Inspy Romance

Inspy Romance—Fall in Love With a Good Book

Turning Up the Heat (with #giveaway )

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A couple of months ago, I finally got a contemporary Christian romance new(ish) release that was much heralded by friends, acquaintances, and random people I see in various Facebook groups.

I was excited. It was (according to all comers) one of the best books they’d ever read, etc. etc. Let me start by saying right off the bat, it was beautifully written with a tight story that was captivating and kept the pages turning. So I get all the raving. It was rave-worthy.

Except. (You knew that was coming, right?)

One of the characters makes a comment that, to me at least, comes across as slamming the entire genre of Christian romance. The main beef? That there was no Christian romance out there that had toe-curling-and-yet-God-honoring kisses in them.

I read that. Then I read it again. Then I grumbled and turned off my Kindle for a few days and read some other books. Then I came back and tried again, but it just nagged at me.

See, I read a lot of contemporary Christian romance. It’s my go-to. (It’s kind of like comfort food — you know sometimes you just want a big bowl of mac and cheese? That’s CCR for me.) In all that reading, I’ve come across quite a few books that have some steamy-yet-God-honoring scenes in them. So rather than simply listing things off the top of my head, I also went ahead and polled the other InspyRomance authors. And, as I suspected, many of them have written books that have those honest struggles with passion that are steamy enough to satisfy a reader looking for a slight increase in their heart rate, without crossing lines of taste and chastity.

And so, since I know we have all kinds of readers here at InspyRomance, I thought I’d list some of the reads that are absolutely CCR but that also leave you realizing that Christian romance isn’t just the secret little thrill when you hold hands with someone for the first time.

Thus, in no particular order, a list of books for when you want that little something extra:

Lee Tobin McClain is one who I feel captures this in just about EVERY book of hers. Maybe a little less in her Love Inspireds (but still there). Her Sacred Bond books though? Yup. But if I was choosing just one, it would be Joy of My Heart. I adore that book and all the yummy tension.

Ginger Solomon is another who I feel like you get this in just about every one of her books. In particular, I’d mention her Broken Holiday series and Learning from Experience.

If Finding Mr. Write, by Carol Moncado doesn’t leave you in need of a quick sip of water at a couple of points, I’m not sure you’re reading it right.

Krista Phillips isn’t scared to show the attraction and passion between her characters, either. The Engagement Plot and A (nearly) Normal Nanny both fit the bill of clean-yet-steamy-in-spots.

Heather Gray does this well also — and hers create the chemistry even if kisses don’t come closer to the end. The two that leap to mind of hers are An Informal Introduction and Skye.

Shannon Vannatter has two as well — White Pearls and Rodeo Regrets where struggles to keep things chaste create some difficulties.

In Better than a Crown, Valerie’s characters get awfully close to some shaky lines — but more than that, Valerie’s another one who can create that expectant, toe-curling tension between her characters even if they’re not kissing.

Liwen Ho’s Straight to You has characters struggling with purity in their relationship. As does Chain of Mercy by Brenda S. Anderson and Leaving Oxford by Janet W. Ferguson.

And I know that’s not a comprehensive list. Several of my own books (particularly in my Taste of Romance series) have that chemistry and a little bit of steaminess in them.

So, if you’re a fan of that extra little oomph, what books did I miss? Let me know in the comments! I’ll choose one commenter on Saturday morning (8/25) to receive their choice of my paperbacks (if you’re international, it’ll need to be one I can get from the Book Depository.)

Our 2018 Back-to-School Giveaway is now open! If you live outside the USA, you know how rare international paperback giveaways are. Well, here at Inspy Romance, we want to honor ALL our readers, no matter where you live. But, if we don’t know who you are, we can’t enter you in the international giveaway. Please take two seconds to fill in this form (even if you think we already recognize your name) if your mailing address is outside the USA. Click here.

Elizabeth Maddrey (292 Posts)

Elizabeth Maddrey is a semi-reformed computer geek and homeschooling mother of two who lives in the suburbs of Washington D.C. When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books. She loves to write about Christians who struggle through their lives, dealing with sin and receiving God’s grace on their way to their own romantic happily ever after.


Comments

  2. Hi Elizabeth! Interesting blog and great list of romance stories. As an avid romance reader, I am amazed at the different classifications of romance novellas and novels – Inspiring, Sweet, Sassy, Steamy, Contemporary, Historical, Mail Order Bride, and THE LIST goes ON. As a reviewer, I am amused when reviewers are upset over the label of the romance and that a well crafted tastefully written Christian romance has to much heat. Mmmm I wonder how those reviewers would review the Book of Solomon in the Bible. For me the “steamy-yet-God-honoring scenes” have to fit the setting, the couple and the story line (plot). Tension / conflict makes for page turning reading. At this early morning moment, not sure what else I would add to the list. Best wishes.

  3. HI Elizabeth, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’m with Renate on Song of Solomon!! Thanks for sharing these books- having read most of them, I have to agree with you. I’m thankful for great books that put God first but still show real romance:)
    Blessings:)

  4. Thanks, Elizabeth! I appreciate the list – and the memories from several if this books I have read!!

    Steamy kisses are the best!

  6. That’s a great point, Renate, it does need to fit in with the story – steam just for the sake of steam isn’t really what I think any Christian romance writer is going for.

    Your Song of Solomon comment made me chuckle. There are people who get annoyed that’s in the Bible.

  10. Hi Elizabeth,
    Can I just say, you know your a romance writer when you describe a commenter as a character, this had me smiling :)
    Unless you possibly meant character as in funny or entertaining, still smiling.

    Thanks for the list, I’ve read a few and will be checking out a few more, especially yours now that you’ve peeked my interest with the character comment. I’ve been wanting to get caught up on that Taste of Romance series, if only there were more hours in a day

  12. Hi Elizabeth, thank you for that wonderful list. I’m going to have to check them out! I know Julie Lessman can write kisses that’ll curl your toes in a good way. I think CCR needs to be realistic in this area while still being tasteful. And by realistic I mean showing the gentle progression of the physical attraction as well as the emotional depth.

  21. I agree with you. Sometimes we want or need that little extra oomph. Thank you for your post and a list of some of these books.

  25. Thanks for the book recommendations. I’ve read several books of the authors who are here but not the ones you listed.

  27. Pepper Basham has some swoony contemporaries! I am sure I spam forgetting a bunch at the moment though! I really love Christina Coryell’s and Amy Matayo’s books too!

  34. I have heard that type of comment before. I personally have read many a “spicy” Christian romance before and it was not overdone or too much. I like romances with the extra “oomph” in it to remind me God put passion out there and we can enjoy that in marriage.

  35. I love how you’ve compared CCR to comfort food. I totally agree. When I need a little comfort, I usually turn to a book and often CCR (sometimes just contemporary romance–I hardly think books that don’t bring more than “I go to church sometimes” lines should actually be called Christian… so I they dont’t fit the CCR category).
    I really don’t care much about spicy CCR, and I’ve read some of the books you’ve mentioned but still those probable scenes are not my best memories of them.. (which is good, right?) ;) Good luck with your books.

  40. Thanks for this list! I’m finding new authors to add to my collection through this website, and am eager to check these authors out too. A little finger-tingling and toe-curling can make a book just that much more interesting, but sadly, a lot of authors I’ve read can’t seem to do that without going over into the too-graphic details.
    As for CCR…lately I’ve found that too often, when I pick up a period book, it simply feels like someone from today wrote about someone from yesterday. The vocabulary is wrong, or too many old words are interspersed with modern speech making it sound like someone from today is trying to sound like someone from yesterday.
    Maybe I’m too picky ?, but CCR has helped me maintain a strong reading list without the disappointement of a poorly-written story (period books used to be my preference).

  46. Thank you for the list of authors. I didn’t know Krista had a new book out. I really enjoyed The Engagement Plot so am going to check it out.

  47. I’m a reader who loves a bit of variety and the stories to have that chemistry and a little bit of steaminess in them.

  49. Thanks for the book list! I agree that CCR books can feature great chemistry between the leads. I’ve been wanting to read The Engagement Plot by Krista Phillips, so this was a great reminder to read it sooner.

  50. I believe it’s the “Daughters of Boston” series by Julie Lessman that had me fanning myself ;)
    I agree with Finding Mr. Write. I loved the “tension” that played out there. I’m gonna admit something about that book… I think it’s one of my top five. Honestly, I’ve ready it several times since I stumbled across Carol Moncado a few years back.
    How come it’s always a little hard to remember which books stand out when you’re asked? I find this difficult just about every time.
    But honestly, I think Carol Moncado delivers every time. Finally Mr. Write and Discovering home have a couple of scenes that stand out.
    Anyway, keep on making it happen! We (readers) appreciate the fact that you care to cater to our wants. It can’t be easy to make it work without taking it too far.

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