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 LaVyrle Spencer is the author of 23 novels and of all the romance novelists I’ve read, her books are the most diverse. I’ve read almost all of them, and since she retired from writing in 1997 I should be caught up soon. I must say, straight-up though, that I'm sorry she's retired.
As with other novelists, when read consecutively, her theme becomes more and more obvious. Damaged people, often involving widows or widowers with children, go somewhere new and get a second chance at love. The major plotlines involve emotional healing and confronting obstacles from the local community, but by no means is she limited to traditional subjects. She frequently veered into very hairy waters.
- The Fulfillment: a sterile man asks his brother to impregnate his wife
- Then Came Heaven: a very devote Catholic man loses his wife and falls in love with a nun
- Twice Loved: a woman remarries after her first husband is lost at sea—but then he returns alive 5 years later
- Separate Beds: a one-night stands ends in pregnancy, and a young couple marries for their parent’s sake but plan to divorce soon after the baby is born
- The Endearment: a teenage street urchin answers a mail-order bride ad, and uses deceit to trick a very moral Swiss immigrant living in the Minnesota wilderness into sending for her.
These are just a few of the different topics she’s chosen. She draws freely from various eras and regions to give her stories their unique feel and flavor. As a result, we can never be sure where the plotline will take us or how it will be resolved. LaVyrle Spencer gives us the happy ending, but she’s a true master at making the ride worthwhile.
I'd like to add an additional comment about the author. She didn't begin writing until her 30s and managed to publish her first novel to public accolaides. Surprisingly, her publisher rejected several other books she wrote because they didn't fit into their very narrow ideas about what constituted a romance novel. Fortunately for us, she managed to publish those rejected books--as is--with another publisher and they, too, were well received. I'm very grateful that there are publishers out there that are willing to go "outside the box" instead of spoon-feeding the public the same-o, same-o as though we haven't the ability or imagination to enjoy anything else.
One of the reasons I like LaVyrle so much is because her books do go outside the safe topics and safe way of presenting her stories. I only wish more authors and publishers would have that kind of gumption to keep their books "as is" and prove that "as is" may be just what the public is looking for. |
