Ancient Rome.  Slavery.  True love.  You know the kind that sacrifices for another.  The kind we all wish we had the courage to live out every day.

David does as he fulfills God's will for his life even as a slave for a Christian-hating Roman master.  David also loves the master's granddaughter.

The Master's Wall isn't a light romance by any stretch of the imagination, but it certainly challenges its readers to live up to what being a Christian should be:  sacrificing like Christ.

Good characterization from evil to nearly divine and both extremes having bits of the other.  Great setting that gives a taste of first century life in Rome.  Moving plot, especially considering that the author covered seven years of their lives.  Some gritty parts, but parts that were absolutely necessary to this story.

I won't be surprised to hear that you liked this one too.

As former president of American Christian Fiction Writers, Cynthia Ruchti has shown her wonderful and clever way with words and phrases in topics of the week, in newsletter articles, and now in a full length novel.  They Almost Always Come Home begins with a delightful premise:  Did Libby's husband leave her before she had the chance to leave him, or has something more sinister happened on his wilderness vacation?

Because I am a big fan of Cynthia's, I was surprised at how the beautiful writing kept slowing down the story for me.  But then, literary writing and first person stories aren't my favorite.  Still the question of what happened to Libby's husband kept me turning the pages, especially as his character became more understood.

By the time Libby was sincerely grieving her husband's death, I was searching my mind frantically for what possible thing could have kept him from her, but not killed him. Then 3/4 into the novel I flip the page to "Greg's story: the day he left." I couldn't believe Cynthia would kill off her hero, but it now seemed likely.

I read and didn't sleep until I knew the truth.

I suggest you do the same; it's worth the angst.

This is the first book by Kaye that I've had the pleasure to read, and it was a pleasure.  Sweet romance.  No horrors.

The tried and true plot of first love ripped apart by ornery parents usually leaves me frustrated with the main characters to be honest with one another already, but Kaye's clean, fast-paced writing turned this into a quick three-day read for me.

Zarah Mitchell, heroine, with cool name and interesting career with the Middle Tennessee Historic Preservation Commission, pulled me into her world and reminded me anew that I don't want to fall into performance worship or striving for perfection to achieve love.

If you are interested to know more about Love Remains, pick up a copy.