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Risking His Life For The Guilty
The Innocent for the Guilty follows a young man, his mother, and his sister, who settle in a ranching town in Wyoming, hoping to start a new life away from the tragedy of their past. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Honestly, I don’t remember. I originally wrote this as a musical drama for our church’s 25th anniversary. That was nineteen years ago. I like stories that are exciting, with lots of action and memorable characters. Westerns have always been a favorite of mine, so I combined the two. I also like to include intrigue, which is why the reader doesn’t know why Troy is running until a few chapters into the story.
There was a lot of time spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
I want my characters to be as real to my readers as they are to me. Giving them unique traits and accents helps set them apart from each other. I also like to get into my characters’ heads to help the reader see their motivation for how they act and what they say. In this story, that happens mostly with Troy, the main character. I’ve had readers express to me that they “felt” the story and that it was an “experience.” I believe that’s due to the fact that delving into Troy’s deep emotions makes the reader feel as if they are in his place.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
As in all my books, the theme of forgiveness runs throughout. However, the paramount theme is that of substitution. It’s expressed in the title, The Innocent for the Guilty, and in a dramatic scene where Troy is pleading with his outlaw father to change his ways before it’s too late. In the story, Troy is the innocent one, risking his life for the guilty (his pa). It is tied into the analogy of Jesus Christ being the ultimate innocent One giving His life for the guilty sinner.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
I never intended for this book to be more than a standalone novella. However, at the end of this story, I’d become so attached to the characters that I knew there had to be more! Book 2, In Darkness and In Light, is available on Amazon (as an ebook, paperback, and on Kindle Unlimited). It introduces three new characters–two bumbling bounty hunters and a schoolmarm, Maddie Parker. Book 3, For Better or For Worse, releases as a paperback on February 22 and an ebook on February 26. It puts Maddie in a nightmarish situation and brings about some surprising changes–one tragic and the other wonderful! It also develops a romance that was hinted at in Book 2. I’ve already started writing Book 4!
The Innocent for the Guilty
Troy Daniels, his mom, and his little sister are on the run from those who refuse to believe Troy is innocent of the charges he is accused of. Set in the late winter of 1891, the family is forced to leave their home and travel west, where they end up in a small ranching town called Spring River, Wyoming. Troy was tried for murder and acquitted, but the family of the victim still believes he is guilty and will go to extreme lengths to get justice for their lost loved one. Can Troy’s family’s faith in God strengthen them as the truth about that dark night comes to light?
The Innocent for the Guilty by Sandi Rebert blends a heartwarming Christian romance with a thrilling Western novel. Rebert does a fantastic job with flashbacks and dialogue to tell the full story of how the family ended up where they are. This literary device keeps readers engaged because they feel like they are there listening to Troy tell his story and not getting it from a narrator. The author also has a captivating way of describing things. This passage stood out to me, “Time seemed to crawl by on the stumpy feet of a tortoise yet fly by on the swift wings of an eagle.” This writing style helps readers connect to the characters and the situation, allowing them to feel the deep emotions that this story brings out.
What set this novel apart for me in the Christian fiction genre is how the author used her characters to spread the word of God without coming across as a sermon. Instead, the power of faith is shown through Troy and his family’s unwavering faith and the gentle way they share their beliefs with others by being themselves, how they treat others, sharing their faith when asked, or through casual conversation. There is also the message of forgiveness that no matter what, holding onto hate only feeds darkness in the soul. The author shows that forgiveness is not easy but is essential for inner peace.
The Innocent for the Guilty is a story of faith, family, and forgiveness. The novel is for any reader who enjoys a heartwarming story set in the Old West. The quick pace and the relatable characters make this a great book to pick up when you need a story of hope for when everything seems like it is falling apart around you.
Pages: 175 | ASIN : B0B9QWPSZ3
A Man For All Seasons
Author Karina McRoberts brings a unique style of storytelling in her book A Man For All Seasons. This fascinating book is a beautiful work of science fiction and includes an enthralling account of Vidor’s mission to conserve nature from those who want to destroy it for their own benefit. Vidor and his two animal friends work in sync to make a meaningful contribution to saving nature and nature’s creations.
McRoberts is persuasive in her writing. She leads the book in a unique setting with extraordinary characters; for example, a raven who talks and thinks like a human and understands climate change is an interesting character. As a reader, one can appreciate the clarity she presents with her storytelling – the characters’ personalities, how they communicate, the background, and other small details that bring them to life. A Man For All Seasons is filled with relatable dialogue between characters, which adds appeal to readers, allowing them to fall in love with the plot and the setting. Parts of this captivating novel are reminiscent of other sci-fi movies and Disney animated films that are well known in pop culture.
One notable thing about this novel is the length of the chapters. McRoberts keeps the chapters short and sweet. One can move to the next chapter with a breeze and finish the book in one sitting. Overall a quick read and challenging to put down.
The friendship between Vidor and Clarissa is precious, and so are the animal characters. In Vidor’s plan to save nature from destruction at the hands of humanity, he also makes an effort to give dying people dignified death, which is so heart-touching. There are good guys and bad guys in this book, and the ending is justified. This book will appeal to readers across genres with a not-so-usual plot and a fantastic cast of characters.
Pages: 121 | ASIN : B09QVTXS77
Strung
Strung is a beautiful literary work by Roske. This book includes enthralling accounts of its characters in a fantasy folklore setting that is full of romance and magic. How Lady Lysbeth’s world changes with the arrival of Faye and how she maneuvers through different events in the gender discriminative Avon society is quite striking. Roske presents the storyline in stark contrasts. The book begins as some kind of musical composition in the making and flows flawlessly with vivid imagery and illustrations, taking readers on a fantastic visual journey. A patient reader would find everything they need to know within the pages of Strung. The words are selected masterfully, the characters evolve deeply as the novel progresses, and the scenes feel authentic and lively. There is never a dull moment in this novel if you get into the rhythm and tune of this book.
Roske manages to keep the dialogues crisp and flowing and does justice to the era the novel revolves around. I am delighted with Roske’s approach to showing the relationship dynamics of each character. Strung is filled with rich dialogue between characters, with some narration inserted to add additional information or set the scene. In addition, the author includes words and language of a different era that give the characters a more dynamic personality. It is easy to get lost in the plot and the setting with such well-written passages.
This captivating book is a slow-burn romance while managing to not be a typical romance novel. Roske has created an enchanting story that is unique. Lysbeth’s life in a male-dominated society, her fascination with Faye, the cultural clashes, and how society plays a role in shaping one’s identity are meticulously portrayed.
Strung is a spellbinding fantasy and romance novel. Beautiful writing, a well-developed cast of characters, and a mystical romance that defies the social norms of that era will appeal to readers across multiple genres.
Pages: 390 | ASIN: B09T3NLGT6
