Candy and I, we realize the one area of our romance education that is most lacking is the Inspirational category. I’ve read a secret baby – ok, it wasn’t a secret baby but it was close – and two sheikh-esque (now that is a fun word to say) and have dabbled in other genres as much as possible. But the Inspirational romance, I have not read.
Part of my hesitation is that I’m not Christian, so I personally wouldn’t be too inspired, if that is the goal, to dedicate my life to Jesus Christ. And as far as I know there aren’t too many Jewish inspirationals – though I could be wrong.
Be that as it may, both Candy and I think it’s time we dipped our reading toes in the river of Inspirational romance, and who else to ask but our incredibly well-read readership. Got a recommendation? Or two?
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?
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.