At Inspy Romance, our focus is on Christian Contemporary Romance (CCR). Our authors write CCR. We talk about CCR and share information on our CCR books in our blog posts.
Our two annual Inspy Romance giveaways – our Birthday Bash that’s on now and our Back-to-School giveaway in August – are a celebration of CCR books.
Liwen’s excellent blog post last month where she asked the question: When does CCR become too preachy? resonated with me. I’ve been pondering a related question: How can I trust a CCR to be Christian?
20 years ago it was easier…
Before ebooks became popular, the main option for buying CCR was traditionally published print books sold online and in stores. Many readers lived near a Christian bookstore and could rely on the staff to provide great book recommendations.
Barbour published CCR in the Heartsong Presents line. Love Inspired was a new Harlequin romance line, and Christian publishers had established sales channels in retail stores for selling CCR.
In 2019, there are more challenges in the search for new CCR books…
‘Discoverability’ is a buzz word in publishing. Authors are looking for ways to find new readers, and readers are searching through millions of books to find the books they love to read.
An added complication is how can a reader know that a book will deliver on its promise?
For CCR readers, the book promise includes the CCR having main characters who have a spiritual story arc (faith journey) in the story. The underlying theology is usually non-denominational, but is consistent with Biblical principles ie. Christian worldview.
My dilemma with CCR
Like many of you, I’ve been ‘burned’ by reading a book that was labelled CCR but didn’t meet my expectations of a CCR.
In a CCR, I want to see characters struggling with real issues and living out the consequences of their flawed decisions. Elizabeth wrote an excellent post last Saturday on Finding the Balance: Reality in Christian Romance.
Perfect characters are boring, and realistic Christian characters won’t be perfect. But they will have a conscience and the Holy Spirit working inside them. Their relationship with God will be real, even if God or Jesus or Bible verses aren’t explicitly mentioned in the story. Kind of like the book of Esther in the Bible.
Inspy Romance is my go-to place for finding CCR
Over the years, I’ve enjoyed getting to know the authors and readers here. I know I can trust the Inspy Romance authors, both current and past blog members, to deliver a CCR consistent with my expectations.
If their new releases are more along the lines of ‘clean and wholesome’ or ‘sweet romance’, they’ll share this information with their readers.
Indie authors have the freedom to choose the level of Christian content in their CCR books. Traditionally published authors may have editorial limitations. I’m sad that there are Christian publishers who I no longer trust to deliver the books I love to read.
CCR book recommendations from friends are always appreciated. Book bloggers and reviewers can be helpful. Retailer book category information can be useful, but sometimes is not a reliable source.
How do you find CCR books? Which sources do you trust to provide accurate book information?
I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences.
Gift Card Giveaway
I’m also giving away a $10 Amazon US gift card to a reader who leaves a comment on this post. The giveaway will close on February 28 and the winner announced in the Sunday Edition.
A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
A wonderful post. Sometimes you pick up a book thinking it is one thing and then finding out it really is not.
I pretty much stick with Love Inspired books. Although I am getting tired of so many of them being Amish lately. I just can’t connect to the characters personally.
I generally stick with authors I’ve read before or recommendations from those authors or bloggers I trust. I also tend to stick with publishers I know. I made the mistake of starting a book by a known-to-me author then being shocked by the content and language halfway through the book only to realize that the publisher is one I’ve never heard of because it publishes general market and not CCR. I still regret having spent my time reading that book and will not pick up a book by that author again.
Hi Narelle, great post! I purchased a book on Kindle from an author I had read before- a lovely story with a Christian worldview, only to get part way through and be seriously put off by the language and actions of the characters. Turned out the author was writing for the general market…I got caught out! Unfortunately that has happened a couple of times and made me wary of buying unknown books- sad because I love supporting indie authors.
I rely on recommendations from this blog (I have been ‘introduced’ to many wonderful authors through this blog), friends and family and searching publishers for new release books. My mum and I often share book/author finds which is fun:)
Blessings:)
I’ve found most of the CCR authors I trust here as well! I have several friends with whom I share book recommendations.
Hi Mary, It can be frustrating when a book isn’t what we’re expecting. Sometimes it can be a pleasant surprise and other times we can feel cheated. I have limited reading time and I’ve become more particular in what I choose to read. Thanks for commenting. :)
Honestly, I go by the recommendation of authors I already love, the Inspy authors and the group’s I belong too for Christian Fiction!
Hi Cassandra, I’ve enjoyed reading Love Inspired books since I found one on a bookshelf in an Aussie romance book store 20 plus years ago. Being an Aussie, the Amish customs and way of life are foreign to me. I don’t really understand the genre, and reading Amish for me is kind of like reading a historical that’s set in a different world. For those reasons I don’t associate Amish books as being contemporary stories. That said, the few Amish books I’ve read I did enjoy reading because they were different. :)
O have bought books that have been labeled incorrectly. I usually try to read the reviews and they usually tell me if a book is truly a CCR.
Hi MJSH, I often wonder how many readers pay attention to the name of the publisher of the books they buy and read. As an aspiring author, I specifically searched for books by certain publishers. The category romance lines have always had strong branding for their books. I’m sorry that the author’s book disappointed you and I understand why the author has lost your trust. Book recommendations from trusted people are very helpful. Thanks for sharing your experiences. :)
Hi Wemble, I’m sorry you’ve been caught out a few times with books that aren’t what you expected. It’s lovely that you swap book recommendations with your mum. My mum isn’t a big reader (it was my maternal grandmother who shared my love for devouring books, lol) but my mum does read my books and recommends them to her friends. Blessings. :)
Hi Margaret, It’s fun to share book recommendations with friends. I’ve worked out the reading preferences of my friends, and I can tell by their reaction to the story whether or not the book is for me. :)
Hi Paula, That sounds like a smart plan to me! :)
Hi Lucy, The reviews can definitely clue us in. I find the book bloggers will often define the exact genre in their review posts, which is really helpful. :)
If I see a CCR book that looks good, but I’m not familiar with the author to know what I’m getting, I’ll check out the author’s web-site and their “about me” page to try to get a feel for what they write.
Hello, First you are a very new author to me. I enjoyed reading your post. I love Inspiration Books. I don’t care for books that has the nasty things going on in them it’s a BIG either trash it are give it away book. I enjoy a clean fun loving book where you can relate with the characters. When I’m reading a book that I really enjoy I put myself in the book I’m the main character I feel what they feel . That way I can know more about what’s going on. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity for an amazing giveaway. Blessings to you …
It’s a big struggle for sure! I know for me I am frustrated when I’ll read a new to me author and their book is light spiritually (maybe a reference to praying or church but nothing else) but it’s billed as Christian and then I find out that based on the author’s beliefs it’s very likely the church mentioned is not one that falls under the umbrella of churches that believe salvation comes through Grace alone by faith alone in Jesus (I’m trying to be careful because I’m told there are some who consider these sects “Christian” but theologically I struggle to do so.) I love the flexibility to label books but I hate that there are authors out there who choose Christian simply as a marketing label.
I have friends who read a lot of CCR who I trust when they recommend a book. They’ll know what I’m looking for and be able to tell me if there is a faith arc or not. After that, it’s up to me to decide to read them. I also recently received a newsletter from an author who stated her story had no faith arc. I appreciated her informing us and giving us the decision on whether we wanted to read it or not.
I love this article. If it says Christian or inspirational then I expect it to be so. Some people confuse emotions with spiritual and they are not the same. I want to know what the author believes God is telling her about the relationship of the characters. To just be a “make you feel good” is not enough.
This is such a dilemma! One of the things I do to sometimes check a book I’m not sure of is I will look in the copyright page and see what language they use for Bible verses. If there is nothing there, and I don’t know the author/publisher, then I don’t get the book.
I too go by authors recommendations on books.
I read a lot of books from the library and my library has an “inspirational” sticker they put on the spine which is usually a good indicator that the characters in the book will have a spiritual story arc. The sticker is also used for women’s fiction, not just CCR, so I do usually read the back cover, but it’s a good place to start. And I too, trust the Inspy authors and their recommendations.
Hi Narelle! Intriguing question. Since I know most authors, haven’t had any discrepancies. Other authors have labeled stories as clean. Always read reviews and classification. Best wishes.
I’ve also “been ‘burned’ by reading a book that was labelled CCR but didn’t meet my expectations of a CCR.” Many times actually, and maybe I’m being too strict, but I do expect characters to actually relate to God in the book, not just mention they should go to church or things like that.
And like you, I’m also “sad that there are Christian publishers who I no longer trust” and I’d add some authors I no longer trust to deliever books I like to read. These sweet and clean stories are not Christian. Most of the times I even find them lacking because they really have nothing going on for their morals.. it’s just empty and shallow. (Am I being too harsh? Probably).
Narelle–Great post. It is subjective to what one perceives as “too preachy” or Christian. My favorite books are when authors are real and you can tell their heart is coming out in the story. There might be some mild language or situations that don’t feel comfortable with Christian values, but if I see the struggle that’s when it’s real to me. Sometimes, they don’t even have the pretty endings. A book I read years ago, still resonates with me. Christa Allan’s, Walking on Broken Glass was amazing. The ending wasn’t a pretty tied up Christian bow, but it ended in a realistic way. There were heavy topics in that book-it was true to life. Thank you for posting this topic. It’s a great way for all of us to discuss our expectations and hopes for the books we read.
I don’t think I ever just go looking around on Amazon or elsewhere for a book/books without a recommendation from a book blogger or website that I know and trust. There are a few publishers that I trust even if I am not familiar with the author.
I am the book buyer for our Church Library.
At one time, you could trust the publishing company to be Christian but that isn’t the case anymore.
I bought a book for the library. Normally, I don’t read the books I buy but I did this one.
There was no way I was going to put the book in the church library.
I took it back to the store for a refund.
I’ve been working in the library for 40 years and we’ve never had a complaint and I wasn’t about to start now.
Narelle, thank you for writing a post about this subject. The comments are really illuminating. I write for Love Inspired, and all those books have a faith arc, but I have a new series coming out that’s sweet, with a very “lite” faith element. The books aren’t advertised as Christian (by me or by the publishers) but this post and comments have made me ponder how to share this information widely with my readers.
I don’t add many new authors to my “read” list anymore as I have more than I can keep up with currently (along with trying to read some of my tbr, lol). I like real characters though, that have struggles. Life isn’t all sunshine and roses and living in that kind of alter reality in a book can leave a person depressed and out of sorts in the real world. I found some authors freebies on amazon, and then found Inspy based on those authors and facebook.
InspyRomance is such a great website for authors AND readers – and all authors are also readers! One resource I’ve found on Facebook is a group called “Avid Readers of Christian Fiction.” Great group, honest reviews!
Narelle, I’ve been burned too many times…. So, I’m more careful to choose the familiar authors and read reviews carefully :)
Great post! This question was one of the reasons I began writing my own Christian fiction so that I could put in as much as Christian faith as I wanted. :)
I have had to abandon those multi-author giveaways, because most of them end up being just sweet romance or extremely light on the faith threads. Unfortunately, I can’t even rely on Amazon categories anymore.
I rely mostly now on recommendations from Christian authors who talk about spiritual things, as well as my Goodreads book club of Christian Fiction Devourers. I try to review every book I read, and I always make sure I make mention of the spiritual threads for other readers, though I don’t always read reviews myself because of spoilers–I’m going to have to start reading them, though.
I don’t just read CCR so it doesn’t bother me if it’s not strictly Christian. But I still filter what I choose to read. I don’t read smut or violent non-Christian books. I prefer no bad language but one or two mild curse words won’t kill a book for me. Although I won’t seek that author out in the future. It does bother me if a Christian book portrays bad theology unless it’s corrected at the conclusion.
I’ve found I can trust the inspyromance authors and their recommendations . It was a lifeline when I had despaired of finding anything clean to read. I had to stop reading too many books because of graphic sex describtions.
I also used Lifeways sale rack. I always check publishers. Sometimes I look in the copyright credits to see if they used any Bible quotes. I’m very thankful for Christian authors.
wow this is such a great post. I have often wondered how to know if the author writes christian or not. Sometimes all I have to do is look and the cover/read the back cover. But other times, yup hard to know. I finally came to the conclusion that I have to try a different author and find out. Now I have a small list of christian authors that I really like. Thanks for sharing today.
I’ve found the best way for me to find books I like is either through real life friends with similar book preferences or authors I read and enjoy. The authors don’t always read what I’m interested in, but they seem to be consistent in communicating how other books may be different from the style they write. That’s very helpful as a reader!
I read the authors that I am familiar with their writings and the ones recommended by them. I like Christian fiction to be realistic. We are just sinners who received grace.
I like reading reviews by fellow readers or Christian bloggers to see if a book meets my expectations.
Its interesting with LI with the LIH line we had a period all books had a baby which is fine but sometimes you just want something different. Or they all seem to follow a similar theme. I guess its the same with the LI range too. I like when there is a variety. I don’t mind Amish but I don’t want all 6 or is it 4 now to be the same theme.
I read a lot of authors I know or from a line I trust. I will also go on recommendation from trusted friends or sites. I will read a review but not the 5 star ones more the 3 star and sometimes lower. The reason I don’t read 5 stars unless I know the reviewer is that many are from influencers or friends etc.
I have my favorite Christian authors that I read all their books, then I read a lot of the Inspry authors books and add many of them to my list of favorite authors. I am so thankful for this outlet that has given me so many great reads.
I read authors that I am familiar with, read books recommended on blogs like this, listen to suggestions from Christian friends, and read a review of the book on Amazon….all help me to read Christian fiction. Also, I read lots of LI books.
Interesting post!
I enjoy the lightness of Christian romance. You know what you are getting. Thanks
I have a lot of favorite CF authors that I go to as I know I can count on them. Thank you for sharing.
Jenny, I agree, it’s good to have a variety of story lines in the monthly selection of books.
Hi Ellie, Yes, I’ll also check out the author’s website and social media. For an ebook that’s on sale, if the sample reads well then I’ll take a chance on the book. :)
Hi Amanda, It’s lovely to meet you. :) You’ve raised an important point. When we’re reading a book, we’re in the character’s head space. There are times when I want that head space to be encouraging and uplifting and inspiring with Christian values being upheld.
It can be uncomfortable to read books with characters who don’t share our values and beliefs. Sometimes that can be a good thing in terms of broadening our understanding and experience of the world, but other times it can lead us to thinking about things that aren’t edifying.
There’s a wisdom in knowing which types of stories are good for us to read, and which types may cause us grief. This will be different for everyone, depending on a whole bunch of factors and our unique life experiences. Some critics of Christian romance books will label the entire genre as concerning/problematic/dangerous. For those people, reading Christian romance may not be good for them. But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea for everyone else to read Christian romance.
Hi Elizabeth, Yes! You’ve raised an important point that’s often the elephant in the room that no one wants to discuss. :) Years ago, if we picked up a fiction book published in the CBA (Christian Booksellers Association), we could almost 100% guarantee that the theology underpinning the story was the evangelical Christian worldview that you’ve described in your comment. It’s harder now to discern these subtle differences. I do read general market and in those fiction books the philosophy/worldview will vary. If I’m reading to be entertained, that’s not a factor that bothers me. But it does bother me if the book is labelled CCR and faith/spiritual elements in the story are almost non-existent.
Hi Toni, The recommendations from trusted friends are so helpful. I also received a newsletter like you described (most probably the same author). Author newsletters are a great way to communicate these types of story elements with loyal readers. I now know what to expect when I read the book (I’ve pre-ordered a print copy), and I won’t be looking for a faith element in the story that doesn’t exist. The reading experience will be more enjoyable because I’ll know what to expect from the story. :)
Hi Rhonda, I agree, a CCR should have God in the story somewhere. I expect more than a ‘feel good’ story if it’s labelled CCR. :)
Hi Kris, I have never thought to look at the copyright page. Sometimes it’s not included in the ebook sample because it has been added to the back section of the book. All my CCR books have the Bible version mentioned on the copyright page. Thanks for sharing your helpful tip with us. :)
Hi Kim, A good plan! :)
I rely predominantly on 2 things. One, my knowledge of the authors and what they write, based on personal interactions with them or via online forums and whatnot. Two, if I run across someone I’m not sure of because I have no experience or knowledge of, I know some avid Christian fiction readers I can ask. I don’t often run across something that catches my eye that doesn’t fall under one of those 2. If I do, I check out the “look inside” feature on Amazon to see if I at least like the person’s writing style and characters before I give them a shot.
Hi Jessica, Librarians tend to be thorough when it comes to labelling book genres. I have a friend who is a librarian. She noticed a book by an award winning Christian YA American author who she’d read before had appeared in their system. When she looked up the book details, she was surprised to discover the book wasn’t labelled as Christian/inspirational. The back cover can definitely be helpful in defining genre. :)
I read a little of everything so it doesn’t bother me if a book labeled as “Christian” has a bit of a worldly spin. However, I also give my grandmother a box of books each month, and she gets pretty prickly if there’s anything she disapproves of in a book. So I rely on familiar authors and book reviews to make sure I get only squeaky clean stuff for her!
I don’t mind trying out a new author or their new ebook if it’s free or less than $1. Then I feel like I haven’t lost much if I don’t like the book. With authors that I have read before, I already know their style so I’ll buy their paperback.
I’m our church librarian so I have to be careful with the books that I put into our library. Even the Christian ones. I have 80 year old women and teens who want their CF to be Christian. Books need to mention church attendance or praying/reading the Bible for them to feel like it’s Christian.
I follow recommendations from this site or other christian authors whom I have read and liked. I also like when you post that you have not read or are not familiar with some of the authors. This lets me know to be extra careful of what I’m buying. I thank all of you for the good recommendations.
I like clean Christian romance and it one of my very favorites. Loved this post.
Linda Marie Finn
Hi Renate, If we’re following the authors online and receiving their newsletters, we’ll likely hear if they’re writing both CCR and clean/sweet romance. The reviews are often more reliable than the retail site categories. Best wishes. :)
Hi Priscila, No, I don’t think you’re being too harsh. Talented CCR authors can write about a range of real life issues and not cross over the line into territory that’s too far away from the ‘sweet spot’ center of the genre. CCR readers have certain expectations, and over the years the majority of CCR books have consistently delivered the stories they love.
Books are a product and the reader is the customer. I don’t like sugar in coffee, and I’m very unhappy if I buy a coffee that has sugar added because it’s too sweet and I can’t drink it. When a reader buys a book, they’re buying a ‘reading experience’. The genre and book cover and book description should be consistent with the actual content in the book. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. :)
Hi Lindi, I agree, it’s definitely subjective in certain areas. In my Australian Christian writing groups we’ve had many discussions over the years about acceptable content in Christian fiction. Opinions will range widely among Christians on what’s okay and not okay for them when they pick up a Christian fiction book. Our church culture in Australia is less conservative than many parts of the US. A Christian character drinking liquor, for example, is less likely to trip up an Aussie reader because it’s a realistic part of our culture.
Many readers are like you, and mild language in a book doesn’t bother them. Other readers won’t mind reading romances with steamier content. Authors and publishers can label books that include language or steamier scenes as CCR, and the CCR readers will let them know whether or not they think the book is suitable for the genre.
I read general market and I’ve read contemporary romance since I was a teen. But when I pick up a CCR, I’m looking for a particular reading experience that includes Christian characters and a faith element in the story. If the faith/spiritual thread can be removed from the story and the story still stands and makes sense (ie. the core conflicts and theme in the story still exist), then I’ll question if the romance is really a CCR or a clean/sweet romance. If the characters make mistakes and there are no negative consequences to be worked through in the story, I’ll question if the CCR is written from a Christian perspective that upholds Biblical values.
Hi Patty, I rarely buy CCR without knowing more about the book or the author. Recommendations from trusted sources are very helpful. I appreciate the book bloggers who provide an honest appraisal of the story. :)
Hi Janet, Wow, it’s really disappointing to hear your story. What if you hadn’t read the book first? I appreciate the diligent librarians who ensure the books they buy in are appropriate for their library readership. :)
Hi Lee, I think you’re doing all the right things to communicate to your readers that your upcoming release isn’t CCR. Since your publisher isn’t marketing the book as CCR, that will also help clue in readers via the retailer genre categories. If you’re calling the book ‘sweet’ rather than ‘inspirational’ on social media and in your newsletter, and you’ve written a blog post here at Inspy Romance explaining the new direction in your writing journey, there’s really not much more you can do. :)
Hi Andrea, I shouldn’t be adding more books to my overly-long tbr list, lol. Free books are always a great way to try new authors. If you don’t like the story, you can quit reading. We’re glad you found us at Inspy Romance. :)
Hi Regina, I love learning about CCR here at Inspy Romance. I’m also a member of Avid Readers, and I also like how the group members are willing to share their honest opinions. :)
Hi Natalya, I’m sorry to hear you’ve been burned too many times. The honest reviews are so important in helping us find the books we’ll love. :)
Hi Lila, I love having the freedom to add in the spiritual story arc in my CCR’s. Goodreads groups and reviews are a helpful resource for readers. Thank you for writing reviews that will assist other readers in finding the books they’ll love to read. :)
Hi Sherri, If the theology in a CCR is not meeting my expectations, that will frustrate me and I will often stop reading because it distracts me from enjoying the story. If the main character is a seeker or exploring their faith, I expect to see a realistic portrayal of their journey to faith with all the twists and turns. But if the characters are Christian and happily ignoring key Biblical values with no consequences, it will pull me out of the story. I prefer no bad language, but there are language differences between Australia and the US that can make this distinction complicated. :)
Hi Diana, I’m so glad Inspy Romance has helped you find the books you enjoy reading. Thank you for sharing this with us. I’m going to start looking at the copyright pages – a very helpful tip. :)
Hi Lori, You’re very welcome. I’m glad you have a list of trusted Christian authors who write the books you like to read. :)
Hi Melynda, I enjoy writing book recommendations, and it’s helpful to hear that readers value the book recommendations from authors they follow. :)
Hi Sonnetta, yes, I like to read realistic CCR with characters who face real (rather than contrived) problems. :)
Hi Chanel, The book bloggers and reviewers provide valuable information for readers. :)
Hi Jenny, It’s interesting how authors typically aspire to have the higher star reviews, yet it’s the 3 star or lower reviews that the readers are often wanting to read. :)
Hi Linda, It’s lovely to hear that you’ve found new authors by visiting with us at Inspy Romance. :)
Hi Jackie, I’m glad you’re able to find the books you enjoy reading. LI books are good because they’re consistent in the reading experience they deliver and therefore meet the expectations of their loyal readers. :)
Hi Kelley, I agree, and if I’m looking for a light and fun read, I know I can find a CCR that will meet my expectations. :)
Hi Lucy, You’re very welcome. It’s great to have a list of authors who you can count on to write the books you enjoy reading. :)
Hi Dawn, It’s rare for me to buy a book from an unfamiliar author without reading at least the first page in the sample. I also enjoy browsing in book stores and reading the first page from a range of books. :)
Hi Dianna, Yes, I can definitely understand why you’re fussy about the content of the books you send to your grandmother. :)
Hi Arletta, I’m also fussy about buying paperbacks because it’s expensive to buy them in Australia. It’s a much bigger investment than a 4.99 or less ebook. I can understand why you’re careful in selecting the books you add to your church library. :)
Hi Pam, I’m glad you find our recommendations helpful. I’m careful to be specific about content when recommending CCR books to readers. If there’s an element in the story that may offend some readers or could be a hot button issue, I’ll try to mention this without including spoilers. Honesty and integrity is always important. :)
Hi Linda, I’m glad my post has been helpful. I think most CCR readers are looking for clean Christian romance (which is also my expectation of CCR), and the large majority of CCR books I’ve read have delivered on that promise. :)
I admit, I have my favorite authors and publishers. But I have found great new authors here on this site. You can be trusted. Thanks.
I pretty much stick to authors that I know or ones that are recommended by authors and bloggers that I know. I trust them to give an accurate assessment of a book’s content. If there’s a debut author they’re good at introducing us, the readers, to them!
Hi Narelle–I totally agree with the spiritual thread aspect. That is a realistic expectation regarding the CCR aspect. And the thread should be there. I think it’s an area I’ve needed to pay attention to as well in writing. That thread has to be there. Thank you again for this great post. I’ve loved reading everyone’s comments.
This is an excellent post. I had noticed this problem with not getting what I expected from some books. I had never thought the issue through though. I’m a book reviewer and I have certain publishers I trust completely. Others I will take time to see if the book has been endorsed by any of the authors I know and trust.
I think I know the novel you’re referring to as well. I’ve actually already read it (yay for advance review copies!).
The novel has several secondary characters who are Christians, and there is a faith arc for one of the main characters, but (as the newsletter said), it doesn’t end in the big come-to-Jesus decision. It could have – but as a reader I would have found that rushed and inauthentic. It also would have introduced another issue, a couple who was unequally yoked.
I hope you give it a chance, because it’s a fun novel. But what Narelle says is right – given you know the broad brushstrokes of what is and isn’t going to happen, you’ll be able to enjoy the story for what is there and for the promise of what is to come.
I remind myself of this every time I read a “meh” book and write a three-star review. My review will make the others look more authentic, and the people who are bothered by the same things that bother me (like historical inaccuracies) will know not to buy that particular book.
This is why I finally started writing reviews for books I didn’t care for. I explain why I didn’t like it, as a warning for those who wouldn’t like those same things and to show that a book is legit. That’s also why I don’t stress over low reviews of my own books, which of course pop up occasionally. They lend credibility AND they warn away readers who aren’t really my target audience.
Hi Iola, I’m really looking forward to reading the book. At a minimum I’d expect a CCR to have one or both of the main characters seeking and exploring their faith. If the story ends and they’re still on that journey to faith, that works for me. :)
You’ve raised a good point about being unequally yoked. This probably explains why most CCR’s have both the hero and heroine come to faith by the end of the story, especially if the story ends with a marriage proposal or wedding.
Hi Paula, I love Inspy Romance (and I’m unashamedly biased, lol) :)
Hi Kaen, Book recommendations from favorite authors are so helpful. The few times when I’ve been disappointed by an author recommendation, I take more care to check out the books they recommend next time. It wouldn’t stop me reading the favorite author because I understand that reading tastes are personal and will vary widely. :)
Hi Debora, Book endorsements can be really helpful, especially if you know the author who is endorsing the book is independent ie. not under contract with the same publisher. Being an author, I’m also aware of the ‘money flows’ re. paid publicity. I’ll factor that in when assessing book recommendations. :)
See I like to get the ebook box sets which each month they have 2 with 3 books each. Soon I will have to stop buying the box sets because now it isn’t just one a month I most likely won’t read but two one in each with the Amish and it is frustrating.
Hi Cassandra, I’m not a reader of Amish, and a box set combo of inspirational romance mixed with Amish wouldn’t appeal to me, either.