Counting Coup, the prequel to the Benediction of Paul series, is a powerful coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of the Apsáalooke reservation in 1948 Montana. Rebecca, a determined and resilient young girl, faces the harsh realities of life as she assumes the responsibility of protecting her newborn brother, Karl, rejected by their mother and seen as an outcast for his striking blue eyes. Navigating a world of familial turmoil, cultural traditions, and a community grappling with change, Rebecca embodies the spirit of a warrior as she fights to ensure her brother's survival and belonging.

Through Rebecca's journey, Counting Coup explores themes of identity, resilience, and the unbreakable bonds of family. The story paints a vivid portrait of life on the reservation, blending the spiritual richness of Apsáalooke traditions with the stark challenges faced by its people. With evocative prose and deeply human characters, Counting Coup captures the...]]> Wed, 26 Nov 2025 17:11:12 +0200 https://philosophy.library.land/patricia-mcclure/715222-all_for_one_child.html https://philosophy.library.land/patricia-mcclure/715222-all_for_one_child.html

The cloistered world of St. Alberic's Monastery becomes a battleground of secrets, spiritual quests, and human frailty. Fourteen-year-old Paul, raised among monks who both nurture and dismiss him, faces the upheaval of a community in transition. When the reluctant and enigmatic Father Jacob, an Apsalooke man with a tragic past, is unexpectedly elected abbot, Paul finds himself wrestling with feelings of betrayal, loss, and the weight of unspoken truths. Amid shifting power dynamics and the echoes of unresolved grief, Paul seeks a sense of belonging while navigating the often harsh realities of monastic life. Through vividly drawn characters and a narrative rich with tension, All for One Child explores themes of identity, resilience, and the complexities of faith. As Paul embarks on a reluctant journey away from the only home he's known, this story explores the intersection of tradition, change, and the deep bonds that form within unconventional families.

Karl Mackenzie Knows the Song became a Benedictine monk in Montana by default after a drunk driver took the lives of his wife and children. Now known as Father Jacob, he hasn't quite forgiven God and is not ready to love again. When an orphaned boy, Paul Warner, is adopted by St. Alberic's Monastery, he and his best friend, Father Joannicus, find themselves face to face with a job neither of them is ready for. God and their contemplative life are overshadowed by headstrong women and the raising of a child.

Father Jacob Mackenzie Knows the Song grew up in an abusive home. When he discovers bruises on eight-year-old Paul, the ward of the monastery, his carefully sequestered past breaks into his present life. His turmoil of anger and sadness turn to disgust and rage when he discovers the monk responsible for the abuse. To find peace and help Paul survive this ordeal, Jacob must confront the trauma he had so carefully spent his life hiding.