Even the Faithful, an evocative historical novel
Coming February 2026
Fox and the Dove Press
In a time when love meant silence and sacrifice, how far would you go for mercy?
Dayton, Ohio, 1946. Lotte Walheim is a lonely housewife in a marriage of convenience, bound not by love but by necessity. Her husband, Albert, manages her father’s soap factory and maintains a long-hidden relationship with his high school sweetheart, James. In a society swift to condemn, Albert and Lotte offer each other safety, if not affection.
Then Father Henry Werther arrives—young, devout, and quietly magnetic. Believing he’s been called to help her, he offers Lotte kindness and counsel. What begins as a cautious friendship becomes something far more dangerous. In the aftermath of World War II and in the heart of a tightly knit Catholic community, Lotte and Henry risk everything to follow their hearts.
But secrets do not stay hidden for long, and the fragile alliance between love, faith, and duty begins to crack. As Albert, Lotte, and Henry’s choices converge, they all must decide between the lives and vocations they were raised to uphold—and the families they have built.
Even the Faithful is a haunting, emotionally layered story about love that defies convention, faith that demands sacrifice, and the quiet rebellion of those who live for compassion when the world offers none. This intimate historical novel explores the hidden lives of ordinary people bound by the ache of impossible love.
Blending the delicate restraint of Brooklyn, the hidden histories of The Secret Scripture, and the bittersweetness of Call Me By Your Name, Even the Faithful explores the high cost of keeping up appearances. A perfect fit for readers who enjoy work by Kristin Hannah, Anthony Doerr, and Julia Kelly.
Stay tuned for updates and early looks as we approach the February 2026 release. Sign up for emails below to be the first to know and to receive the free 1940s book club guide.
Readers and editors alike have praised Sara Thomas for her emotional depth, historical insight, and quiet literary power.
I absolutely loved this story…I found it more and more sophisticated and smart with every read!
-Lily H., editor
I’m planning my day around reading more of your book.
-Reader email
I’ve read your story several times now…it is so well-written and I love how you engage the historical aspect!
-Alyssa N., editor
Compelling, richly written, and grounded in historical insight.
-Early reader review
Earlier Work: The Pedigree Series
Before Even the Faithful, I wrote the Pedigree series, family dramas steeped in privilege, secrets, and generational conflict. The series remains available as a digital exclusive through Amazon.
For readers who enjoy stories of love, legacy, and complicated families, Pedigree offers a contemporary counterpart to my historical fiction. If you enjoyed These Summer Storms or Pineapple Street, tap the button below to start reading.