Massage Therapist Trinity Nicholas is a new Christian and still struggling with the desires of her flesh.  So when she meets good-looking Chet Jacobsen on her massage table, her thoughts take her to newly forbidden places.

First Response is a contemporary romance from Desert Breeze Publishing, written by Edgy Christian Fiction Writer, Michelle Sutton.

Here's what I like about First Response:  The title.  Chet is an EMT, the plot focuses on this couple's first responses to one another.  The spiritual thread centers around new Christians who are just learning how to respond to the love of their Savior.

I liked both Chet and Trinity as characters attempting to grow in Christ, wanting to do the "right" thing, but struggling to make it happen in their own strength.

I liked the message.  God's forgiveness exceeds our expectations and Jesus' blood does cover all our sins, even the rebellious, I-did-this-on-purpose ones — if we repent.

So, I have given some thought to Edgy Christian Fiction over the past 3-4 years, and I've reached some conclusions, be they right or wrong.  Edgy Christian Fiction isn't about pushing boundaries set in place by traditional CBA publishers.  Authors who write "edgy" in this sense that Michelle does are about writing characters who struggle in the Christian walk, who are tempted and often fail rather than prevail, and who don't stay "in character" the way readers come to expect fiction characters to behave.

For example, there is a scene in First Response where Trinity sees Chet walking up to her door and she gives herself a pep talk about needing to keep her hands off of him for all the obvious Christian reasons and a few secular ones like she doesn't want to come across as a slut. There is a scene shift to Chet's pov, the door opens before him, and Trinity promptly welcomes him with an embrace and mouth-to-mouth kiss.

A few years ago, I would have been like, "Whoa, Michelle, your characters are goofy as all getout, and I don't understand why they do what they do."

Now, I got it.  Trinity thought she wanted to behave.  Really, she wanted to kiss Chet.  She tried to convince herself to behave.  She actually kissed Chet.  When Chet finally untangled himself, Trinity went on the defense.

This type of character makes me uncomfortable.  Sort of like real people.  They say one thing and do another.  Their actions follow a deeper thought process than their consciences often show to the reader.  I'm learning to read between the lines and understand "edgy" characters.  Perhaps it will help me to understand real people, too.

What I wish would have been in First Response was a scene where someone would have taken these two babes in the faith aside and shared with them that Jesus isn't about rules.  Rules are for our protection.  What they needed to focus on was seeking the Lord and not worry about how good the chemistry was between them.  But that's just me.  Like I said earlier, Michelle had a different theme and it's worthy of exploration, too.  :-)

Check out First Response if you'd like to experience "edgy" characters, enjoy the struggle, or need reminded that God has dealt with all of our sin in Christ.

Young adult book, Found in Translation is about an eighteen-year-old, Kim Hartlinger, who goes on a mission trip to Mexico. Though she thinks she is going on an evangelizing mission to a populated Mexican city, she finds herself on a mission to build housing for a small community that has been devastated by a tornado.

Kim's quite a character.  Only child of affluent parents, she is irresponsible, clutzy, stylish, big-hearted, adaptable, and used by God.  She is befriended by Aleesha Jefferson, another teen on mission, and then a young girl at the site, Anjelita, who is missing one arm from the elbow.

After breaking her arm, Kim puts herself and Anjelita on trash patrol, while the other teens build houses.  God has another project for Kim, but her pride and independence can't get in the way or she won't be able to complete it.  Of course, there is a boy who causes some problems, too.

This is an interesting read.  Kim has a great voice (it's written in first person pov), and I think it is an authentic look into how young adults live and believe while seeking God and messing up.  What I didn't get excited about was the ending.  It pushed me beyond my suspension of disbelief and reminded me that I was reading a story that was tying up loose ends.  But stuff like that is exceedingly personal, so if you are looking of a new young adult series, give An Altered Hearts novel, Found in Translation, a try.

I won a copy of Sandpiper Affair through the Desert Breeze blog (check it out if you are looking for ebooks at  http://desertbreezepublishing.blogspot.com).  I wanted to love Sandpiper Affair so I could rave about it for my fellow writer, but alas, a few things got in the way.  First, of no fault of Janis Lane's, the book isn't written from a Christian worldview, so from the get go I'm missing one of the main aspects of life that I enjoy exploring in fictional characters — their walks with God.  (But, of course, an absent walk with God is real and a good reminder to me, also.)

Second, the book opens with an awkward scene with the heroine crawling on her stomach to take pictures of Sandhill cranes and the hero, park ranger, walking into her camera view up close and personal in a way that seemed impossible unless he purposely flipped his head over to look into her camera.  (And if you've read many of my reviews, you know how I am with rocky starts.)

But the writing improved and I didn't have issues following the characters as they fall into attraction, begin to date, find a dead body, survive a burning house, and various other adventures (often dealing with birds and cameras) before the bad guy is disclosed and captured.

I loved the quotes at the beginning of each chapter.  All quotes read as from a bird book (exactly what the heroine was working on), and they introduced the content of the coming chapter. For example, "The dove's call is a sweet, low-pitched coo coo.  The sound can be heard especially during courtship when the male puffs out his chest feathers and struts in front of the female, both calling repeatedly to each other."

For the purposes of "Seek Truth. Read fiction," I will say that at one point our heroine Abby has returned home for a short visit with her parents and holds a heart-to-heart conversation with her mom about her fear of giving up her identity to be with a man.  Her mom responds, "Do you think I have no identity, honey?  I doubt your father would agree with you." She paused to think.  "I think the answer is that identities are blended, but not lost, when two people become one. Marriage takes two stones and rubs away the rough edges until the two parts fit so closely they appear to be one.  We're separate identities still, but we're different people from the two who started out together."

Wisdom, yes?

Now the question remains will Abby believe and seek a life with park ranger Adam?  Or will fear continue to drive her decisions?  This story is the first in a series.

This has been one of my favorite series since DragonSpell came out back in 2004, but somehow I missed this 4th book in the five book series.

Donita has developed a fantasy world of five high races and five low races, of dragons and mystical creatures, that reminds the reader of our world by the characters' behaviors, attitudes, and needs.  The series follows Kale Allerion, first known as an orphan and outcast, through her stages of growing into her calling as Dragon Keeper and wizard. 

The continent of Amara has drifted from the ways of Wulder, and its people find themselves under attack from various peoples, including evil wizards and Pretender.

In DragonFire, Paladin (Wulder's representive on Amara) is weak and ill because the people of Amara have chosen to ignore the fight that's now exploding in many parts of the country. Kale and Bardon are separated on this quest as each must use their talents and gifts for the good of all peoples.  Kale continues to learn and grow through the search for a valley of dragons and the battles that follow.

This series is classified as Fiction/Allegory from WaterBrook Press and often it's the kids who like it, particularly young boys.  But, you know, I like it too.  I recommend the entire series to anyone who enjoys new worlds, Christian allegory, learning through fiction to make better decisions, and how to be noble in a messed up world.