She handles the subject of repentance and grace so, so much better than other well-known Christian authors does. The ways that Chris and Rebecca mess up might have some more ardent readers of this genre raising their eyebrows, but I loved it because it was relatable and real. Surprisingly, thanks to the author's deft and talented hand, none of this comes across as heavy-handed or "preachy," which has largely been my experience in faith-based fiction. Astfalk manages to tackle big topics like propriety, communication, theology, sex, love, family relations, marriage, and the nature of sin, all within the context of this deceptively light book. What begins as a simple love story transpires into a complex tapestry about the human experience. Chris and Rebecca are well-rounded characters who have flaws but work past those flaws in order to love each other. This book has almost everything I'm looking for in a romance. Astfalk's online presence, both on her blog/website and through conversations in our online writing group, so I finally bit the bullet and started in on her debut novel. I don't usually read straight romance or inspirational fiction. Stay With Me stayed in my to-be-read pile for quite a while before I finally got around to reading it. This in no way detracts from the honesty of my review. Disclaimer: I am acquainted with this author via social media, through mutual membership in a large online writing group.
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