READER AT RISK

 

Title: Rancher At Risk

Author: Barbara White Daille

Publisher: Harlequin American Romance (Book 1484)

Pages: 224

 

As an aspiring author and Christian, it is my goal to not lash out at authors. Today’s world screams the opposite of what I was taught as a child, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” For too many, they don’t seem to realize there’s a human behind the words that lay on the pages of a book. However, I do believe that constructive criticism, with a careful choice of words, can be helpful. I also realize writing is subjective. I review because I like to share with others my thoughts and feelings so they may enjoy something as much as I may have, or steer then away from what might not appeal to them as well.

 

The RANCHER AT RISK by BARBARA WHITE DAILLE did exactly what it was suppose to do. It caught my attention on the shelf at the store. I mean, what cowboy-loving girl could resist the cover, let alone the title? After reading the back cover and the first page, I was convinced I needed yet another book, and headed to the checkout.

 

As I sat in the waiting room for an appointment and read, I jolted. What? A swear word! Oh, yeah, I’m not reading Christian fiction. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book from “Harlequin” that wasn’t Inspirational, so long I’d forgotten the familiar size paperback in my hand was secular, which could be in part why I wasn’t able to fully engage in the story.

 

At page 80 I made the difficult decision to stop reading. Not that the writing wasn’t good, because it was fine. Not even because there was too much foul language, but rather because I wasn’t able to connect with the characters.

 

I really loved the concept/storyline (The final decision maker to purchase the book.), but there just seemed to be something missing. For me it was the deep point of view. What there was of it, seemed to be surface and repetitive. I admit when I got to the part where the hero was eyeing up and down the heroine, I started to wonder what I got myself into. I’m not a prude, yet being a Christian fiction fan, I’ve grown to love a great story/romance without the need for explicit scenes and bad language. To be fair, the swearing was kept to a minimal and a better choice of words then the author could have gone with. I appreciated her selection in words and that the cowboy used them, and thus far, the heroine had not, identifying their character traits. I had not read far enough to see how far MS WHITE DAILLE had taken the romance aspect.

 

I think for the most part, I will stick with my Christian fiction.