About the Book
Book: The Daughter of Shiloh (Enduring Hope Book Three)
Author: Terri J. Haynes
Genre: Christian Fiction / Romance / Historical Fiction
Release Date: October 1, 2025
A Stampede Tramples Hopes
Collect a series of six historical romances. When life seems weighed down by challenges, there are always pillars of enduring hope and love to be discovered.
Lealie Bevard, a determined Tuskegee Institute student, attends the Shiloh Baptist Church convention in Birmingham on September 19, 1902, to request a scholarship for continued education at Harvard. But a beautiful gathering turns tragic when a stampede breaks out and Lealie is injured. While convalescing at the home of fellow Tuskegee student Milton Rafferty, Lealie’s concerns for her future are set aside to help Milton uncover a mystery revolving around missing church funds and a possible murder. Perhaps a pause in Lealie’s well-laid plans can be used for good and lead to love.
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About the Author
Terri J. Haynes, a native Baltimorean, is a homeschool mom, writer, prolific knitter, freelance graphic artist and former Army wife (left the Army, not the husband). She loves to read, so much that when she was in elementary school, she masterminded a plan to be locked in a public library armed with only a flashlight to read all the books and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. As she grew, her love for writing grew as she tried her hand at poetry, articles, speeches and fiction. She is storyteller at heart. Her passion is to draw readers in the story world she has created and to bring laughter and joy to their lives.
Terri is a 2010 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis contest finalist, and a 2012 semi-finalist. She is also a 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarterfinalist. Her publishing credits include: Cup of Comfort for Military Families, Crosswalk.com, the Secret Place Devotional, Urbanfaith.com, Vista Devotional, and Publisher’s Weekly.
Terri holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology, a Master’s degree in Theological Studies and a certificate in creative writing and graphic design, meeting the minimal requirements of being a geek. She and her husband pastor a church where she serves as executive pastor and worship leader. Terri lives in Maryland with her three wonderful children and her husband, who often beg her not to kill off their favorite characters.
More from Terri
Growing up in inner-city Baltimore as the fourth daughter of five, money was always tight. Each school year, my mother paid for one field trip because that was all she could afford. With only one shot, I had to pick wisely.
I choose museums every year.
Some years, it was the Walter’s Art Gallery. Others, The Baltimore Museum of Art. I passed up the amusement parks and sports games to go walk through history. My history walking hasn’t changed now that I’m an adult. If I’m traveling, I’m always checking to see what museums are nearby.
History, for me, isn’t just about learning about old things. It’s about learning about old struggles, victories, and modern applications of those things. When I first learned about the Shiloh Baptist Church disaster, it struck me as horrifying and hopeless. As I began to research, however, I saw that this moment in history had a lesson to teach.
The Shiloh Baptist Church stampede is a story of resilience. It gives a snapshot of people, in the worst moment of their lives, figuring out how to move forward. I was moved by the community coming together to care for the victims, many of them total strangers. How local business owners donated to the care of strangers or to cover funeral costs.
History walking informs. It showed me, from a young age, strength and hope. It taught me lessons from ancient texts that helped me through the dark days I encountered in my personal life while writing this book. I wrote this book informed by history that I could face hard times because others did decades ago.
So if you are feeling like there are hard days ahead for you, do a little history walking. Hit the museums or the books. Learn history’s lessons. They are rich and priceless.
My Impressions
“you are their beloved daughter, and I am their troublesome son.”– Milton
The Daughter of Shiloh by Terri J. Haynes is a story of conflict, opposing opinions, and people uniting to work together despite their differences. Herein lies the hope of a story that recounts years of prejudice, discrimination, and a true tragedy of that occurred in a Birmingham church. I was somewhat uncomfortable reading of some of the prejudice that I cannot correct. Yet the story needs told, and I was thankful that the characters looked beyond their problems ( not denying them) to find Hope in following Jesus.
Lealia Bevard is highly intelligent, beautiful, and does exceptionally well at Tuskegee. She is on the fast track for a scholarship to Howard. She believes this is her and her family’s path out of poverty. She agrees to accompany Booker T. Washington to the Baptist convention in Birmingham at her former home church, Shiloh Baptist Church, because there she will be awarded the scholarship. A wise friend tells her, “I know you have hopes of how things will go in Birmingham, but remember, God may have other plans. His ways are not our ways, you know.”
Not if Lealia has anything to do with said plans!
Milton Rafferty, our other key player, is also a product of Shiloh Baptist Church. But his is not a love story. A continuously drunk father, an ill-timed event, and wagging tongues conspire to make Milton and his mother pariahs. The same people who are blessing Lealia are cursing Milton. As Lealia slowly gets to know Milton, she begins to see what a rock-steady nurse and man of character he is, because of his faith. Lealia is attracted to Milton, even as he hides his secret from her, and she becomes more and more involved in Shiloh Baptist Church.
What will it take for Lealia to shake off her arrogance and personal ambition to align with God’s will? What will it take for the members of Shiloh to accept Milton back into their midst? Can Lealia and Milton work together to help a hurting community and keep a church from being decimated in a totally different way?
One of my fave characters is Milton’s mom. She sloughs off insults like water off a duck’s back. She understands that “People who are afraid can sometimes act in very cruel ways.” Mrs. Rafferty still speaks kindly of the Shiloh people and treats them with respect. “You can’t change other people’s fears, Milton. But you can change yours.” (However, she also recognizes a quack!)
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“That’s why it’s called faith. Sometimes you don’t know if something is going to work or if you’re going in the right direction. You have to trust that God has a bigger plan for you than where you are right now.” -Mrs. Rafferty
“The Talented Tenth will show the way to the future.” -DuBois
“Going back to Shiloh was going to hurt. He could feel it.” – Milton
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Magnificent! Food for thought in many ways, plus an excellent example of how people who may not agree can still work together in unity!
Blog Stops
Life on Chickadee Lane, October 29
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 30
Texas Book-aholic, October 31
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 1
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 2
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 3
For Him and My Family, November 4
Devoted To Hope, November 5
Stories By Gina, November 6 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, November 6
Simple Harvest Reads, November 7 (Guest Review from Donna)
Holly’s Book Corner, November 8
Book Butterfly in Dreamland , November 9
Cover Lover Book Review, November 9
Pause for Tales, November 10
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, November 12 (Author Interview)
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Terri is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon e-Gift card and a print copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/3d288/the-daughter-of-shiloh-celebration-tour-giveaway
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions 