A deli that’s also a bait shop — are you chuckling and shaking your head or trying to guess the story behind this oddity? If you enjoy Southern American fiction and Christian fiction, 𝑂𝑛𝑎 𝑀𝑎𝑒’𝑠 𝐷𝑒𝑙𝑖 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵𝑎𝑖𝑡 𝑆ℎ𝑜𝑝 by Renee Hodges is for you!

The story follows Bekah, a young woman whose dreams are crushed when her husband files for divorce. Disillusioned with her faith in God, she moves to a small college town to reinvent herself. Abandoning her previous values, Bekah seeks fulfillment by seizing pleasure anywhere she can find it.

Meanwhile, the town is facing its own trauma. Old wounds are opened as evidence is uncovered involving the fifty-year-old disappearance of five Civil Rights activists. Relationships are both strained and strengthened as characters grapple with themes of grace, forgiveness and healing.

Full of charming Southern culture and quirky, multifaceted characters, this book drew me in quickly. The authenticity of the characters’ struggles was refreshing and relatable. The author sensitively addresses some profound topics, including diverse worldviews and interracial relations. The book left me thoughtful and with a feeling of hope.

𝑂𝑛𝑎 𝑀𝑎𝑒’𝑠 𝐷𝑒𝑙𝑖 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵𝑎𝑖𝑡 𝑆ℎ𝑜𝑝 is the first book in the Sweet Friendship series by Renee Hodges. If you want to follow the characters further, the second book, 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑎𝑟𝑚, is already available! You can connect with the author on her website, www.reneehodges.com