Ms. Reynolds's poetic gifts are uncommonly powerful.In The Rapture of Canaan, she tells a truly rapturous love story and presents two unforgettable characters:the teenage heroine and her skeptical but stalwart grandmother, from whom she learns about the acceptance of loss, the pragmatism that must underlie any abiding love, and the place in every heart where God resides, waiting to reveal himself.

At The Church of Fire and Brimstone and God's Almighty Baptizing Wind, Grandpa Herman makes the rules for everyone,and everyone obeys, or else. But even in this isolated community,where it seems nearly everything is forbidden, temptation occasionally touches the congregation...and for Ninah,temptation comes in the form of her prayer partner James. Ninah is determined not to sin with James--so determined that she's wilhn~ to fill her shoes with shells to keep her mind on Jesus' pain.Nevertheless, she soon finds herself pregnant. She fears the wrath of Grandpa Herman, the church members, and God Himself. But the events that follow show Ninah that God's ways are more mysterious than even Grandpa Herman can understand...