The time periods of the stories aren’t specifically given, but it is assumed that the stories take place in the present day. The readers can relate well with the characters because they are from the same time periods. Whereas Janette Oke and Lori Wick’s Christian romance novels are written in earlier time periods, such as pioneer time. This makes the characters harder to identify with, because the situations they are in are often quite different from the situations readers would find themselves in.
Robin Jones Gunn’s story lines are more realistic than most other Christian romance stories. In her books, her characters go through ordinary, everyday situations with a slight twist of humor. Her stories aren’t so real that they’re depressing; but they are much more real than, for example, Lori Wick’s stories. Lori Wick’s novel, The Princess, is about a simple girl that is asked by the king to marry the prince. This story is unrealistic. Not many girls are given the chance to become princesses. In Robin Jones Gunn’s Glenbrooke series, the stories are about women who live in or visit a small town in Oregon called Glenbrooke. Each book features a different woman. The stories are about how each woman falls in love with a Christian man and, in the process, falls in love with God. This is much more realistic, because the stories happen in their hometown or in a town they are lead to by a friend. Melody Carlson, a Christian romance author, said “Robin Gunn is a gifted and sincere storyteller who gets right to the heart of matters with her readers.” Robin Jones Gunn talks about things that are real and important. Her stories are tender, simple, and not overly dramatic.
The characters in her books have personalities that women can easily relate to. Her Glenbrooke characters feature women with many different personalities. For example, Alissa Benson, the character in book four of the Glenbrooke series, is afraid of getting hurt; while Teri Moreno, the character in book two of the Glenbrooke series, is too trusting. The characters in her books reappear, not only in the same series, but also in other series. For example, Meredith Graham, the character in book six of the Glenbrooke series, notices Sierra Jenson, the main character in the Sierra Jenson series, working in a coffee shop. The reader gets a sense of familiarity when they read about somebody that they know from another book.
Through all of her books, readers get to know Robin Jones Gunn personally. Each book in her Glenbrooke series contains a letter from Robin Jones Gunn that’s written directly to the reader. In the letters, she writes about the things God taught her while writing the book. She shares some of her personal thoughts on the characters and how we can all relate to them. She also includes recipes or crafts at the end of each of these books that are related to the characters. For example, Lauren Phillips, the character in book three of the Glenbrooke series, loved to drink Irish Breakfast Tea. At the end of this book, there is a recipe for Irish Breakfast Tea and a sponge cake that also goes along with the story. This makes the characters become more alive. Readers can actually make something that the characters in the books made or enjoyed.
After reading all of her teen and adult novels, Robin Jones Gunn has become like a best friend to me. She has given me wisdom and comfort through her books. I’ve read many books in my life, but none have made as big of an impact on my life as Robin Jones Gunn’s books have. I highly recommend this author.
