Review + Tour GIVEAWAY: Tremors of Doubt by Lael Harrelson

About the Book

Title: Tremors of Doubt  
Author: Lael Harrelson  
Genre: Contemporary Amish Alternative  
Release Date: March 19, 2018

Would the will of God ever lead a young woman against the counsel of family and church? 

For a young Mennonite woman who wants to make a difference in the world, growing up on the mission field in Haiti should be the perfect fit. But not for Callie Zimmerman. Raised by her aunt and uncle after the death of her parents, Callie works beside her aunt cooking, cleaning and sewing each day as the men head off to serve the community. She longs to do more to alleviate the poverty and sickness that surrounds her, but tradition and her uncle forbid it. 

On the eve of her twenty-third birthday, struggling with hopelessness as another year passes, Callie pleads with God to open a door for her. The prayer has barely left her mouth when she finds a stack of letters with secrets about her parents' deaths and their excommunication from the Mennonite church. Devastated, Callie cries herself to sleep, only to be awakened a few hours later by her uncle with the startling news the Noah Koehn has asked permission to court her. 

Is one of these the answer to her prayer? Would exploring her parents past mean losing a future with Noah? Is it worth the risk?

Barnes & Noble │ Amazon

My Thoughts

Inspired by personal experience, Lael Harrelson has written a hard-to-put-down story that tackles real-life issues in a realistic and meaningful way. At the same time, Tremors of Doubt is a refreshingly different story and there’s nothing predictable about it.

The setting – a Mennonite mission in Haiti – is so vividly conveyed with a sensory awareness that I could almost literally experience the villages and people. All that I’ve read about this country was fleshed out in a moving way as Harrelson takes us deeper into the culture of Haiti.

Callie, living with her Uncle Roman and Aunt Rhoda and serving at the mission, is a compelling young lady, so easy to connect with. The story becomes quite eye opening as Callie questions not only her place and mission in life, but the teachings of her conservative and legalistic faith as well, especially the role of women. And when the discovery of her parents’ journey of faith sends her to Colorado for a time, I eagerly journeyed with her.

Tremors of Doubt is one of my favorite books and I hope for many more stories from Lael Harrelson.

Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

About the Author

Raised by a fun loving, atheist single mom who struggled with depression and mental illness I spent my childhood backpacking around Europe, visiting yoga communes, eating vegan, living on a houseboat, then an old pony express outpost in the backwoods of Montana. My teen years took a drastic turn when my mom got saved, got married, and joined an ultra-conservative Mennonite church. Faith, step parents and unquestioning obedience is a dangerous combination when mixed with mental illness, legalism, and heavy handed physical correction. 

I became a confused believer with a heart for Jesus but drowning under a sea of rules, regulations, and legalism. I became a missionary teacher and then a nurse and escaped to the mission field, the one avenue open to single women. I taught VBS on Indian reservations, led school for missionary children in Haiti and Africa. All around me was heartache and disease and glaring need. I longed to make a difference but was limited to working on the mission compound – teaching, cooking, cleaning. Work outside the walls of the compound was reserved for the men. 

On a furlough, I met my future husband – a new believer who wasn’t looking for a door mat in a wife but a partner. As he grew in his faith, I reexamined mine and what Biblical womanhood looked like. Timidly at first, but then eagerly, as I discovered a new relationship with Jesus Christ based on grace and not performance. I left the Mennonite church and married the love of my life twenty years ago. We have five beautiful teenagers, two by birth and three through adoption from Haiti. My husband is adopted and God used my time in Haiti to prepare me to understand my children’s culture and language and ease their transitions home. 

Two people in my family have mild Asperger’s and one has Reactive Attachment disorder, PTSD, and ODD. Our house is not a quiet, well greased machine but a chaotic, happy, crazy, nerve racking, love filled oasis where we all try to help each other grow and thrive. I am so thankful for my life – the good and the bad. I feel blessed to have experienced so many unique situations and to love and be loved by so many wonderful and eccentric people. It is from these experiences I draw the fiction stories I write. I like to think of them as fiction with grit – fast paced and entertaining stories that make you want to read till the very last page while at the same time tackling real life issues – legalism, abuse, divorce, adoption, Asperger syndrome, mental illness, etc.

Guest Post from Lael Harrelson

To the casual observer, Haiti is a magical island of swaying palms, laughing children, and azure blue oceans, but for one who takes the time to look deeper, a darker truth emerges. Starvation. Desperation. Darkness. Hopelessness. 

Callie’s church is a shining beacon of family values, sincere faith, and simple living but, again, for one who takes the time to dive deeper, there is a hidden trail of broken spirits, crushed dreams, and oppressed women and girls. 

Drawing inspiration from my experiences as a Haitian missionary and former Mennonite, I hope you will find Tremors of Doubt not only entertaining but life changing as you follow Callie’s journey through self-doubt, crushed dreams, love triangles, life changing secrets, and fragile hope as she navigates being the daughter of Haitian missionaries on an exotic Caribbean Island where danger is lurking just below the surface.

Blog Stops

Quiet Quilter, June 12

Among the Reads, June 12

Blossoms and Blessings, June 13

Mommynificent, June 13

Bigreadersite, June 13

The Avid Reader, June 14

Blogging With Carol, June 14

Carpe Diem, June 15

The Power of Words, June 15

A Baker’s Perspective, June 16

Random Thoughts From a Bookworm, June 16

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, June 17

Mary Hake, June 17

margaret kazmierczak, June 17 (Interview)

Jen Around the World, June 18

Inklings and notions, June 18

Maureen’s Musings, June 19

Two Points of Interest, June 19

Texas Book-aholic, June 20

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 20

Janices book reviews, June 21

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, June 21

Have A Wonderful Day, June 22

ansel book blog, June 22

Because I said so – adventures in Parenting, June 23

cherylbbookblog, June 23

Bibliophile Reviews, June 24

Red Headed Book Lady, June 24

A Reader’s Brain, June 25

Jeanette’s Thoughts, June 25

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lael is giving away a grand prize of an autographed copy of Tremors of Doubt, an adorable set of Amish dolls, a set of handwritten recipe cards with mouthwatering Amish recipes, a handmade Haitian bracelet made by Haitian students, a pound of nationally acclaimed Haitian coffee, a bar of rich Haitian chocolate, and a $25 Amazon gift card!!

Click the image above or the link below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://promosimple.com/ps/d06c/tremors-of-doubt-celebration-tour-giveaway