Author’s Unique Treatment of Conflict Makes “His Mistletoe Family” a Nail Biting Joy
to Read!
“His Mistletoe Family”
Love
Inspired
Print or
Kindle
Romance fans and other writers
will love it! This is the kind of story that was made for Christmas. The
major characters in the book are the most sympathetic and deserving of
happiness as any you’re likely to find outside of the Christmas Carol.
A good indication of why, “HisMistletoe Family,” has such endearing characters can be found in the author’s “Dear
Reader” letter at the very back of the book. I think it helps if the reader
reads this message first:
“Dear Reader:
On Memorial Day in 2010 I
stood alongside a tall, strong forty-something soldier. I didn’t know him. He
didn’t know me. He watched that small home-town parade with grave intent. On
the back side of his military cap were tiny yellow ribbons, marking two
memories in a quiet, private way.
“I knew I had to write a
story about him. Whoever he was. That stoic soldier became the basis for
Colonel Brett Stanton, retired, U.S. Army. And those two ribbons became symbols
for Ben and Josiah. Most of us are honored when others emulate us, but when
that example leads loved ones to an early grave, the resulting guilt weighs
heavy, especially at holiday time.”
With this kind of genesis one
can understand how the feelings in this book are so genuine and heartfelt. The
characters are rich enough for the author to employ a unique approach to the novel’s
conflict. Normally in a romance the conflict stands between the hero and
heroine. The reader wonders how these two could ever overcome the obstacles
that are keeping them apart. Often even more obstacles are thrown into the mix
as the story progresses. This makes the resolution of the conflict itself the central
focus of the story. This is not the case in “His Mistletoe Family”.
The hero, Colonel Brett
Stanton, has become almost a recluse since he retired from the Army. Few people
even see him in town. His son and younger brother both entered the Army to
emulate his example. They died because of it. He may have a case of survivor’s
guilt. He was not a good father. He was always gone. He’s a good and noble man.
He served his country well and he paid a very high price for his service. When
the heroine comes to town with two young nephews she just inherited, he
immediately comes to her rescue time and time. He would like nothing better
than to have a second chance to be the husband and father he should have been the
first time around.
The heroine, Haley Jennings,
is almost thirty. She’s single and has had a horrible childhood with a father
who abandoned the family to start another family. She is also over-worked trying to start a new business. Against her selfish mother’s advice, Haley
accepts the guardianship of her half-brother’s two sons who are three and five years
old. She has no idea how to be a mother
or what a happy family would look like. When the hero offers to help her in
many ways she reluctantly agrees because she needs that help.
The apparent conflict here is that
the hero may be seen as too old for the heroine and the heroine may seem to
have too much baggage with two children she must raise. But this isn’t a real
conflict because the heroine would love to have a strong, older, father figure
as a husband and father for her nephews. The hero views the two children as God’s
way of giving him a second chance to be a good father.
The hero and heroine start
the story as ideal solutions to each other's problems. Brett is the key to Haley’s
lock. They are a perfect match. While they just met as the story opens, there is
no doubt that given a decent interval of time they will fall in love and marry.
But there is always doubt in life.
 |
| Wait Until Next Year! |
It’s like being a Yankee fan
and the Yanks are in the seventh game of the World Series and they score eight
runs in the first inning. This is not a tie game that could go either way. No, this game is now a Yankee ‘win’. It’s their game to lose -- if
they blow it. If you love the Yankees, this kind of game can be the most nerve
wracking kind. As a fan you know that every hit by the other side could spell
disaster…could mean the floodgates are about to open. The Yankees could
lose the game and the World Series. As a fan watching such a game you are afraid of
losing what you already consider yours: a victory. This can cause more stress
than watching a tie game which neither side ever considered won.
The Importance of Sympathetic
Characters
To successfully employ this unique
type of conflict the author must create absolutely sympathetic characters the
reader will love and root for. Since the central focus is not on overcoming
existing conflicts, the author has the time to create the most genuine and
endearing characters. This is what Ruth Logan Herne managers.
Consider why this is so
important. If you loved the Yankees in the above example, the game would be a
real nail biter. You’d worry about every hit and wish the game would end soon
before things could go wrong. But what if you did not favor either team? Let's say you liked
another team not in the World Series. You might very well find a lopsided game
not worth watching while a tie game going into the last inning could hold
your attention. This is the same with the novel. If you didn’t really care a lot
about the characters you would miss the traditional conflict which captures the
typical romance fan’s interest.
What I am saying is that the
author has taken a huge risk using this type of conflict. It worked! It’s
great. It’s highly emotional. It’s exceptionally satisfying. The last time I
felt this good after reading a Christmas story was when I first read the “Christmas
Carol”.
“A Mistletoe Family” Is The
One Christmas Romance You Don’t Want to Miss Reading this Season.
