Books & other writing
By My Own Betrayal – Young Adult Novel + Series
To live is Christ. To die is much more likely.
Raised as a skilled assassin, the young and ambitious Sadie Black knows nothing else; her only way to live is for someone to die. Doing otherwise would betray her sole support network and leave her at the wrong end of a gun—which is exactly where Sadie has landed herself.
Abandoning the life of a hired killer for a new life in Christ, Sadie must work with a self-reliant FBI agent and his cryptic superior to secure her freedom before a vengeful family can steal her back to the career she’s desperately running from. Or they execute something a bit more…fatal.
Filled with sarcasm and intrigue, this contemporary faith-based novel proves itself as a must-read for adventure-seeking teens and new adults.
Author Endorsements
“Action-packed and Gospel-centered, By My Own Betrayal is a heart-pounding story, reminiscent of Frank Peretti’s Veritas Project series, that will enthrall Christian teens and inspire them to follow Jesus and leave everything else behind, no matter the cost.” – Erin Phillips, author of A Crown of Chains
“Entering the sphere of Young Adult action spy novels comes the stunning debut by Cydnie Trenholm. Filled with themes of family, integrity, and choosing to believe the truth, this novel explores what it truly means to stand up for what you believe in, no matter what the cost. Through it all is wound the beautiful tale of perfect redemption found in Christ alone. Perfect for fans of Marvel and James Bond!” – Cheyenne van Langevelde, Author of Between Two Worlds and the Princess of the Highlands Trilogy
“Trenholm presents a fast, clever story that will leave its readers wanting more. Her well-crafted prose and deep characters are absolutely brilliant.” – Nathaniel Luscombe, author of The Ones with Gilded Bones
“By My Own Betrayal is a fresh and unique take on the sacrifices God asks for in our lives. Trenholm — and God — take Sadie from darkness into light on this harrowing journey. From hired assassin to working with the FBI, Sadie places her life on the line for her newfound faith and hope. Trenholm paints an edge-of-your-seat picture of Sadie’s life before and after encountering Jesus — and doesn’t sugar coat the cost of accepting that incredible life.” – Sara Marlowe Jolene, author of The Seed of Euforemalta and The Magenta Trilogy
Content Warnings
- Limited descriptions of gore and violence (PG-13)
- No swearing
- No sexual content
dead and buried – Book 2 of the By My Own Betrayal series
Her family thinks she’s dead. If she’s not careful, she will be.
A young criminal informant died in the hospital after a disastrous encounter with a ring of hitmen; at least, that’s the story on FBI records. While authorities search for the fugitive assassins—the deceased’s own kin—Sadie emerges from the hospital with a new identity, scars that stretch far beneath the surface, and a single-minded resolve: she will share her faith in Jesus Christ with her beloved family. With an agonizing eternity hanging on the inevitable demise of each parent and sibling, Sadie must rely on her skills and insights as a trained killer-for-hire and find them before they disappear forever.
When a coded message linked to her childhood home surfaces, Agent James Way approaches Sadie to help decipher it. She accepts his offer, sacrificing her ability to pursue her family off the FBI radar and assuming a ‘normal’ life in exchange for access to confidential intel.
But putting her murderous past behind her isn’t as easy as changing her name; neither a ‘normal’ life nor her own presumed death can sever the ties to her blood-soaked history, especially the ties that insist she should have never left the hospital in the first place.
Content Warnings
- Symptoms of ‘triggered’ post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health representation
- Limited descriptions of gore and violence (PG-13)
- No swearing (one use of “freaking” as an adjective)
- No sexual content
Devotional Thoughts
Looking for encouragement in your walk with Jesus? Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @cydnietrenholm for snippet-sized inspirations on Christian living.