Wendy's Phoenix

Wendy's Phoenix is possibly the best Christian romance novel I have ever read. That's because it isn't really a Christian romance novel. (In case you were wondering, I'm not a fan of Christian romance novels. I admit, I've read very few.)Sure, on the surface it has all the trappings of a romance novel: successful woman with a tough exterior that covers her pained interior, a painful past that continues to haunt her, a handsome suitor that comes in the midst of tragedy.But in Elwood's hands they become something else. They become parables of Christ's love for humanity. They become examples of forgiveness. And they also become set-ups for some bizarre and intriguing plot twists.This is the first of two Steeple Hill Angelwalk books. Both of these titles (the other is Survival in the Wilderness) depend much more on plot and characterization than any of the other Angelwalk books. The Angelwalk series (especially the original trilogy) is based more on episodes and short stories that are tied together through a single observer. In Wendy's Phoenix, Elwood still uses the episodes to advance the plot, but this time in the form of flashbacks and characters testimonies. In fact, most of the book's plot is found IN the flashbacks. (This can be a bit confusing at first.)What sets this far above you average "romance" novel, is the hard questions it asks. In the beginning of the book, the reader is subjected to some terrible examples of evil. (Some I even found hard to read.) The novel starts by examining the evils that go on in the world around us, through the eyes of Wendy, who, as a public defender, sees the victims of evil and at the same time the doers of evil. But the focus of the book shifts in part two, when the question asked seems to become more, "Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?"The characters and the plot found in Wendy's Phoneix are some of the best I've read in Elwood's writing. It's safe to say that Roger really shines when he is allowed to "stretch his wings" (so to speak). There's a lot of plot, character, and theology packed into this little book. I was expecting a simple romance helped along by angels in the background, carefully orchestrating things as a portrait of God's care for his creation. And that can be found, although it's hardly "simple". Instead, I found a dense book that is easy to read and is packed to the brim with spiritual lessons.Recommended for readers who want thought provoking material that asks the hard questions.