Like horses? Like handsome young men in denim and boots? Well, Christian western fiction novels might just be your cup of tea. The world of horses, mountains and plains, living close to the land, and adventure calls for strong women - the preferred heroines of today - and strong men.
Adventure is always at hand in the untamed mountains or the endless plains. You can fall off a horse or a cliff, freeze in an unexpected blizzard, get snakebit, lose your ranch to the bank, and, of course, get your heart broken. The Christian framework keeps the action and the complications within acceptable boundaries. This is great in these days when a modern novel can be a lot more graphic than many readers want.
Since many women like horses as well as men, the settings and plots of this genre are popular. Heroines can be young and inexperienced, but they are often older but wiser in today's literature. One thing they have in common is strength, in their own characters and in the faith that keeps them going in the right direction. Of course, it could be the hero who has the faith to bring things to a satisfactory close and two lovers together.
One or both of the central figures will have a shrouded past, with mistakes and failures, that contributes to misunderstandings, missed opportunities, and failure to accept the risk of love. This all moves the plot along and keeps readers interested. Although the ending might be predictable, the way there is what makes it fun. Christian belief and principles help everything turn out right.
Traditionally, the hero is devastatingly attractive. He sets all hearts aflutter, whether innocent young ones or those which have been damaged beyond repair. Inevitably, our cowboy rides off into the Texas sunlight without a backward look. This is a real bummer for the pretty woman left behind who can't compete with the lure of the open road or the excitement of the rodeo.
However, our heroines have God on their side to help these cowboys see the emptiness of the untrammeled life and the value of commitment and love. This is great for those of us who want a happy ending to the complicated interaction of our fictional favorites. Obstacles to love's fulfillment are fine as long as they are overcome in the end.
The ways of the human heart are endlessly interesting, and the story of how someone comes to the Lord and learns to handle life's problems with God's help is always fascinating. This extra dimension adds to the story, especially when a skilled writer creates vital and believable characters and develops a clever, twisted plot. Who cares if the end is predictable, if the journey to get there is engrossing?
The horses, the dust, the rugged country, and the wide blue sky are the touches that make this genre special. Whether the time-frame is the early days on the frontier or life in the twenty-first century, the land is the same. When the author has an intimate knowledge of western life and of the hearts of men and women, the reader is in for a real treat.
Adventure is always at hand in the untamed mountains or the endless plains. You can fall off a horse or a cliff, freeze in an unexpected blizzard, get snakebit, lose your ranch to the bank, and, of course, get your heart broken. The Christian framework keeps the action and the complications within acceptable boundaries. This is great in these days when a modern novel can be a lot more graphic than many readers want.
Since many women like horses as well as men, the settings and plots of this genre are popular. Heroines can be young and inexperienced, but they are often older but wiser in today's literature. One thing they have in common is strength, in their own characters and in the faith that keeps them going in the right direction. Of course, it could be the hero who has the faith to bring things to a satisfactory close and two lovers together.
One or both of the central figures will have a shrouded past, with mistakes and failures, that contributes to misunderstandings, missed opportunities, and failure to accept the risk of love. This all moves the plot along and keeps readers interested. Although the ending might be predictable, the way there is what makes it fun. Christian belief and principles help everything turn out right.
Traditionally, the hero is devastatingly attractive. He sets all hearts aflutter, whether innocent young ones or those which have been damaged beyond repair. Inevitably, our cowboy rides off into the Texas sunlight without a backward look. This is a real bummer for the pretty woman left behind who can't compete with the lure of the open road or the excitement of the rodeo.
However, our heroines have God on their side to help these cowboys see the emptiness of the untrammeled life and the value of commitment and love. This is great for those of us who want a happy ending to the complicated interaction of our fictional favorites. Obstacles to love's fulfillment are fine as long as they are overcome in the end.
The ways of the human heart are endlessly interesting, and the story of how someone comes to the Lord and learns to handle life's problems with God's help is always fascinating. This extra dimension adds to the story, especially when a skilled writer creates vital and believable characters and develops a clever, twisted plot. Who cares if the end is predictable, if the journey to get there is engrossing?
The horses, the dust, the rugged country, and the wide blue sky are the touches that make this genre special. Whether the time-frame is the early days on the frontier or life in the twenty-first century, the land is the same. When the author has an intimate knowledge of western life and of the hearts of men and women, the reader is in for a real treat.
