano voice, is aware that “God was still in charge when Christians were thrown to the lions.” What role does prayer play? Will God intervene to get her through this ordeal intact?

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. Ps. 28:7

• Tobin, the model prisoner, is clear on the distinction between earthly justice and divine grace. He’s internalized the forgiveness extended him through Jesus—until he develops feelings for Livvy. Once she knows what he’s done, how could she ever see him for anything but a monster?

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Rom.8:1

Why the author wrote this book:

I write suspense because I enjoy exploring the grappling, resistance, perseverance, and transformation that people undergo when faced with extreme circumstances, particularly within a spiritual context. I wrote this book to show that Jesus meant it when he died for everyone’s sins; that we are all equal in his sight; and that with his help we can forgive really ugly stuff.