Into the Fire

Up for review this week from the CFBA Tour is Ward Tanneberg's novel Redeeming Grace published by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas.

You know I'm an unabashed fan of large novels. I recently did a post on the value of sagas and epics over at Novel Rocket. Pointing out that the longer novels allow for more detail and potential character development, on the down side, if poorly done, they can result in wordy repetition, events or scenes which fail to contribute anything to the storyline or characters, and they might produce the desire to skim or abandon the story by the reader. Redeeming Grace is guilty of all three of these properties without being a total failure as a novel.

Editing needs proved abundant. Three paragraphs appeared one right after the other three times on the same page. A Datsun became a Plymouth within two pages. One character "Ilene" through the entire story briefly became "Irene". And a heretofore phantom wife of the primary villain was mentioned in one sentence in the final chapters which contributed nothing making it an unnecessary and unbelievable addition.  

Grace Grafton is "coerced" by her two girlfriends (Ilene and Bonnie Jo) to do something daring while celebrating their college graduation on a trip to Savannah. Invited by a charming stranger to travel on a yacht owned by a wealthy potential VP candidate to an estate party on Daufuskie Island with a senator who plans to run for president and a Lebanese diplomat while being provided with a lot of money to purchase appropriate attire and a room at an upscale hotel to get ready for the event, the girls give in to his request and go on a shopping spree. All the while, Grace maintains an uneasy feeling but keeps it to herself after her exuberant friends insist it will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The truth of that is sadly realized when other guests fail to materialize, the wealthy owner shows flashes of his cold and ruthless demeanor, the senator is a narcissist, and the too quiet diplomat proves a challenge for Ilene. When things turn dangerous, Grace is faced with an hellacious run and swim for her life.

The account of that horrifying evening and subsequent events is presented in long flashbacks, opening up a whole new cast of characters who reappear in the later chapters to help Grace – who has been under a different identity for seven years – rescue her fiancé and his children from the man who has been searching for her since that fateful evening.

Some of the story is told from the omniscient POV giving different looks at the many characters involved in this tale. Third person POV picks up Grace's story when she's on the run or formulating exit strategies.

My difficulties with Redeeming Grace are primarily expressed above where I listed the potential dangers in writing a long novel, mixed with the faulty editing, but there is one more. Grace Grafton isn't a particularly likable heroine. She has her tender moments, but she demonstrates a prickly personality and her demands in dangerous situations seem improbable. The improvisation during her escape comes across as believable although much too repetitive. Her temper drives her courage in the end, but her circumstances seem a bit too overwhelming for such bravado.

However, the story itself is entertaining in spite of the unnecessary elements and the lack of fine-tuned details. Mr. Tanneberg will capture the bulk of the CBA demographic with the preachy overtones in places and the style of writing for this genre. Redeeming Grace has its redeeming moments for those readers who expect what is considered the "norm" from their Christian novels.         

Father, you know Ward's heart, the efforts put forth in multiple ministries. Continue to supply what he needs to do what you've called him to do. Bless and encourage him all along the path you've designed just for him. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.