Title: Call to Love
Author: Mary A. Felkins
In a word: action.
Every scene something happens. Not just “something,” but something that changes the course of the story.
Yowza.
I see this in suspense romance. And in thriller/mystery. But in contemporary romance? Almost never.
We, romance authors, tend to write dialogue scenes. And a bunch of them. Yeah, we give tidbits about the characters. We also use dialogue as conflicts. And, yeah, there are sprained ankles in all romances. But there are also typically a couple of scenes where it’s a transition of time to the next conflict or activity. A scene intended to (or appears to) only track time. A scene that could have easily been deleted—but is sorta helpful, so it stays.
But Felkins’ book isn’t a typical contemporary romance.
The number of scenes that track time? Or we learn a bit more about the character? Or a scene that doesn’t really advance the plot? A big fat ZERO, folks. Not a one.
I’m blown away by this. First, because I—as a lover of all things romance—already assume those slow scenes. Heck, I write my own in my novels. Second, because this aspect of Felkins’ writing is so distinct. I noticed this difference right away.
Having something happen in every scene also gave me an immediate appreciation for her book. And for her, Mary Felkins. As an author. As a person. Not only did I keep reading, but I was hungry to learn Felkins’ values.
Case-in-point (without any spoilers!): The final sentence of the first scene yanked me out of my seat and took me for a spin.
Action, folks. Something happened. A big something.
And this is huge, because this wasn’t the end of the chapter, this was the end of the first scene.
And, may I remind you, dear reader, Felkins keeps up this trend marvelously. Every scene something actually happens to veer the story a little more off kilter.
Well done. And difficult to accomplish. I mean, how many sprain ankles can a character get?! How many times can a person throw a phone at a wall? … And without boring the readers with a sigh and “Oh, he’s at it again?”
Authors have to mix it up. Which takes a lot of mental effort … so, we usually don’t. Yeah, we’ll slide in a few action scenes and hope the reader forgives those handful of scenes we didn’t know how else to improve. That we’re a little embarrassed about, but too exhausted now to rewrite.
Which is where Felkins is so very different. Because she obviously takes the craft of writing seriously. This is not a novel to wrote up in a few years and published. She wants you, dear reader. She wants your heart, your mind, your soul. And she didn’t stop polishing this work of art until she accomplished just that. Not content to give you a story, she gave you her love for God and desire to impact your life.
She has worked hard at the craft to keep you in place. And her hard work shines.
In every scene, there is action that keeps me turning pages. Well done, Mary!
What I’ve received about life from this book:
First, a new appreciation of law enforcement. The risks they take and the personal conviction to do the job they do.
I think in America, as a law-abiding citizen who is sometimes pulled over for speeding, I take police officers for granted. Like sidewalks, helpful, but … it’s a job, right? Everyone has to get paid somehow, and that’s what they chose to do.
Now, I’m thinking, no. That’s not it. And it’s not that police officers couldn’t get enough thrill from parachute jumping. Or that they have a crazy desire for the flood of adrenaline or to carry a gun.
Not at all.
From Felkins’ book, I met Tom DeLaney who decided to become a police officer because he was called to the work. He had something in his gut that drove him to save people, to run in and help. And this calling was something he couldn’t get out of.
You know what? I get that. As a writer and a person with a gift of hospitality, it’s a calling; not a choice, not a hobby, not a “preference.” It’s something I gotta do or I’ll die inside.
But back to law enforcement.
Police officers choose this risk. They run in—when everyone else is running out.
I’m thankful for Felkins’ acknowledgements where she thanked the police officers she interviewed. This demonstrated that she did her research. This story didn’t only come from her imagination, but these fictional characters are based on real people, who identify with these characteristics of courage and conviction. They take on the risk because that’s how God them.
My second take-away is from Felkins’ theme: the “call” to love. To love is a decision. Love isn’t always comfortable. Love isn’t always easy to take on. Love involves risk.
Oh my, yes.
And, as a calling, both characters, Tracy Cassidy and Tom DeLaney, needed to take up the charge to do the right thing.
(How many romances have you read where even one character had to “decide” to love? Not based on butterflies in the belly—but because God called them to?)
This is romance to the next level. A call to protect. A call to obey God. A call to answer the siren of love—when you know that you are going straight into harm’s way and your life isn’t only going to be different, but may be destroyed. (Again, not your run-of-the-mill romance!)
That said. This is a romance, with all the fuzzy feelings and affections and hesitations and sweet romantic moments.
But I believe Felkins wanted to give readers a little more than just a good story. She wanted to glorify God, magnify how rich life could become if only we dared to love.
The call to love is as much a conviction a person can’t run away from as much as a calling to something we are deeply passionate about, be it saving the environment or finding a cure for cancer.
I can’t speak for you, but I’ve decided to answer the call.
This is the book blurb on Call to Love by Mary Felkins:
“Tracy Cassidy, a self-reliant ER nurse, has to choose between pursuing her dream job in another city or staying to help support her mother’s faltering ministry…. Even if it means falling in love with the kind of man she said she’d never marry.
Tom Delaney, a hyper-vigilant cop and single father to an adolescent son, is happy to keep his wounded heart protected behind his Kevlar. But he can no longer deny his growing love for Tracy. Problem is, she’s not looking to be the community’s next cop widow. Like her mom.
In order to free his heart to answer God’s call to love again, he’ll need to dump the years of bitterness he’s carried toward his ex and offer her forgiveness. And should the call come to pursue Tracy’s heart, will he answer?”
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Your writing style is like an exciting and complicated piece of music. I love your style and message always.