Not by Chance

In Search of Significance Thirty-year-old Brandon Jones arrives at his parentsrs" doorstep burned out, jobless, and now fianceacute;e-less. Ellen and Guy can provide a place for him to stay only until he figures out what to do with his life. When he takes a temporary job at a summer camp for disadvantaged kids, Brandon begins a turbulent relationship with a biracial adolescent named Caedmon. Somewhere in the midst of the chaos-caused by Caedmonrs"s disappearance just before a hurricane is predicted to hit Seaport, and by a group of racists who will not stop at arson or murder-Brandon begins to see that the pieces of his life arenot by chance. If he has discovered his lifers"s purpose, can he live it? "Life is pointless. And if therers"s a God, Hers"s asleep on the job." Brandon Jones didnrs"t know what he expected from the homeless man he met on the way out of town. Certainly not the angry words that haunted him. But then,nothinghappened the way he expected. Not his promising career, not his engagement to the "perfect" woman. All his certainty that God had plans for him, that he was meant to do something important-somethingsignificant-had amounted to a big fatzero. And now, here he was, thirty years old, no job, no fianceacute;e. Living with his parents. Maybe the homeless guy was right. Then againhellip;maybe not. Maybe Brandon has returned to Seaport for a reason. To face down a brewing disaster, steeped in hate crimes and danger. To survive against all odds. To learn, once and for all, that "many are the plans in a manrs"s heart, but it is the Lordrs"s purpose that prevails." {INSERT ENDORSEMENTS TO COME} Story Behind the Book "I am continually blessed by how many readers express their appreciation for the God-given talent that enables me to write novels, but Irs"m more amazed that so many of them feel as though they havenrs"t been gifted with anything. My goal in writingNot By Chancewas to show that Godrs"s purpose for every life is in place before we are born. Based on Proverbs 19:21 , ls"Many are the plans in a manrs"s heart, but it is the L ordrs"s purpose that prevails,rs" I sought to create unforgettable characters who challenge each readerrs"s understanding of their purpose in life. Ultimately, I want to point them to the Creator with the Master plan." -Kathy Herman

Kathy Herman, the bestselling author of the Baxter series, Poor Mrs. Rigsby, and the Seaport Suspense novels, is at home in the Christian industry. She spent five years on staff at the Christian Booksellers Association and eleven years as a retailer at Better Books Christian Center in Tyler, Texas, where she specialized in children’s products. Not By Chance is her tenth novel. Kathy and her husband, Paul, have three grown children and five grandchildren. They enjoy world travel, deep sea fishing, and bird watching—often all at the same time!