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Simon's Splinter
He said he would never marry her. The splinter said otherwise.
Aisha Elian is NOT in love with the man of her dreams. Her boyfriend Graham isn’t spiritual and he never ever wants to get married. Aisha says she’s okay with that but she’s lying to herself and Graham.
Enter the Splinter.
The Elians believe that they are descendants of Simon of Cyrene. Also, they possess a splinter they insist was pulled from Simon’s hand after he carried the cross for Jesus. If the splinter resides in their home, it will give them what they desire. Aisha wants to marry Graham. But will she use the splinter’s power to do it…even when she thinks it is killing him?
Aisha Elian is NOT in love with the man of her dreams. Her boyfriend Graham isn’t spiritual and he never ever wants to get married. Aisha says she’s okay with that but she’s lying to herself and Graham.
Enter the Splinter.
The Elians believe that they are descendants of Simon of Cyrene. Also, they possess a splinter they insist was pulled from Simon’s hand after he carried the cross for Jesus. If the splinter resides in their home, it will give them what they desire. Aisha wants to marry Graham. But will she use the splinter’s power to do it…even when she thinks it is killing him?
- GenresChristian
131 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 25, 2014
3 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 18, 2015
A lot of women want to meet and marry the man of their dreams. Aisha Elian is not one of those women - the man she wants to marry is far from the man of her dreams.
Aisha met Graham five years ago, when he was a customer in the bookstore she owns. Unwaveringly spiritual, active-in-her-church, Aisha spent the entirety of the five years of their relationship telling herself that she did not mind that Graham wasn't spiritual and did not want to go to church. She also spent the entirety telling herself that she didn't mind that Graham never wanted to get married - until she realized she had been lying to herself.
Aisha's family tells her and Graham about their family history, including the fact that they are descendants of Simon of Cyrene. They are in possession of a small piece of wood in a vial - what they believe to be a splinter pulled from Simon's hand after he carried the cross for Jesus.
This splinter, when in possession of a descendant of Simon, is said to make the possessor's dreams come true. Should she use it to influence Graham into marrying her, or is it wrong to do so? Aisha fights through her internal struggle, growing as both a person and a partner.
I am the opposite of a fan of religious fiction, but even I found this to be well written. At the beginning, that is. The first half of the story is engaging, and the writing had a great, steady pace. I was interested in the characters, and wanted to know how their relationship would play out. Shortly after the first half, it lost the narrative voice that I had so thoroughly enjoyed at the beginning. I found this to be disappointing, as the idea behind it has a lot of potential. I was looking at it as a "With great power comes great responsibility", or "Be careful what you wish for" type of underlying message. It was intriguing, essentially amounting to an internal dilemma of whether or not to use a magical object for personal gain. It was far from horrible, but it was not as great as it had the potential to be.
Review by Alexia Bullard for eBook Review Gal.
eBook Review Gal received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Aisha met Graham five years ago, when he was a customer in the bookstore she owns. Unwaveringly spiritual, active-in-her-church, Aisha spent the entirety of the five years of their relationship telling herself that she did not mind that Graham wasn't spiritual and did not want to go to church. She also spent the entirety telling herself that she didn't mind that Graham never wanted to get married - until she realized she had been lying to herself.
Aisha's family tells her and Graham about their family history, including the fact that they are descendants of Simon of Cyrene. They are in possession of a small piece of wood in a vial - what they believe to be a splinter pulled from Simon's hand after he carried the cross for Jesus.
This splinter, when in possession of a descendant of Simon, is said to make the possessor's dreams come true. Should she use it to influence Graham into marrying her, or is it wrong to do so? Aisha fights through her internal struggle, growing as both a person and a partner.
I am the opposite of a fan of religious fiction, but even I found this to be well written. At the beginning, that is. The first half of the story is engaging, and the writing had a great, steady pace. I was interested in the characters, and wanted to know how their relationship would play out. Shortly after the first half, it lost the narrative voice that I had so thoroughly enjoyed at the beginning. I found this to be disappointing, as the idea behind it has a lot of potential. I was looking at it as a "With great power comes great responsibility", or "Be careful what you wish for" type of underlying message. It was intriguing, essentially amounting to an internal dilemma of whether or not to use a magical object for personal gain. It was far from horrible, but it was not as great as it had the potential to be.
Review by Alexia Bullard for eBook Review Gal.
eBook Review Gal received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2015
Owen Graham, who has never seen marriage work, is leaving a wedding with his live-in girlfriend, Aisha, when a familiar conversation forces its way into their world.
---------------------
“Are you sure you’re okay with us just living together?”
“I’m okay with it,” she replied nonchalantly.
“Because I never want to get married.”
“Okay.” Aisha responded in much the same manner as before.
---------------------
If you've read any of James Fant’s novels (and I’ve read them all) you know that everything is not okay. There is trouble ahead.
In Simon’s Splinter, Fant revisits the enduring controversy of marriage, its relevance in today's society and the profound struggles that invariably arise when two people in love must decide whether their relationship is “okay” without it. As always, the plot propels the reader along a boundless highway with many twists and turns and foolish, ego driven, self-destructive contradictions between the words from one’s mouth and the desires of one's heart. “I need you, I want you, I can't do without you ... Now get out of my life.”
I was especially pleased to see Fant stretching his wings onto the international scene. This component is so critical in today's global literary marketplace. There was even a touch of supernatural influence that gave the book a spiritual, esoteric feel in certain chapters. I felt I had a front row seat, watching a young writer move into greatness. If there was one component I would have welcomed more of, it would have been Aisha’ s transition to a mindset of marriage. After years living comfortably “in sin”, what was the true motivation for her change of heart? Is there a clock in every woman’s head?
Fant continues to amaze us with his skillful portrayal of human relationships. Life is fickle; love, even more so. In Simon’s Splinter, Fant captures it all.
----------------
Review by
Leander Jackie Grogan
---------------------
“Are you sure you’re okay with us just living together?”
“I’m okay with it,” she replied nonchalantly.
“Because I never want to get married.”
“Okay.” Aisha responded in much the same manner as before.
---------------------
If you've read any of James Fant’s novels (and I’ve read them all) you know that everything is not okay. There is trouble ahead.
In Simon’s Splinter, Fant revisits the enduring controversy of marriage, its relevance in today's society and the profound struggles that invariably arise when two people in love must decide whether their relationship is “okay” without it. As always, the plot propels the reader along a boundless highway with many twists and turns and foolish, ego driven, self-destructive contradictions between the words from one’s mouth and the desires of one's heart. “I need you, I want you, I can't do without you ... Now get out of my life.”
I was especially pleased to see Fant stretching his wings onto the international scene. This component is so critical in today's global literary marketplace. There was even a touch of supernatural influence that gave the book a spiritual, esoteric feel in certain chapters. I felt I had a front row seat, watching a young writer move into greatness. If there was one component I would have welcomed more of, it would have been Aisha’ s transition to a mindset of marriage. After years living comfortably “in sin”, what was the true motivation for her change of heart? Is there a clock in every woman’s head?
Fant continues to amaze us with his skillful portrayal of human relationships. Life is fickle; love, even more so. In Simon’s Splinter, Fant captures it all.
----------------
Review by
Leander Jackie Grogan
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews