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.