Indianapolis high school principal Wendell Quinn starts a voluntary after-school Bible study in the hopes of improving the lives of his students. In spite of a lawsuit filed against him, he continues to hold the prayer program, noting that test scores are up and gang violence and drug use have declined. Incensed by the case, lawyer Luke Baxter agrees to defend Quinn's right to hold his study. As Luke's workload increases, his wife Reagan worries that the costs will outweigh the benefits. Can Luke balance his work with his family and keep his faith intact? VERDICT Kingsbury's issues-oriented follow-up to Love Story offers a timely look at the crossroads of public law and religious freedom. Although the topic can be volatile, the author handles it in a sensitive manner, creating room for discourse and not discord.

Fans of Kingsbury's Baxter Family collection will no doubt dive into this syrupy novel focusing on Luke Baxter, a lawyer specializing in religious freedom cases. A year after high school principal Wendell Quinn started a voluntary Bible study program at his troubled, low-performing Indianapolis public high school, test scores have risen and violence has dropped dramatically schoolwide. Cami Nelson, a junior devastated by her parents' recent separation, begins attending the Bible study under dubious pretenses: she is working covertly with her father to shut it down. He is motivated both by his secularist beliefs and spite toward his Christian wife. But even though Cami's life unexpectedly begins to improve thanks to her growing relationship with Jesus, her dad sues the school to end the program anyway. Enter Luke, whose dedication to defending the rights of Christians to practice their faith sometimes hampers his home life. Kingsbury provides ample context for the court case, explaining many recent cases concerning religious freedoms. But the legal proceedings often get lost in the froth of overwrought emotions typical of Kingsbury's love-conquers-all outlook. Readers of Kingsbury's previous books will be pleased to see recurring characters, including Luke's sister Ashley and niece Amy. Agent: Rick Christian, Alive Literary Agency. (Nov.)