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Seaport Suspense #4
Not By Chance
In Search of Significance
Thirty-year-old Brandon Jones arrives at his parents' doorstep burned out, jobless, and now fianc�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 Caedmon'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 are not by chance. If he has discovered his life's purpose, can he live it?
"Life is pointless. And if there's a God, He's asleep on the job."
Brandon Jones didn'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, nothing happened 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--something significant--had amounted to a big fat zero. And now, here he was, thirty years old, no job, no fianc�e. Living with his parents.
Maybe the homeless guy was right.
Then again...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 man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."
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 I'm more amazed that so many of them feel as though they haven't been gifted with anything. My goal in writing Not By Chance was to show that God's purpose for every life is in place before we are born. Based on Proverbs 19:21, 'Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the L ord's purpose that prevails, ' I sought to create unforgettable characters who challenge each reader's understanding of their purpose in life. Ultimately, I want to point them to the Creator with the Master plan." --Kathy Herman
Thirty-year-old Brandon Jones arrives at his parents' doorstep burned out, jobless, and now fianc�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 Caedmon'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 are not by chance. If he has discovered his life's purpose, can he live it?
"Life is pointless. And if there's a God, He's asleep on the job."
Brandon Jones didn'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, nothing happened 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--something significant--had amounted to a big fat zero. And now, here he was, thirty years old, no job, no fianc�e. Living with his parents.
Maybe the homeless guy was right.
Then again...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 man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."
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 I'm more amazed that so many of them feel as though they haven't been gifted with anything. My goal in writing Not By Chance was to show that God's purpose for every life is in place before we are born. Based on Proverbs 19:21, 'Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the L ord's purpose that prevails, ' I sought to create unforgettable characters who challenge each reader's understanding of their purpose in life. Ultimately, I want to point them to the Creator with the Master plan." --Kathy Herman
352 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2006
19 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
About the author
Kathy Herman
34 books244 followersBest-selling suspense novelist Kathy Herman has written twenty novels—including the Secrets or Roux River Bayou Series, Sophie Trace Series, the Seaport Suspense Series, and the Phantom Hollow Series—since retiring from her family’s Christian bookstore business. She and her late husband Paul have a blended family of three grown children. Kathy lives in the Northwest.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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March 28, 2022Veel dialogen. Vond het een taai boek. Niet echt mijn gene.
October 16, 2015
This was a good end to the series and after 9 books with the same characters it's nice to move on to some new ones. I'm looking forward to starting the next series of Kathy Herman. I would recommend this book and this series.
May 8, 2017
WOW all i can say is WOW ... with this 9th & final book with Ellen & Guy Jones ... what an enlightening "education" i've come away with a new found awareness & a closer desire in my own walk with Christ. if you really enjoy reading & learning thru Life Application ... these two series ~ the Baxter Series & a Seaport Suspense. i'm now starting on the next set Phantom Hollow ~ to follow along with Brandon Jones on his new path ... with Christ ... new job ... new wife????
November 10, 2023
I think this one was my favorite. God worked through this book. Brandon was reading Psalm 139 and so was I. The coincidence wasn't lost on me. Ms. Herman's books are my nighttime reading and I love it.
November 17, 2015
I've liked the stories in this series, but this one seemed drawn out to me. I also find it irritating that the character's full names and titles are used every time they reappear. It almost makes me feel like the author doesn't think I'm smart enough to know who's who from one scene to the next.
January 14, 2008
These are kind of entertaining, and has the Maine culture as part of the story. Enjoyed it. It was a good mystery.
November 7, 2011
Good read
June 13, 2016
Wow! This series has been awesome and hard hitting at the same time. I highly reccomend you read a Kathy Herman.
August 3, 2013
Awesome great book
April 1, 2016
Such a great story with a couple of great messages. This is the last book in the series. That is always a sad thing for me.
June 2, 2016
I greatly enjoyed this series. I'm sad to see it end not knowing what happens with Brandon and Kelsey. I will definitely be reading the next series to find out.
December 9, 2016
such an epic finale, u won't want to put this book down!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews