Into the Fire

As I’ve mentioned to you before, if I accept a book from the CFBA for their promotional tour schedule, I will review it. Occasionally I must post a review I really don’t want to do, and this is one of them. Rose House written by Tina Ann Forkner and published by Waterbrook Press is the follow-up novel to Ruby Among Us which I haven’t read.

Although I read fewer romance novels than I used to, I enjoy a good romance once in awhile. The last great romance/women’s fiction novel I read and reviewed here—and yet it was so much more—was The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson. I suppose Rose House would technically be classified as romantic suspense, but I’m not sure of that.

Since I didn’t read Tina’s previous novel set within the Frances-DiCamillo Vineyards and the small tourist town of La Rosaleda, I have nothing to compare this one to. I know there will be readers who will enjoy this story, but I am definitely not the target audience for this book.

We first see Lillian, recently widowed by a horrendous car accident which also took the lives of her toddler twins, a son and daughter, at the unique Rose House on the property of the Frances-DiCamillo Vineyards. The striking little house is nearly covered in magnificent roses and holds a special tragic history for the owners of the vineyard. Anyone who’s ever had the pleasure of driving through California wine country, whether or not they got the opportunity to stop, knows this is some of the most beautiful land in the entire United States, so it’s easy to imagine the glamour and beauty of the setting in this story. Having said that, I found the description of the flowers overdone, tedious, and repetitive.

Recently I did a few posts on the value of characters with character. I stipulated how difficult it is to read a novel in which I don’t have empathy or respect or some connection to the hero or heroine. One of the reasons I’m not the target for this story is because of Lillian. Wanting to engage in her suffering because of the horror of losing her husband and children with an extenuating circumstance that added to the pain of her ordeal, I found her one dimensional and annoying. Her conduct and drama queen, over the top focus upon herself throughout the novel with the brief exception at the end failed to elicit sympathy or empathy from me. There were only one or two peripheral characters that intrigued me, and they rested in the background for most of the story.

The reason it’s difficult to discern if this should be called romantic suspense is because there was minimal suspense in the beginning and just a smattering of it throughout the fairly short novel which mostly explored the possibility of romance between Lillian and the local artist. Near the very end the suspenseful portion of the story makes a leap into the forefront in a dangerous situation which implicates one of the minor characters. It is resolved rather quickly and unbelievably with none other than Lillian taking the lead.

I know that as Christian writers, most of us desire to honor God with our writing—however He directs it or allows us the opportunity. Therefore, please understand I am not criticizing Tina’s efforts or even her abilities here. However, for me, this novel didn’t work. The characters were one dimensional with very few exceptions. The dialogue in many places failed to use normal conversational contractions so felt stilted and unnatural. I couldn’t establish even a hint of connection to Lillian because she seemed so shallow and self-centered. And once an author takes the rapport with the heroine or protagonist away from me, it’s a struggle for me to enjoy a book. This story and the writing felt amateurish. To counterbalance this review, her previous novel Ruby Among Us is said to be quite good.

Father, it’s difficult to criticize the efforts of a sister in Christ, and it gives me no pleasure. I ask your blessing upon Tina’s career and her desire to serve you through her writing. Please continue to give her the stories you have for her to write and encourage her all along the way. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.