Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

I haven’t read, but Karen Kingsbury books go like hotcakes in libraries, and so do Dee Hendersons (especially if you like romantic suspense).  I do think there are a few romances out there that are inspirational but either don’t have or just don’t beat you over the head with the faith element.  I’m particularly thinking of a few of SEP’s books for this.

Try Ann Burton’s Women of the Bible: Rahab’s Story.

Inspy is DEFINITELY not my thing, but I read Deeanne Gist’s The Measure of a Lady because it had a gorgeous cover and I got it as a freebie. I was very, very pleasantly surprised. The story was interesting, historical details were lovely, and the preaching was. . . not so much. After reading it, I found out she defines her books as “edgy inspirational”. There’s definitely lust and temptation, along with forgiveness and acceptance. I’m not a Christian, and I truly enjoyed it.

Also, I still luuuuurve the cover. Mm.

I read quite a bit of Christian romance when I was in high school (okay, and middle school), because I liked the love stories, but didn’t want to read anything too graphic.  (Though I have to admit, I generally skimmed through the “devoting yourself to God” passages)

I definitely second the Dee Henderson recommendation (especially Danger in the Shadows ).  Janette Oke’s Love Comes Softly series is pretty much a classic.  And I loved some of Lori Wick’s older novels (though I’m convinced that two of them have the exact same plot, just in different settings and time periods).

I second Dee Henderson’s romantic suspense novels.  I’m not an avid fan of inspirational romance, but I think Dee is a skilled suspense writer.

Aaah, the Inspirational Romance - all the girls (including myself) read those by the dozens in middle school, especially since we also happened to attend a Christian school.  Now, I don’t mean to knock on my own religion, but I avoid IR b/c they are almost always 1)badly written in general 2)and preachy like whoa - kinda inevitable, really.  I remember reading one by Lori Wick called The Princess, and I got so angry with it b/c Wick was so preachy about her own personal views of Christianity (that being afraid is a sin b/c you’re not trusting in God?  BLARGH)

Buuuut, if you reaaaally want to try one, I would recommend Love Comes Softly by Janette Oke, which is a classic in the genre.

I only ever read one of those. I forget the name, but it gave me the creeps. It was like the hero and heroine were having a threesome with God, that’s the only way I can describe it. But incredibly unsexy and definitely wrong.

Dee Henderson and Terri Blackstock both write pretty decent inspirational romantic suspense… Dee’s get a little more preachy than Terri’s but I like them both.  My fave of Terri’s is the Newpointe 911 series, and Dee’s are the O’Malley Family Series. 

I don’t like Karen Kingsbury, or Janette Oke—but that’s probably because I don’t really enjoy straight romance.  I like a little something to go along with it…

Good luck!

I second Janette Oke. Love Comes Softly is good. There’s also her Canadian West series about a young woman at the turn of the century who decides to go teach in, funnily enough, the Canadian west where she meets a Mountie. I’m not big on Inspirationals and I’ve only read the first 2 or 3, but they aren’t bad.

Dee Henderson. Of course, she is the only inspy author I’ve read in ages. I grew up on inspy authors but I can’t remember the title or author of any of them.  I remember one being about a hockey player that wouldn’t wear a helmet.  I read that one till the cover fell off.

I pick these up by accident—the trade p’backs look just like the ‘hot’ romances I like. Heh.

The structural problem is, many inspirationals are even more constrained than a ‘regular’ romance. There’s the mandatory happy ever after—reducing tension in the story—& a mandatory spiritual growth/acceptance scene near the end—where usually the hero’s the spiritually strong one. That means the heroine has to go through a Dark Night of Her (Usually Stupid) Soul, and then everything’s cool. The ones I’ve read blur together but two stood out:

Surprisingly good—The Cubicle Next Door (Siri Mitchell)

Not formulaic! Funny, well-drawn characters. They didn’t exist only to whap the reader on the head with religion—there was actual plot. I found them likeable ‘real’ people. I’d call it a gentle, funny, modern love story. Lots of character development. I rooted for them. Biggest problem was, the hero was so perfect I coulda puked. And this cocky swaggering pilot guy has an instant raging Thing for a total computer geek blogger? Yuhuh. Biggest nice surprise was, they were pretty religiously tolerant & ended up (as non Catholics) joining a Catholic church with no angst or bigotry or what have you.

Retchingly wretched—Claire Knows Best (Tracey Bateman)

The writing & transparent plot were totally ‘young adult’. Stereotypes instead of character development, kill me now obvious plot, clunky writing, TSTL whiny self-doubting heroine who makes no sense, TunbearablySTL sis-in-law and mother (all the women are stupid), hero who’s saintly-perfect so she’s even more a wreck by comparison. Lots of laugh out loud (so you don’t cry) moments, like how (over & over) the heroine & her friends think the neighborhood atheist is THE DEBIL.

Francine Rivers Redeeming Love.  It’s the story of Hosea the Prophet, set in the old West.  Michael Hosea hears a heavenly Voice telling him he must marry Angel, a prostitute.  He’s not real excited about this, but figures there’s a reason for God speaking to him this way.

The novel is beautifully written, and while I’m not a fan of Inspirationals, I know a good book when I see it.

I’ll also recommend Tim Farrington’s The Monk Downstairs.  I wouldn’t exactly call it an Inspirational, but it’s about love, faith and religion.

Oh, and while you can’t call them inspirationals, Sharon Shinn’s “Angel” novels deal with issues of religion, as does her novel Wrapt in Crystal.

Finally, since I’m about to sign off for Shavuot (Pentecost/Feast of Weeks), let me recommend The Book of Ruth.  It’s got meeting cute (“Hey!  Who’s that chick gleaning in my fields? Maybe I can invite her to eat lunch with me!”), sexual tension (the threshing floor scene),  a black moment (will the kinsman closer to Ruth’s late husband free her to marry Boaz?), dramatic denouement (Boaz makes his case in front of the town elders), dialog, and a HEA.

One year I was discussing Ruth with my rabbi and I said “It’s the perfect romance novel!  I couldn’t have written it better myself!” 

There was a stunned silence, and then my rabbi cleared his throat and said, “Why Darlene, how very modest of you.”

I had no idea there was such a category as Inspirational until I started reading this site. I’m not a Christian, so I’d have no reason to know, but still, with the amount of romance novels I read a few years ago, I’m surprised I didn’t run across one.

I’m very wary of reading in this category; I detest being preached to. However, the ones Darlene is recommending sound pretty interesting. I think I’m going to give Redeeming Love and Ruth a try.

I didn’t know that Janette Oke was an Inspiration writer. I shelve her books all the time and I’ve been wondering what she was like as a writer; she certainly seems popular.

If you’re going for Biblical romance, try Song of Solomon, or The Song of Songs (depending on the translation.) Personally, I like the RSV version, myself.

Pretty hot, actually. Find a good translation and it’s probably the best erotic romance ever.

One of the most popular Inspiration Romance authors ever is Grace Livingston Hill.  She is deceased and so now her daughter is trying to basically re-write her books and retitle them, but if you could find an orginial Grace Livingston Hill, you might like it.  They are usually set in earlier times…my Grandma has the whole original collection-they are worth a lot of money.

I’m a Christian, and first of all, I’d like to say that Christians shouldn’t be telling ANYBODY they are going to Hell-that’s the kind of crap that makes us look bad.  Anyway, I read and write (not published, just writing away until I get ready)romance novels, and they definitely are not inpirational (at least not in that sense-I find them very inspirational in other ways lol).  I think they’ve made me more comfortable with my sexuality, and I don’t feel guilty.  I’ve read a few inspirational romance novels and liked them-I could never write one though, because I couldn’t come up with the right message to convey.  Anyway, the best one I ever read was in high school, and I don’t know the author, but it was called One More River-more geared toward young adults, but it was well-written.  When I read what you said about people saying you’re going to Hell I had to comment-of course if those same people saw my bookshelf, I’d probably get the same thing!

I second Francine Rivers. I like the suspense w/ story. I also like the Beverly Lewis books, they have Amish characters and settings. Janette Oke is a good choice for those who like historicals, my 83 yr.old aunt is a big fan. Grace Livingston Hill is good but her books haven’t all aged well. I got irked by one of hers abut a woman who has to marry a cousin to keep the castle in the family. There’s even a inspirational series called Loveswept that’s popular though I’ve never read any of ‘em.

The Gentile and the Jew, A Divine Romance - Marilyn Thomas. I only know that, the cover scares me. 0_0 It’s not cheesy or overdone, it’s just—Christiany?

There is a series called Steeple Hill; I don’t know any of the authors. Supposed to be for “hip women of faith” or something like that. They really do not appeal to me.
The bookstore where I work doesn’t sell much of them either.

My anti-spam word is feel43. “What’s a 43? Maybe I will…”

At last fall’s Surrey Writers Convention, I happened to sit beside a gal at lunch who turned out to be the 2005 RITA Award Winner for Best Inspirational Novel of the Year from RWA! So of course I promptly went home, found her books & started reading ... they would have been rated probably 3.5 to 4 out of 5 on my own reading scale (why do inspirations seem so BLAND in their writing *style*, not just the subject matter???). But I would certainly recommend her for being readable and NOT “too preachy”.

I would also recommend Dee Henderson, who again has a unique “style” that I can’t quite define, but her STORIES are great (especially her Uncommon Heroes series).

— Bonz

As a matter of fact, I have read a Jewish inspirational set in an Orthodox community.  It was one of the first romance novels I ever read, actually.  But I can’t remember the title or author…I know that they are out there, though.

RITA winner Shelley Bates writes great “Christian” romances that don’t set up the back of this non-Christian.

Guess it would make sense if I actually included the AUTHOR’S NAME (doh!) ... the gal I shared lunch with was Shelley Bates (2005 Rita Award Winner), and I see the book she told me about that day is being released this month ...

http://www.shelleybates.com/

— Bonz

I read a lot of these inspirationals when I was a teenager because the people who bought be books (my mom, my stepmother, my grandmother) didn’t want to buy me the ones with boot-knockin’. Many were cheesy, but there are a few I still have with me on the Keeper Shelves, including a Janette Oke called A Gown of Spanish Lace (I actually couldn’t get through the Love Comes Softly ones - found them way too saccharine). While it appears to be out of print, and it does include the heroine, if I recall correctly, reciting almost the entire Bible in her head while in captivity to keep from going crazy (I…think? It’s been ten years), it was swooningly romantic. Gold Rush, prospectors, men in leather hats, the aforementioned gown, which sounded luscious when I was 13.

There’s also a series by Lisa Samson that I read until the books fell apart. The first is called The Highlander and His Lady, and it’s about the illegitimate half-English daughter of an, ahem, lady of the evening who falls in love with the future head of clan Maclachlan…ohhhh, so kilty and peaty and glorious! It’s set in the early 18th century, and the battle of Culloden is rendered in bloody, viscous detail, for those of you who like your Scottish history. The Christian-ness of it is notable mostly in the hero and heroine not doin’ it until they’re man and wife, but the book keeps going from there. I loved it passionately in my wee, chaste, yearning heart.

The other two books are The Legend of Robin Brodie, which is about the highlander and his lady’s daughter, and is equally romantic, as the hero is a battle-scarred recluse. The third book, The Temptation of Aaron Campbell, jumps forward like fifty years and is not as awesome.

And finally (my Presbyterian upbringing is so showing right now), there’s a book called Diamonds that I hugged to my then-flat bosom for years. It is, awesomely, about baseball - a woman inherits her uncle’s minor league team and promptly falls for the ornery pitcher, who is, you can probably guess, hott. And surly. And a lapsed Christian (lands!). There’s an awesome bachelor auction (the team is called the Bachelors) in which the heroine gets mad jealous that other ladies are bidding on her man candy.

I distinctly remember that when my stepmother bought me this as a birthday present from the Christian bookstore, the last five pages were missing and I insisted on going right back because the book literally ended in the middle of the climactic game. For the love of me I cannot remember the author’s name, and it appears to be out of print as well, despite much Amazon searching. I will amend this when I get home, because even though I haven’t read any of these five books since before college, they have moved with me from Virginia to New York to Brooklyn to Manhattan.

Judy Clemens writes mysteries with sweet romance, set in a Mennonite community in rural Pennsylvania.  Not “inspirational” per se, but you see a lot of the Mennonite community and the romance is very sweet/inoffensive.  I think her h/h kissed once in the last book.

And by “inoffensive” I don’t mean bland.  The heroine is a 20-something, tattooed, motorcycle-riding dairy owner.

I read another Book of Ruth—name of author escaping leaky brain, but it’s about a Jewish woman who falls in love with and marries a priest. Very well written and lotsa religion, just not the usual “inspirational” kind.  If you need some yucks, try old Emily Lorings.

Candy, you know how much I hate preachy inspys and the Token Lost Person. But I would like to highly recommend the Zion Chronicles series by Bodie Thoene, and An Emerald Ballad series by B.J. Hoff. Fabulous historicals. Thoene’s books are set in Israel in 1948, after it became a state. Hoff’s series goes from Ireland to America in the early 1900’s. They’re big reads but great romances!

I am such a librarian.  I read Sara’s comment and immediately thought I had to identify the book for her.  And here’s the info:

Diamonds /
Shari MacDonald
1996
English Book Book : Fiction 235 p. ; 21 cm.
Sisters, Or. : Palisades, ; ISBN: 0880709820

Owned by at least 163 libraries.

*Sigh*  It’s a sickness :)

Man I don’t remember the name of this trilogy, but I remember receiving it for Christmas when I was 14ish.  It was this epic story of a couple, and all I remember is that like 50 pages from the end (-of 3 books), they get separated, live their entire lives apart, and get together when they are OLD.  Oh I was pissed.  So pissed.  So whatever books those were, avoid them.

Felicia Mason, Jacquelin Thomas (Redemption was really good), MURDER, MAYHEM, AND A FINE MAN by Claudia Mair Burney (is romantic suspense), and I’ve heard great things about Marilynn Griffith ‘s If The Shoe Fits. I’m also anticipating Camy Tang’s debut release—an Asian author who writes inspirational chick-lit.

(Shudder)

I’m Roman Catholic and I have NO desire to read inspirational romance (picked up a Mary Jo Putney novel once that she used to espouse her religion and I haven’t read her since) because it smacks too much of bible-thumping Southern Baptists.

They’d make me go to confession on a daily basis for the stuff I write.

Although I spent most of my formative years as a good Lutheran girl, I’d never heard of inspirational novels until very recently.  And I’d thought of them as Christian Romance in my head until I came to this site.

my word: spirit31

I recommend the bitches try black inspiration women’s fiction.  I doubt they will go back to gnawing soda crackers when they got rich, moist spicy gingerbread at hand.

Tracie Peterson was a friend when she lived in Kansas and I read some of her books.  I gotta say they were well written, but my black church going sistas books have a zing that doesn’t compare.

Why not start with Drama in the Church by Dynah Zale? 

“…crammed tight with drama and spiritual lessons. Dynah Zale has crafted a rather appealing saga about the church that had me glued to my seat as I greedily read each morsel of this fast-paced, action-packed read.”
- Brenda Lisbon of RAWSISTAZ.com

DRAMA ENSUES WHEN THE CHAOS OF THE WORLD ENTERS THE DOORS OF FIRST NAZARETH A.M.E. CHURCH.

Tressie faithfully prayed every night that God would send her a thug. It wasn’t long before her prayers were answered and she met a handsome ex-convict named Payce Boyd. Payce is a fine ruffneck and everything Tressie ever imagined and more. That is, until Tressie experiences first hand the reality of being a thug’s girl. Seeking solace and comfort in the sanctuary, Tressie soon learns valuable lessons and shocking truths about herself and others. 

Other members of the church experience their own share of drama in the form of goldiggers, betrayals, and a healthy dose of deception. Share in their journey through love, lust, self-doubt, and Drama in the Church.

Will Tressie find the dangerous, alpha thug she wants?  She didn’t think she would in church, but with what goes on behind those pews . . . (!)

I say the only downside is if you read a book you hate, it’ll be like giving Jesus a D.
Now I’m probably going to hell for that comment.
Anyway, I read years ago AIN’T NO RIVER. The author name is fuzzy at the moment.

I don’t usually read inspirational romances, either. But I did read a Jeanette Oake once… one about an older sister coming to terms with her younger sister, who was prettier and smarter than she was. It wasn’t bad.

I did not enjoy the Lori Wick book I read. Very definitely preachy and not so much with the good writing.

Oh, yeah, Francine Rivers!  I’m agnostic, and hate being preached to, but I loved “A Voice in the Wind.”  It has one of the few ugly herione/ pretty hero pairings that I’ve ever read.  It also has two sequals, “An Echo in the Darkness” and “As Sure as the Dawn” that weren’t very good, IMHO.  I had to read them, though, because the end of “Voice in the Wind” left the HEA somewhat ambiguous.  It may be best to just say that Marcus and Hadassah do get together, and that there is no need to finish the series, because nothing really happens in “Echo,” and “Dawn” is just insane (would it be giving anything away for me to mentioned that it feature a Special Guest Appearance by Jesus, Himself?).

I did have to ignore some of the evil lesbians and sinful sluts and OMG abortion! plotpoints, but it sounds like I’m not the only one who does that, with Inspirationals.

Daphne Du Maurier..old fashioned but definitely inspiring romance. You might find her books here on this book site.

Don’t know that I can recommend it but Diane Palmer wrote a book for an early inspirational line (Silhouette, I think) under the pseudonym Katie Currie—Blind Promises.  I never got beyond the author’s biography I’m afraid so I have no idea if it is just a regular Diana Palmer with some religious trappings or not.  However, it has been reissued.

I would second the Grace Livingston Hill, but you do have to pick and choose.  Sometimes the heroines can be too sacchrine, but a lot of the heroes are Presbyterian ministers. 

Very early Emilie Lorings are good.  Most are not necessarily inspirational, but a few are.

I actually read a secret baby inspy, but it was ridiculous.  I had nightmares of Southern Baptists for days.

I am a Christian but avoid most Christian fiction for all the reasons already outlined. I see that Francine Rivers has been recommended but not all her stuff is good. The Scarlet Thread by Rivers made me want to slit my wrists with the pages. The heroine was a whining, pity party that never ended. Lord, help us from idiotic women.

However, Redeeming Love, mentioned earlier and by Rivers, is my favorite IR.

Thanks for the other suggestions. I am going to the used book store this week to find some of them.

Another vote for Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.  I’m not a regular inspie reader.  Actually I wasn’t aware that Redeeming Love might be considered an inspirational until years after I’d read it.  Not heavy-handed and judgemental at all.  Not sweet either.  There’s plenty of sex in this story!  It’s really a wonderful book and it’s solidly on my keeper shelf.

As a Christian and avid reader myself I will have to agree, the selection of well written, character driven, non-cheesy Christian fiction is, well, abysmal. I would recomend Francine Rivers “Redeeming Love”, this is an excellent book. If you can find an orginal copy before the book was “cleaned up” for the Christian market, even better.  My favorite book of Francine’s is “The Last Sin Eater”, but it is not for everyone and the movie that is out on DVD, well the book is sooooo much better. Dee Henderson’s “Danger in the Shadows” is a wonderful romantic/suspence worth reading. Francine and Dee restored my “faith”(sorry, I couldn’t help it) in the ability of Christians to write something relevent and entertaining.

Okay, now I’m curious. Allison mentioned that Redeeming Love was “cleaned up”... how would one find the original? 

I read it years ago (and I remember being completely enthralled by it), but now I’m wondering which version I read.

Thanks, KellyMaher! I looked it up when I got home (or, to be precise, looked over) and wondered why I couldn’t remember the author’s name. It’s very close to my stepmother’s. Maybe that’s why she bought the book.

I second the Ann Burton ” women of the bible” series. wonderful books that the author really put a lot into historical research and the storeis are just beautiful.

also, The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Exceptional book!!!!

synopsis: Amazon.com
The red tent is the place where women gathered during their cycles of birthing, menses, and even illness. Like the conversations and mysteries held within this feminine tent, this sweeping piece of fiction offers an insider’s look at the daily life of a biblical sorority of mothers and wives and their one and only daughter, Dinah. Told in the voice of Jacob’s daughter Dinah (who only received a glimpse of recognition in the Book of Genesis), we are privy to the fascinating feminine characters who bled within the red tent. In a confiding and poetic voice, Dinah whispers stories of her four mothers, Rachel, Leah, Zilpah, and Bilhah—all wives to Jacob, and each one embodying unique feminine traits. As she reveals these sensual and emotionally charged stories we learn of birthing miracles, slaves, artisans, household gods, and sisterhood secrets. Eventually Dinah delves into her own saga of betrayals, grief, and a call to midwifery.
“Like any sisters who live together and share a husband, my mother and aunties spun a sticky web of loyalties and grudges,” Anita Diamant writes in the voice of Dinah. “They traded secrets like bracelets, and these were handed down to me the only surviving girl. They told me things I was too young to hear. They held my face between their hands and made me swear to remember.” Remembering women’s earthy stories and passionate history is indeed the theme of this magnificent book. In fact, it’s been said that The Red Tent is what the Bible might have been had it been written by God’s daughters, instead of her sons.

Francine Rivers is good - I heartily second the recs for Redeeming Love.  Jannette Oke is popular, but I think I outgrew her books by the age of 12.  Also, in her Love Comes Softly series, the dialect transcription can get incredibly annoying.  Just spell the damn words and I’ll fill in the accent on my own, thanks.  Her Canadian West is better, IMO.

If you’re looking to read good inspiration, I’d go for the Cheney Duvall, MD series by Gilbert Morris.  They’re about a female doctor during the Reconstruction Era.  The hero is her ex-Confederate soldier nurse.  Both characters are very well written, funny and there’s a ton of chemistry.

Also on the historical front, the Zion Covenant and the Zion Chronicles are extremely well-constructed epics about a group of (mostly Jewish) characters in WWII Europe and post-war Israel.  Those were the books that made me want to be a writer.  Oh, and The Russians Series by Judith Pella.  Those are awesome, even if I can’t make myself read past Bloody Sunday.  Too sad.

Okay, I’ve read way too much inspirational.  I need to go find some erotica now.

I read Francine Rivers ancient Rome trilogy and also really loved the first one, A Voice In The Wind.

But Redeeming Love…I hated it more than any other book I have ever read. I dunno, maybe it was because I was the mother of a beautiful, blonde-haired five year old at the time I read it. I would never even consider re-reading it to see if my opinions have changed, it bothered me that much. (BTW: I love horrors and thrillers, but *this* is not what I read romance for.)

Aside from that issue, the whole Christian forgiveness/redemption thing was just not enough to overcome the ugliness. And there wasn’t a single character in the book that I liked…she went way too far in her revenge (blech) and he was a total doormat.

Just another opinion…fwiw.

Oh, the Red Tent is one of my favorites. *smacks self on head* I forgot about it!

“I read it years ago (and I remember being completely enthralled by it), but now I’m wondering which version I read.”
sara, I don’t have the book with me (I’m at work)but I will look it up this evening when I get home to tell you the copyright date, I am thinking the original was published in the early 90’s, but I’m not sure.  The biggest differences I noticed between the two: the language was cleaned up and Sarah’s decision to turn away from her past was a defined “walk to the altar” scene in the cleaned up version.

I haven’t read any of Judy Baer’s books, but she spoke to one of my library-school classes, and she was funny and erudite, so I have to hope her books are, too.

I think some of her books technically are considered “Christian chick-lit,” but they sound entertaining,and seem to contain romantic plots. In Million Dollar Dilemma the heroine puts $5 in the office lottery-ticket buy, thinking she’s giving money for a colleague’s baby shower; when the group wins, she has to figure out what to do with her share of the money, because gambling violates her faith. And in Be My Neat-Heart, the heroine is a professional home-organizer, which I think sounds interesting. (Mostly because my house is not so much with the “organized.”)

Be mindful of which Redeeming Love you pick up. I preferred the old one, before it was touched up and iced for the inspy lines.

As a Christian I have not found too many inspirationals all that inspirational.  I think there can be plenty of love and romance without sex, unfortunately the ones I’ve read all portray these vapid, lukewarm couples who have no trouble not having sex.  As a Christian I have to say this is BS.  Even should you decide to wait its never as simple as being satisfied with lukewarm Eskimo kisses on a sofa.

If there is an inspirational out there that portrays how truly difficult this decision can be for two people madly in love, and shows how it can be overcome and used as an obstacle for a growth or shows the effects on the relationship, I’d be interested in that.

However, perfect beautiful people with no apparent attraction to one another?  Not interesting.

Also, I’d be interested to see an inspirational where someone has an actual crisis of faith, rather than just going around getting everybody saved and baptized.

the ones I’ve read all portray these vapid, lukewarm couples who have no trouble not having sex.  As a Christian I have to say this is BS…

If there is an inspirational out there that portrays how truly difficult this decision can be for two people madly in love, and shows how it can be overcome and used as an obstacle for a growth or shows the effects on the relationship, I’d be interested in that…

Also, I’d be interested to see an inspirational where someone has an actual crisis of faith, rather than just going around getting everybody saved and baptized.

I just told all y’all where you can find inspirationals that exactly fit the above description in vast quantities, and nobody seemed all that interested.

I wonder why?

[chortle!]

HEAVENS TO BETSY by Beth Pattillo and its sequel, EARTH TO BETSY.  Funny tales about a female reverend and her trials and tribulations.

nobody seemed all that interested.
I wonder why?
[chortle!]

A little quick off the mark there, aren’tcha? I don’t write “THANK YOU SO MUCH!!1!1!” blog comments but it’s not lack of interest. When I see a suggestion I try it. If like it I come back later and comment. That’s just me. I like to have something to say other than “OMG!TX!”

unfortunately the ones I’ve read all portray these vapid, lukewarm couples who have no trouble not having sex.

This is what I could never understand about inspirationals. Reading the submission guidelines for some of the Christian lines just boggles my mind. No sex, no kissing, no thoughts about sex, no lusting, no drinking, smoking, blah, blah, blah. Who the hell are you supposed to inspire? All the totally perfect people out there?

This is what surprised me when I picked up the Deeanne Gist book. There is lust and there are real people making normal mistakes, etc.

A little touchy over a li’l chortle.  I chortle all the time. Chortle here, chortle there. 

Seriously, if anybody had been interested, you know there would have been discussion.  Y’all discuss anything you’re interested in until it’s dead, stomped to the ground, and begging to be buried. 

People have the perfect right to be interested in what they want. 

But they may miss some good stuff.  Fir example, have y’all heard Yolanda Adam’s Christian tune Open My Heart? 

It’s very good. 

That’s all I was sayin’

This is where the urban dictionary comes in handy.  Don’t tell a soul, but I use it all the time. 

You don’t understand what a thug really is.  She wasn’t praying for a criminal, but a man who knows the streets and how to deal with them, a surviver, who is cool in every way, who is down, who is like a J.R. Ward character without the blood drinking requirements.  The ultimate urban alpha male.  To many woman, a thug is well worth praying for. 

As Tupac defined it, a thug is someone who is going through struggles, has gone through struggles, and continues to live day by day with nothing for them. That person is a thug. and the life they are living is the thug life. A thug is NOT a gangster. Look up gangster and gangsta. Not even CLOSE, my friend.

“That boy ain’t a gangsta, fo’sho’. Look at how he walks, he’s a thug. life. That’s the saddest face I’ve seen in all my life as a teen.”

If you’re unclear about who Tupac is, he’s one of the minor Gods.

Geez, Sarah, are you pregnant again?  AGAIN? 

Good Lord, woman. You need to read some inspirational romance quick.

“Song of Solomon, or The Song of Songs (depending on the translation.).... Pretty hot, actually. Find a good translation and it’s probably the best erotic romance ever. ”  Posted by Kaite

How true!! I never got over the way her hips and thighs and breasts were described; it was beautiful, and I couldn’t believe it was in the bible!

Anyway, I read a few inspirationals when I was younger… my family kept telling me that romances were sinful, even the christian ones. Eventually I got over their opinions and told them where to get off, but that’s another story.

I still have a couple of them in my collection; Blind Promises by Diana Palmer (very sweet), and 4 girls at Chautauqua by something Alden.

As a Christian, I will agree that there’s not much out there that really tells a story about a person who loves God, as opposed to preaching about how a Christian life should be lived (usually according to fundamentalist standards). I can’t stand Janette Oke myself, but her books are pretty popular. My own favourites come from the detective-thriller genre - Ellis Peters’ Brother Cadfael series, which have at their heart a twelfth-century Benedictine monk and all feature a romance, and the Starbridge series by Susan Howatch, which are about the Anglican church in the twentieth century, but also each feature a stand-alone love-story (not necessarily one with a HEA). Her sequel series set at St Benet’s in London also has a love-story per book, and takes place among the corporate world, particularly the middle one, The High Flyer. Also, for me Katherine and The Winthrop Woman by Anya Seton could be called Christian histoical romances, and several of Elizabeth Goudge’s books, such as The White Witch, The Green Dolphin, City of Bells, and Towers in the Mist.

Now see here, lady. I didn’t respond with my interest because I was TOO BUSY STUFFING MY PREGNANT HEAD WITH GINGERBREAD because YOU BROUGHT IT UP YOU MONSTER WOMAN YOU!

Your “pregnant head” is giving me mental images involving Athena.  Just sharing the randomness, of course.

I’m not big on gingerbread, so if I

could afford any if I wasn’t a pathetic college student

had any, I give you some, Sarah.

Chiming in WAY late here, but Deeanne Gist is a definite winner. I’m not a big fan of inspirationals, but hers are just edgy enough to keep me interested.

Oh, and I’ve heard that erotic inspirationals are in the works. In fact, my former editor at Red Sage asked specifically for them. I’m DYING to find one…

*waves*

The only remotely Jewish inspirationals I’ve seen(and I’ve definitely been looking…) are holiday themed.  Judith Arnold has one in an anthology(‘Burning Bright), as does Laurie Graf(scene’s from a holiday).  Lorna Michaels released a Silhouette SE last year called ‘A Candle for Nick.’(cue cover Menorah and huge ‘Happy Holidays’ banner on the side…)  Laurie Gwen Shapiro’s ‘The Matzoh Ball Heiress’ is perfect for Passover time.

Much to my chagrin, I heard that an innovative, brilliant USA Today Best Selling author tried to pitch a collection revolving around a bunch of different Jewish Holidays ...and was told not to. 

But then again last year, Anna Genoese put out an open call for ‘Chanukah Paranormals’.  Maybe the market is changing. I hope so.

Stacey :)

Stacey—I wouldn’t call them Jewish inspirationals, but some of Naomi Ragen’s books come close to being Jewish themed romance. I think they’re closer to “women’s fiction”, but Sotah, Jepthe’s Daughter and The Ghost of Hannah Mendes all have a strong romance storyline in them.

And I’ve been toying with the idea of writing a Chanukah historical short story or novella based on characters from my novel Captain Sinister’s Lady, Gabriel Moses Lopez and Judith Kahn.  Maybe I’ll do it when I finish my WIP, see if I can sell it for a holiday anthology.

Correction—That book title by Ragen is Jephte’s Daughter.

I want to thank everyone who recommended “Redeeming Love” and “The Monk Downstairs.” I’ve read them both over the past two days, and appreciated them so much. Well written, humane stories with truly moving representations of faith. Thanks!

Well, I did my final project on this very subject this past fall, so… yeah.

There is no snoggery. There is no DANCING. There are three people in this romance—the man, the woman, AND GOD. I’m still reeling a tch. You’ll want to look up Heartsong Presents and Harlequin’s Steeple Hill lines.

I read and somewhat enjoyed “Everything’s Coming Up Josey” by Susan May Warren. Josey’s a bit dense, but the first person voice is just as fun as any good chick lit on the market. http://readingbackwards.wordpress.com/2006/12/08/everythings-coming-up-josey/

“Lambert’s Pride” by Lynn A. Coleman & Rachel Hauck…? Not so great. In fact, my own review describes it as “WEAK.” ... Then Rachel Huack showed up made a response so long it needed two comment posts. I stand by my assessment. http://readingbackwards.wordpress.com/2006/11/26/lamberts-pride/

Good luck, ladies!

Angel—Glad you enjoyed The Monk Downstairs. I read there’s a sequel called, naturally, The Monk Upstairs.  It’s not out yet, but I’m guessing the HEA isn’t something one should take for granted.  Just like real life.  But we saw hints of this with the conflict over taking the little girl to church.

“Lambert’s Pride” by Lynn A. Coleman & Rachel Hauck…? Not so great. In fact, my own review describes it as “WEAK.” ... Then Rachel Huack showed up made a response so long it needed two comment posts. I stand by my assessment.

I know nothing about Lambert’s Pride or inspy Romance in general, but I have to say that I actually liked the way Hauck responded.  IMO she wasn’t defensive, even though she defended her vision, and she even conceded that one of your plot criticisms was valid.  Maybe I’ve been conditioned by horrible author behavior, but all in all, I think Hauk conducted herself well (not self-righteous, not trying to invalidate your reaction).  If I was into hard core inspy Romance, I’d consider picking up a Hauk book based on the way she responded to your review.

. . . assuming, that is, that I could spell the author’s name correctly.

Aw, you guys…now I have to go make gingerbread. And I’m not even pregnant.

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