Sunday, September 6, 2020

Jesus In a Romance Novel

One of the good things about the current pandemic is that I've been getting back in touch with my spiritual side and going to church, virtually of course. And with more religion in my life has come a desire to read about characters who are in touch with their spiritual sides too. Pretty easy you would think since we live in a Judeo-Christian society, except it isn't. Actually, it's hard to find God in between the pages of a romance novel. Yes, I could search the Christian market for reading material or maybe crack open a Harlequin Love Inspired. But I'd have to give up reading about sexual attraction and sex, some of my favorites parts of a romance. For some reason those marketing to Christians think God and sex don't mix. But I think they do and I'm sure I'm not the only one. I haven't done an exhaustive search but I have stumbled across a few boooks that aren't afraid to marry sex and the Lord. If you haven't had a chance, check out Patricia Gaffney's historical To Love and To Cherish, a wonderful romance about two different people who find love with each other. And if you're looking for a contemporary romance, Noelle Adams' Married for Christmas is a great friends to lover story. Both have men of God as their hero, which might be the work around for bringing the love of the Lord and love of the flesh together in romance novels. But, I hope it isn't the only one because I think there could be so many great stories with God and sex. I will continue to search and I pray that I can find more romances that take into account characters' spiritual lives as much as their romantic lives (see what I did there?). If you have any books to recommend, please feel free to leave their names in the comment section. I'm dying to get my God on while I'm getting my love fix.