Review: Tombstone Treasures - Tasty Romance!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 8, 2011
If you are looking for straight up romance from a Christian worldview, Michelle Sutton is the author for you. First Impressions is the first in the Tombstone Treasures Trilogy, a series of romance novels whose main characters work in the historic town of Tombstone, many as part time actors that help bring a sense of authenticity to this tourist attraction. This lends a sprinkling of old west flavor to the modern sensibility of the book. First Impression is a romance - there is no doubt about that. The central conflict is the emotional struggle the two main characters have as their passion for one another is ignited. Jimmy is a Christian, and wants to do `what's right', meaning staying sexually pure until marriage. But his attraction for Sammie is so strong, he often finds himself in compromising situations. Sammie, on the other hand, is not a believer and struggles with self esteem, compounded by the fact that they knew one another as children - a fact that Jimmy seems to have forgotten. There are lots of fairly steamy scenes in the book, which makes it rather unusual in the context of a `Christian' romance. However, this is probably the thing that makes the novel stand out. Sutton does not try to pretend that Christian couples don't struggle when it comes to pre-marital sex. She is honest about the emotional turmoil, feelings of guilt and physical desire that can easily come into play. The hero in her book is not portrayed as a saint - nor should he be. He is a normal red blooded male who is struggling with an issue that is probably becoming more and more difficult for people to contend with in today's culture. Although the treatment of the topic is frank and honest, Sutton is also able to maintain a tasteful balance. The book is in no way pornographic. It is simply a story of two people in love and the struggles they face as they come to terms with their own desires and obeying God's word. I would recommend this book to those that are looking for an unapologetic romance. There is enough `steam' to satisfy without becoming erotic, while maintaining a solid redemptive story