Inspirational romance

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From Guidevines

Romance stories that emphasize a religious message as well. Most inspirational romances are Christian romances; a few are Jewish romances; other religions don't normally appear in the category.

Most of these are published by religious publishers, and their orientation will affect what they want, as to the promoted religion. Many or most are evangelical Protestant Christian. Many have qualified as publishers for the RWA's Rita award, and some have monthly subscriptions for two to four romances a month sent out to readers directly. The Steeple Hill lines at Harlequin are more generally Protestant. One needs to hunt down publishers that currently are interested in Catholic or Jewish inspirational romance.

In general, the rules are that while a Christian character may be attracted to one who is not, no serious relationship or marriage will be set up until that person has become a Christian; that there is no graphic sex, and no pre-marital or extra-marital sex (think sweet romance); that the Christian protagonist should be having some questions of faith that the challenges of the romance help them work out; that neither be just a tract in goody-two-shoes, but believable normal human beings, just with strong faith.

Pagan inspirational romances would most likely be found as paranormal romances or historical romances with pagan main characters, since in the pagan mindset magic works and is real and needs to be included in the picture of life.