The Dearly Beloved

Quartet. The debut novel by Cara Wall titled, The Dearly Beloved, sings in celebration of friendship, marriage, faith and understanding. Four finely drawn complementary characters unite at a Presbyterian Church in New York City where Charles and James have been selected to serve in a joint ministry to heal the community following a poor choice in appointing the previous pastor. Faith led Charles to reject a privileged academic future at Harvard, and love led him to marry Lily, an atheist and free spirit. James grew up poor in Chicago, promotes church activism, and married Nan, the daughter of a southern minister. The harmony of this quartet in New York City amid setbacks and challenges and downright pain and suffering rings true for any reader who has lived. These are great and memorable characters and the novel’s prose will fall easily on the ears of all readers, but especially fans of finely written literary fiction. Rating: Five-star (I love it) Click here to purchase The Dearly Beloved from amazon.com.