I read these for Jackson. Basically, somewhere in there I am attracted to the fact that he is/was an FBI agent (so very manly!) and still has this other side that is very spiritual. I really am getting tired of his emotional turmoil though. Which Stansfield DRUG out in this book. I felt like she was trying to be so delicate that you could never really figure out what it was Jackson was so distraught over. Enough! However, I did like what his turmoil stemmed from in this particular book. His past comes back to nip him when what turns out to be the next best thing to an ex-wife dies of cancer. Jackson has a hard time making his former life of brazen iniquity (just kidding, but he really takes it to heart like that is really the problem) mesh with his devotion to his current wife and reformed way of life.The other story lines briefly touch upon some pretty serious challenges such as having a gay child, infidelity, abuse, and suicide. I appreciate that she is willing to broach these topics but the information didn't get very deep. I've decided the Jackson Leeds character is the one that makes me want to keep reading. I skimmed and skipped over the other storylines in the book. I just couldn't handle reading again and again how Chas decided to turn off the light, or carry both baby monitors in case one of the kids fussed, or what made her decide to take a nap or just get up for the day, etc. Way too slow and way too much detail. If she and Jackson turned to each other, kissed, and expressed their love one more time, I really thought I was going to throw the book across the room. And: it seemed Chas's character was made up of moments of crying, then getting on her knees and praying. That's fine for a person to do, but I really didn't want to read of her doing it 20+ times. Hi, I'm from the department of redundancy department...A good result of this read: I'm left analyzing what other authors do to reel me in, even when going over the small details of a character's day. What did Stansfield do wrong? When I can accurately answer that, I'll be more authorized to critique her writing. Right now, I'm just a complainer and not able to be constructive at all. There's something she did right with the Leeds character, though. I found her attempt to get 6 women together for a week-long slumber party where they shared all the dirt from their lives---not my thing. I don't know if Stansfield was trying to touch on the fact that we all have our struggles, or what, but to throw things out like 'having a gay son and wanting to commit suicide,' or 'my husband is deeply involved in pornography and has been having affairs all through our 15 + years of marriage, even our engagement,' etc., and only spend a chapter or so on the topic; it just doesn't do the matter justice and makes me feel like I'm muck-raking or reading grocery-store tabloids, etc. If an author is going to broach such a sensitive topic, it needs to be the main emphasis of the book. Jackson Leeds' struggles with his past, etc. provided ample food for thought and I don't think all the other lady dramas added to the book. They really annoyed me, in fact.Maybe this book's objective was to prove how hard marriage is, how delicate it is, how much work it takes to make a temple marriage last (in both partner's roles), etc. It's too bad I found myself skimming most of it and pretty exasperated and mad. I think I've finally concluded I'm done with Stansfield. I've found a few other LDS fiction authors that are taking her place, though, thank goodness. Whew. I'm all worked up and annoyed just writing about her. I hope I'm thoroughly cured (like I am with Weyland.)
What do You think about Tranquil Light (2010)?
Again another fine book written by an author I love!
—GraceisEmma
