Hi! I’m Jennifer Lane, back to talk about my romantic suspense novels. Those who leave a comment today can win an ebook of With Good Behavior or Bad Behavior!
Redemption: Taking an individual from a declined or corrupted state and restoring him or her to an improved condition.
Redemption is a key theme of The Conduct Series.
In With Good Behavior, parolees Sophie Taylor and Grant Madsen emerge from prison sentences caused by their association with the same man: mafiosi Logan Barberi. Prior to their arrests, Sophie and Grant were intelligent, hard-working, socially responsible professionals. After serving time, the two are frightened and desperate cons, fighting to remain on the outside.
They have to find jobs, stay clean, and make their weekly parole appointments. But what’s even more difficult is to crawl their way back to a sense of dignity and self-worth, somehow reengaging with family and friends that abandoned them long ago.
In Bad Behavior, they learn the path to redemption isn’t a solitary one. I recently blogged about another significant theme, healing, on my blog, Grant and Sophie discover healing also can’t be done alone.
Redemption fascinates me! In my work as a psychologist, I have the opportunity to witness individuals redeeming themselves on a daily basis. Men reeling from recent divorce, seeking a new normalcy. Women battling flashbacks of abuse. Teenagers rebuilding trust with their parents after making very poor decisions.
In my own life, I was betrayed by a colleague a few years ago. It really floored me, leading me to change jobs in an effort to pick up the pieces. To deal with the betrayal, I began writing. I had no idea I’d wanted to write fiction, but suddenly the words started pouring out of me. Writing has been one way I’ve tried to redeem myself.
How has redemption played a role in your life?
I ran across this video the other day and I thought it was so beautiful, I wanted to share it with you. It’s about getting up after you fall. It’s about redemption. Please click on “The Race”.
0 COMMENTS
Carol Oates
13 years agoI love home your field of expertise brings so much to your writing, Jen.
Nix
13 years agoThought-provoking post!
I think that we’re all able to say that we’ve “fallen†at some stage or another in our lives — for some of us it’s one big thing; for others it’s a series of little things (which add up!) We’ve all failed; felt ashamed; needed to forgive ourselves (like we forgive others!) if we are to truly leave that behind / move forward and up!
Grant and Sophie are such rich, relatable characters because we can all identify with something they’ve felt or thought, even if our lives have been very different to theirs.
Joan (who commented on the previous post), With Good Behavior is far from a ‘flat’, superficial “romanceâ€! There is so much packed into it – themes of healing and redemption – plus pure entertainment, fun and excitement/suspense!
I hate to hear about that awful time in your life, Jen. But I AM appreciative of anything and everything that spurred you on to start writing! 🙂
Jennifer Lane
13 years agoCarol and Nix, thank you!
Nix, my little fall led me to the internet forum where I met you, so I’m glad it happened as well. 🙂