Beyond Words

The love of a brother clashes with the will of a town in this stirring and heartfelt novel. When Alex Marshall left his stifling small community as a young adult, he felt freedom for the first time in his life.

The love of a brother clashes with the will of a town in this stirring and heartfelt novel. When Alex Marshall left his stifling small community as a young adult, he felt freedom for the first time in his life.

Rejected by his conservative Christian hometown for his homosexuality, Alex found acceptance elsewhere, becoming a successful lawyer, active in the gay community, and committed to his partner, Scott. But tragedy strikes in the form of AIDS, as it rips away Alex's dignity and crushes his body.

Annie Whitley, Alex's sister, is suddenly faced with a difficult choice. Should she travel to care for her estranged brother—who represents the lifestyle she's been taught to hate and fear—or stay away, deny him, and follow what her town demands? Choosing Alex, she begins to see how her decision impacts the entire community.

And You Invited Me In is one snapshot of the struggle that has raged within and around religion for centuries. The title brings to mind the powerful words in the New Testament: if we see Jesus in every man, would we not invite him in?