A Fallen Sparrow by Lynne Basham Tagawa

This month has been exhausting. But joyful!

The last installment of the Russells trilogy launched this month, and it has been a long road—starting with the first book in the series, The Shenandoah Road, set during the Great Awakening of the 1740s.

The events in A Fallen Sparrow take place during the American Revolution. What’s the relationship between a revival and a war?

As a result of the preaching of the revival, a Christian worldview shaped the thoughts and actions of Patriots and Loyalists alike, even those who were not actually Christians.

Americans were keenly aware of what they called “natural rights.” “We hold these truths to be self-evident …” says the Declaration of Independence. These are rights given to us by God, not man. These issues really mattered to the colonists.

In my story my characters wrestle over the issues relating to natural rights and what a Christian may do under tyranny. Is there a situation in which we may resist—biblically?

Excerpt:

She found herself standing near Jonathan, who was rolling his shoulders and blinking up at the sunshine.

“How d’ye bear it, all the redcoats about?” he asked.

Ruth glanced about the yard and surrounding streets. Three red uniforms dotted the small crowd that milled about, conversing.

“They are the King’s servants.” She didn’t want to argue.

His gaze seemed to drill into her. “Precisely.”

“We ought to give honor where honor is due.”

Jonathan adjusted his waistcoat, which fit him well, but he seemed uncomfortable in it even so. “I agree with that. I ken the scriptures.”

Somehow, his agreement needled her. “You can’t mean that every law and decision should be subject to your approval before you obey it?” Her voice emerged loud to her ears.

Aunt Betsy looked her way, lifting a brow.

“Not every decision is legitimate. Not every law is lawful,” he said.

This was the one point where Ruth stumbled. In theory, she knew he was right. But how—

“The King is subject to the law,” he said. “We see that in the Magna Carta.”

Mr. Shirley side-stepped closer.

“I know my history!” she hissed. Now she was angry. He was treating her like a child.

“Sir—” Mr. Shirley objected in an undertone.

They were creating a scene, but she didn’t care.

Jonathan stepped closer. “The Parliament is out of bounds—”

“Who are you—”

He kissed her. Soundly.

Someone clapped.

“Dinna act shocked,” he growled into her cap. He drew back and locked his gaze on hers. “Too many overheard you.”

The fog dispersed from her mind. Her lips tingling, she nodded.

He tucked her arm in his elbow. “A wee argument with your beau is all they’ll remember.”

Heat flooded her cheeks. “I’ll get you back for this, Jonathan Russell.”

Lynne Tagawa is a wife, mom, and grandma to five who loves coffee and chocolate. She especially loves including gospel truth in her historical fiction. She’s also written a Texas History curriculum, Sam Houston’s Republic, in narrative (story) form, because history is interesting and history books should be too!