Right now I’m working on a married romance, and I’m far enough along in the process that I decided to see what other similar titles were out on the market.
A favorite that was just released is Cynthia Ruchti’s A Fragile Hope. I’d heard about this book. People were saying it was good, plus it was written by Cynthia who I’m sure many of you are already fans of. And then I heard it was about a married couple whose marriage was falling apart.
I was hooked!
The fun thing is that the book was nothing like I’d expected. Nothing. The book starts in her point of view and then moves solidly over to his point of view. And we spend the majority of the book inside his head, listening to him examine his wife, his marriage, himself and analyzing what went wrong.
Romance doesn’t stop with the vows, does it? It doesn’t walk down the aisle with you and head out the church door and vanish. At least, it shouldn’t. But we all know that life keeps us busy. That jobs and kids and stress and extended families can take more of our attention than they should. And it’s too easy to forget how special the person is that we married.
That’s why I’m such a fan of books like this, books that remind us to value the person we’re married to. The person whose annoying habits we know too well. The person who’s probably changed a bit over the years. A Fragile Hope is an excellent read for that reason — and for pure entertainment too.
So ‘fess up! Do you enjoy married romances or not? What titles like this one do you recommend?
Sally Bradley writes big-city fiction with real issues and real hope. A Chicagoan since age five, Sally has been fascinated by all things Chicago (except for crime, politics, and traffic) for almost as long. She now lives in the Kansas City area with her family, but they get back to Chicago for important things -- like good pizza and a White Sox game. A freelance-fiction editor and former president of her writing chapter, Sally has won a handful of awards for Kept and another work-in-progress. Visit her online at sallybradley.com or on Facebook.
Thanks for the book recommendation, Sally. Yes, I do enjoy stories featuring married couples.
Enjoy, Jill!
I do like married couples in books and I need to check this book out!
I hope you enjoy it, lraines!
HI Sally. I do enjoy reading stories about married couples- I think that after a certain amount of years, that is where the story begins, the willingness of both husband and wife to continue working at the marriage to make it the relationship God intends. Certainly not easy at times! Will go and check out the book, and looking forward to yours also!
Blessings:)
I completely agree, Wemble. You think you’re in love when you get married? Give it a lot of years. It grows and becomes an even more amazing thing.
Sally, I have read this book and loved it too. I enjoy books about married couples and can’t wait to read yours as well.
Thank you, Dana! Mine will definitely be different than Cynthia’s. Can’t wait to get this new one out there.
Marriage adds different dimensions to the story that separate the book from true romance. In a romance, there is a real possibility that they might not make it through the black moment. (And ok, we know they have to for the book, but while reading and caught up in the story, it’s there. ) But if I read a “married romance” women’s fiction and divorce is an actual possibility? I’m putting the book down and not going back. A break up is sad. A divorce grieves God. And while yes, divorce is a real thing in the church today, it’s so heartbreaking for everyone, I don’t see being on the brink of that and finding a way back as romantic. Miraculous, absolutely. But not romantic.
That’s an interesting perspective, Elizabeth. Thanks for sharing that. I’ve heard that’s a real issue against the married romance book — there’s got to be drama and often it’s relational. That’s where you cross into the women’s fiction category for sure. Sometimes, though, romance and women’s fiction are a fine line.
This book is HIGH on my “want list”…anxious to read it! And I will be waiting anxiously to read your book as well!
Thanks, Jackie! Hope you enjoy Cynthia’s.
I pretty much like any christian romance, so married romance would be good too. I’ve not read this one and can’t think of any offhand right now. So true that many things can get in the way of spending quality time with your spouse.
Too much life, right? So many things get in the way of each other.
I just won a copy of A Fragile Hope but haven’t received it yet! I’m more anxious to read it now! Yes, I’ve been married for 48 years next month and I do like to read about married couples. I think we need more stories like this because we do grow up and mature.
Paula, 48 years is awesome! Congratulations. I do think fiction about the marriage relationship is important, especially with how much marriage is maligned nowadays.
Hope you enjoy the book once your copy comes.
Yes, I love reading marriage romances. My husband and I have been married for over 38 years and we grow more in love every day. :-) I have read A Fragile Hope and it is wonderful! That story will stay with me forever.
That’s pretty high praise for her book! And congrats on 38-plus years. We just recently crossed into our twenties. I like to say that we’ve made it through the teen years of our marriage. :)
Yes, I love reading married romance because that is where I am. I love stories featuring people closer to my own age and who have been married for a while. My husband and I will be married 39 years later this year.
And there is probably not a lot of that kind of fiction out there, is there? Congrats on your 39 years! That’s awesome.
Yes, I do enjoy married romance! Brings a different element to a story. Couple falls in love, one runs off for various reasons, the other chases them or doesn’t understand….they all seem the same with different names. Married romance stories are kind of refreshing.
Yes, married romances are definitely a different kind of book. I bet you’d enjoy Cynthia’s then.
I enjoy reading romances featuring married couples. It’s nice to see how the couples work through their struggles and become stronger for it.