A Love for Safekeeping

by Gail Gaymer Martin

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Synopsis:

School teacher, Jane Conroy, appears to be pursued by a stalker. Being in a new school with a new class back in her home town, she racks her brain trying to remember any possible enemies she may have made as a teen growing up in this sleepy small town. Nothing comes to mind. The stalker makes a point of leaving threatening notes written in the pattern of the classic "Dick and Jane" children's readers. Is this person just having fun scaring her or is he for real and intending to harm her? Police Officer, Kyle Manning, is determined to find out. His heart hasn't been the same since he first saw her in her vandalized classroom and he intends to protect her and find her stalker at the same time. But being the Pastor's son and a police officer are both emotionally loaded roles for Jane. She must fight off her pursuer as well as the heated emotions she can't help feeling for this handsome and strong police officer. Can she get past her childhood hurts to open herself to God and to love again?

Review:

This was my first encounter by a work by author, Gail Gaymer Martin. I quite enjoyed it and would pick up another by the same author if I wanted a light and romantic read. Published by Steeple Hill Books, some people would say this is "Christian harlequin" material. I am at this point reserving judgment until I've read a few more by this author and by this publisher. It is definitely on the more riské side of inspirational romance with the descriptions. For example, I wonder if the following description (and many others like it) is too vivid and leads to sensuous and unrighteous thoughts:

He drew her against him, her small frame dwarfed by his size.

She tilted her lips upward, and he accepted the invitation, this time with an urgency that surprised him. He fought the desire to cave in to his rising emotions and intensify the kiss. Tethering his yearning, he lightened the pressure and savored the softness of her full lips and the sighs exiting her throat." page 96, ©A Love for Safekeeping

And another:

Kyle's left hand rose, caressing her face. He pressed his palm against her cheek, and his gaze drifted to her eyes, suspended there for a moment, then moved to her lips. His eyes had asked a question, and hers had given the answer. As she tilted her head upward, he lowered his lips to hers.

His fingers slid to the nape of her neck, and pleasure rippled down her spine.

When their lips parted, Kyle's gaze sought hers, his lids heavy and telling. A throaty murmur left his. "I've been wanting to do that since I met you." A long, slow sigh lifted his shoulders.

"So have I," Jane admitted quietly. "Fantasies rarely equal reality, but this time it does." page 80, ©A Love for Safekeeping

The multitude of scenes like this make me wonder how edifying reading romance books like this can be. I'm going to have to read the Bible and see what verses come to mind to support my suspicions about this.

So, while I have such thoughts, I also appreciate the weaving of some of the sentences together in a masterful way. An example of this is:

Her life had molded around his in these past months. Molded like two complimentary shades of wax forming one lovely candle. But Jane feared for her fiery memories. What would happen if her past lit the candle and destroyed the rich, wonderful shape it had taken? Page 156, ©A Love for Safekeeping

I believe there is true artistry in the chosen words that depict such a vibrant image of two lives becoming one. I admire the author's skill in this area.

As for the mystery itself, I felt it was suspenseful, scary, and had my heart beating triple time in several places. There were enough "suspicious" characters in the book to make the reader doubt the motives of many of them. The twists and turns kept me reading until the end. All around it was a great, light and fast read!!

Check out the author's own comments!!!

Gail G. Martin's response to my questions about the romantic descriptions in the book:

"I truly believe that the expression of love in books is realistic - and if you notice I also admire the many attributes of my hero in the book. My characters are chaste and I believe they show that we can feel desire, but because we love our Lord we do not allow ourselves to sin, but remain pure as the Lord wants." Gail G. Martin

I think this is an excellent defense and promise to rethink my position as I read more in the genre of inspirational romance!! If you have an opinion out there, drop me a line and I may consider adding it to my site too!