Chains of Gold — Ellen Williamson

            Charlie OMalley is filled with grief, anxiety and hopelessness as he stands on the banks of and contemplates suicide.  Jewel Brady, an avowed atheist has just broken their engagement because she cannot endure being married to a preacher.  The temptation to throw himself into the dark, roiling waters of the lake pulls him toward the bank. 

            You first met Charlie and Jewel in the books Anguish of the Innocent  and Guilt in Disguise when they fell in love in high school.  Charlies decision to be a preacher was the catalyst, which tore them apart.  Now Charlie must decide whether to marry the girl he loves or follow through on his commitment to God. 

            In her despair and depression, Jewel casts aside her moral convictions and  begins a destructive lifestyle, which puts her in situations that have life-long consequences.

            Charlies brother, Hubert and Jewel begin a romantic relationship, unaware of the others relationship to Charlie. 

            World War I and the great influenza epidemic bring death and grief to , so Charlie must decide whether to join the military or stay home and minister to the people in his church. 

            You will weep with the broken hearted, rejoice with the victorious and hope for a solution to a seemingly hopeless situation when you read Chains of Gold set in Buffalo, New York in Nineteen-seventeen. 


Carolyn Erickson, Retired Peace Corp volunteer:  This chapter in the life of Billy Richards (a.k.a. Charlie Q. OMalley, II) takes him from hopelessness and despair to the strong belief in his lifes mission.  The spiritual strength he grows into along the way helps him in his relationships to himself, his friends, and an almost lost brother.  In this, he is a