I’m sitting on the porch alone this morning sipping coffee and reflecting on the book I just finished reading. The title is Hearts Awakening by Delia Parr.

I admit when I picked up the book and read the back cover, I was intrigued but skeptical. I assumed I would get bored and move on quickly, but it was such a well constructed novel with intriguing characters that it hooked me from the first chapter. Ms. Parr wrapped me up in the lives of these characters so fast, I didn’t see it coming.

The plot is so simple and pure it made me think. When I’m writing do I tend to over-complicate things by trying to inject too much for my characters to be involved in. Sometimes I make an assumption for the reader that they may get bored or lose interest if I don’t include something else to “wake them up”. Then it occurred to me…if I do a great job with the story the rest is just all useless noise.

If what you are considering adding to your plot moves it along for the reader and adds to the depth of your characters by teaching them a lesson or helping them grow or change in some way, then I think it is worth the add. Otherwise leave it out.

This book was a simple story about two people forced into a circumstance that neither was truly prepared for. It was a sweet romance that had both characters developing along the way with obstacles in front of them right up to the last chapter. Has this type of plot been done before in romance? Yes…thousands of times, but it still works.

So as I sit here and think about plotting the next projects I’m working on, I’ll have Delia’s book in the back of my mind. Well done, Ms. Parr. I’m a fan.