Ryan's Father - A Bold New Story

A few weeks ago in my article about WhiteFire Publishing I mentioned an upcoming book that is very brave and unique. I am happy to share that Ryan's Father by June Foster has now released. And just what is so bold about it? Well here's the blurb to start with.

A young man at war with himself

The rippling influence of Ryan Reid's less than moral mother and absent father left a mark on his soul. Yet everything changed when the young teacher gave his life to the Lord...almost everything.

An earthquake hurls the beautiful Sandy Arrington into his life, tossing his world upside down. But when God calls him to build an annex for needy teens at his church, he finds himself battling an attraction toward his male partner in the project. His own struggles and Sandy's growing feelings for him force Ryan to face the issue he's long buried.

Can he dig his way out from under his secret to find Sandy's love?

Yep, Ryan is struggling with homosexuality. The minute I saw the proposal for this book I knew it would be something very special--but also potentially volatile. This is such a sensitive subject right now. It is no longer politically correct for Christians to share what they really believe. Let's face it, Christians have made a lot of hurtful mistakes in addressing this issue. There are so many different opinions on it, and I certainly wouldn't want to hurt anyone who desired to break free from homosexuality in the past and failed.

But as I read this book, it indeed was something special. Ryan and Sandy's story was beautiful. I felt that given the circumstances and motivations, Ryan would be just the sort of man who might find lasting freedom and healing from homosexuality. And Sandy was just the sort of woman to help him get there. The romance is lovely and the redemptive message is incredibly powerful. June comes up with some of the most unique story premises I have ever seen. I really love that about her.

June, Roseanna, and I all worked very hard to get every word just right in Ryan's Father so that God's healing message would be delivered with love and grace. We didn't want to oversimplify matters. We didn't want to offer cliches. We are all very aware that some people will grapple with homosexuality their whole lives, that they might occasionally stumble, and even that they might come to different conclusions than we have. But we also didn't want to shy away from sharing the truth of God's word as we understand it.

If you have an interest in this subject, or if you want to enjoy a wonderful romance that will also challenge and bless you, I highly recommend that you check out Ryan's Father. Click here to find it on amazon.

The Psychology of Romance

(As seen on Seekerville)

My husband and I have been in marital counseling recently. We have a cross-cultural relationship, which is why my latest book features an Islamic heroine with Lebanese roots. It's great for fiction fodder, not so great for smooth-sailing romance.

Our latest counselor recommended we read a book called Getting the Love You Want. And boy was it an eye-opener. Talk about demystifying the romance process. The author breaks down those wonderful tingles, shivers, and ecstatic emotions in a very scientific, and not very flattering, sort of way. To summarize: romance is the process of picking someone who will trigger your worst emotional issues and wound you more deeply than anyone else could. And the more earth-shattering the romance, the more doomed it is for failure.

Ouch! I resemble that remark.

When I first read this book I joked that romance authors should stay far away from it. But as I have begun to see the fruits of this book in my own marriage, I'm starting to think the opposite is true. Every romance author—certainly every responsible Christian romance author—should probably read this book.

Let me give you a quick summary of how this all works to pique your interest. You know that “man of your dreams,” that person who you meet and feel like, “I've known him all my life.” That guy who “completes you.” In other words, the one who stirs up those feelings of “falling in love.” In reality that person just happens to fit a construct in your subconscious called your “imago” or image. And that image is created early in life through an odd combination of familiarity, emotional wounds, and unfulfilled desires. (You have to read the book to thoroughly understand this part and why it happens.)

But let me give you an example. A woman's mother is cold and distant. (This isn't me by the way.) All of her life she longs for her mother to be more loving with her. Enter appropriately handsome man who is cold and distant. He feels familiar to the woman. And in a sort of serendipitous moment, she strikes some familiar chord with him as well. The physical attraction is mutual and romance buds. In the early stage of the relationship the woman feels fulfilled because she has found a cold, distant person and magically created a warm, loving relationship with him. In that way, a sort of healing takes place inside of her, and she feels complete. Now without dragging this out too long, assume some similar but different phenomena is happening with the man.

Sadly, a few years down the road, the initial chemical spark wears off and the woman is left with a cold, distant husband who triggers all of her worst childhood wounds and fears. We've all heard a thousand times that the trait that initially attracts you to your spouse later drives you crazy. And the man is probably experiencing something similar as well. If this couple doesn't have a deep belief in vows and commitments, they will probably split within the first five years of marriage. If they do have those strong core values, they might tough it out ten, twenty, even twenty-five years until the kids grow up. But at some point if they don't get serious help, they won't be able to survive the relationship any longer. At best (or worst depending on your perspective), they might stay married but live separate lives.

However...this same potential for intense pain can be turned around and become an avenue for intense healing. If the couple learns to communicate properly, and even counsel one another, they can begin to heal together. If they can learn to meet one another's hidden needs and soothe one another's wounds, they will develop a deep and abiding love that lasts for the rest of their lives. A God kind of love.

In this way, marriage becomes a symbol for the ultimate romance between us and our savior. It is a conduit for unconditional love, reconciliation, healing, and fulfillment.

Perhaps this is why I so often find myself writing stories of couples who wounded each other terribly during adolescence. With the help of the Holy Spirit, they come back together as adults and help each other heal, ultimately falling back in love. A love that is destined to last because it has endured adversity. The truest kind of love of all.

I know romance is fun. I know hot, sexy hunks who sweep women off their feet are exciting. Everyone loves tingles and shivers and passionate kisses. But in real life when a feisty heroine and domineering hero overcome their mutual stubbornness because of their intense sexual chemistry, they probably aren't headed toward happily-ever-after. Without some serious intervention, they are more likely doomed for disaster. It is the friendship relationship that gently blossoms into romance and results in a logical decision to join two lives that has the much higher success rate in marriage. Even arranged marriages fare much better.

I hate to be a kill joy. I'm not trying to rob you of your fun. And I'm not trying to make romance ugly by putting it under the scientific microscope. I just think as we start this new year, it's important to know the ins and outs of this subject we're writing about. Then we can write in a way that will draw people deeper into the great love story that drives the whole world.

All that being said, structurally my newest novel is more women's fiction than romance. But let me assure you that it in fact contains three romances: tingles, shivers, and all. So think of it as a three-in-one romance collection with a sisterhood frame story. How's that sound? If you give it a try, I think you will enjoy seeing how I use romance to develop deep healing and a true Godly kind of love. 

New Favorites - Zora and Nicky

I'll admit it. These days I have a hard time finding novels I truly love. Now that I've become a career author/editor, more often than not I read a few chapters and put a the book down never to pick it up again. But here are some of my favorite books that I reviewed during 2013 with links to the reviews. Each of these passed the surprisingly difficult task of actually holding my interest, and I highly recommend any of them.

Soul's Gate and Memory's Door by James Rubart (all time favorites!!!)
Paint Chips  by Susie Finkbeiner
Captured by Moonlight by Christine Lindsay
Prophet by R.J. Larson
The Unveiling  by Tamara Leigh

There was one more book I read and loved this year, but never got around to reviewing, Zora and Nicky by Claudia Mair Burney. This novel actually released in 2010. I heard great things about it from the beginning, and I had meant to read it for years. When I finally got around to it, it not only met my expectations, but surpassed them.

For a novel to really hold my interest, it needs to pass three tests. 1) It has to surprise me. 2) It has to make me think. 3) It has to delight me. Zora and Nicky: A Novel in Black and White passed all three with flying colors (pun intended).

The main theme of the book is racism. I'll admit, I didn't connect with this issue 100%, mostly because both the black and white character were more racist than I'm used to. I feel like my family of origin was another generation or even two removed from the racism represented in this book. But as this is a subject I care about, I enjoyed learning, seeing, and growing through their eyes. And although it's hard to think about it, I don't doubt for one minute that such racism still exists today.

However, in addition to their racial differences, Zora and Nicky were both pastors children, and they came from radically different denominations. This was the part of the book that really delighted me. I also was an assistant pastor's child for many of my growing up years, so I understand the pressures and expectations associated with that. Zora came from a black gospel, charismatic, "word faith" church. I also was raised charismatic and spent my teen years in the word of faith movement. I found Burney's assessment of this movement insightful and fair. She captured many of the pitfalls I saw in those types of churches. She also examined the patriarchal tendencies so common in evangelical churches in general. On Nicky's side, she showed the more legalistic Baptist mindset, which has also played a role in my life. Like both Zora and Nicky, I entered adulthood looking for a faith that was fresh, different, and most of all authentic.

I was also delighted by the many laugh out loud (actually roll around on the bed laughing hysterically so that your family comes to check on you) moments that the book offered. Finally, I was delighted by the intense romance between the main characters. I often find romance novels kind of vanilla and lack luster compared to the real life romance I have experienced. But this one really captured the highs, the lows, and all the nuances in between.

So that covers making me think and delighting me. As for surprising me, Nicky's story was shockingly raw. This is always a surprise in Christian fiction. And while of course I wasn't "delighted" by his temptations and struggles, I was in fact delighted that Burney approached them with such honesty and transparency. I also applaud David C. Cook for their willingness to take a chance and publish this book.

Zora and Nicky has it all. Drama, heart-stopping romance, amazing characters, hysterical humor, and thought-provoking themes. I just couldn't let the year end without taking a moment to praise this amazing book.

What were some of your favorite books this year??

Who's up for some Medieval Fun?

It's rare to find Christian novels with a medieval setting. For a number of reasons, medieval novels are not "trendy" in the CBA, and even when written by well-established authors, sales numbers are low. The new exception to this rule seems to be in young adult fiction, which of course is why the medieval series I'm working on is intended for a cross-over teen/adult audience. Melody Dickerson has had a lot of success with this genre, and I hope to follow in her footsteps.

Christian medieval novels can also be found through small presses (like my Dance of the Dandelion with WhiteFire) and through self-publishing venues. Recently I discovered an awesome new series that has been self-published by Tamara Leigh. Tamara is a well-established author in both CBA and ABA romantic fiction. I've previously read and enjoyed her novels written for both audiences, and her new series offers the best of these two worlds.

The back cover reads:

12th century England: Two men vie for the throne: King Stephen the usurper and young Duke Henry the rightful heir. Amid civil and private wars, alliances are forged, loyalties are betrayed, families are divided, and marriages are made.

For four years, Lady Annyn Bretanne has trained at arms with one end in mind—to avenge her brother’s murder as God has not deemed it worthy to do. Disguised as a squire, she sets off to exact revenge on a man known only by his surname, Wulfrith. But when she holds his fate in her hands, her will wavers and her heart whispers that her enemy may not be an enemy after all.Baron Wulfrith, renowned trainer of knights, allows no women within his walls for the distraction they breed. What he never expects is that the impetuous young man sent to train under him is a woman who seeks his death—nor that her unveiling will test his faith and distract the warrior from his purpose.

I loved everything about this book. As an author and editor, I have a hard time these days finding a novel that will actually hold my interest. This one kept me riveted. I read it straight through in a day. I loved tough, scrappy Annyn, and the book brimmed with excitement. I personally liked that it was a bit sexy for an inspirational novel, but that it also had a lovely thread of forgiveness and redemption woven throughout. I also found the author's historical research to be very accurate. For those who love the energy of secular romance novels but would prefer something cleaner, this one should make you as happy as it made me.

And for a quick compare/contrast between Tamara's writing and my own...

This novel is fairly different than Dance of the Dandelion. It follows a typical romance formula and includes a lot of action and suspense. My novel follows more of a coming of age format and is focused on character development more than action. In addition, my novel is set almost two centuries later. However, I think both Tamara and I have a lovely flowing writing style full of awesome description. The books are also similar in that they are both very romantic and even a bit edgy for Christian novels.

Comparing it with my still-in-process young adult novel, Dauntless Love, there are many more similarities. I truly hope that I captured the same excitement and energy that Tamara has brought to life in her action-packed novel. Dauntless Love follows the same romance structure and features a heroine in a man's role, just like The Unveiling, and the settings are only about 60 years apart. The heroines even go through similar journeys of giving up on God after tragedies in their lives and finding their way back within the pages of the book. The main difference is, I avoided any overt sensuality and kept the book more innocent for my teen audience, although there is still plenty of romantic tension. While I would not call Dauntless Love "edgy," there is an innate grittiness to the medieval culture that keeps it from being "sweet."

I highly recommend The Unveiling for older teens to adults who like an edgier, more realistic read. It's a lot of fun and will keep you turning pages late into the night.

Captured by Moonlight

Today I am pleased to recommend an amazing book, Captured by Moonlight by Christine Lindsay. If you haven’t read book one of the Twilight of the British Raj series, Shadowed in Silk, you need to check out this award-winning novel as well. If you have already experienced this breathtaking adventure, let me just say, I think Captured by Moonlight (unbelievably enough) might be even better.

Here’s the official blurb.

Prisoners to their own broken dreams…

After a daring rescue goes awry, Laine Harkness and her friend Eshana flee to the tropical south of India…and headlong into their respective pasts.

Laine takes a nursing position at a plantation in the jungle, only to discover that her former fiancé is the owner…but fun-loving Laine refuses to let Adam crush her heart like he had years ago.

Eshana, captured by her traditional uncle and forced once more into the harsh Hindu customs of mourning, doubts freedom will ever be hers again, much less the forbidden love that had begun to flower.

Amid cyclones, epidemics, and clashing faiths, will the love of the True Master give hope to these searching hearts?

First let me mention the facets of both books in this series that I love. The settings and history are amazing!!! I love these peeks at Gandhi’s India rich with spices and colorful silks. They are full of adventure and a realistic depiction of the difficult lives the characters faced. The spiritual elements are beautifully and organically woven into the stories, and truly inspire me. Christine is a topnotch writer in every sense of the word.

Now for a few of the things that I liked even better in book 2. Laine Harkness is a spunky heroine full of courage and conviction. I love that about her. She’s not afraid to take risks and fight for what is right. I also love the even richer setting of the jungle full of exotic plants, animals, and characters. Finally, my favorite character in book one is Eshana, and she moves into a more pivotal role in book two, launching on her own adventure and exploring her own first hints at romance. Eshana faces many trials in this book which push her to the very edge, yet her deep, personal, and even supernatural faith see her through.

Did I help edit this book? Guilty as charged. But I was given a true gem to start with. The story completely engulfed and delighted me, even in the early draft. I have no doubt you will love it as well.

What's New in CBA Historical Romance???

I adore a good historical romance. What could be more fun than exploring a new time and place while falling in love in the process? However, I don’t particularly adore the oh-so-popular prairie romance. So I’ve been very excited to find lots of new CBA historical romances set in time periods I enjoy.

This summer I particularly focused on books set in America from the late 1800s through the early 1900s. Note that each of these books are located in civilized areas with well-educated, cultured heroines. Ahh, how’s that for a nice change? I’ll let you in on the basic plot lines as well as some of the strengths and weaknesses of each as we go along.

Heiress by Susan May Warren – This was my personal favorite of the bunch. It’s a story of two sisters, both wealthy heiresses in the early 1900s, who follow very different paths in life. One marries for money, while the other follows her dreams to the West where she starts her own newspaper. Perhaps better described as a historical novel with romantic elements, the book is full of surprises, twists and turns, and emotional depth, as it follows them through several decades. What I loved about it was that it took a very real look at the difficulties women faced at that time in history rather than play on the fallacy of “the good old days.” It was realistic and gritty with a lovely literary touch. I’ve heard some readers complain about an adulterous situation in the book, however I think this is an important issue, and the author handles it well. I wish she had made a clearer connection between the adultery and the abuse the heroine suffered, but nonetheless, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is willing to look at the hard side of high society life.

Making Waves by Lorna Seilstad – I would call this one a perfect vacation read. It’s certainly the funniest of the bunch. Lighthearted and full of life. The story takes place on a resort in 1895. The sassy, spunky heroine is determined to learn to sail, although she can’t swim. She pulls plenty of Lucille-Ball-worthy stunts, and her inner dialogue is hysterical. I suppose my only issue was that, as with many romances, much of the early tension has to do with the heroine's blind stubbornness. However, as the story progresses, real issues arise as the man her father wants her to marry shows his true colors. I can’t say this story really stuck with me, but I certainly had fun while reading it.

Glamorous Illusions by Lisa Bergren – My favorite part of this book is that it follows the heroine on the grand tour through Europe in 1913. I loved that, including the cruise aboard a Titanic style ship and the gorgeous Edwardian fashions. It’s fun seeing it all through the eyes of a simple farm girl, who has only recently discovered that her real father is the local copper baron and questions the excess around her. This book had plenty of emotional depth as well, because she has also learned that she is an illegitimate child, and she struggles to find her place in the world and in her new family. Only her thoughtful tour guide (a.k.a. handsome hero) seems to understand her and be on her side. This book was well-written and enjoyable, but I had two small complaints with it. One, not being a prairie lover, I felt that the beginning on the farm dragged along for too many pages, although I stuck with it for the promise of the grand tour. Two, I was surprised that while one storyline concluded, there was not much resolution at the end. You have to continue reading the series to see how the romance turns out. However, I liked it enough to keep reading if time allows.

The Rose of Winslow Street by Elizabeth Camden – Last but not least, this book set in Massachusetts in 1879 was by far the most unexpected of the bunch. A Romanian family of refugees claims a house based on an old will while the owners are gone for the summer. That’s a lot of originality right there. Add in that the Romanian hero grows flowers for perfume and that the heroine who is the daughter of a professor has a severe reading disability, and I was totally hooked. As I mentioned, I hate reading the same old same old, and this was entirely fresh. Of course I’m sure you figured out that it’s her house he’s taken, and yet this good-hearted, artistic heroine finds herself drawn to him and his entire family. The book deals with plenty of very real and stirring issues like prejudice, a minor character whose life was devastated by soldiers in Romania, and a heroine who is verbally abused by the father she loves. The climax of this story was unusual, in that the true emotional climax most strongly affected a minor character and took place in her point of view. Yet it was so beautiful and spiritually triumphant, I can’t bring myself to think it should have happened any other way (although I would have liked to have seen more of her POV earlier). If you want a book truly off the beaten path that still falls in the romance genre and has a happily-ever-after, this just might be the one for you.

What historical romances have you read lately? What did you like? What didn't you like?

Love in Three-Quarter Time - Description

As most of you already know, my new novel, Love in Three-Quarter Time will be the launch title for the new Zondervan First imprint in October. Between now and then, I'll try to give you some teaser info about the story as well as share the process of preparing the book for release. Here is some of the important info about the book that went to Zondervan in my initial proposal. I hope it whets your interest. In case you haven't guessed from the title, the book revolves around the waltz coming to America :)

Title:               Love in Three-Quarter Time

Hook:              The former belle of the ball must teach the dances she once loved and risk her heart in order to restore her family.

Genre:            Historical Romance

Setting:           Charlottesville, Virginia 1817

Verse:             Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. ~ Psalm 25:5

Concept:         Scarlett O’Hara meets Jane Austen

Content: When the belle of the ball falls into genteel poverty, Constance Cavendish must teach the dances she once loved to help her family survive. The opportunity of a lifetime might await her in the frontier town of Charlottesville, but the position will require her to instruct the sisters of the plantation owner who jilted her when she needed him most. Can Constance possibly face Robert Montgomery, her painful past, and the guilt that threatens to destroy her in time to waltz her way to a fresh start?

Theme: The primary theme of the book is letting God lead your dance and learning to live in the flow of the Holy Spirit.

Audience: Women ages eighteen to eighty who love lighthearted historical romance with spiritual depth.

The Trouble with Romance

(From October 2009)

I Corinthians 13
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails.

That’s God’s definition of love, but where does romance fit? Doesn’t sound much like feelings and passion to me, not that there’s anything wrong with feelings and passion. I would have to say that I for one am a great fan of feelings and passion, but at the end of the day, they don’t make for love that never fails.

As a young lady, I had unrealistic expectations about marriage, and I think reading too much romance was one factor. Now, I realize personality and personal weaknesses must also factor into the equation, but here are my thoughts on problems with the typical romance scenario.

1) Romances take place over a short period of time. So feelings develop quickly and don't have much opportunity to mellow into something lasting.

2) There is a sense of the hero "sweeping the heroine off her feet," which is also based on feelings.

3) Much of the story centers around physical attraction.
4) A lot of fighting takes place between the hero and heroine, but alas, (sigh and put back of hand to head) love conquers all.
5) Heroes are almost superhuman. Although they may not see eye to eye with the heroine, or have some very specific flaw, overall they are way better than real life men.
6) Even the “happily ever after” itself is a farce. It should be “basically content although they'll still face real life problems ever after.”
7) Finally, romance novels end with the wedding. Real marriages begin with the wedding. So romances leave the reader in the midst of a high, which in actual life is short lived.

For me, here were some of the results. I met my husband and was overwhelmed by his alpha male personality and good looks and married him less than three months later. Makes perfect sense in a romance novel. He swept me off my feet and made me feel like a princess. We seemed so sure of ourselves that our pastor and parents supported the decision. I believed the fact that my husband was in such a hurry to get married proved how much he loved me.

Actually, my husband was impetuous and impatient about everything back in those days, and ended up making many horrible decisions because of it. He’s Lebanese, sexy accent and all, (Catholic background, not Muslim--people always want to know) but we had huge cultural differences, which we were in no way prepared to deal with. We were painfully poor. However, with his alpha male personality he thought he'd have a big business break any moment and went further and further into debt trying to accomplish just that.

Worst of all, the “take charge” attitude I loved so much, translated into an oppressive male who tried to control everything I did and squelch my personality.

I know that sounds awful, but the first five years of my marriage were awful. And by the time they were done, despite my strong Christian upbringing, I was convinced I made a terrible mistake and feeling desperate to escape and find someone else. The right kind of guy. "True Love." Like in the novels. I never did physically betray or leave my husband, but in my heart, I was long gone.

I could go on trying to justify my poor behavior, but let me wrap up this portion by saying what I learned. God is not interested in putting us with someone who will make things easy on us. He is interested in accomplishing His purposes in our lives and the lives of our spouses.

My marriage has been hard, but we've survived. The result of all those hard years is that my husband is now a great guy who is leading a major ministry. I don't think he would have ever gotten there without an American wife who stood up and forced him to change. And for me, well, clearly my "god" of romance has been smashed on the altar.

I asked my husband to read this post, and when he got to this part he said, “But your readers won’t be satisfied with the lessons you learned. They’ll want to know how the story ends.”

The truth is, I don’t know. This story isn’t over yet. When I told that to my husband he said, “I’m sorry. I know it was hard. I love you,” and gave me some gentle kisses. I guess that bodes well for the ending.

To wrap it up, here are some things that I think make for awesome inspirational romances with the right kind of message.

1) Making the relationship more about why God would want the couple together, especially if it doesn’t fit their plans.
2) Hearing God's voice about getting together.
3) Having to overcome old hurts, prejudices, and weaknesses in order to fulfill God's plan for hero and heroine to be together.
4) Heroes with plenty of real life variety flaws, but heroines that love them anyway. (Has anyone ever had a hero pass gas or burp in a book? Now that would be realistic.)
5) Show physical attraction and feelings coming and going, but ultimately it is a choice to love and fulfill God's plan.
6) Make sure that the hero and heroine really know and love each other, flaws and all.

So these are my thoughts. Again, I love romance, and I think there are very good ways to write romances. I’ve read some great ones by authors like Francine Rivers, Mary Lu Tyndall, Julie Klassen, Deeanne Gist, and Ruth Axtel Morren. I like when despite the strong feelings between the hero and heroine, a lot of prayer and even God's supernatural intervention are required to get them together. I also love the silly chick lit novels that have romance but on a much more realistic level. Okay, and I like it when the hero is totally hot, as long as the right message comes through :)

What’s your favorite romance?

A Different Kind of Love Story

Dandelion Dering played by Taylor?

There are romances, and there are love stories. For instance Nicholas Sparks books could be called love stories, but they fall far outside of the parameters of romance, sometimes even ending sadly.

And I have decided that for me as an author, romances are a bit stifling.

Boy meets girl. Boy and girl fall in love. Boy and girl face obstacles in getting together. Boy and girl live happily ever after. That’s the basic romance novel in a nutshell. For a true romance, if you remove the romantic thread, there’s no plot left. And the story should be told from the hero and heroines third person points of view.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I adore romance. For me, no book is complete without it. I even love a happy ending. But personally, I enjoy a few more twists and turns along the journey.

When I penned my debut novel, I wanted it to be a love story, but I wanted to go a different route in how I explored the topic of love. The first thing that came to mind was a Eugene O’Neil play I had read in high school. In it, the heroine lost her true love in one of the World Wars. She spends the rest of the play searching for a man who can take his place—but instead finds only men who fulfill aspects of that longing. This gave me an idea. What if my heroine turned her back on true love because of a childhood wound? She could spend the rest of the story searching for love. She would find men who represented aspects of love, but never quite the real thing.

The next thought that came to my mind was a nonfiction book I’d read by Dr. Ed Wheat called Love Life for Every Married Couple. The book lists the different Biblical words for love and explains each one. What if I were to combine this idea with the Eugene O’Neil play? My heroine could meet men that fulfill certain Biblical definitions of love, but never that true God-like agape love.

So in my novel, Dance of the Dandelion, my peasant heroine does indeed turn away from true love because of her childhood trauma of enduring a famine. This launches her on a journey of discovery. She goes through a series of men against an exciting backdrop of the medieval pageantry and adventure on the high seas. Gottfried, the stoic knight, fulfills her need for safety and belonging. Richard, the charming castle steward, meets her longing for romance and fun. Giovanni, the kind Italian merchant, provides her with friendship and companionship. Finally she meets Lucio, the sexy sea captain, who represents passion and desire, but each relationship lacks some important element and leaves her unfulfilled.

As you might have guessed, it is only when Dandelion finds God’s true love that she is set free to find earthly love as well. But the story doesn’t end there. Dandelion still has challenges and difficult choices to face.

So, I guess the verdict is in. I write happy-ending romantic love stories of the non-romance variety. Did that make any sense? To hardcore romance readers who approach a book with a very specific set of expectations it does. And yet I think any romance readers will love my novel.

Here's what a few of your favorite authors have to say (humor me for a minute, I just got two of these recently and have to share them somewhere.)

"Dina Sleiman is a beautiful writer. Romantic and gritty, Dance of the Dandelion takes readers on an epic journey of human failings, self discovery, and second chances. Through it all God’s love and forgiveness shines through."
--Julie Klassen, Bestselling Author

"This medieval romp of a book reads like a dance! Full of unexpected twists and turns, it displays the folly or joy of our choices and the God who enables us to find true freedom in Him. Dandelion Dering is a heroine you won't soon forget!”
--Laura Frantz

"A magical medieval tale of whim and whimsy, the Dance of the Dandelion is one woman's journey to both true love and the truth, spinning a spell that will hold you captive from the first page to the last. Strongly recommended for mature audiences, this is a novel--and an author--not to be missed, and an emotional and spiritual journey that will leave you breathless."

 --Julie Lessman

Dance of the Dandelion is now available. See links in the sidebar.

Which do you prefer, a romance novel or a love story? Why? What is your definition of a romance?

Love, Passion, and Laurie Alice Eakes

I recently finished Lady in the Mist by Laurie Alice Eakes, and I imagine if you google it, you can find lots of reviews online. You can even find a great interview with her hero on Roseanna White’s blog, which I highly recommend.

So, instead of offering just a typical review, I wanted to share some of the thoughts this book stirred for me concerning love, passion, and romance. Let me begin by saying, it definitely gets five stars on the romance chart. The hero is so roguish and charming, he had my heart-racing throughout the book. I dare say I fell in love with Dominick right alongside Tabitha.

I adored the depth of passion between the hero and heroine as well. As I mentioned in several of my shorter online reviews, often when I read Christian romance, I can’t figure out what in the heck the authors are even writing about. I don’t see those can’t eat, can’t sleep, if you walk out that door right now I might just shrivel up and die sort of moments that I relate with the human experience of falling in love. I see two people slowly, gradually moving toward one another, but at the same time, all too easily talking themselves out of the attraction. Which leaves me to ask:

What planet do these people live on???

Now let me be fair, sometimes in a long standing friendship, especially one beginning in childhood, these feelings can come softly. But in general, in my experience, they hit much more like a freight train, or better yet, a steam roller. I don’t know, maybe it’s one of those wiring personality issues. Maybe "thinkers" feel the emotions, but ultimately their thoughts win out. But, I’m not a thinker. I’m a feeler. So even if I thought a guy was wrong for me, even though I might have managed to physically stay away from him, my heart would be killing me. My fingers screaming to graze his cheek. My eyes darting to catch a heated gaze. My lips tingling at the sound of his voice. Yes, the word passion in my tagline is not a typo.

I sensed this sort of passion between Tabitha and Dominick in Lady of the Mist, and was so happy to find it there. We need this sort of realism in Christian fiction. But, of course, as all good Christians who attended Sunday School know, we shouldn’t be guided by our passions. In fact, in my first novel, the hero who represents uncontrolled passion and desire turns out to be devastating for my heroine. With God’s help she is able to escape him and eventually make her way back to the man she’s destined to marry. So why did this passion and desire work so well in Laurie Alice’s book and not in mine.

The situation was entirely different. Tabitha and Dominick were both at a place in their lives where they had given up on God. (no, I’m not taking an easy cop-out here, stick with me for a minute.) They had both hardened their hearts to God for their own reasons and were trying to earn their salvation, a feat no one can attain. In this book, they wanted to harden their hearts to each other just like they had hardened their hearts to God. In fact, Tabitha didn’t want to trust Dominick, just like she didn’t want to trust God. So in their case, opening their hearts to one another actually helped them to soften their hearts to God. They had to trust their feelings and take a step of faith. They had to let go of old hurts and preconceptions in order for their romance to blossom. Not only had God ordained this relationship, he used them to promote healing in each other's lives. (I don’t need a spoiler alert here, right? We all knew from chapter one that they were going to get together. This is a romance novel.)

God gave us marriage, and yes, I’ll say it, sex, as a beautiful physical portrait of the spiritual intimacy he desires to have with us. So do I believe passion and romance belong in a Christian novel? Absolutely. As long as the author is clear to show how God is working through this romance, I believe it offers the best sort of message possible. And Laurie Alice Eakes, skilled author that she is, used it in just this way.

We all need to have that can’t eat, can’t sleep, if you walk out that door I might just shrivel up and die kind of love for our heavenly father. We should long for his touch, seek his gaze, tingle at the sound of his voice. And romantic fiction creates an interesting avenue to express this powerful truth.

Why Do These Hit Me So Deeply?

Last week I had mentally scheduled to do a review of Golden Keyes Parson's third book in her Darkness to Light Series with Thomas Nelson, titled Where Hearts Are Free. I'm not sure quite what it is about Golden's books that always hit me straight in the gut, in a good way. But this one hit me so hard, I needed time to process it before I was even ready to write this post.

I mean, Golden's an adept writer. Her plots are strong, this latest probably the strongest. Her characters are unique and interesting. Her settings pop to life. I loved the French court in books I and II and yet found myself completely charmed by the rolling Pennsylvania countryside and quaint colonial town in book III. While I normally prefer what I would term "literary fiction" to basic romantic historicals, these books have managed to touch me on a very deep, emotional and spiritual level in a way that few others have.

Of course that leaves me wondering, "Why?"

I think what it really comes down to is the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Golden's writing always was and always will be a ministry. She pulls no punches about that. In addition to being a writer, she is also a pastor. Early in her writing career, she focused on nonfiction until she discovered that fiction is even a stronger way to share Biblical truths. And she couldn't be more right about that. I can't imagine that a sermon or a nonfiction book could ever touch me so deeply.

The journey of the main character, Bridget Barrington, sincerely resonated with me. While I'm not the daughter of a rich colonial landowner arranged to marry a scoundrel, I truly related with her struggle to do what was right. She wanted to please her parents and do what was correct in the eyes of society, yet everything in her heart screamed against it. So often I struggle with religious rules and expectations that don't seem to match what God has planted in my heart. So often I struggle to understand the difference between relying on my own strength to do what is right and learning to rest in God's strength. And much like Bridgett would withdraw into her magical hideaway in the woods or into her own imagination, I often find myself seeking to escape rather than facing and dealing with the hard realities in my life.

Just like Bridget, I long to reach that place where my heart is totally free, not only when I'm dancing or in my secret place with God, but all day every day. This book has become a part of my journey, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Sheer Delight - The Healer's Apprentice

Well, I haven't done a book review in a while. In fact, I haven't been completely swept away since The Passion of Mary-Margaret earlier this year. I did read one amazing secular novel in the interim called A Thousand Splendid Suns about the troubled lives of two Afghani women. It's not for the faint of heart, but it will definitely change the way you view the world, and as many of you know, I love that sort of book. I also truly enjoyed What the Bayou Saw by Patti Lacy, which deals with racism, sexual abuse, and the secret's women keep. Not easy books to read by any means, but well worth the effort.

But today I would like to recommend a new novel from Zondervan that is sheer delight: The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson. Melanie is a friend of mine and fellow medieval author. This book was a real treat, from the medieval German setting, to the fairy tale elements, to the heart stopping romance. I adored everything about it.

When this book arrived in the mail, my fifteen-year-old daughter hi-jacked it and insisted she read it first. She loved it and finished it in under twenty-four hours (oh, to be young again.) The cover is exquisite and the story line compelling. When the former peasant girl falls in love with the betrothed future duke, things kick off to a strong start. The Healer's Apprentice was released as a teen fiction novel, but I think any romance lover will adore this book. I was surprised and pleased that while geared to a younger audience, it did not shy away from tough issues like abuse, attempted seduction, and the corruption of the clergy at that time. While these topics are dealt with delicately, it is good for young women to learn to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves as the Bible instructs.

This book is well executed all around. Great characters, strong plot, good pacing. The story took some fun twists and turns that will be sure to charm you, and the history was accurate and engaging. Most importantly, though, it contained very strong spiritual elements. The hero and heroine must face the forces of darkness and battle them not with their own strength, but through the power of the name of Jesus. They also learn lessons about trusting God, listening to his voice, and their worth in him. Melanie Dickerson portrayed the right and godly sort of love in this book that will stand the test of time.

So if you are looking for a book that will both entertain you and simultaneously enrich your life, I highly recommend The Healer's Apprentice. Great job Melanie. I look forward to more.

The Pastor's Wife by Jennifer AlLee

Today I'm pleased to bring to you The Pastor's Wife by my good friend and fellow Inkwell Inspirations blogger Jennifer AlLee. I was so excited when I received my advanced copy in the mail. It’s always fun to check-out books by my author friends, and as it turned out, this was my very first Inky novel. The cover caught my interest right away. It was beautiful and engaging, and I couldn’t wait to start reading. Once I delved inside, the book did not disappoint. This delightful warm-hearted contemporary romance was a joy to read and an encouragement to my spirit.

While a traditional romance in structure, this book breaks out of the mold by introducing us to a hero and heroine who are married, but have been separated for many years, allowing Jen to take a hard look at the nature of love and romance from a Godly perspective. The book was not all about tingles and emotions, although the attraction was apparent. Instead, the primary plot was about forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation. Add to that the complex roles and expectations placed upon a pastor and his spouse, and this novel stands out from the pack as unique.

Maura Sullivan arrives in Granger, Ohio with the intention to claim her inheritance and quickly high-tail it out of town, hopefully before running into her estranged husband, Nick Shepherd. But fate, or perhaps God in the form of an eccentric old lady, has other plans. Maura finds her husband headed to the same meeting and discovers their departed friend, Miss Hattie, has carefully devised her will to force them into one last chance at love. While Maura still has the option to run away, she finds the offer to good to refuse. She had hoped the inheritance would give her a new start at life, and decides to give Nick one last chance. She can handle a few months with her husband for the reward dangled before her.

Nick longs to reconcile, but Maura has hardened her defenses against him. She was too hurt by him and his church members last time around. Besides, she has a secret she knows they can never overcome. In her mind, saving their marriage is not an option. She will live with him only for the specified time, and then move into her own apartment over the theatre.

Maura faces many challenges reacquainting herself with the town, renovating her rundown theatre, and being forced to deal with her husband and his congregation once again. This book kept me turning pages right until the emotional ending.

I was captivated to discover that Maura’s inheritance was in fact an old theatre. I loved watching the transformation of the quaint building, as well as the inclusion of drama and the theatre world in this story. The theatre also served to demonstrate how each of us must serve God in our own unique roles and gifts. Maura may have failed as a pastor’s wife the first time around, but once released into her own calling, she was able to view the situation from a different perspective. I enjoyed the way Jen depicted this second time around at love. Maura and Nick did not fall into the same traps. This time they faced the situation with a new level of wisdom and maturity that all of us need when dealing with the complicated subject of romance.

This book is not only an enjoyable read, it is an important book as well. Each of us should take time to ponder the roles of our pastor’s and their spouses. We should give a moment to consider how we can better understand and support them. I applaud Jen for shedding light on this significant subject.

The Raven Saint by MaryLu Tyndall

MaryLu Tyndall has done it again. The Raven Saint is yet another awesome pirate romance. Fun and adventure on the high seas.

This is the third book of Mary Lu’s Charles Town Belles series. It features a whole different sort of heroine. Grace Westcott is as uptight and prudish as Hope was flighty and sin-ridden and Faith was proud and driven. What a study in contrasts. And as you may imagine, Grace has much to learn in order to overcome her judgmental and legalistic attitude if she is ever going to come to grips with her feelings for the roguish pirate with a heart of gold, Rafe Dubois.

The story opens as Rafe kidnaps Grace in order to sell her to a Spanish don in the Caribbean. Although we quickly come to suspect that Rafe may have some worthy motives hidden behind his abominable actions, Hope has no way of knowing this. The hero and heroine prove an entertaining and often comical contrast. As for Grace, she does her best to find God’s plan in this terrifying situation, and strives to evangelize the pirates around her, but her methods leave much to be desired. All this occurs in the first few chapters and sets the stage for a rollicking adventure.

As usual, MaryLu provides great characters, stunning backdrops, comedy, heart-stopping romance, and plenty of excitement along with strong spiritual messages. For this book she also offers a fun cast of minor characters including Nicole, the charitable prostitute, Father Alers, the backslidden pirate priest, and Annette, a mixed-race slave girl. Annette especially caught my attention. She is bitter from being rejected by both the whites and blacks. For this reason, she delves into ancient ritualistic religion, bringing an interesting dark spiritual contrast to this otherwise light and uplifting book and supplying unexpected scope and depth. I applaud MaryLu for tackling some tough subjects, as Grace is challenged at every turn to examine her motives, her heart, and the nature of true Christianity.

This book concludes the Charleston Belles series with a rousing happily-ever-after and the reunion of the seafaring sisters. If you love romance, history, and pirates, you simply must read it!

To see my review of Blue Enchantress go to: http://awesomeinspirationals.blogspot.com/2009/08/blue-enchantress-review.html

The Country House Courtship by Linore Rose Burkard

I write this review from a different sort of perspective. Books by Linore Rose Burkard are often touted as, “Inspirational Romance for the Jane Austen soul.” Now if you love Jane Austen, chances are you’ve already discovered Linore and her wonderful books based on that glowing recommendation. But I must confess. It scared me away. I don’t hate Jane Austen. In fact, I love the Regency time period with its elegant fashions, English countryside, and London balls. I quite enjoy any movie based on a Jane Austen novel. And, I do think the books are worth reading for educational purposes. But…I feel like I’m slogging through the formal convoluted language every time I pick one up. I must admit, I have yet to make it to the end of a Jane Austen novel.

For me, pleasure reading they are not.

So it was with some trepidation that began the advanced copy of The Country House Courtship sent to me for this review. By the time I reached the second chapter, I was able to breathe a sigh of relief because I found myself enjoying the book enormously. The language rings of Jane Austen, yet is much friendlier to the modern reader. The omniscient viewpoint made me feel like I was sitting with a friend as they told me a tale and proved a pleasant change from the norm.

I’ve been steeping myself in Christian novels for the last two years. There are a lot of new stylistic rules Christian writers are supposed to follow. For the most part these rules are good, but after reading 50 or so, they become too predictable. By adopting the style of Jane Austen, Linore Rose Burkard offers a refreshing new voice to the CBA market.

Of course this also brings to mind the fact that I was recently taught at a novelist retreat that contemporary authors should never read the classics. Writing has continued developing and growing and has become stronger with time. Reading the classics will cause you to write in a way that is obsolete. Clearly the teacher who said this took an extreme attitude (and trust me, as a former literature instructor I gave him an earful), but he also had a point.

In The Country House Courtship Linore combines the best elements of Regency fiction with the best elements of contemporary writing to delightful effect. I would call these books “Jane Austen Lite,” and I mean that in the best sort of way. There is no slogging or trudging through this book. Readers can enjoy a wonderful Regency style novel that is friendly to a modern day audience.

Beatrice Forsythe is certain her older sister’s marriage to a wealthy member of the ton will secure her own prosperous future. She dreams of going to London for her first season and meeting a handsome man of good fortune. She insists that marriage should be undertaken for practical considerations until she runs into an old acquaintance, Mr. Peter O’Brien.

At age twelve, Beatrice had impetuously promised to marry Mr. O’Brien after her sister broke his heart. Now, she is faced with him once again at Mr. Mornay’s country manor, where he is applying to be the vicar. While she finds him undeniably attractive and honorable, she is more drawn to the fashionable and wealthy Mr. Barton, a new neighbor to Mr. Mornay. He is the sort of man she has always desired to wed.

The author provides plenty of interesting twists and turns as Beatrice must learn what truly matters in life. The book provides insight into human nature and relationships, as well as into man’s relationship with God.

So of course, I highly recommend this book to Jane Austen fans. However, I think anyone who enjoys romance or historical fiction will love this book as well. Great job, Linore. You’ve won me over to this style.

What about the rest of you? Do you love Jane Austen or does she scare you away? Do you have a favorite Jane Austen book or movie?

The Healing Season by Ruth Axtell Morren

I was immediately drawn to this book because of its connection to the theatre world, which I love. The spunky Regency heroine, Eleanor Neville, was hysterical as she mimicked cockney accents and put on various personas, but I quickly learned that she also had much depth, and old wounds, which she attempted to hide.
Almost as quickly, I fell in love with the hero, Ian Russell, a mild-mannered surgeon with a heart of gold. His world of herbs, autopsies, and amputations proved as fascinating as that of the London stage.
These two worlds collide when the good surgeon is called upon to help Eleanor’s fellow actress after a botched abortion. Eleanor works bravely at his side to rescue her friend. From that time on, the two can’t seem to avoid one another and are pulled together by many twists and turns within the story. This causes great angst for both of them. Ian has long awaited his pure “Rebecca” type wife to be brought to him by God, and he cannot fathom his attraction to this loose and godless woman. Eleanor has no need of love. She’s had enough of that in her past with poor results. She also has no need of Ian’s holier-than-thou attitude. What she does have need of is security, an ideal London address, and a chance to perform in one of the premier theatres, none of which Ian offers.
The Healing Season is about more than a doctor’s profession, it is about the Great Physician who is able to heal physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Only through God’s supernatural grace and intervention is this book able to come to its happily-ever-after ending. This is my kind of romance that illustrates true love is a gift from God and not merely a fleeting emotion. While reading this book I was struck anew with the reality that sometimes God calls His most faithful and sincere sons to minister healing, hope, and love to His most broken and deserving daughters.

Blue Enchantress Review

I just finished reading Blue Enchantress by M.L. Tyndall. I couldn’t put the book down. It featured humor, romance, and adventure on the high seas all tied together with a beautiful story of redemption.

By far my favorite aspect of the book was the exquisitely flawed heroine, Hope Westcott. She pulled me in from the very first page. Never before do I recall meeting such a sin-ridden and self-destructive main character in a Christian novel. Tyndall does an amazing job of weaving her complex and broken personality, providing the insight and motivation to make you fall in love with her and cheer her along.

Hope Westcott is one of the most memorable and inspirational characters I’ve ever encountered. She is real and vulnerable and longs for love and attention from the wrong sources just like so many young women I have met. Partnered with godly and handsome but wounded hero, Nathaniel Mason, there's never a dull moment between these two.

All this takes place on the beautiful seas of the Caribbean. The story opens with Hope being sold at a slave auction to the highest bidder. Nathaniel is forced to part with half his fortune to rescue the wayward heroine who has only ever shunned him. Next comes a hurricane, a shipwreck, a deserted island, pirates, and plenty of other action packed surprises. Add in a good dash of humor and an ample serving of romance, and this book is sure to please.

Tyndall is able to create a light and enjoyable read while taking a deep look into the human condition. Incredible! The spiritual content of this book is powerful and compelling, and will leave you feeling truly inspired.