The Rising

So honored and humbled to announce The Rising has won the 2013 Grace Award for Excellence in Faith-based Fiction in the mystery/romantic suspense/thriller category!

Here’s what they had to say about it:

A young boy has been beaten to death, the extreme violence troubling homicide detective Ellie Saunders. When he suddenly comes back to life – a seeming miracle which Ellie is unable to accept on a spiritual level – the need to find the “killer” becomes desperate. Because the boy also can’t remember anything about himself. What if his parents did this to him? Ellie is desperate to uncover the boy’s past while making sure the one who assaulted him receives justice. The clues are minimal leading first one direction then another. To complicate matters, Ellie get assigned a new partner – Jesse Alvarez, someone with whom she has a history she’d rather forget. Jesse seems determined to protect Ellie and help figure out who is responsible for the little boy’s “death.” Much to Ellie’s irritation, Jesse accepts that the boy coming back to life is a God-thing. Ms. Willis keeps the pacing in this story flowing at a fast clip. The spiritual matters—ranging from believing in God to believing in miracles—are handled in a realistic, credible way. Though Ellie is the child of a minister, her doubts are authentic. She spends work time dealing strictly in facts but when it comes to dealing with family she’s at a loss in regards to her emotions. The reader is hooked on caring both for Ellie’s personal struggles as well as rooting for justice for the little boy. The whole story wraps up with a satisfying and convincing ending that lets the reader choose what to accept as explanation for the boy’s rejuvenation. The author presents relevant, contemporary issues in a non-preachy, non-offensive manner, giving both spiritual and worldly viewpoints and allowing the reader to examine his or her faith to form an opinion. The mystery is well-written, developed at a tempo consistent with romantic suspense. Overall, an enjoyable read! ~~ Judges: Tammy Doherty (Team Leader), Debra Marvin, Peggy Blann Phifer

It has also made the short list for an INSPY Award. Fingers crossed!

A dead child that isn’t dead. A cop out of control. When their worlds collide, God intervenes. Prepare for the unexplained. Order yours from Pelican Book Group. Available now on Amazon and other on-line retailers. Available in print and ebook format.

“The Rising by Lynn Chandler-Willis is a novel that wakes you at night, gets under your skin, and holds you captive until the end.” Pamela King Cable, author of Southern Fried Women, Televenge, and The Sanctum.