It’s that time again. Once a month, I blog at InspyRomance.com about all things romance. Today, I talk about why I write and read Christian romance. Check it out.
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I’m back at work writing my 29th book. I can’t wait to tell you the story of two people who have been waiting on the sidelines for several years for me to get to their story. So many books to write, so little time. In any case, Avery Chung’s story is coming soon in His Quiet Serenade.
As I was writing that 4th novel in my Seaside Chapel beach romance series, I thought about how much I love this genre. I love to write and read Christian romance, especially novels, because of many reasons. Here are just three of them.
1. Christian romance stories promise a happy ending:
No matter what they go through in my novels, the Christian romance genre assures my readers that there is a Happily Ever After (HEA).
I don’t know about you, but it’s a downer to come to the end of a novel only find out that the couple never get together, or one of them dies or marries someone else. Perhaps worse than that is to read the final chapter without seeing any conclusion at all. It’s like the author never finished the book.
On the other hand, by its nature, a Christian romance promises a satisfying HEA. And the couple sails off into the sunset together, so to speak.
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
2. Christian romance stories are clean and wholesome.
Well-written ones, that is. We are assuming here that the author is also a growing Christian with much wisdom to impart to her (or his) reading audience.
Speaking for myself personally, I don’t want to spend 4-6 hours reading a book that is filled with unwholesome words and ungodliness. By the same token, it’s not the best use of my time as an author to spend 4-6 months writing a book that reads just like any other book in the secular bookstore. I want my books to say something different, to leave a smile on my readers’ faces when they are done reading them.
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
3. Christian romance stories point to God as the source of true love.
In every Christian romance book that I write, I do my best to talk about God and mention Jesus Christ as the source of joy and happiness, and yes, true love. If I never mention His name at all, I find that my writing is missing something.
“Then I said, ‘I will not make mention of Him,
Nor speak anymore in His name.’
But His word was in my heart like a burning fire
Shut up in my bones;
I was weary of holding it back,
And I could not.” (Jeremiah 20:9).
Do you agree that one beauty of well-written Christian romance stories is that readers can be assured that God is lifted up? Oh, what a monumental task that is for Christian authors. There, but for the grace of God, go we.
I’m sure you have read many Christian romance novels that check off all three points above and more. Are there other reasons you might love to read Christian romance? Comment for a chance to win $5 egift card from Amazon USA. This giveaway ends on Monday (November 22, 2021).
If you happen to stumble onto this blog post, and have never read my books, I have a free novel for you. A Christian coastal city romance, Ask You Later (A Savannah Sweethearts Prequel) is the story of an artist and a non-artist who meet in a gallery in downtown Savannah, Georgia. Even though this is a novel, I’m giving it to you for free to introduce you to my coastal city and beach romance stories.
Happy reading!
Jan Thompson