A few days ago I received my ARC copy of Joseph Monninger’s Eternal on the Water.  The description of the story contained within this book ends with the following:

“…a timeless beautifully rendered story of true love’s power.”

When I read something like that I expect a story such the one held within the pages of A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True by Brigid Pasulka .. or even perhaps the love stories (and there are more than one) told in Zafon’s The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel’s Game.

To me, an epic love story is one that grows over time.  Sure, there can be instant attraction, but it’s not necessary.  The foundation of love, trust and commitment is built.  There’s no immediate falling into bed, no hedging around a possible relationship.

One of my favorite family stories is the story I’ve been told of when my Grandpa decided to marry my Grandma.  He hadn’t even met her yet.  He was in church with his twin brother and she caught his eye.  Now, he was young, not even 20 I believe, and she was older than he.  He saw her and turned to his brother and said, “See that redhead in that pew up there?  I’m going to marry her.”

How often does something like that happen in today’s stories?   Today, he might have said some coarse comment and proposed activities that were unheard of 60 years ago.  That’s not to say that there can’t be epic stories of love in today’s world, don’t get me wrong.  As I look around at my married friends I see evidence of it happening all around me- despite the statistics saying that most marriages will end in divorce.  I see the proof of a lasting relationship in my own parents, their love and commitment to one another despite the rough times and celebrated in the good.

In Pasulka’s book, she celebrates a story that speaks of honor, commitment and sacrifice.  Monniger’s book has me scratching my head, trying to understand what part of “instant attraction/sexual relations” equates to “true love’s power”.   Even Wesley and Buttercup had to wait, and we all know what kind of true love they had!

Now, I’m only half way through the book (although already bored by it) so perhaps things will change.  Of course, my review will reflect if it does or not.  And I don’t have an issue really with the story, it’s fine and fairly typical of today’s stories of romance, I just take issue with the marketing of this as some kind of epic romance.  What are your thoughts on stories like these?