What is "Inspirational" Romance? Most people understand that a romance novel focuses on the growing love relationship between one man and one woman, with just enough bumps in the road to keep things interesting, ending with declarations of love, kisses, and a marriage proposal (or even a wedding.)  Always, always, there is the expectation that the couple will live "happily ever after." Gone with the Wind isn't a classic romance, and neither is Casablanca.  Those stories may include romantic elements, but they're missing that all-important ending that makes a woman smile and heave a satisfied sigh.  Romance novelists call it the HEA, or the "happily every after" ending. An inspirational romance takes this classic formula one step further by incorporating a spiritual element in the tale.  In addition to the usual ups and downs of falling in love, the hero and/or heroine must overcome a spiritual obstacle, whether that involves finding God's salvation, learning to lean on Him, letting go of the past, etc. Christian women find inspirational romance novels satisfying because they promote strong family values, emphasizing admirable qualities such as duty, honor, and integrity, all while delivering the guilt-free entertainment of a chaste romance story.  Many Christians believe reading inspirational romance is a wholesome activity for women young and old, married and single, because it reaffirms the values we hold so dear. It is my constant prayer that my writing will encourage the hearts of women in every season of life. Perhaps an elderly widow will look back on a lifelong romance and give thanks to God for the blessings she has known.  Maybe a middle-aged woman will be moved to look her balding, pot-bellied husband straight in the eye and swear that she loves him more today than on the day they were married.  And I'd like to think that some young lady will consider my fictional heroes and then think long and hard about the qualities she's looking for in a husband. I write inspirational romance for exactly the same reason that you read it:  it's good, wholesome entertainment.  But if we get a little something extra out of it, if it nudges us a little closer to the Lord and to our husbands and our families, isn't that something to celebrate? _____________________________________ If you'd like to share a brief thought on inspirational romance, or on the subject of love and marriage, e-mail me and I'll consider posting your comments here. (To Brenda's HomePage)