Sometimes on the trail ya find a story that lassoes your heart and pulls tight. Characters ya cheer on and embrace like long lost pards and a message that keeps gnawin’ on ya long after the campfire has turned to embers. SAVING HOPE by Margaret Daley was one of those stories for me, and I was plum thrilled when she agreed to let me pass the tale ‘round the fire.
Since Cookie and me get all riled about crimes against our young folk and I’d like to share the message of SAVING HOPE, we decided we’d give one lucky commenter an ebook copy of SAVING HOPE. So, leave a comment and tomorrow at first light I’ll pull a name from the hat.
When a teenager goes missing from the Beacon of Hope School, Texas Ranger Wyatt Sheridan and school director Kate Winslow are forced into a dangerous struggle against a human trafficking organization. But the battle brings dire consequences as Wyatt’s daughter is terrorized and Kate is kidnapped.
Now it’s personal, and Wyatt finds both his faith and investigative skills challenged as he fights to discover the mastermind behind the ring before evil destroys everyone he loves.
Today’s feature not only includes a fantastic modern day tough, tender, law-dealing, cowboy, Texas Ranger Wyatt Sheridan, and a brave, intelligent, caring heroine, Kate Winslow, but the message of this book is so dynamic I just had to feature it even though it is contemporary and not historical. Margaret Daley tackles the crime of human trafficking in a powerful story with characters readers come to care deeply about, and a story that pulls you in completely (even to places you don’t want to go).
I would say this book has two heroines, as once you meet Rose Garland you can’t help but love this teenager who has endured the worst humans can dish out, but still finds the will to fight against those who would drag her back to a life of sexual slavery. I found myself verbally cheering Rose on and encouraging her to fight, and wanting to fight for her.
Ranger Wyatt Sheridan is what a hero should be. He’s determined to see justice in rescuing victims of these crimes, and punishment meted out for those dealing in humans. His personal struggles only make him a stronger character especially his relationship with his daughter and keeping his family safe and intact from the horrors he witnesses daily.
Kate Winslow’s driving desires to see the girls in her care overcome their tragic pasts and succeed and prosper…to find hope really inspired me. Her willingness to get in the trenches and do whatever it takes to save as many girls as she can, and her interaction and how she truly gets to know each girl made her a heroine who makes you take stock of what you would do in her situation and how hard would you fight.
But I don’t want to give the impression this is a dark and dreary story you’ll never recover from. What makes SAVING HOPE such a great read is it’s a story of forgiveness not just of forgiving others but ourselves so we can face the future and live the full life God wants for us. It’s a story of faith. Faith in our family, our friends, and in a faithful Heavenly Father. And it’s a story of hope. Of holding onto hope when it seems most out of reach, and of giving hope to others when they can’t reach it on their own.
SAVING HOPE is one of those books when it ends it leaves you with the memories of a great story, but with a challenge of: What can I do?
Please read the message from Margaret Daley about why she wrote SAVING HOPE. It’s so important we become educated about this crime against humanity. And keep your eyes peeled for book two from THE MEN OF THE TEXAS RANGERS series!
*You can read an excerpt here: SAVING HOPE EXCERPT
Why I Wrote Saving Hope: Human Trafficking
It is estimated that 293,000 American youths are at risk of becoming involved in sex trafficking. We aren’t talking about just 16-18 year olds but younger children, too. The average age is 12-13 years old.
The FBI says this problem is growing in the United States with pimps on social media sites to lure more youths. Most of these teens are runaways or throwaway kids, often children that have been abused or kicked out of their families. Some teens are targeted and kidnapped or their parents sell them to a trafficker. Anyway you look at it, these youths are trapped in a horrific situation with little means of getting out. They become victimized, not just girls but boys, too.
1. We need to recognized the problem.
Human trafficking exist in the United States, not just other parts of the world.
2. We need to see these youths as victims.
These are not criminals to be prosecuted and pass laws to protect our children against this situation and predators.
3. We need to train law enforcement to deal with these youths as victims.
We must give law enforcement the tools and resources to identify the children victimized and ways to connect them to a place that will help them.
4. We need places to give these youths a refuge and a second chance.
We need safe havens–places like Children of the Night have (http://www.childrenof the night.com).
Organizations are beginning to see we need to do something. The Salvation Army is heavily involved in educating the public about the problem. There are organizations that are set up to offer help to children involved in child trafficking–ECPAT and Children of the Night. Also many churches are getting involved. If you suspect a child or situation, please report it to the Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline (open 24/7) at the toll free number 1-888-373-7888.
The above are the reasons I wrote Saving Hope. I taught high school students for twenty-seven years. I never wanted them to become a victim of a human trafficker. I wanted to do something about the problem, to warn them of what can happen if they aren’t careful, but at the same time give the reader an entertaining story that they will remember after they finish the book. I hope people become involved in Kate, Wyatt and Rose’s stories.
I applaud you for taking on such a difficult subject, and one that many people would rather ignore until it touches their lives. Your book sounds like an excellent story, and I hope it accomplishes both goals: raise awareness and tug on readers’ hearts.
Hi Keena! Margaret does a wonderful job of handling such a difficult subject, and one that most Americans view as a international problem. SAVING HOPE highlights how much this terrible crime plagues our own shores. Hope you’ll stop by again, Keena!
Keena, I was surprised at first how much it’s going on in our own country. Thanks for posting.
Hi Margaret, Your story sounds great–and the subject is so timely. We don’t think about ‘sex trafficking’ in the U.S. It’s always “somewhere else.” I’ve actually had two different student papers on that topic just this year. So young people are beginning to be aware! Thanks for shining more light on it in such an accessible format. I know the book will do wonderfully.
Hi Barbara! It’s good to know students are becoming aware of this crime that puts them at the center of the bulls-eye. Hopefully, more can become aware so they can protect themselves against predators. Thanks for stopping by and commenting! Kirsten
Barbara, I’m thrilled your students are becoming aware. That’s a first step in stopping it.