Tag: fiction

Solid Ground – Danny and Wanda Pelfrey

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I will start by saying the mystery genre is not one I read often; I have read more suspense novels than mysteries. However, I found myself quite taken by this novel. I have watched many television shows featuring investigations, and this book brought me back to that same frame of mind, looking for clues and determining the culprit’s identity.

You will find the authors’ synopsis on Goodreads.

The book focuses mainly on Kirby, a former baseball athlete, recently promoted from policeman to investigator. The book opens on a scene featuring two people getting rid of a body, which is the event that leads Kirby on his journey. He and his sister, Riley, inherit a sizable fortune and have to go to Adairsville to deal with the estate. However, nothing is quite simple, and some events throughout the book thicken the plot.

I have to say; I did not solve the mystery before Kirby did. The story blindsided both him and me.

The “God” Element

Little communities are often tightly knit, and the church is one of those community hubs. Kirby’s father was a pastor, his uncle had a strong faith and lived his life accordingly, so Kirby and Riley are no stranger to God, but hardship drove a wedge in his relationship with God. However, he finds himself with strong church-going Christians who bring God back to his mind and heart, and these reminders lead him on solid ground with God again. I almost wrote “spoiler alert” here, but I decided the authors had given it away way before I did.

Many characters play out sinful behaviors, like gossiping, judging (without knowing or based on prejudice), or even idols (money, power, and such), allowing the characters to speak of the godly behaviors.

Overall, “Solid Ground” is an excellent reminder that faith in God is displayed by doing good to others, by forgiving, and by helping those in need.

My likes:

Solid Ground leads the reader to self-examine at times. Reading some passages brings to mind that “Oh, I do that too” conviction, not as condemnation but as awareness.

Kirby goes through some events that bring him growth and bring him closer to God.

This book is for detail lovers; they will be well served and satiated with background details. It is also a feast for the reader’s inner Sherlock Holmes. I felt I was investigating alongside Kirby.

My dislikes:

Many characters live in this novel: a roster of prominent community people and another roster of possible villains. Personally, when there are too many people to keep track of, I stick to the main character and the people close to him or her unless secondary characters stand out. I understand it was necessary; it is difficult to write a mystery novel with only five characters. I am only saying I did not pay attention to everyone.

Kirby’s character arc is well developed, but I keep wondering about Riley. I would have liked a greater arc for her character.

At times, dialogues are used to give the readers background information that would not be given in an ordinary (natural) conversation.

TAKEAWAYS

I enjoyed the story, I enjoyed the investigation it got me on, and I appreciate that godly behaviors – and reminders – are at works throughout the story. Heeding God’s words protects us from the lies we live in because Christ is king.

Well worth the read!

Blizzard in the Bluegrass – Hallee Bridgeman

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This novella is part of a Crossroad Collection and it is not Hallee’s first contribution to it. Out of six different collections, she has published stories in four of them.

In Blizzard in the Bluegrass, Gloria is a veterinarian and mother of Noah, a wonderful child with autism. Abandoned by her husband on the day the diagnosis came in and later divorced, she raises her son as a single mother with the support of her dad.

Jeff is a doctor of medicine who just moved to Charula, Kentucky to move on and heal from the loss of his wife and child a few years ago.

They meet and start seeing each other, talk about God’s work in both their lives. In a night of blizzard, God will manifest himself in their lives in a stronger way than usual.

There is much more to the story but I do not want to give it away. You will have to read it to see what happens.

The “God” Element

Both main characters speak of their faith to each other, how their difficult times strengthened their faith in God, but the story evolves mostly around Noah. He triggers the plot twists and the spurts of growth of faith. Noah is not, however, the story, and neither is autism.

Overall, Blizzard in the Bluegrass surprised me, and thrilled me. I will get to it in a minute.

My likes:

Hallee usually does not venture into the paranormal zone, but this time she brushes with it. I was utterly thrilled. I read about 10 stories from her and only once in another novel – that I recall – does she mention the Holy Spirit and a manifestation of it. This time, she succeeds in sticking to “reality” and brushing with divine manifestation.

I like hearing stories where God’s might is on display, not just someone the characters pray to and it is what Hallee does.

My dislikes:

I have a fondness for stories with depth, for what is beneath the surface, for the type of quandaries Christians go through, and there is not a lot that in this novella. It is a steady positive arc for the characters, no serious doubts, no existential questions, and no “blow-up-in-your-face” moments.

There is nothing wrong with Blizzard in the Bluegrass; it is a good story, well told, playing out the way it should. I understand the limited word count does not allow much space for depth. It is a novella, not a philosophical essay… light, entertaining, speaking of God, portraying Christ and Christian values, and morally sound and righteous.

4 Reasons to Read Christian Fiction

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Why do readers of any genres read?

Ask them and you will typically get these answers:

  1. I read to escape my boredom, to be entertained.
  2. I read to be distracted.
  3. I read to feel, to change my mood, to make me forget my mood.
  4. I read because I like to believe life is more than what I see in my waking life. It is where I meet honorable people (characters).

Why do people read Christian fiction?

  1. Because they crave the Light. The common, all-too-human ugliness and darkness are what they see in their every day life. They want to believe there is still light (good people) in this world.
  2. Because they look for God, consciously or not. It is hard to find something you don’t know how to look for. You cannot find evidence if you don’t know what you are looking for. How do you recognize God? How do you see his footprint? People need to learn how to look for God’s work and figure out where God begins and where they end. The line is blurry for too many people.
  3. Because they seek a way to get to God. Too often, God is viewed as this deity perched up on the highest shelf, thus unattainable by humans. Christian fiction is their hope to find a way to get to him. It gives a tangible manifestation of their quest and if they read the right story for them, they will hear God’s whispers and find their way to him.
  4. Because they crave hearing from God. Of course, the Bible is God’s Word, but it is still cryptic. They are epic stories that relate very little to our humdrum lives. Christian fiction is a bridge. It can take epic lessons and apply them to our lives and it can take our lives and turn it into an epic story that has God’s name written all over it.

There are only a few ways to write stories that resonates deep within the reader:

  • Dig deep, get to the root of most human painful experience (abandonment, abuse, negligence, etc.), and you will create a story to which many readers can relate.
  • Look beyond appearances and let God’s works shine through. Show your readers how God works when He says “let there be light”.
  • God is not linear in his works, He is universal… He controls the chain of events, the ripple effect, and the consequences. One act, his word, doesn’t go back to Him without doing everything it was meant to do. Nothing – absolutely nothing – gets lost. For lack of better words, his work is holistic, multi-purpose, complete, and perfect.
  • God works where and when we can’t. Look for God in the impossibilities, in behaviors unnatural to human nature.

God can use anything – did he not use a donkey to speak to a prophet? – to ‘speak’ to anyone. A story is as good as anything to spark a real desire to know God or hint toward a way to find him.

Related links:

4 Reasons to Read Inspirational Fiction

Purpose for Christian Fiction