Julius Brown > Recent Status Updates

Enjoying a newfound inspiration. Sitting in a Barnes & Noble and found this, and would like to read through in totality.

Finding out if I will return to my law school now, in the next week. Praying profusely.

After opening up an interest and awareness of the field of Christian fiction/romance, turning my attention to my area of responsibility, and concern: the American legal courts, and the topic of power.

I like this book. I was, significantly actually, off-put at first by the meeting between Sadie and Otis. I may write about that later. The dialogue between the two leads is very well done.

I'm in Ch. 5 at the dialogue between Indy and the property manager/assistant talking about Cece. These characters are larger than life, and I really like the lore around Indy's friend Cece, it's enigmatic.

The literature field, as with many industries, has it's own world, and it's enjoyable to peak into. I've gotten so much from reading these books in the last month.

I'm in Ch. 5 at the dialogue between Indy and the property manager/assistant talking about Cece. These characters are larger than life, and I really like the lore around Indy's friend Cece, it's enigmatic.

The literature field, as with many industries, has it's own world, and it's enjoyable to peak into. I've gotten so much from reading these books in the last month.

The setting of this book is so modern. I'd actually been wondering about the volume of well-written institutional setting stories that have been published. University setting was what I had in mind, but corporate setting is as nuanced as that. To see the social/professional complexities of corporate life written well is surprising, and a bit haunting.

The dialogue between Ingrid and her boss, or maybe the narrator's icy reading of the boss, makes me want to throw up.

Nicole Deese writes cold characters.

I like this already. The meta-setting of a story centered around a book publisher. Very self-aware.

I like the intense language of internal experiences of another person. "Nearly collapses me", "took all the breath from my lungs" - internal dialogues like that. That really is what intimate experiences feel like - even just exchanges of meaningful words. Super-uncomfortable, yet fulfilling at the same time.

Rightfully - we give our lives for love. Love of God first, but then romantic love, partly for this reason.

I'm starting to appreciate this book, at least as much as "The Little White Lie". The confrontation between Bryson and Cam was great. Cam's being brought out of his artistic slump at the new recording studio is well-done as well, I can feel the tension in that room, hah.

Also, I've thought for a while the parenting narrative with Lexie and Morgan is valuable, and Cam stepping into that.

I'm starting to appreciate this book, at least as much as "The Little White Lie". The confrontation between Bryson and Cam was great. Cam's being brought out of his artistic slump at the new recording student is well-done as well, I can feel the tension in that room, hah.

Also, I've thought for a while the parenting narrative with Lexie and Morgan is valuable, and Cam stepping into that.

Correction: Cam has grown up. Aside from the moments of intimacy, these stories are two person therapy experiences. Which is good, I think.

His Ch. 22 reflection on the depth of his hurt from the broken friendship/relationship with Darcy being because of a - concealing the truth/keeping up appearances - way she went about her relationship transition is fair, as well as his comment about over-investing.

I appreciate the acknowledgement of Cam's insecurity coming up at different points - while not acting on it (though, I think his character could do better at self-awareness in what went wrong with Darcy, and his zero-sum response to Jan's white-lying about her faith).

Also, it was well-written, depicting Mason as stone-cold independent while engaging with Lexie, but then coming down on Cam when deserved.

The dialogue, depicting interpersonal and internal experience of the heart in romance books is something new to me in consuming, and also I appreciate.

We, as people are so complicated - and the decisions we make and the engagements we open ourselves up to filtered through layers and layers of considerations.

Cam and Lexie's dialogue at chapter 20 depicts that well.

I'm waiting to recognize the continuity in Cam Lee's character between the last two books and this.

I very much so appreciate the distinct family circumstances themes in this series. Little White Lie's being decades past unresolved conflict; The Silver Lining's being broken nuclear families and father failures.

I've gotten into reading these romance books; and apart from my original reason for picking them up - I have gotten a lot of value from reading stories of people navigating personal lives.

Started, not liking Erica Sullivan's narration - floundered around trying to find another book to listen to while working, came back, and used to it now.

High hopes for this third installment. Rooting for Cam Lee having his romance. Digging the work-setting theme of this book so far of real estate/interior design.

I hope Cam is written as passionate as he was in the first two books, but having grown personally.

I like Bryson's character. Tammy L. Gray writes excellent male leads.

Rereading, and writing reflection on this book that I plan to post in one week.

Processing the theme of exploitation across Bridge to Haven and Redeeming Love.

I don't know if writing a reflection and possibly having discussion is an adequate response to considering this book. Almost compelled to seek a policy response to these depictions. The #MeToo movement is coming to mind.

Have a lot to process to engage on either of these books.

I am really appreciating this warm hometown community Abra's is being painted in. Recognizing the tension being laid for plot developments to come - my mind is just warming to this close-knit local family experience.