Monday, April 6, 2015

Enjoy Christian Western Fiction Novels

By Iva Cannon


Like horses? Like handsome young men in denim and boots? Well, Christian western fiction novels might just be your cup of tea. The world of horses, mountains and plains, living close to the land, and adventure calls for strong women - the preferred heroines of today - and strong men.

Adventure isn't hard to find in the West, and this makes it easy for writers to create believable plots. And, of course, the Christian slant eliminates some traditional problems and keeps the action within acceptable parameters. For those who hesitate to choose a modern novel for fear of finding some of the content offensive, this genre is perfect.

Some things never change, like the fact that women like men and horses. Whether the heroine is young and inexperienced or older and sadly wiser, there are many challenges in the horse world and many ways to ease a broken heart. Running a riding school, saving the family ranch, reclaiming an old homestead, or rescuing a horse with immense, hidden potential all make for good, believable stories, and all can easily require the help of a handsome man.

One or both of the central figures will have a shrouded past, with mistakes and failures, that contributes to misunderstandings, missed opportunities, and failure to accept the risk of love. This all moves the plot along and keeps readers interested. Although the ending might be predictable, the way there is what makes it fun. Christian belief and principles help everything turn out right.

Traditionally, the hero is devastatingly attractive. He sets all hearts aflutter, whether innocent young ones or those which have been damaged beyond repair. Inevitably, our cowboy rides off into the Texas sunlight without a backward look. This is a real bummer for the pretty woman left behind who can't compete with the lure of the open road or the excitement of the rodeo.

However, our heroines have God on their side to help these cowboys see the emptiness of the untrammeled life and the value of commitment and love. This is great for those of us who want a happy ending to the complicated interaction of our fictional favorites. Obstacles to love's fulfillment are fine as long as they are overcome in the end.

The ways of the human heart are endlessly interesting, and the story of how someone comes to the Lord and learns to handle life's problems with God's help is always fascinating. This extra dimension adds to the story, especially when a skilled writer creates vital and believable characters and develops a clever, twisted plot. Who cares if the end is predictable, if the journey to get there is engrossing?

These novels, whether set on the frontier or in contemporary times, make reading fun for anyone old enough to appreciate a good romance. If the writer obviously knows the western world intimately, it's even better.




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