It is my absolute pleasure to have Keli Gwyn visiting today. If you haven’t had the chance to visit Keli via her website, sit in her parlor, sip a cup of tea and get acquainted with Keli and her lovely debut, A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California, you won’t be sorry you called. And I just have to add, that when Keli sent over her guest post and I read that she had included her thoughts on Be Still My Soul, I was touched to the bottom of my heart. That’s just the kind of lady that Keli is. It is my prayer that her heartfelt words offer you hope and encouragement.
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As a driver, don’t you love driving on a stretch of road right after its been resurfaced? You hit that freshly spread ribbon of black asphalt, and it’s smooth sailing.
Recently the stretch of Highway 50 that runs between my historic Gold Rush-era town of Placerville, California and the small town to the west was repaved. As part of that process the old layer of asphalt was stripped away, leaving a grooved surface strewn with small pebbles. After taking a rock in the windshield of his classic British sports car, Gwynly avoided driving that section of highway until the project was complete.
Being a writer with an imagination that runs full throttle, I saw a parallel between romance and that rocky road. While I’d like to think Gwynly and I can cruise through life without a care as we bask in the blissful state of matrimony, I know that vision of marriage is bunkum and balderdash. (Can you tell I write historicals? *grin*)
The reality is that any couple can get hit with challenges and trials that will be anything but romantic. Coming at us unexpectedly, just like those pebbles pelting a windscreen, they can threaten to shatter our vision of Happily Ever After.
The hero and heroine of a romance novel are on a journey as well. Our job as writers is to throw obstacles in their paths. My host, Joanne Bischof, did just that in her debut novel, Be Still My Soul. I was privileged to read an advance copy and loved the story.
Her book is not your normal romance. The hero, Gideon, is decidedly unheroic at first. The sweet heroine, Lonnie, is dodging relational pebbles on a regular basis as her reluctant husband makes one bad decision after another, some that endanger her very life.
Through it all, Lonnie exhibits a deep and abiding faith and a willingness to extend grace and show mercy. Joanne’s character is a wonderful example of how we can respond when our romantic ideals have a head-on crash with real-life. Lonnie doesn’t give up on her dreams of romance. Instead she accepts the fact that a relationship requires effort, commitment, and willingness to put the other person first.
When we focus on our partners, thinking up ways to woo them with our words and actions (as Lonnie does during a delightful haircutting scene), romance happens. Sure, there will be rocky roads, but we can choose to navigate them as a team and enjoy the journey with our partners by our sides.
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What story have you read recently with a character who does a wonderful job of incorporating romance into a relationship in spite of the setbacks encountered?
How have you and your special someone worked to foster romance in your relationship when you’ve faced challenges and trials or were simply dealing with overfull schedules?
About Keli:
Keli Gwyn writes stories that transport readers to the 1800s, where she brings historic towns to life, peoples them with colorful characters, and adds a hint of humor. A California native, she lives in the Gold Rush-era town of Placerville at the foot of the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains. Her debut novel, A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California, set in the heart of the Gold Country where she lives is currently available.
When Keli’s fingers aren’t hovering over the keyboard of her newfangled laptop, she enjoys strolling past stately Victorian houses in her historic town, burying her nose in reference books as she unearths interesting facts to include in her stories, and interacting with other romance readers. Her favorite places to visit are her fictional worlds, the Coach factory outlet store, and Taco Bell.
Let me just say…I love both of you ladies and loved both of your books! 🙂
Mike and I have been dealing with something lately that relates to the different goals we have. We’ve been talking through them and are finally reaching an understanding. It’s taken sacrifice and compromise on both sides, but there is no one I’d rather travel life’s road with than him.
Lindsay, my heart goes out to you and your honey! Your honesty and wisdom in the way you are both working together and seeing how to balance and compromise when needed is a blessing! Your lives will be enriched for it.
Lindsay, I’m sorry you and your hubby hit a rough patch, but I love hearing how you came up with a compromise. Doing so can take work, but it’s so worth the effort. Wishing you well on your journey.
How fun to see Keli here!
I loved the “not your normal romance” aspect of Joanne’s novel. I’ll admit that in the beginning, I kept waiting for Gideon to stop being so selfish. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized, in real life and real romance, the changes don’t happen at a snap. They take time…growth…on both people’s parts. I’m not married yet, but Joanne’s book–and yours, too, Keli–paint a picture of romance that has its challenges, but results in stronger characters and stronger love by the end. Love it!
Melissa, isn’t it great!
Romance, love and marriage really do come with its challenges, but a blessing and a joy to get to grow together as a couple. Your heart for approaching it with wisdom and learning through examples of those before you, shines through. A blessing to your future hunkey foot ball player named Tim…er, I mean hubby. 😉
Yes, “the not so normal romance” aspect of Be Still My Soul has this lil’ author chewing her nails…it’s refreshing and encouraging to hear from you and Keli that it’s a welcome story line in Christian Fiction.
Melissa, like you, I enjoy stories where the characters have to work through their issues to reach the HEA. That, to me, gives readers realistic expectations of what relationships are like. Marriage requires a whole lot of work, compromise, and sacrifice–but the rewards are well worth it.
And what’s this about Tim, the hunky football player? Joanne has be wondering if there is romance afoot. =)
Very well said. The rewards are so worth it!
Haha, Keli 🙂 I was teasing, Melissa about a fun post she had done a while back on whether or not she should marry Tim Tebow 😉
I’m not sure Tim T. deserves Melissa. She’s mighty special. =)
Aww, thank you, Keli.
Oh, Tim. 🙂
Enjoyed this very much! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for stopping by, Janette, and taking time to read the post.
Ditto, what Keli said. So glad you enjoyed it!
Enjoyed this post! Great thoughts on Joanne’s book, Keli. I loved it, too!
And my hubby is probably more romantic than I am, even remembering the anniversary of our engagement to the day! But we hang out every free minute we can, even if it’s working out or watching movies together.
It takes years of learning how NOT to push your spouses’ every button, but once you get in the groove, it’s great!
Heather, there’s just something about being together isn’t there? It rarely matters what we do with our husbands…most often, just being together in the day to day activities is special. This is coming from someone who just had a ton of fun with her hubby and kiddos at the park this evening. 🙂
Heather, isn’t Joannne’s book great? I love that she gave readers a different take on romance. The road to a deep and mutually satisfying relationship can be a rocky one for some couples, but I think that can lead to strong bond because of all the couple went through as they got to know one another.
How sweet that your hubby remembers the anniversary of your engagement. Sounds like he’s a keeper. =)
Love this post, Keli, and your heart for romance and marriage! I know we’ve both been talking about With Every Letter by Sarah Sundin, but it really is a unique spin on a romance and I thought she did an amazing job incorporating romance through her characters – even with the interesting circumstances they faced. I can’t wait to read Joanne’s book! I have it pre-ordered for my Kindle and I’m waiting for release day!
In my own marriage Dave and I were faced with the birth of our twins two and a half years ago. If anything can put a strain on romance it would be two infants. But we were purposeful about going out on dates – even if we had to bring the twins with us. Just getting out of the house and sitting across the table from one another at a restaurant (where I didn’t have to cook or clean up) was a huge blessing. We were also purposeful about communicating (and still are) – I believe this, above all other things, is vital for a relationship and romance.
Gabrielle, Sarah is so wonderful. I’m so looking forward to her WWII romance. I have her book on the very TOP of my TBR right next to Love’s Reckoning (which I saw you recently finished!). I can’t wait to savor both.
What a journey you and your husband have been on with your twin boys. I can only imagine that it had its ups and downs and was always a busy adventure. So beautiful to hear how you held close to one another through communication and spending time together as you journey this road with your little ones. And yay for date nights!! Your hubby deserves a major high five for that one 😉
Gabrielle, as you know from the post on my personal blog Monday, I’m a big Sarah Sundin fan. One of the many things I like about her stories is how real her characters are. They have many wonderful traits, but they are also obviously flawed and have issues to work through. I enjoy watching both her heroes and heroines learn the lessons the Lord has for them. She does character arcs so well. I read her books for both enjoyment as well as education.
I can only imagine how challenging it would be to have twins. I’ve often said I made having an only child look difficult at times. =) Two babies at once would have be a strain indeed. I think it’s wonderful that you and your husband realized the need to set aside time for you and your relationship during those demanding days and made those times a priority.
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