Within the past year I did something that I never do, not since elementary school: I read through a series of books that I checked out from the library rather than purchasing them outright.
    There are several reasons why I never do this. One, I want to read on my timetable without worrying about return dates. Two, I want to have the complete series of anything at my fingertips, and not be limited to what’s checked in or what the library has available. And three, I like to be able to re-read things whenever I want. But at the time I was going through books like water (reading while you nurse a baby has that effect), and this particular series came highly recommended from a friend.
     As it was, I was not disappointed. Yona of the Dawn is a wonderful fantasy manga by Mizuho Kusanagi. Yona starts off as a spoiled princess – until the night she witnesses the murder of her father, at the hands of Su-Won, the childhood friend whom she’s fallen in love with. After being driven from the palace with no one but her loyal bodyguard Hak, Yona ends up seeking out the legendary dragon warriors in her quest to defend the people she cares about.
      One of the best parts of this manga is the character of Yona herself. In the first volume, she’s just a pretty little princess whose concerns involve her unruly hair and fine clothes. After losing everything, she becomes almost a lifeless doll – and after watching Hak defend her, risking his life for hers over and over, she finally decides to do something about it. Thus, she begins to learn how to use weapons (primarily the bow and arrow, which she becomes quite skilled with) and fight back against the wrongs and oppression in the kingdom around her. Her character development, from the ultimate girly-girl to a female warrior who thinks nothing of giving her own life for her friends, is simply stunning.
    What I love so much about this manga is that even though this is not a Christian story, Yona clearly displays Christian values and a Christ-like attitude. Despite losing everything – her father, her home, her status – she becomes determined to protect those she loves, namely her friends and the people of her country. Just as God calls us to care for our neighbor and put other’s needs before our own, Yona exemplifies what it means to truly serve. Not only does she fight for her people, but there are many points in the story where she’s willing to give up her life for others – just as Christ gave up His life for ours.
      There’s more in this series that fascinates me, but I’ll save it for the next post! Until the next time, keep reading!
       What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
       Until the next time, keep reading!
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     It’s funny. The one book in Lauren Kate’s Fallen universe that I was convinced I wouldn’t like – Cam’s story, titled Unforgiven – turned out to be my favorite. The story here obviously isn’t as complex as the original series (only 1 volume compared to 4), and the plot itself is fairly straightforward. There’s no real twists or surprises, yet the simplicity of the storyline is still gripping: can Cam redeem his lost love and win bet against the devil, or not?
       I had a myriad of complaints against the other Fallen novels (see previous posts). Not so here. There weren’t any stupid miscommunication issues going on in this story – in fact, Lilith doesn’t even trust Cam, so he’s forced to open up and be honest, which I like. There also weren’t any lines of thought or dialogue that bothered me. Case in point: the devil, known to lie and deceive, actually has a fantastic line of truth in Chapter 4. He says, “If you refuse to do things that are beneath you, you’ll never get much accomplished in this world.” Even Christ, the son of God, came to serve and not to be served.
       One of the surprising features of this book (one that actually made it more special to me as a story) were the “interludes” that give glimpses of Cam’s original relationship with Lilith, circa 1000 BC in Jerusalem. They give a wonderful picture of Lilith’s personality and why Cam fell for her. Life back then was obviously simple compared to today, but Lilith as a person was not. She comes across as vibrant and confident. It’s often hard to relate or connect with anyone so far back in history; to me, it usually feels like we don’t have anything in common. That’s not the case with Lilith.
      But perhaps my greatest recommendation for this book was how the love plot was built and resolved. Unlike the rest of Fallen, where the love between Daniel and Lucinda led them away from God, Cam’s love in Unforgiven not only redeems Lilith but also himself, as evidenced by the return of his snow-white wings – indicating that his allegiance has shifted away from the devil and towards the purity of love (and presumably, to God). You see, my favorite part of love stories is not when the story gets sexy or romantic (though I admit, I really do enjoy watching the relationship grow and seeing the emotional drama). My favorite part of love stories is how “love conquers all.” Love defies all opposition, overcomes all obstacles, and even defeats evil. That’s what I want to see in a love story – not only because it gives hope for what love can do in our own lives, but it reflects and reminds us of the ultimate love story: how God so loved the world that He gave His only Son to redeem His lost children. And this book perfectly captures the sacrificial nature of love as Cam offers himself in Lilith’s place. To quote Cam’s thoughts in Chapter 14, “In his heart, there was no question that he had to save Lilith. It wasn’t a choice. It was a measure of his love for her.” And that’s the kind of love I want to write about in my own novels.
       Overall, I’d say I learned an important lesson about myself from reading all the Fallen books. I can safely say that I don’t think angel stories are my thing, for two reasons. One: I think I expect too much from fictional angels. They are close to God, and therefore they should know better! >< Two: I find that I prefer the really broken characters. Monsters, demons, the unredeemable (such as Cam) – those are the ones I want to save. Not only does that better reflect our stories as humans, but it really showcases the glory and miracle of God’s grace. If He can save them, then He can do anything ;-). And those are the stories that I’m aiming to write!
         What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
         Until the next time, keep reading!
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        I know I’ve said before that my interest in contemporary romance has waned, but I just had to try these books for two reasons. One, I actually know the author personally! Melanie Macek and I both attend the same local writer’s group, and I was excited to be able to support an author I actually know (Melanie writes romance both historical and contemporary, and you can learn more about her and her books at https://featherpenstartandreams.wordpress.com/). Two, the story concept of this particular series intrigued me. Six love stories, all interwoven over the same period of a single week? How fascinating! Plus, the covers were adorable… therefore, I couldn’t resist :-D.
      In the Rosewood Falls series, six friends are gathered together to celebrate a wedding. Each woman has her own unique hang-up when it comes to falling in love; from a single mom to divorcee to being left at the altar, they all struggle when it comes to finding a happily-ever-after. Even the bride faces her own challenge, and she’s about to get married! It’s not easy, but one by one, each lady finds her match and is able to overcome the barriers keeping them from love, and by the end of the series, it’s clear there will be more weddings in the future ;-).
     Despite the fact that all six stories take place simultaneously, there is hardly any overlap between books. All the same dinners and events take place, but each time the perspective is unique to the couple featured in that book, so instead of repeating things over and over, each story adds layers and depth to what’s going on. And the love stories are realistic; these aren’t fairy tale endings, but real couples facing real problems that must be overcome to make their relationships work. Plus, the level of romance is more “sweet” and innocent (you know me, I’m not interested in couples that just jump into bed together ><).
        The only downside (if you can call it that) is that these are novellas, not full-length novels. So the stories are shorter than typical romance books. I actually very much enjoyed the fact that they were short – they were wonderful for fun summer reading! I will admit that once or twice, the end of the story felt rushed (particularly Aster’s story, but honestly, she has so much going on that hers could have really been a full-length novel had the author desired to do so). If you’re looking for something long and in-depth, this isn’t it. But for light, quick reading (say, over a weekend or on vacation) these books are perfect :-).
       As much as I enjoyed taking a break from the novels I typically read and treating myself to stories that I could devour within an hour or so, I don’t think it’s a form of storytelling that I myself will really engage in. For my own books, I just want to add so much to the story that I don’t think I could ever be satisfied with writing a novella. Or, if I were to write something so short, it would probably be more of a “bonus” story that follows characters from an established novel. But it was still fun to branch out and try something new!
         What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
         Until the next time, keep reading!
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     ​I’ve long been a Rick Riordan fan, and I’ve done a couple posts already on his works: first on the Percy Jackson series, and then again on the Heroes of Olympus books. This time around, The Trials of Apollo books come after the events of the Heroes of Olympus, and specifically follow the god Apollo as he is banished to earth in the mortal form of Lester Papadopoulos. Apollo finds himself bound in service to the young demigod Meg and must restore the various oracles that have been lost or dominated by dark forces, while at the same time battling an evil triumvirate of former Roman emperors.
    Unfortunately, there were several things I didn’t care for about these books, which is unusual, considering how much I’ve enjoyed this author’s previous works. In particular, there were the references to Apollo having lovers of both genders. Such references are accurate to the original Greek myths, but at the same time, it’s kind of awkward to read about relationships that I personally don’t believe are acceptable. Especially when it includes details about a pair of guys feeding each other grapes and staring deeply into each other’s eyes, etc.
     Another aspect I didn’t care much for was Apollo himself ><. Once a god but now reduced to a mere mortal, Apollo is pretty pathetic. He spends most of the series not being able to accomplish very much. Sadly, today’s culture seems to be filled with the acceptance and promotion of “mediocre heroes.” This is something I simply don’t understand. Heroes aren’t supposed to be mediocre; why write stories about them if they are? It’s one thing to be scared and inexperienced but then come through in the end. But Apollo is scared and inexperienced and mostly just embarrasses himself ><.
    One benefit to Apollo starting off pathetic and incompetent is that is gives him room to grow. Some of his god-like powers return in random bursts during his quests, but where we really see progress is in his development of a human conscience. As he laments in book 4 (pg. 300), reflecting on actions that he took as a god that didn’t bother him at the time: “‘I’m holding the last breath of a god I bullied… in the jar of a Sibyl I cursed, who was protected by birds I turned into killing machines after they tattled about my cheating girlfriend, who I subsequently had assassinated.’” One of his friends, Reyna, replies, “‘All true… But the thing is, you recognize it now.’” It takes five volumes, but by the end, Apollo does come to understand the value of what it means to be human.
      Another benefit of Apollo’s weaknesses is that is gives the opportunity for his demigod friends to shine around him. This isn’t too far off from what we see in the Bible: God uses weak characters all the time to showcase His power and strength (such as lepers, prostitutes, tax-collectors; even a teenage nobody to give birth to His Son). And in Rick Riordan’s world of myths and mayhem, there’s nothing like a fallen god to help you see what true power really looks like ;-). Of course, I’m all about the value of being human – even if we’re weak – and seeing God’s power shine through that human weakness. Don’t be surprised to find concepts like that woven into what I write! :-D
        What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
        Until the next time, keep reading!
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         My last (no really, I swear!) concern with the Fallen series by Lauren Kate has to do with the development of the love between Daniel and Luce. Despite their long history together and their mutual heavenly origins, their relationship never seems to be based on anything more than a nebulous “feeling.” Even after they become something of a couple at the end of book 1, the second book is just one long struggle to communicate. Luce claims she’s devoted to Daniel, yet she doesn’t listen to what he tells her to do. They argue constantly and she allows herself to kiss someone else. There’s a lot of emotion between them, but no real trust. And I have issues with relationships that go in circles. Rather than ask the questions that are on her mind, Luce mostly just whines and complains about being in the dark (though, this may be more of an issue with her personality). Then it takes Luce time-traveling for all of book 3 before she realizes she really does love Daniel, and he loves her. And while I thoroughly enjoyed the time-traveling part, I resented the implication that the key to fixing their relationship lay in the past, instead of building and fixing the relationship they had in the present ><. Even when all of their past lives are revealed, we never really get a good explanation for why Daniel and Luce love each other so much; all we ever see is that he happened to be a shoulder to cry on when Lucifer was breaking her heart. There’s a line in book 2 that pretty much sums up their love story: “What he had with Luce was unshakable. There was never any need even to work on trust. Their love just was.”
          And that, right there, is what I hate about many of the modern romance novels on the market today. True love is not like that. It is not merely a “feeling,” it is choice that you must make over and over again, every day, and work to make it real. This concept that love can just appear out of nowhere is destructive. If you’re young and inexperienced in love, it gives you false hope for something that doesn’t exist. If you’re older and wiser, it pisses you off: either because you’re single and it makes you feel worthless because you can’t find “the one,” or because you’re married and these stories describe as effortless what you’ve had to work hard to maintain. No matter how you slice it, it’s not fair.
      Not only was their love described as automatic, but “Theirs was a love that made it inconceivable to choose Lucifer or the Throne” (book 4). That sounds lovely, but what it really does is idolize romantic love, and as a Christian, I struggle with that. Maybe some people can enjoy a vicarious, magical romance. Me, with my overactive imagination, I’m experiencing the story alongside the characters as I go, and having to step back into reality from something so perfectly fictitious once the book ends is highly disappointing. As much as I like the magical escape of a fictional world, I guess I need just enough truth and reality mixed in for me to really enjoy it! And that’s what I’ll be putting in my own books ;-).
          So, I guess you could say I learned just as much about my personal preferences as I did about the books themselves XD. Hopefully this series of posts hasn’t utterly poisoned against these books if you’re inclined to read them; as I mentioned in the first post, they are very well-written and engaging… but as I’ve discovered over the other three posts, they aren’t really for me ><.
            What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
            Until the next time, keep reading!
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​     Despite my complaints the past two posts about the use of angels and not-Biblically-sound Christian themes, there were actually several moments in the Fallen series where I actually really appreciated what the author Lauren Kate had written.
       I know I complained heavily about the portrayal of God in these books, but the author did nail the truth on the head in one particular scene at the end of book 4. She may not have written the “Throne” as the Almighty God I believe in, but it is God who speaks “Enough!” and ends the second fall (the one that Lucifer had started in an effort to erase most of human history). It is not Luce or the other angels or even Lucifer himself that ceases the dilemma that dominates the final volume – it is God, pure and simple, who does nothing more than speak, and the evil efforts that have been made vanish completely ;-). And even though I also complained about the angels and demons not behaving as true angels or demons (especially the fact that they behave similar to each other – you almost can’t tell them apart!), the charm that Cam displays in the first book does a fantastic and accurate job of revealing the seductiveness of evil.
      Then there were several lines in the books that really caught my attention. One of Luce’s past incarnations says in book 3, “The only thing we can control is the work we do… the rest is out of our hands.” We see this theme come out again, just a few pages later, “For Daniel, an existence without scars was just another indication that his destiny was out of his hands. Nothing he ever did made a dent.” Of course, the whole point of the series is geared towards changing that destiny, for both him and Luce, but it was nice to see the truth revealed, even in a small way. Then there’s the line in the first book, where Daniel reminds Luce, “In the Bible, you know how God makes a big deal about how everyone should love him with all their soul? How it has to be unconditional, and unrivaled?” (Definitely a true fact.) And the line in the last book, “The Throne invented forgiveness, you know.” And perhaps my favorite line of the entire series, actually spoken by the demon Cam in book 4: “Mortality is the most romantic story ever told. Just one chance to do everything you should. Then, magically, you move on.” It’s a beautiful sentiment on the brevity of human life, and one that I hope I can capture in every book I write.
       However, it was the climax of the series – where Luce’s twisted triangle backstory with Lucifer and Daniel is finally revealed – that really caught my attention. Luce, as an angel, finds love with Lucifer when God leaves heaven to create the earth (a fallacy that God would need to leave His throne in order to do anything, but we’ll accept it for the sake of the story). It is this love that eventually leads to Lucifer’s ambition and revolt as well as the fall of so many of the angelic host, and it is Lucifer’s abuse of that love which sends Luce straight into Daniel’s arms, therefore making it a critical plot point for the series. But what I loved so much about that scene was how we see a tragic reflection of what humans do when they feel God is “absent,” and how they seek to fill the “hole” in their lives and souls with something other than His love. It was touching to see such a simple truth come so vividly to life, and to realize the huge consequences that can come from such a choice (ie, the first 3 books).
        Unfortunately, this revelation didn’t come until the very end of book 4. I did love and appreciate the backstory; I’d been mad at Daniel for most of the series, thinking that as angel he should know better than to love a mortal, and somehow, having Luce turn out to be an angel and therefore their sin is mutual, kind of made things better for me. But at the same time, I spent 3 books feeling frustrated with the story just to get to that point. It was a powerful moment of truth – still, I’m not sure it was worth wading through 3 other volumes to reach it.
       Next time will be the last post on the Fallen series, I promise! What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
         Until the next time, keep reading!
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     Round two of my discourse on the Fallen series by Lauren Kate has us picking up where I left off last month: that is, my concerns from the use of angels in these stories. Naturally, as a Christian and an author who incorporates Christian themes, my big issue with the angels in this series had to do with the religious implications. I suppose part of it was my own fault; I was a bit slow on the uptake. It was probably my perpetual optimism, holding out hope that the author would stop flirting with sacrilege and tie the theology in her story to Scripture in a real and meaningful way – but it took me until book 3 to realize that her religious references are mythological in origin, not Biblical. I promise I did not go into these novels intending to pick apart the author’s theology! (I firmly believe that all stories have value – the best ones teach us something, but even the ones that don’t are usually worth their weight in entertainment.) But when a series revolves around fallen angels and directly mentions religious themes, it’s kind of hard not to get picky.
     Here’s a small sampling of what bothered me in these books. The 24 elders of the heavenly court turned out to be an evil sect (this is even a major plot point). An angel and a demon openly “live in sin together” – sure, they label it as a “sin,” but it’s accepted and romanticized. Lilith is described as Adam’s first wife before he met Eve (like I said before, religious mythology). And one of the best characters – a cute but crazy gargoyle named Bill that helps Luce learn to time-travel – turns out to be evil! And not just evil, but the devil himself! (Plus, we learn that he’s actually Luce’s first “boyfriend” and their relationship is the starting point for the split between heaven and hell – talk about an intense plot twist O_o.)
     There are even certain lines that rubbed me the wrong way, like Cam saying that “Good and evil aren’t so clear cut” (since when?!), or Luce’s objection to Dee’s sacrifice: “Why did something dear have to die so other dear things could live?... Had God created love to make pain feel even worse?” (book 4). For a series that pulled strongly on religious ideas, hearing the main character fail to appreciate the gift of giving one’s life for another (especially ironic since that main character did in fact have her own sacrifices to make ><) made me very sad.
     Worse than that was the author’s portrayal of God. In fact, the “Throne” (aka God) appears in a distinctly female form in the last book (despite being referred to by the male pronoun in the book before O_o). There are also parts of the story where other characters “lobbied” God, or God admits to “not knowing” something, or even, as described at the end of book 3, “He sounded tired, and pained, and less certain than Daniel had ever imagined possible.” I have issues when God is cast as a powerful being but is not omniscient or omnipotent (this was the same problem I had with the other angel book I read). I’m sorry, but anything less than an all-powerful, all-knowing Creator is simply not God.
    At the same time, I do recognize that these books are fiction. I get that. And while I love the “escape to another world” that reading provides, that doesn’t mean I put all my core beliefs and values aside when I pick up a book. (In fact, my favorite stories are the ones where I can see the truth shining through the fantasy, even if it’s not written specifically to be religious.) And when I read a story that features parts that contradict what I believe, it actually has the opposite effect: because it goes against what I deeply hold dear, it pulls me out of the story and rather ruins my enjoyment, because suddenly the fantasy world and the world of truth that I rely on are at odds.
     So I will simply say, if you (like me!) are the sort that wants to see Scriptural truth reflected in fantasy (or at least the possibility of truth applying to the story), if you want religious references to be based on the Bible even when the story is fiction – then for the sake of your sanity, don’t read this series ><. However, for those of you still looking for that little ray of sunshine, that silver lining of the cloudy sky – let me reassure you that the next post will discuss the parts of this series that I actually really enjoyed!
      What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
      Until the next time, keep reading!
P.S. – If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends! Here’s a link:
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     I *probably* should have known better than to read romantic fiction involving angels. But I went and did it anyway, and now here we are! I’ll try to be as objective as possible, and clear about my opinions when the objectivity isn’t forthcoming.
     The series in question here are the Fallen books by Lauren Kate. The story follows Luce, a human girl, as she falls in love with an angel, gets tangled up in the war between heaven and hell, discovers that her past lives are connected to the angels and demons surrounding her now, and finally ends up playing a crucial role in determining the balance between good and evil. Which, on the one hand, sounds like an amazing story. On the other hand, the execution of such a story was not done in a way that I preferred.
      I’ll start by saying that the books themselves are very well-written and engaging. The imagery is very vivid – the battles between the forces of heaven and hell are very intense! And I very much enjoyed the time-traveling aspect of the third book, during which Luce is exploring her past lives in order to better understand the history of her relationship with Daniel. (A couple of my Goodreads readers compared my book, The Heart of Everything, with these – probably due to the similar theme of reincarnation for both Emer and Luce – but I’m afraid the comparison ends there.) Perhaps my favorite of her previous reincarnations was the one that took place during the ancient Mayan days: her past self was actually a human sacrifice! O_O (Though, I think I find that so fascinating simply because it’s so different and contrary to our society today.)
     But the fact that this series utilized angels as its main characters ruffled my feathers in several ways (pun intended). Part of the intrigue for me was the question of why Daniel, a high-ranking archangel, had fallen for Luce in the first place. What could make a human so special that an angel not only falls in love, but is willing to give up everything for them? Except *spoiler alert!* the answer is actually nothing, as we discover the hidden truth: Luce is really an angel herself, cursed to live as a mortal because of her love for Daniel. So that final plot twist, while quite a surprise, actually ruined some of the angel-mortal fantasy for me.
     The ending itself is what you would expect: both Luce and Daniel give up their immortal, angelic existence to spend one mortal lifetime together. I approve, of course – making characters human in order to find their happily-ever-after is what I do in my own books. But when monsters find their humanity, that reflects the redeeming power of love. What does it say when angels (whom I believe were created to serve God) fall from their place of worship and honor to choose romantic love? That love distracts you from your intended purpose? That it destroys who you were created to be?
    Not only does the love plotline jar with what I would expect from God’s messengers, but the angels in this story don’t even fit the bill as “angels.” They behave much more like humans. I get that the author is trying to make her supernatural characters relatable, but I tend to view angels and demons as paragons of the virtues or vices that they represent. When they blend together and act more like normal people… well, that takes away from any truth or meaning that comes from these characters being members of a heavenly or unholy court. I didn’t realize I would have this opinion until after reading this series, but other than making a nice visual image of feathery wings and glowing faces, I can’t seem to see any good purpose behind using angels in romance – for these books, or any others.
     More on why these books have “Fallen” from my original highly-ranked anticipation in the next post!
      What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
      Until the next time, keep reading!
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    After my first post on building romantic relationships, I thought of something else that has a big impact on how those stories are developed. The details – those tiny tidbits and minute moments – really can make a difference in how deep the love goes. It’s the little things that help us as readers relate to the characters; it enables us to appreciate their joys and struggles more fully.
   For example, one of the aspects I really enjoyed about Midnight Sun was getting to see Bella through Edward’s eyes. Personally, I never thought much of Bella – I felt I hardly knew anything about her as a person, except that she loved Edward so much she was willing to risk her life to be with him. But here, we finally learn more about her: her memories, her previous home, the books she likes, etc. I didn’t know she loved Jo Walton’s Tooth & Claw or that the CD Phil gave her was Linkin Park; those details weren’t part of Twilight. And discovering those specifics made her more real to me.
    But learning those things did more than just help me connect with her as a person. As we found out more about Bella, we also learned that she’s not so different from ourselves – she’s just an ordinary teen girl. Understanding this makes Edward’s love for her seem even more amazing, simply because she’s so normal. His affection for her is what causes him to see her as extraordinary. Just watching her fix a bowl of cereal fascinates him – because it’s her that’s doing it. This is more than beauty being in the eyes of the beholder; this is the transformative power of love, changing even an immortal heart of stone.
    And it was all those details that, when woven together, created a fuller picture of their relationship. I fell in love with their story all over again, simply because there was more depth to it. So including details is something I try to do when I write my own stories. For instance, Zac from “It’s Complicated” lists off several things about Tess that he’s learned as they dated; Jesse and Alex remember a couple of very specific preferences from the priestess that still apply to Emer in The Heart of Everything; even “Vampire (K)night” mentions a particular breakfast tray for the lovely lady.
     The best part of learning the little things that build a relationship is that it helps us understand the breadth of real love. So often, the details that make characters fall in love are simple, ordinary things. Like Edward’s fascination with Bella, his love for her isn’t based on her being special (though his initial interest certainly was, that’s not what makes him fall for her), nor is it because she’s done something to earn his favor. She was just herself, and it was all the little things about her that kept him coming back. And those moments serve as a wonderful reminder of the amazing, undeserved love we receive from Christ; for even when we aren’t unique, aren’t worth loving, or aren’t what the rest of the world wants, He loves us anyway :-).
     What do you think?  Share your thoughts in the comments section!
     Until the next time, keep reading!
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   Romance novels are the highest-selling genre of books in the world today. Yet, they are also unique in that the major plotline of their stories isn’t driven by a series of actions or events. Instead, love stories revolve around the building of a relationship. These books are written across all settings and time periods, and can be flavored with elements of any other genre on the market (sci-fi romance, paranormal romance, western romance, historical romance, contemporary romance – the list goes on and on). But at the end of the book, the focus is solely on whether or not the characters in question get their “happily ever after.”
     I’ve done posts before that cover my opinions on certain types of romance novels; in particular, I recall some two-parter posts that centered around Katie MacAlister and her supernatural stories versus her contemporary novels. Recently, I finished Charlie N. Holmberg’s Numina Trilogy (see separate post for details!) and I found myself reflecting on the specific ways in which she develops her romantic subplots. Now, Charlie N. Holmberg doesn’t write what I would label as “romance.” Her genre is much more fantasy. But every novel of hers that I’ve read has had an underlying love arc. And perhaps it’s because the romantic angle isn’t her main focus that the relationships she builds between characters are so intriguing.
     I think my favorite love story of hers will always be Followed by Frost (there’s always something about that first book you read by an author you love). The relationship between Smitha and Lo was so subtle that it actually surprised me! I really and truly didn’t see it coming until the very end. Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet had a similar feel to it – you don’t realize how Fyel and Maire are connected until almost the end of the novel, when the truth of their past finally comes to light. The Paper Magician series was much more obvious and probably my least favorite. The love plotline for The Fifth Doll was almost nonexistent (I changed my mind – that one is probably my least favorite) and Veins of Gold was sweet, with a lot of learning to trust, both in another person and in one’s own heart. The Numina Trilogy by far took the longest, but that length, coupled with the breaking and rebuilding of faith in one another, made their love feel very strong by the time they reached the end. All in all, these books are wonderful examples of how to create love without sex.
     Now, romance is definitely a main part of my genre. I can’t pare down to a bare-bones approach on the love angle, because that is certainly a major part of my stories! But perhaps I can take a page from Ms. Holmberg’s books (metaphorically, not literally) when it comes to how I build those relationships. Bigger is not always better. It’s amazing how much you can do with a simple kiss, a single lingering glance, or even just the brush of two hands. And jumping into bed together doesn’t make the relationship stronger; building trust does (it’s kind of like real life in that way). I can’t be so subtle that you miss it for the first half of the book (or the story will probably feel rather empty), but I can keep my readers guessing. There’s something to be said for not giving it all away at once, and that applies to many different levels of romance! Going forward, I may try to take the long road when it comes to creating love – it may not be as flashy or exciting as other novels in this genre, but I can guarantee it will well be worth the wait ;-).
      What do you think?  Share your thoughts in the comments section!
      Until the next time, keep reading!
P.S. – If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends!  Here’s a link:
http://www.lynnwallaceauthor.com/blog-on-books-and-writing/building-relationships-slow-and-steady-wins-the-race
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