What Do You Love About Reading?

I think I can confidently say most inspy romance writers – and writers in general, for that matter – started out as readers. At least I did.

My relationship with inspirational romance started with a girl named Christy Miller and her friends. It grew to include Lori Wick’s hunky historical heroes and the timeless Redeeming Love before I discovered my first love: contemporary romance. There’s just something about it I love. A good contemporary romance I can devour.

So, what is it that makes contemporary romance so irresistible? Our very own Melissa Tagg teamed with fellow Bethany authors Becky Wade and Victoria Bylin to create these super cute videos that might shed some light on that answer:

10 Things You Won’t Find in Contemporary Romance

and 10 Things You Will Find in Contemporary Romance:

For me personally, I can pinpoint a few things:

1. The snappy style. Contemporary romances typically have shorter sentences and have quicker pacing, which to me, make for an entertaining and engaging story flow if executed properly.

2. The pop culture references. To me, little descriptive tidbits of the setting sometimes make a character more endearing and relatable. “Your main character watches Gilmore Girls?  Me, too!” At that point we’re practically best friends — the character and I, that is. :)

3. The chemistry. I love that contemporary romance writers have a standard of integrity in their work. Not only do I not have to creep around every corner bracing myself with my hands over my eyes, but it means the writing has to be more solid to make me swoon. And believe me, I’ve done some serious swooning.

4. The takeaway. I love seeing God work in the lives of characters in contemporary settings who are going through very realistic challenges. And I love seeing God-centered romances form in a world I know to be very centered on materialism and lust.

Um, did I basically just admit sometimes I think/pretend that the characters are real? Reading my list again, I think I sense a common theme.

What keeps you turning the pages in a contemporary romance novel? Or reading into the early hours of the morning, if you’re anything like me? What makes you buy book two?

Laurie Tomlinson (10 Posts)

Laurie Tomlinson is a wife and mom from Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is a member of My Book Therapy and the American Christian Fiction Writers and received the 2013 Genesis Award for Contemporary fiction. Her work is represented by Rachel Kent of Books & Such Literary. A self-professed bookworm, Laurie earned a degree in literature but bypassed the traditional education route to become a book publicist. In addition to writing contemporary romance, she enjoys cooking, singing with her church’s worship band, and going on adventures with her husband, daughter, and yellow Lab. She always has a good novel in her bag, usually tucked between the diapers.