When Sparrows Fall by Meg Moseley

When Sparrows Fall is a captivating novel about a young widow and mother of six, Miranda Hanford, and the life changing events that result from her fall off a cliff. Miranda is a member of a very conservative religious congregation led by a controlling, self serving preacher, Mason Chandler. Following the death of Miranda’s husband Carl, Mason declared his intention to move his congregation and his expectation for Miranda and her children to follow. Miranda clearly relayed to Mason her preference to remain behind, but Mason knows a secret that Miranda has kept hidden and threatens to expose her. Miranda seeks God’s guidance through fasting. As she walked and photographed the cliffs near her home, she became faint and fell from the cliffs. Jack Hanford, Carl’s half brother and college professor is notified that he is named guardian of Miranda’s children. Jack is shocked by the news since he met his brother and Miranda only once. Once Jack arrives at Miranda’s home, he is shocked by the lack of technology, absence of all fiction and the utilitarian dress code followed by the family. From this point in the book, the focus is on the relationship and tensions between Miranda and Jack. The struggle between attraction and fear grips both Miranda and Jack. Miranda fears her secret will result in the loss of her children should Mason decide to expose the truth. She believes Jack’s presence will provoke Mason. Jack feels that Miranda is hiding something and seeks to find the truth. Eventually, Abigail Chandler confides to Miranda that Mason has been unfaithful with a younger woman in the congregation and that his motive for forcing Miranda to move is the tithe on her property. With this new information, Miranda takes a stand against Mason and frees herself.

I really enjoyed this novel and was hooked from the beginning. My only criticism is that Mason Chandler seemed underdeveloped. He was worked up to be such a horrible person, but then he was so easily defeated. Otherwise, I thought the book was great!