James "JE" Thomas hadn't thought much about his classes-or God-before his classroom at the University of Missouri in Columbia was stormed by armed gunmen. As they murdered anyone Christian, JE's guilt at denying his faith was assuaged by the comfort of Pearl-a classmate he'd noticed, but hadn't met.

Realizing how much they had in common-including their attraction to each other-Pearl and JE developed a love like neither had ever felt. Along the way, Pearl and her family even reignited JE's love for the church they had both grown up in.

As the twists and turns of life come...