Awaiting Grace — Rosanne Daryl Thomas

Sheila Jericault is the ambitious campaign manager for a ruthless Connecticut politician, a young woman far too busy to know that her soul is in danger. But God knows, and it is God who narrates her story. With both irritation and affection, God sees that Sheila has turned away from life and love, sacrificing her soul in pursuit of success. After a brush with death, her life is saved, but she knows she must change, and she vows to 'do good.' To this end, she frees Kiri, a Sri Lankan slave girl indentured to wealthy diplomats, and promptly congratulates herself on a job well done. But doing good is not that simple, and now she has an illegal alien in her house and another life to look after, and her efforts to get Kiri off her hands and out in the real world yield decidedly mixed results. Just when Sheila thinks she's found the answer, Kiri makes plain that she has other plans, and Sheila is a part of them. Sheila is confused, and she is struggling. But at least, at last, her soul is alive.

The author of The Angel Carver returns with a story rich in humor and insight, a thoroughly delightful, utterly original novel about life and love and faith.