Title: The Colonel’s Lady
Author: Laura Frantz
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Cover Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
You voted, and we had a winner! The last time we met, I asked you all which of the 16 challenges in the Bethany House book challenge I should tackle first, and you all chose for me to read “A book with a great cover.”
Considering I’ve had Laura Frantz’s book The Colonel’s Lady on my Kindle for what seems like forever now, it seemed like a good choice. And talk about a book with a beautiful cover! The blue of that gown, the natural light coming in, the silver locket she’s holding… I just loved it!
Unfortunately though, the book didn’t hold up as well as the cover did. There were aspects I appreciated and it was an all-around solid read, but it just felt like something I’d read many times before. But I’ll stop and warn you all that this may be more of a rant than a review, because I’m personally starting to tire of the romance genre, and that probably played a significant part in why I couldn’t really connect with this book.
There were redeeming factors, don’t get me wrong. A child of a prostitute shown mercy. A traitorous brother. An amazing act of God of Biblical proportions. But these things were just touched upon so that the main thing was still the romance. I guess I’m just starting to wonder, especially in the Christian genre… shouldn’t our relationship with God be the main thing? You still need a storyline, I get that. But can’t He be the focus with romance on the side, instead of romance the focus, with God on the side?
I guess that’s just where I’m at. Feeling like the Christian market is kind of missing it. And from a writer’s perspective, I get it. I know why, and it’s a hard line to walk. I could easily be accused of the same thing myself one day.
But… I just miss seeing Jesus in the books I read. And with the popularity of books like Fifty Shades of Gray right now, we need to be stepping it up. And I don’t mean in steamy scenes that try to tempt the general market over to our side, but by being the light and salt of the earth and leading others to the only kind of love that’s unfailing and true. That eternally saves.
It doesn’t mean we become prudes. It doesn’t mean we completely ignore the physical attraction side of romance. But does 2/3 of the storyline have to be purely based off of the character’s physical responses to one another and both pretending they don’t like each other until the very end of the book with nothing more but maybe a prayer or two thrown in?
To me, a good book–especially in the Christian market–should draw me closer to God or deepen my relationship with Him in some way. But lately the opposite has happened instead. I realize that could be my own fault, but it’s happened in too many books and stages of life now for me not to wonder if there isn’t some level of improvement that could be made in the genre itself.
We’ve forgotten our first love, and it’s about time we got back.
Let’s Talk Book: I’m really curious to know– what do you all think? Do you find reading romances hinder or help your relationship with God? Could romance writers improve on this a little bit? Are we missing the bigger picture, or doing the best we have in years?
All Things Novel 
9 comments
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March 18, 2015 at 4:24 pm
Katie L
I agree, Lizzie. Thank you for an honest, from the heart review!
March 18, 2015 at 4:37 pm
Meagan Briggs
I hear ya! My thoughts exactly. Thanks for putting it out there. Well said.
March 18, 2015 at 6:28 pm
Lizzie
Thanks so much Katie and Meagan for stopping by and for sharing your thoughts!
March 21, 2015 at 3:27 pm
Mom
Bravo Lizzie! You are wise beyond your years my daughter.
March 22, 2015 at 2:44 am
Lizzie
Thank you, Mom.
March 22, 2015 at 12:49 am
Melissa Williams
I see your point. The Christian fiction should help draw us closer. I think some books are better than others. I mean in some books I feel that the main character is being led by God and in others it seems like God is an after thought which is true to life. I believe many people may have a season where they allow God to be in charge and other times where they tell God this is what “we” are doing. I like to see characters who do not waver in their belief and pursuit of God from the start of the story. They are like a rock through the whole story and you can depend on them doing what God tells them to do. I also like to see characters who may be struggling but grow up in the Lord by the end of the story. I have been both types of people in my own romance story. I’ve told God by my actions that this is what I want and my attraction was more important. By the time I met my husband to be, I was more mature. I remember praying specifically for and about this person my cousin wanted me to meet. I really want to know if God thought it was okay for us to even to start. So I have been some of those women in the Christian novels. Some strong in the Lord and ready to do His will and others who are not so sure. Could the quantity of the Christian romance you are reading be more of the problem? I’m not sure. I have to take breaks myself. Reading more Christian nonfiction and less Christian fiction is beneficial. It can be good but too much of a good thing can become tiresome. Great content centered around God and maybe less reading of romance is the answer for some of us. I understand your point and I’m glad you shared.
March 22, 2015 at 2:58 am
Lizzie
Thank you so much for stopping by and for sharing your thoughts, Melissa! I agree with you 100%. It’s very true that we can both be led by God and treat Him as an after-thought, and I freely admit to acting both ways myself. I also really appreciate when characters are shown to experience those seasons/failures–showed to be human, really! 😉 But I guess I just feel that the majority more or less do treat God like an after-thought?
And you could very well be right! That’s a good point to make that maybe I’ve just been reading too much of that genre. But it’s somewhat frustrating, because I find myself wondering… well, then, what do I read? Do I just stop reading fiction entirely for a while? Historical is my favorite genre to read in fiction, but there aren’t any I know of that don’t involve romance in some way. And trust me, I love a good love story! 🙂 But at this season of my life, I just yearn for more and want to read about characters who are in love with Jesus, first and foremost. Who have a relationship with Him and that don’t make me feel sad after I read because of all the things I’m “missing”, but draw me even closer to The Only One who can answer my every need. There are some authors who balance this very well, so I don’t think it’s lacking entirely nor should be taken away entirely! Just looking for passion for Him, I guess, and not so much romance, even if there is a romance thread. And maybe more variety.
Thank you again so much Melissa for sharing your thoughts! 🙂 You’ve given me a lot to think on, and I’ve definitely benefited from your perspective! 🙂
March 22, 2015 at 4:53 pm
Cristine Eastin
Lizzie, thank you so much for your perspective. I’ve wondered women react to all the romance and frankly flat-out panting longing in Christian historical romances. I’d never read romance before a couple years ago and didn’t realize how formulaic it is. It is what it is. I read a couple and get weary of it. I do like Laura Frantz a lot, but then I need to take a break. I agree with you, Christian fiction has the unique opportunity to point us to Jesus. I don’t mean this as self-promotion, but when writing my recent novel, I found myself writing the main character grieving the loss of her husband and finding that Song of Songs love with Jesus. It was like worship to write, and I pray others are blessed by it. It’s a conundrum: how to write the range of human character, when our sensuality/sexuality is such a part of our makeup. Your comments give a lot of food for writing thought.
March 22, 2015 at 7:40 pm
Lizzie
Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving some thoughts, Cristine! I LOVE how you describe your character finding that Song of Songs love with Jesus! 🙂 I may just have to check it out. 😉 That’s really what I feel like is missing most of the time. Occasionally a character will talk about God’s love for her. Occasionally she’ll pray or be lead by God or find a verse that speaks to her, etc. But where on earth is our love for God? Where is our passion for Him as our everything, the giver of every good and perfect gift, which includes leading the right man into our life? It just feels as though that love for Him should be apparent first, before the earthly hero arrives. And again, some do this very well, and I know in my own life I don’t always give God first place like He deserves. But as Christians, we just do have that higher standard. Our books need to be different from what’s already out there.
And very true about the sensuality/sexuality aspect. I’ve struggled with this a lot as a writer. How far is too far, and what’s just realistic?
Good questions and thoughts, all! 🙂