In God's Own Time

by Ruth Scofield

In God's Own Time by Ruth Scofield released on Apr 24, 1998 is available now for purchase.

Genres: Love Inspired

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

A Missouri native, Ruth (Lee Scofield) grew up in Kansas City before TV and learned early on that "let's pretend" was a wonderful game. She learned the work ethic early, too, holding a variety of jobs during high school: carrying cafeteria trays at 14, clerking in a dime store, drug store fountain waitress and office work.

After graduation, Ruth married the love of her life, Charles, had two children, Karen and Charlie, and moved around the country with her IBM husband. While living in New York, Ruth worked as a multi-task person for a weekly newspaper and had her first byline as a feature writer.

An avid Bible student, Ruth worked for 30 years with teens within her church and hosted both a weekly woman's prayer group and young adult study group while living near Washington, D. C., where she attended her first RWA National Conference. She joined the local RWA chapter and a heavy-duty critique group where she honed her skills.

Ruth wrote some western historicals for Harper as Lee Scofield. Her first, SWEET AMITY'S FIRE, was a finalist for RWA's First Book RITA award.

Reviews

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating history of criminal Australia, this is more a popular history than a serious study. There are many gaps, her early years for example, and a lack of balance, the writer obviously admires this woman or is not free to write anything other than praise, which is not to say that it is false, simply that no-one is perfect and there is a lack of depth and complexity although there are warm and intelligent responses to some of the situations she encounters that run again the grain of the highly moralistic society of the time. LillianArmfield joined the police force in 1915 and was there for thiry four years. She was the first policewoman and her position was made possible by the agitation of women's groups, who thought a woman in the police force might do a better job of guiding women away from prostitution and crime. Most of her work did seem to be with women and some of her responses showed a sympathetic tact and common sense that suggested she succeeded in this though, at the the time, there were complaints she was more a policeman than a woman in some of her responses. Interesting bits - her employment contract specified that she would not get superannuation when she retired - a strange chapter on lesbianism, categorising it as a crime. Many moments of professional courage where she admits difficulty in avoiding the thought, on the basis of what she has observed, that a clean, brothel well run, that respected and cared for the girls, was better than them being out on the street or in the hands of men who lived off their earnings; or the story of he young couple she convinced to marryfor their four children's sake, and whose marriage was consequently marred by violence from the man who loved his family but who didn't like to feel tied down, a fear hiis partner had always respected - she says of this "Poor little things. My interference had made them legitimate, but it had broken up their lives. A bit of the road to hell could certainly be paved with my good intentions." A short, unwritten sentence away from the thought that the rules of society do more damage to its complicated set of individuals than we are permitted to admit. Full of fascinating characters, but a disappointing collection of photos.

[Harlequin Books]

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