Book Spotlight: Preacher on the Run

Title: Preacher on the Run (A Novel of the Regulator Uprising) Series: For Liberty & Conscience #1 Genre: Christian historical fiction Length (physical copy): 326 pages Publication date: April 12, 2020

I have not read Preacher on the Run, a Christian colonial-themed novel, but was approached by the author to be apart of her blog tour, and I accepted. Enjoy the excerpt, and be sure to click on the Rafflecopter link below to signup for Jayna’s giveaway.

Book Description:

STANDING FOR TRUTH COULD COST HIM HIS FREEDOM.

It’s 1771, and Robert Boothe has spent the last four years leading the tyrant-hating Regulators against North Carolina’s corrupt British government. All he wants is a safe place for his little Baptist church to live and worship God. But the established church wants him to shut up. The governor wants him dead.

FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM COULD COST HIM HIS LIFE.

Being an unlicensed dissenter preacher has already made Robert a target. Then Colonel Charles Drake comes to town with one ambition: winning the governor’s favor, no matter what it takes. And Robert Boothe just might be his last chance.

YOU CAN RUN, BUT YOU CAN’T HIDE.

About the Series:

Preacher on the Run is the first book of the For Liberty & Conscience trilogy, which combines North Carolina Revolution-era history with Christ-centered fiction.

Author Bio:

Jayna Baas (pronounced as in “baa, baa, black sheep”) lives in northern Michigan with a great family of real people and the family of pretend people who live in her head. (Yes, she does know her characters are not real. No, she does not want you to tell them she said so.) Notorious for working on several projects at once and writing her series in the wrong order, she believes German writer Thomas Mann was correct in saying, “A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than for other people.” She enjoys writing and reading in a wide range of genres, but her favorite story is this: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Giveaway Info:

Time: 12:00 AM September 13 – 12:00 AM September 25

Prize: One signed paperback copy of Preacher on the Run, one bookmark with a Bible verse and cover artwork, and eight assorted photography notecards. All entrants will receive a promo code for Jayna Baas’s online bookstore.

Notes: Open to US residents 18 and up or with parental consent. No purchase necessary.

Rafflecopter link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/25c877fd4/?

Buy Links:

Paperback (direct from author): https://www.booksbyjayna.com/bookstore

Kindle eBook (on sale during tour): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0872FQL8G

EXCERPT: Preacher on the Run, Chapter Six

Charles Drake said, “Boothe, you’re under arrest in the name of the Crown.”

Sheriff Kendall kicked the rifle out of Robert’s reach and jerked Robert’s arms behind his back. The sharp clank of iron brought the bitter taste of fear for a brief instant. Then only an odd detachment, the sudden realization that this, what he had risked so long, was happening.

It had happened before. On his preaching circuit, years ago. Different towns, different officials. Same hatred of the gospel. But never in front of his flock on a Sunday morning.

The first manacle locked around his left wrist, a click echoed in the hush by the cock of a rifle hammer. Robert swiftly scanned the congregation. Saul McBraden was taking aim.

“Saul.” Robert spoke in the voice of command he used for tension-laced situations when lives and testimonies were at stake. Like now. “Put the gun down.”

The second cuff clattered shut. The look on Saul’s face said Robert might as well have slapped him. “But Pastor, they’re—”

“Put it down.”

Saul obeyed. Reluctantly, but he obeyed.

“I’m God’s man on God’s property and He’ll deal with it,” Robert said. “There’s a time to fight back. This isn’t it.”

Saul folded his arms, clenched his teeth, and gave one curt nod. He had heard. He would obey. But he would not be happy about it.

“I’d have come peaceably, Sheriff,” Robert said over his shoulder, “had you given me the chance.”

“I’m not one to trust a rebel and a dissenter,” Kendall said.

“Trusting me has nothing to do with it.” Robert had seen this often enough to know that Drake and Kendall were making an example of him, warning his congregation, Stand against us and you’ll be next. “You’re trying to make a point. To me and every other dissenter in Ayen Ford.”

Without warning the riding crop in Drake’s hand cut across the side of Robert’s face, leaving blood in its wake. “That’s our business, preacher. Stay out of it.”

Saul exploded, “Drake, you’re a coward to hit a man when he can’t hit back.”

Drake pointed the crop at Saul. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll keep your mouth shut.”

Susanna whimpered, a soft, frightened sound that made Robert wish he could take back what he’d just told Saul about not fighting back. Hard as it was to force his church to stand by and watch, it was worse to have his daughter see it. He ducked his head to wipe away the blood and said, “Whatever you’re charging me with had better be good.”

“As long as you’ve been daring the law, I’d have thought you would know,” Drake said. “Preaching without a license and holding an unlawful assembly. Despite repeated warnings. If you can call Sheridan’s halfhearted cautions ‘warnings.’”

“The One who gave the gospel may give its authority to whom He will, Colonel.”

“I’ve told you once, preacher. I am the only authority here.”

“I’ve told you once, too—not to God.”

Those other times this had happened, it had been a matter of a night in jail, orders to move on. He had a hunch it wouldn’t be like that, not this time. Drake was out for blood, and would be until Robert yielded and bowed to him. Which, as far as Robert was concerned, was not going to happen. Ever.

“Enough.” Drake’s voice was a blade. There was no smile today. “Kendall, take him away. The rest of you, disperse or you’ll go with him.”