Clean Romances discussion
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Just a reminder about the purpose of this group
Ummmm...I believe she likes Lord of the Rings stuff, and magic themes. She reads a lot of YA fantasy like the Percy Jackson series, etc. As far as clean...no intimacy or raunchy stuff.
Most true fantasy writers are clean; they rarely have sex and only a few have bad language. Lynn Kurland has a wonderful fantasy series out that has strong romantic subplot. (She's a fantastic medieval and paranormal romance author, as well.) There's also a great trilogy out by Elizabeth Kearner about a girl who falls in love with a dragon and of course, there's the classic bad guy who wants to destroy the world. Another favorite fantasy author is Sharon Shinn. David Eddings and Terry Brooks are some of my favorite male fantasy authors; good and clean. I have one coming out later this month, too, called Queen in Exile.
Donna wrote: "Most true fantasy writers are clean; they rarely have sex and only a few have bad language. Lynn Kurland has a wonderful fantasy series out that has strong romantic subplot. (She's a fantastic medi..."
I disagree here, slightly, because there is a lot of fantasy with sex in it and some can be violent/brutal, too. I'll look through my book lists and my daughter's for some suggestions. The first that come to mind are Chalice, Sabriel, Howl's Moving Castle.
I disagree here, slightly, because there is a lot of fantasy with sex in it and some can be violent/brutal, too. I'll look through my book lists and my daughter's for some suggestions. The first that come to mind are Chalice, Sabriel, Howl's Moving Castle.
Just thought of another: Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow. There is also a thread about clean YA here in this group.
Scanning through these messages has confirmed what I've thought for a while: there are a lot of readers our there who want romances about adults that do not contain sex.In the past ten years, mainstream romance has added more and more sex. I think readers who don't like that much sex still buy their favorite authors' books and skip the sex, or give up and go to YA and/or inspirationals. I think part of the growth in the YA and inspirational book market is due to the increase in mainstream sex.
I also think there are readers out there like me who like books without the sex but don't want to read about teenagers or don't care for religion in their romances.
New York will tell you that sex sells. In some cases, yes. But you can't convince me that every reader who buys a book by her favorite mainstream author is reading all the sex.
Which is why we're here. **grins**
My two cents.
Linda
My young adult fantasy The Journey is very clean and teaches the importance of choice. You can either order the printed book from Amazon or my website or you can download the ebook, as well as the sequel free on my blog.jewelsbestgems.blogspot.com
The Audio of The Journey is also available on Itunes and Audible.com
Mod
In the past ten years, mai..."
Here here, Linda! :-)
Jeannette wrote: "Donna wrote: "Most true fantasy writers are clean; they rarely have sex and only a few have bad language. Lynn Kurland has a wonderful fantasy series out that has strong romantic subplot. (She's a ..."that's what I was thinking! When I was younger and a little more (ahem) naive, I thought "All fantasy authors are just like JRR Tolkien! Practically zero romance!" But apparently the WHEELS OF TIME series and some other ones out there (Somebody RR Martin, I think) are really raunchy.
The best fantasy series I can think of (and I cringe at raunchy stuff) besides JRR Tolkien or CS Lewis (Narnia & Space Trilogy) would be more towards the realm of middle-grade YA: Rick Riordan, Lloyd Alexander, Garth Nix, Christopher Paolini, Patrick Carman... but not all folks might want to read authors with younger target audiences...
WHERE exactly is the line between "Christian fiction" romance and just basically good-clean secular stuff? Do characters have to actually mention "God" and quote scripture for it to be Christian fiction?--I don't really read that genre but I'm wondering what exactly counts as that. I hope my question makes sense!
I ask this more as a writer than as a reader, because the stories I've written (including the one I'm working on) have romantic angles but absolutely no sex at all, but I don't mention any specific Christian themes either (except of course chastity). But then on another board I heard someone say that if a story promotes a kind of "hands off" message it's Christian fiction. Any thoughts on this?
Christianity is not the only religion that believes in chastity, so I would think that it is false to say that anything that is "hands-off" is automatically Christian lit. To be considered Christian Lit, I think that religion or the m.c.'s relationship with God needs to be an aspect of the storyline. I don't think that you have to quote scripture necessarily, but religion in some respect is intertwined throughout the story. I've read many books that mention God and church, but are not condsidered Christian fiction because church is something they do and God is someone they believe in, but it is not a signigicant part of the story. It is just who the character is.
I think that the "hands off" message does not make a book Christian fiction. It just makes it clean. I consider a book Christian Lit when a major part of the plot includes a main characters relationship with God and the development of that. If a main character goes to church I wouldn't consider it Christian Lit. For example one author I enjoy is Betsy Brannon Green. She writes mystery/suspense/romance novels. Her main characters go to church, and talk about church. Their spiritual lives are a part of the book only because it is part of their lives. The plots are about something different though, so it's not Christian Lit.
Mod
Kaylee wrote: "Christianity is not the only religion that believes in chastity, so I would think that it is false to say that anything that is "hands-off" is automatically Christian lit. To be considered Chri..."
I agree---I read and reviewed a book this year called THE YEARS OF SILENCE written by an upcoming Muslim woman author in the Middle East. Great, strong, story and clean romantic fiction.
J-lizette wrote: "Thank you Jesus! I'm a Christian myself but I don't narrow my reading horizon on just Christian books. I have been searching for someone to show me good reads that don't have sex in them. It makes ..."Agreed, girls. Good fiction without sex need not be preachy. I'm a Christian and hopefully secure enough in my faith not to need a sermon in disguise.
That said, everyone to their own taste. It's called freedom.
Monya
The Pirate And The Puritan (as Mary Clayton)
Lily's Captain (short story at www.thewildrosepress.com)
http://monyamaryclayton.blogspot.com/
& http://monyamary.blogspot.com/
I'm so excited to find this group. I do write mostly inspirational romance, but I read both inspirational and clean romance. And, Joyce is right that inspirationals have several homes on Goodreads and I don't know of any for a good, clean romance except for this one.
Mod
If you move this query to our "Looking For..." or "Recommendations" folder (either one), you may get more responses, and we could begin a permanent thread for others to refer to in the future. :-)
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/group_...
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/group_...
Cheri wrote: "I must say I agree with Joyce here. I think there is a major hole in the market for mainstream sweet/clean romance.Cheri I'm new here but had to add y two-pence-worth. I'm finding harder and harder to find clean sweet romance. More and more Lust is protrayed as love and that's sad.
Hello friends! Newbie here! I'm SO thrilled to be here and to find like minds! I'm a Lutheran Christian myself, but my books certainly wouldn't fall into what, in my humble opinion, is a bit too narrow a genre in what constitutes the "Inspirational" industry. I write the "Strangely Beautiful" series, its sweet/sensual Gothic Victorian Fantasy / Paranormal Romance, which I'd say runs a PG-13 rating. :) My first book especially, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker has a YA crossover audience for that very reason. Full of ghosts and greek mythology, there's a lot of religion in the work because of the characters' backgrounds, but I try to make it open and affirming to all walks of faith, life, practice, belief, non-belief, etc. My books are very spiritual, if you will, and with all the ghosts, I also mean that quite literally. :)
I've just started on a new YA series separate from the Strangely Beautiful series, and its very similar in tone. I definately have hit my comfort zone, and it's here.
I'm thrilled to add to my TBR pile here, and hope you'll consider recommending me when someone's looking for a Clean Historical / Clean Fantasy / Clean Paranormal - because The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker is all of the above. :)
In the interest of full disclosure, the sequel, The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker, does have a couple of sex scenes but they're written with metaphor, without the use of body-part words because those just don't work with the lyrical style I use. As you all know, sensuality is key to illustrate a continuing hero / heroine romantic relationship from book one and show the changes in that dynamic once they're married, but maintaining the sweet/sensual voice is key for me.
If you're interested in a sweet holiday read, "A Christmas Carroll" featured in A Midwinter Fantasy, which continues in my same Gothic Victorian "Strangely Beautiful" world would certainly fit the bill.
Cheers and happy holidays!
Hi, all! I'm a Christian too and although I do enjoy reading Christian fiction and romances, I also enjoy reading secular sweet romances as well. (Unfortunately, it seems to be a dying art.)I have two very sweet romances published myself: The Role of a Lifetime and Georgie On His Mind
Also, Avalon Books--primarily a library book publisher--publishes only G-rated, family-oriented books. That is one of my publishers, but they publish other genres besides romance.
Happy to be here!
~Jennifer
Mod
Jennifer wrote: "Hi, all! I'm a Christian too and although I do enjoy reading Christian fiction and romances, I also enjoy reading secular sweet romances as well. (Unfortunately, it seems to be a dying art.)I hav..."
Welcome Jennifer. I've read a couple Avalon books, congrats.
daniellethorne.com
Thanks, Danielle! Nice to meet you too!!
Danielle, I want to order your book The Privateer but can't find it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble - except in ebook format. When does it come out in print?
Mod
Sandie wrote: "Danielle, I want to order your book The Privateer but can't find it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble - except in ebook format. When does it come out in print?"Hi Sandie--
Thanks for asking. Actually, I'm an electronically published author so all of my books are ebooks with the exception of one that also has a print option (JOSETTE).
Here is the link to The Privateer at the publisher that offers many file types like PDF, and on Amazon, but I'm afraid I don't have a print copy. :( Sorry.
Desert Breeze Publishing--The Privateer:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing....
Amazon--The Privateer: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004...
Curious what you think about The Ivy Tree by Mary Stewart. Would it fit on this group? What about Norah Lofts? How do you feel about her romances?
Mod
I haven't read The Ivy Tree by Mary Stewart, only her Merlin trilogy, which weren't romances. The only Norah Lofts book I've read is Esther. It is perfectly clean, but I wasn't sure whether it's quite a romance or not. I have it on my personal bookshelf as a "favorite". Have you read it? If you think it would fit on our group bookshelf, feel free to add it, or I can do so, if you want. Are her other books romances, or more straight historicals, do you think?
I wouldn't call Esther a romance either. A Calf for Venus, Jassy, Afternoon of an Autocrat and a few others are romances but Norah Lofts romances are not typical as they rarely have a happy ending. They are always clean IMO. Its been quite a few years since I read The Ivy Tree but I thought it was very romantic. I don't like to add it tho as I am not sure it fits here. I could add some Norah Lofts tho if that is OK.
Oh, her other books are a mix. I have read almost all of them but have a poor memory.
Mod
Sure, Lavender, go ahead and add Norah Lofts books. I probably should read a few more of them, since I like Esther so much. :-)
Thanks! you will find most of them at second hand book stores but I did get a new copy of The Town House on Amazon.com. I own Esther too. I have just about all of them.
Linda wrote: "Scanning through these messages has confirmed what I've thought for a while: there are a lot of readers our there who want romances about adults that do not contain sex.In the past ten years, mai..."
Linda, I wholeheartedly agree. I wonder if I was the only noticing that mainstream books and even the smaller press tendency to push the more explicit sex books. I'm a big YA fan and I can see why a lot of readers are headed that way and for inspirationals. I haven't read many inspirational books but I have a few on my shelf that I'm eager to get to (including Harlequin's Love Inspired Suspense line -- has anyone read that yet?)
Overall, I don't mind love scenes if they are done in a way that isn't shoved one's face.
YA tends to focus on the story and characterization which can be lacking in the more mainstream romance books. I'm glad I found my favorites as well as this group for clean romances. We certainly need more out there! :-)
I wasn't sure where to post this, but I just wanted to say thank you so much for this group! While I do read Christian fiction, it isn't always my favorite. I do love a good romance, but I really dislike sex scenes. I understand how it works, I don't need a description, haha. I was so thrilled to find this group that discusses books without that type of thing. Thanks so much :)Beth
Mod
Welcome to the group, Myra Beth! I'm so glad you found us. If you have any favorite clean romances, please add them to the group bookshelf. :o)
Mod
Welcome to all the new members and congrats to all the winners of the recent contest. Now I'm off to find my winner and send her her book.Have a great day, everyone!
Happy Reading!
Danielle Thorne
Hi Joyce,Sounds like a fun group! I'm a fiction author and have just published my contemporary romance novella, The Boyfriend Bylaws. It includes the bonus short story, My Last Blind Date.
Both stories are about women who are looking for love and both are sweet chick lit style reads that are available on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, smashwords.com, and allromanceebooks.com.
I look forward to getting to know readers and writers here. It's a fun genre to read and write!! :) Susan
Joyce wrote: "Hi All,
Please don't take this the wrong way...I am an active Christian myself and clearly have nothing against Christian or Inspirational romances!...but please remember that titles that fall str..."
The Boyfriend Bylaws
Mod
Sounds like a fun group! I'm a fiction author and have just published my contemporary romance novella, The Boyfriend Bylaws. It includes the bonus short story, My Last Blind Date.
B..."
Hi Susan! Welcome! If your novella is a clean romance, feel free to add it to our group bookshelf. Hope you enjoy it here!
Hi, I’m new to this group as of two days ago but am just finding this thread now. Wow, I’m loving this! Finally a place where my sweet historical western romances will fit right in. My first book does have one love scene, after the hero and heroine are married, and totally G rated. I felt comfortable having my 14 year old niece reading it. Very happy to be here!
Thx, Joyce. I will figure out how to do that. :)
Mod
Thank you so much! Im excited to find this group!
I'm new here, too, but I think my books don't fit, as they do have just a little bit of - well, sex. Not much (no good at writing about it), but I think they probably preclude me from this group. Shame.
Mod
There are no requirements to be a MEMBER of our group. It just sounds like your books wouldn't fit on our group bookshelf. But by all means, join us if you'd like! :-)
Rosina wrote: "I'm new here, too, but I think my books don't fit, as they do have just a little bit of - well, sex. Not much (no good at writing about it), but I think they probably preclude me from this group. S..."Just wondering but,
Why do your books have to contain any sex at all in them?
Can't you convey to the reader that they were "close" and had a connection without the sex?
I believe the best writers have the talent to engage the reader without going into any details and still get their point across.
I believe that sex is a sacred act and should be treated with respect not shared with others.
The bonds that men and women make together are special and private.
Just my personal feelings, but I think "millions" of people, young and old around the world share my sensitivity to having sex in the books we read and there is money in writing books without "sex", even a teeny, tiny bit.
If an author I have enjoyed in the past starts writing her books with "sex" in them, I don't just skip over the parts, I "skip" over the author and find new authors willing to go the distance and write good quality books. :)
Thanks for listening!
I'm glad that you started this group! Sometimes I find it hard to find clean romances that will appeal to me. It doesn't help that my English-language bookshop's romance shelves seem to be full of Paranormal Romance books, which are always full of sex and I've grown bored of vampires, werewolves and other such creatures in the years since Twilight.If they're not paranormal, they're usually Christian. I dislike heavily Christian-themed books in general. I'm not religious, never have been, and don't hold myself to all the morals put forth in them. The last Christian book I read informed me every other page that I'm destined to go to Hell. It got old fast.
I have nothing against sex outside of marriage so long as it fits the society the story is set in.
Warrior Daughter by Janet Paisley is set on the Isle of Skye when the Celtic tribes still ruled. All the characters have varied sex lives with members of both sexes, but it holds true to that society. In fact, one of the few bits of information that remain about the character is that she would teach young men "the ways of the thighs".
A lot of romances set in 1700 / 1800s that contain sex out of marriage really bug me because it is a well known fact that a woman's virtue was all she had to secure herself a good marriage and a happy future.
I agree with the idea about the fantasy ones. There are some that are really good with romantic undertones and no sex. Though sex in fantasy also tends to be better for some reason! Wonder why - maybe because the whole plot isn't centered around it.
I recently really enjoyed Juliet Marillier's Heart's Blood. Ok so it has one sex scene but it doesn't go into detail so I count it verging on clean.
I also enjoyed Kelley Armstrong's Chole Saunders trilogy - now this one is clean as it's meant for YA.
Nekropolis by Tim Waggoner was good fun. About a zombie that's falling apart with a touch of romance to it.
Clean Romances
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How do you define fantasy and how do you define clean, in this case? I read a bit of YA fantasy and fairy tale re-writes -- just wondering what you might be looking for.