A little while ago I asked a question in some groups about how Christian characters pursuing relationships in romance books are portrayed, a question which met with some interesting responses. It led me to wondering how Christian readers like to see Christian characters demonstrate their faith in Christian books, and how this relates to romantic relationships in Christian fiction.
Do you enjoy seeing characters pray? Do you like to actually read their prayers or read that so-and-so ‘murmured a prayer’? Do you enjoy seeing characters go to church? Attend a Bible study? Read their Bible? Worship God? Do you like to see characters ‘witness’ to their friends or do you prefer the Christian’s actions to speak louder than their words? How do you like to see this affect romantic relationships in Christian fiction? Or do you not care at all?
Of course, there are all kinds of books, written by all kinds of Christian authors from different cultures, who have all kinds of experiences with faith, church, etc and it can be really interesting to read about people whose faith traditions are different to mine. I remember being intrigued by some of Jan Karon’s ‘Mitford’ series church practices, and how they were similar and different to the Anglican traditions I grew up with in Australia. Similarly, our family practice is to say grace before the evening meal, so it was interesting to read about characters who’d close their eyes and pray together before every meal. I wasn’t used to this, so it came as a surprise when I was in Nashville with people who did this every time.
So I understand that Christians are different, and not every Christian book is going to be packed to the brim with sermons etc. And honestly, I don’t want to read that all the time, either. (But for me it feels natural that a sermon might impact a person if they’re going to church. Just sayin’)
For me, presenting characters who are Jesus followers and demonstrating this is important. None of them are perfect (hello, I’m not either, so they’re flawed like me), but they are on the God-journey, and for the most part, my Christian characters tend to pray, attend church/ Bible study, read the Bible and are influenced by it, and try to encourage others to find hope in God too. That’s the kind of book I like to read, anyway.
I want to write books that show (how to have) godly relationships and encourage people to ‘not be unequally yoked’ and to ‘not stir up love until it’s time.’ Maybe it’s ironic for a romance writer to do this, but I am mindful of the single ladies who don’t want to be ‘stirred’ into unhealthy fixations with romance and needing a man to ‘complete you’ (that’s God’s job). I’ve always strived to ensure my characters (who are usually Christians) are aware of the faith of the potential partner, and if it’s not there, they don’t pursue it, no matter how attracted they might be. And that can be HARD. And real. Because it happens. A too-long look can lead to a too-long conversation which can lead to a too-long kiss which can lead to… Other Things. (Like maybe the basis for some of those secret baby stories…)
Hearts and Goals and Big Apple Atonement are two books where my Christian characters hold off on pursuing relationships until they see the other person make a decision to follow Christ. More than that, they wait until they see real heart change that results in God transforming the other person’s life, so as to not confuse the new believer’s God-heart touch with the human emotions connected with a romantic relationship.
Even within a relationship between two believers I think there can be interesting questions about being ‘unequally yoked’ due to different interests, etc. In Love on Ice Brent wants a Christian girl who understands his commitment to elite-level sport, who likes him for himself, and won’t get swept up in his money or fame. He also doesn’t want to get swept up in hormones so he’s careful with how he treats the girl he likes, holding off on kissing until he’s ready to demonstrate wholehearted commitment, and prove it’s not a relationship just based on hormones and emotions. Yes, the ‘On Ice’ part of the title is not just because it’s a book about two winter athletes; it’s also about putting things on hold until it’s the right time. I want to show that attraction and passion are real, and I (will continue to) include this in my books. But I feel I have a responsibility to do so carefully, especially knowing I have younger readers.
I’ve been so grateful over the years for readers and reviews that have commented on how the character’s faith in my books feels ‘organic’ to the story and is woven in naturally. But I also know that some might find my ‘faith content’ a little too much, which is why I’m curious to know what Christian readers enjoy.
So with all of this in mind, I’d love for Christian readers to share your thoughts on the following:
What sort of ‘faith content’ do you like to see from your Christian characters in Christian books? What do you think makes a Christian book different to a ‘clean’ read?
How do you like to see faith portrayed between a hero and heroine in Christian fiction? When should the subject of faith come up? How does this / should this impact their romance? Eg do you like to see them pray together? Share Bible verses? Attend church? What are some books where you’ve seen this done well?
How do you expect Christian characters to conduct the ‘romance’ part of their relationship differently to non-Christians? What do you think about a Christian dating a non-Christian in a Christian book? How much kissing, etc is too much?
What do you think? Let’s chat.
Oh, and as an extra special bonus in this giveaway month, I have an ebook of one of my Original Six books for a commentator on this post. Let the discussion begin!
Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. A longtime lover of romance, Carolyn loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. Her Regency and contemporary novels are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Koorong, etc
I love characters that live out their faith in actions and in words. Some of my favourite Romance fiction is by Jessie Gussman, who has her characters having long involved discussions about current issues, including marriage. I have been married for 50years and I still enjoy reading the advice.
Sometimes a sermon can ‘Speak ‘ to the character, and I love it when they pray together, but in a friendship, the basis for any romance in my book, it’s an ability to talk through issues from a Christian standpoint that counts, and should impact the reader as well.
Hi Carolyn, these are some really interesting questions!
I’m a long term reader of ‘sweet/clean’ romances, I started in my teens, but it’s only in the last couple of years I’ve got an e-reader and started reading Christian romances, I haven’t seen so many in print here in the UK, or at least not at my local library!
I suppose what they add for me, and what I love about them, is an acknowledgement of the importance of God’s presence in all our lives – I want to see that in the characters I’m reading, and understand not only how their relationships with each other develop, but also their relationships with God. I enjoy character’s prayers, sharing Bible verses, attending church, listening to a sermon – as long as these feel a realistic part of their lives and not an obligatory add on, for the most part in the books I’ve read so far they really do.
I haven’t read many of the authors on this blog, I’m really looking forward to trying some of their books, but I’ve found so far the things I’ve mentioned have been done really well by writers such as Elizabeth Maddrey, Evangeline Kelly and Kimberly Rae Jordan – I read a good Christmas series by her (‘We Three Kings’) which had characters developing their own relationship alongside one of them finding faith in God. It wasn’t so much that the character who had faith refused to be involved in a relationship with someone who wasn’t a believer, it was more that the person who hadn’t been a Christian had their first introduction to Jesus and the Christian faith through the other character and a relationship with God and with the other person developed symbiotically. I think this is really true – we can probably all think of a person or persons who has had a big impact on our faith, sometimes by example sometimes by direct evangelisation – it’s not always a romantic partner but it could be and I thought it worked well in these books.
Sorry, that was long – it’s an interesting topic and lots to think about, thank you!
Amen! (And congrats on 50 years!)
Yes, I love how God can use fiction to speak truth to us. Thanks so much for sharing.
Oh, I’m so glad you found the topic interesting, and took the time to answer thoroughly. Yes, the faith thread has got to feel organic, doesn’t it? In my books I’ve loved incorporating everything from prayers to Bible reading to sermons and salvation scenes – because that’s been part of my experience. I enjoy reading books where characters live out their faith – just like I try to. I hope you’ll check them out!
I expect (well, really want!) to see a spiritual arc for both characters, and for there to be God moments between them, whatever that looks like for the characters. Whether that be “coincidence” (e.g. divinely orchestrated meet cutes) or battling spiritually together. I’d like to see growth in their faith and for that verse to ring true, about how two are better than one because they are stronger together 🤍
I like when faith is a part of the characters in a book. I especially enjoy seeing a verse from the Bible in the story. I tend to read more books where a character is struggling and finding their faith. These books usually fill me with hope .
Do you enjoy seeing characters pray? 👍 Do you like to actually read their prayers or read that so-and-so ‘murmured a prayer’? 👍👍Do you enjoy seeing characters go to church? 👍Attend a Bible study? 👍Read their Bible?👍 Worship God?👍 Do you like to see characters ‘witness’ to their friends👍 or do you prefer the Christian’s actions to speak louder than their words? 👍How do you like to see this affect romantic relationships in Christian fiction? Or do you not care at all? I like to see how the relationship grows and the truths they find. thanks for sharing these thoughts today
As a reader, I am disappointed by the end of the book if I didn’t see some significant character growth in the main characters. I’ve read a few titles that just throw in the line that “she prayed,” and that’s what makes it Christian fiction. I can do without a story like that. I don’t need sermons, but I also don’t mind one. I don’t need prayers, but I do enjoy reading them. I also prefer a story that has one main character who is a dedicated Christian and one who is not at first and accepts Christ fully during the story, but I can appreciate it when both are on equal footing from the get-go. Certainly makes the relationship easier!
As a reader, I am also bothered by Christian fiction that features in-depth kissing but makes no mention of desire, as if it doesn’t exist. It’s so unnatural to me. Any romantically-interested couple who are physically involved enough to be kissing is going to struggle with desiring more. And for me, I want that acknowledged and addressed. I always address this in my own books, one, because to me it’s realistic, and two, as a cautionary tale to younger or unmarried readers. I guess I’m talking about boundaries. I love a Christian romance that firmly and unapologetically establishes healthy, God-honoring boundaries, usually because they are being pushed against or because one of the characters ignored such boundaries in the past and learned the hard way.
This is such a timely and interesting topic. I recently read a review for a book (that I was writing a review for) and that reviewer was put off by the amount of chemistry and ‘spark’ between the two main characters, and felt there wasn’t enough emphasis on the spiritual aspect, other than brief mentions of God.
I had a completely different experience. To me, the spiritual arc was deep and well-written, and both characters grew in their faith throughout the story. There were some sensual elements between them, but Christians are not immune to physical attraction and chemistry. It’s all about the way they handle it and where they draw the line, and it was completely acceptable in this instance.
I love when characters pray, talk inwardly to God, apply scriptural principles to their struggles, and work as a couple to honor God’s plan for marriage. As an author, I’ve written both ‘clean’ and ‘Christian’ romances. In both, the characters don’t cross lines in terms of going beyond kissing, but in my Christian stories, there is a spiritual arc built in. In the ‘clean’ ones, I may make an occasional reference to attending church or uttering an inward prayer. As far as kissing, I don’t get too descriptive with it but rather focus on how the character whose POV I’m in is feeling inside.
Oh dear…I’ve gone a little long, and could keep going. Thanks for this most interesting topic to start the week!
I like that the characters are natural and faithful to their personality, if such a character is described as extroverted, I would not be surprised to see him/her preaching to people, if he/she is shy or has suffered rejection in his/her life, it is likely that he/she prefers actions and only speak when he/she feels the occasion. I don’t mind watching preaching or sermons in Christian fiction if it bothered me I’d go read a clean secular romance.
I don’t mind if one of the partners isn’t a believer at first but I don’t like to see a Christian character getting into a romantic relationship with the non-believer while they haven’t converted, unless that’s not an important point of the plot to show that it was a mistake.
There are already too many young people in real life who try to convince themselves that God forbid the unequal yoke for marriage but they can have an “evangelizing romance” and kiss the unbeliever while trying to convert him or her…it usually goes wrong and disappointment abounds when they see that the unbeliever not only does not behave as a Christian in terms of limits and sexual purity but also irritates him or is not interested in being told about Jesus or only goes to church to make his/her partner happy but God is not touching his/her heart. Yes, well….we don’t command God, he is not going to melt someone’s heart when we want for selfish reasons such as “I want to stay with this person and that it is well” instead of “I care about this soul”.
I love Christian books that show the struggles are real. I also like the faith to be “real”, with them going to church, doing Bible studies, fellowshipping with other believers. Actually, I agree with everything you wrote!! I don’t need sermons every time, I don’t need the salvation story every time, but I need to know that things that are important, like Bible reading, going to church, and others you mentioned are there. They can even be implied, and I’m happy. I DON’T want them going to bars as such, but as a hangout where they go with Christian friends, but no one’s drinking, as in Mandi Blake’s series, where it’s a hangout, and the only one in their small town, but it’s where they go to be with friends, not to pick people up and not to drink. I do like the characters to pray together, and more than just at meals, and I like for them to talk about their faith. I want their walk to be as good as their talk. If one of them isn’t a Christian, I want them to wait till that person does accept Christ to get together. I don’t want them to sleep together while they’re dating, I want them to follow Biblical principles, as we all know non-Christians (and some Christians) will slide in that respect. I have read some books that have handled this really well, and shown that this was NOT the way it should have been, and there are consequences for falling into that sin, too, though the baby that might have been conceived is not a consequence to be done away with.
The emphasis on desire I think depends a lot on the person and it is good that there are different authors for each one. I tend to feel more comfortable with books that don’t focus on this or be a middle ground, I remember reading a Christian romance where there was so much emphasis on desire and how much they struggled to contain themselves that I didn’t feel identified at all, it was too much it almost seemed that the characters wanted to get married just to have sex.
On the other hand, I have a friend who is one of those few people who struggles very little with the sexual area and it bothers her when even in the books it is generalized that “it is a great struggle for everyone” it is the main one for many people but it is not something universal in reality.
On the other hand for other girls I know it is such a struggle that even reading about people containing their sexual desires or struggling with it will make them think about their struggles or their own thoughts in this area so they prefer a Christian romance that gently acknowledges this or ignore it.
This is why there are different writers for everyone.
P.S: By the way, my friends don’t mind that I share these points in a general way and without names.
I don’t really care if a christain dates a non christain in books.If the kissing turns in to make out sessions and then they are in bedroom together I don’t like that . My family/church believes that u don’t sleep together until marriage.I also do like if a couple goes to bars and get drunk my family doesn’t believe in drinking..
I definitely like the Christian/faith content to be present and shown: have them praying through their struggles, parts of a sermon speaking to them, and bible verses (from personal/quiet time or bible study) stand out to them. Mainly for them to grow in their faith. If the book only mentions the character “going to church” or “they prayed”, I’ll probably mention something about it in my review (generally among the lines of “not exactly CF”). My favorite example of this done well is Carolyne Aarsen. :) I really enjoyed her Family Ties series.
As for the romance, I hadn’t given it much thought, but I agree with everything you mentioned in your post (especially when being attracted to a non-believer but choosing to honor God first). I think that’d be it for me: to honor God through every aspect of their relationship (including having the attraction present but not taking things too far).
I like seeing Christian and faith aspects in the Christian books that I read, in fact I expect it because I am reading a Christian book. I think that Christian characters should refrain from having relationships with non-Christians because they could end up being unequally yokes. Although it is a book, the characters should still be aware of what dating can lead to and that missionary dating often does not work.
I think the difference between a Cheistian romance and just a clean romance comes down to motivation. I enjoy reading Christian romances that show the struggles people have with passion but wanting to keep that passion for the intended purpose of marriage. I prefer it when the faith element is woven throughout the whole story in an organic way, not forced or added as an after thought at the end.
Hi, I love when faith is included in books, especially if a couple has the same problems like any other couple , I like it when faith always wins in the end. I love to read good clean books .
no preference
Hi Elizabeth,
Yes that spiritual arc is necessary (I think) if it’s to be called a Christian book, whether it’s subtle or more in your face. I really enjoy seeing how characters live out their faith.
Absolutely Lori! Nobody finds the perfect “Mary Sue” characters particularly relatable (I don’t, anyway). Give us some grit and grist and challenges to overcome that fuel our hope in an awesome God.
Thank YOU Lori for answering these questions!
I agree, Emily. It’s interesting to see how romance books present desire and boundaries from a Christian perspective – or not. It’s important to demonstrate the reality and be mindful of younger readers. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much for sharing Lilly. It is indeed a delicate balancing act for authors to demonstrate realistic situations without going ‘too far’. And you’re right, there’s a wide variety of readers out there – which means we’ll never please everyone.
Thank YOU Erin for your thoughts! I’m convinced that some of a reader’s experience can come down to factors like how much sleep / caffeine we have, what else is going on, all of which plays a part in how we interpret and receive a story. What bothers one won’t bother another, so there’s no pleasing everyone. As authors our challenge is to write the stories God lays on our heart – and find the readers who can connect with them.
So many important points here, Lilly. As a mum of 4 young people, I’m conscious I want to write books where the Christian characters would behave like I’d want my kids to. Imperfect? Absolutely (ha – just like their mum!) Tempted, yes. Working through things with God? Yes. I love showing how God’s tender grace is always there, and available for all.
Thanks for commenting, Trudy. Yes, having realistic characters living as Christians is important, I feel. I’ve had some of my Christian characters join their non-Christian friends at bars etc bc they’re strong in their faith and don’t want to isolate themselves and be considered unrelatable by people who need Jesus. It’s a tricky balance sometimes!
Thanks for sharing, Kendra. It’s really interesting seeing what different people enjoy reading about.
It’s interesting to hear from someone who reviews books (on behalf of authors everywhere, thank you for taking the time to do that) what makes a reviewer comment. It’s also fascinating, isn’t it, to consider how attraction starts. Thanks for commenting!
Yep! I agree, Angeline. Sometimes it can be interesting to explore what happens when people don’t ‘follow the rules’ and a book serves as a cautionary tale. But while I don’t want my Christian characters to be unrelatably perfect, I do want them to somehow show they are Christian, more than by a token prayer.
Yep, I’m with you, Megan. Keep it real, realistic, relatable and keep the faith threads natural.
Yes, I’m with you Alicia! Thanks for commenting today. ’
While I still enjoy CF that doesn’t have as much of the characters faith displayed on the page, my favorite books are those that the character grows in their faith and challenges me to grow in my own walk with God. I’m disappointed when I read a Christian character that does everything but attend church on the weekend. After seeing you post on this topic in a couple of places, my next ebook purchases will be your Original Six series!
I Love seeing Christian characters in a book, Praying and talking about their faith in the book! And I also love that they interact with their church in outing’s Thank you for this wonderful post!
Oh, thank you Carrie! I do hope you enjoy that series. It’s based on a real online Bible study for Christian players, which I think opens the way for all kinds of conversations and aspects of faith and what it means to be a witness in our world.
Thanks so much Sarah! Appreciate you commenting today.
Oh, thank you Carrie! I do hope you enjoy that series. It’s based on a real online Bible study for Christian players, which I think opens the way for all kinds of conversations and aspects of faith and what it means to be a witness in our world.
We grew up saying grace for every meal. Mum til her dying day (10 years ago yesterday) said grace for every meal from the time she became a Christian. I can’t say I do it for every meal but it was what we grew up with.
In regards to preachy books. I expect a faith arch but a sermon for the sake of a sermon I skip over. I remember one author that had pages of sermons in books and several in the one book they were too much. But some bullet points or a paragraph that is reaching a character or convicting them is different. I do feel some authors feel they need to constantly preach and it doesn’t add to the book or the scene. Where as other times it can help. A recent book bible verses that encouraged the character or helped them get through a situation were right.
On prayers it depends when one says do you mind if I say grace thats good but I don’t mind if the prayer is implied not said. But if its a situation where a decision or for a specific issue its nice to see the prayer but only if it feels it is right. I like to see they went to church or at least know they are going, In America many go to church on Wednesday night where other places this isn’t as common. Going to a singles or young peoples group works well. But I don’t want a book that is preaching for the sake of preaching it has to fit the story. I like seeing growth in the characters. I also don’t like a character who is non christian but goes to church the first time and is suddenly saved. I know people can change overnight but there is still often questioning and they want to know more. I would rather see this than being converted so the hero and herione can then be together. Oh and I really don’t like secret baby trope it needs to be done well but on a whole its not my favourite trope
Do you enjoy seeing characters pray? Yes
Do you like to actually read their prayers or read that so-and-so ‘murmured a prayer’? Yes
Do you enjoy seeing characters go to church? Yes
Attend a Bible study? Yes
Read their Bible? Yes
Worship God? YES!!!
Do you like to see characters ‘witness’ to their friends or do you prefer the Christian’s actions to speak louder than their words? Both!
Yes! As long as the Christian characters don’t get drunk or something!! Not saying yours do, just saying I hope none in any books do, unless afterwards they really realize it’s wrong and go out of their way to avoid drinking in the future. Our witness can definitely be strong in these situations, for sure!
Although I am a lifelong Christian, I am fairly new to Christian romance. I started reading Amish romance books about 13/14 years ago. I really liked the “clean” aspect–no sexy bedroom scenes. Over the years I discovered more wonderful Christian authors. In a Christian romance I love the presence of God in the character’s lives. I like that scriptures are quoted throughout the story. I like that they pray, even in public and how that affects those around them. I like to read about what they are thinking and how they sort issues out. I think it is wonderful how characters work through their attraction issues and ultimately put their faith first and “wait”.
I just finished a book by Jessie Gussman. It was exactly all the things you talked about in your article. And it was perfect. It was wonderful.
I am so thankful for authors like you who write these stories. Believe it or not, I pray for all of you, that God uses your talents to reach those who need Him.
Thank you.
Yes to all. Thank you for sharing.
I’m new to Christian Romance but I do know that I don’t like it go slap me in the face and be all preachy. I like when it’s a natural part of the story and flows right within that moment.
I am reading a suspense book right now from a new author. I had never read any of her books before. I was very surprised that she has mentioned many times throughout the book so far that the characters prayed. I have read books where each character has prayed separately. I cannot think of any when they have prayed together. In my opinion, the best way for one to being a relationship is to become friends first. You should not jump into a relationship that will get you close or into the fire. I feel that the Lord needs to be part of any relationship before it and including in the marriage. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
Wow! So much discussion on this one. IDk… I know when I feel uncomfortable I put the book down, which makes me sad when I really enjoy the author and their personality, humor and writing style. Tat makes it way tough for me.
Absolutely – and no, the only drunk characters I’ve had haven’t been Christians, so they were on their way on the God journey. I think it’s unrealistic to expect a super saint as soon as salvation comes (all the Christians I know – myself included! – still stuff up at times). But that gets to show God’s grace and mercy, right?
So many aspects of different cultures and faith practices to consider – which makes it extra fun as an international author depicting a different country perspective…
Ooh, I hope you’ll enjoy reading the books in the Original Six series where you’ll see characters do all that and more!
Oh, Hod bless YOU, Bonnie – thank you for your prayers. It makes a difference. So many times I can write myself into a corner then God opens a way to escape. There is something so truly wonderful about getting messages from readers saying this aspect of this book blessed / touched / convicted / challenged me. I love that God can speak truth through fiction.
Thanks so much Lucy!
Yes, keeping things feeling natural and organic to the storyline is important.
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, Debra. I think relationships are tricky enough – why would you go through the extra heart tangles of differing faith / values if you can avoid it?
Yep! It’s tricky sometimes m, isn’t it? Thanks so much for sharing.
enjoy high adventure, suspense, mystery, a little romance, strong Christian values. In a day and age where everyone is saying accept us all just the way we are, but mean become like us instead of like christ, I appreciate reading a real life book that let’s the bible be the guide. I also like it when a character learns something new. For instance growth in their character as a person before God. And growth as a person in relationships. I feel like this is almost all I’ve done since being married the last 11 years. And not well I might add
I really like to see the faith of the characters loved pit as a daily thing that directly influences their lives and decisions. In a book this can look vastly different depending on the story. It doesn’t have to include a sermon or church scene, but might if it fits in the storyline.
Oh, Ashley, I relate! Yes, so many challenges exist in our world (and our marriages!) – which is why we need good books that remind us of the truth. (I hope you’ll check out these books one day!)
I so agree, Melynda. Faith – in characters, as well as us – needs to be more than just a word.
Faith gets us through good times and the not-so-good times. To see faith in action within the characters of a book is sweet indeed.
Prayers:either way, afterall I pray both ways!
Can’t use ebooks though.
Amen! Thanks for commenting today!
I think that a lot of authors tend to struggle when it comes to writing prayers and sermons…but that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t in books. A difference I’ve noticed between Christian and clean books, is thst the characters approach romantic relationships differently. I’ve been reading Christian fiction almost exclusively for the last few years (Ok, so I’m 19, it hasn’t been too long!), but its really hard to tell if a book is actually going to be clean. Its not always the case, but I’d say 9 times out of 10 Christian characters are more thoughtful. I really like to see characters expressing their faith, especially when they are in a romantic relationship, but not because of the relationship. I really liked your thoughts on “unequally yoked.” I think that that’s something that Christians don’t think about enough. I’ve seen a lot of women rushed into marriages with unbelievers, simply because they were told that they shouldn’t be picky! You need to be picky if you intend to spend the rest of your life with someone. My tolerance for kissing scenes in books, varies from book to book. Sometimes I’m totally fine with it. But other times it seems like the author said: “well, I can’t put actual sex in this, so I’ll write the make out scene extra steamy.” That’s where I draw the line! Thanks for posting this!
I enjoy reading books with a Christian component. I prefer the books I read to be sweet not spicy with a “hint” of a romance behind closed doors.
I like seeing characters who make God the center of their relationship. I haven’t ever dated, been in love, or had a romance yet… Though, I love the genre, I love reading romances, personally, I prefer romances that fall in line with my beliefs of a Christian not dating a non-Christian as I’ve seen the harm in it before. I love romances but I can be quite picky at times and I don’t love very kissy romances.