BOOKS: Good clean romance novels

[Zooey]

I am partial to the Christian writers. Check out that section in the bookstore.

Kathy

My favorites are Terri Blackstock & Robin Lee Hatcher. Both these ladies have, earlier in their lives, published some romances that are NOT “good clean stories”, however…But since both have returned to active practice of their faith, they have written some excellent titles.
I also want to enthusiastically second (third??) Georgette Heyer. She is one of my all time favorite authors. She actually started writing books because she loved Jane Austen, & “ran out”…She is so funny, and she wrote a lot of books!!

 

[Peggy_in_Burien]

I asked the same question of my sister lately.

In return, she sent me her copy of “The Man Who Loved Jane Austen” by Sally Smith O’Rourke. Very entertaining, and clean.

She also recommended (and I highly recommend them) JoAnne Fluke’s series of books. I don’t know what they would be called as a group, but we call them the “murder she baked” books. The main character owns a bakery called the Cookie Jar, and winds up solving local murders. It is very much along the lines of the Murder, She Wrote TV series, in that they are clean, light-hearted, and very entertaining. Nothing very heavy. Although she has two suitors, she is never in much more than a hug with either one!

Thanks for starting this thread as I am getting all kinds of good leads from everyone!

 

[jediliz]

Joanne Fluke’s books are the Hannah Swensen mysteries. They are:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder
Strawberry Shortcake Murder
Blueberry Muffin Murder
Lemon Meringue Pie Murder
Fudge Cupcake Murder
*Sugar Cookie Murder
Peach Cobbler Murder
Cherry Cheesecake Murder
Key Lime Pie Murder
Carrot Cake Murder
Cream Puff Murder

*Christmas Themed

There are a few times when Hannah does kiss her suitors but there isn’t anything “heavy handed”.

 

[penguinchicky]

Hi everyone,

My spiritual director/counselor suggested that I try reading some books just for fun, but I’ve exhausted the authors I’m familiar with and enjoy. She suggested I try a different genre than the mysteries I usually read (I love Agatha Christie), so I thought I’d try reading some romances. The problem is that I know a lot of romance novels are pornographic, so I don’t want to just go to the romance section of my local library and pick some out at random. Does anyone know of well-written, lighthearted romance novels? (I’ve already read all of Jane Austen’s works, but I’m looking for something a little more contemporary.)

Thanks!

Christine

Have you read the Confessions of a Shopaholic books by Sophie Kinsella … they are quite funny and have some romance in it but not any type of sexual descriptions. She has also written a couple of stand alone books that also look quite good.

You’ve read Jane Austin what about Jane Eyre or The Tenant Of Wildfield Hall by Anne Bronte?

Hope this helps

 

[cdanison]

Putting in my two cents worth a husband and wife team, Judith Michael.
Their first book, “Inheritance” was one of the best books I have ever read. Their books are the best I have found.

I am hooked on James Patterson mysteries, but he has a whole line of “Maximum Ride”. These book are recommended for teens, as well as adults. I have enjoyed every one I have read. The characters are several children who were stolen from their parents when very young. They were used for experiments in which they were made into bird like children, Yes, they fly. They are constantly being chased by the “Erasers”, another breed that flies, and are very much like wolves.
There is no sex, well in the one I fjust finished, Max received her first very innocent kiss.

I am an avid reader, and know what you are saying. I just skip the “sex” parts also. But I wish more writers would keep that stuff out of their books. I buy books for their entertainment value, the mystery and intrigue. I don’t need that other stuff!

Connie:shrug:

 

[VampireQueen]

I am hooked on James Patterson mysteries, but he has a whole line of “Maximum Ride”. These book are recommended for teens, as well as adults. I have enjoyed every one I have read. The characters are several children who were stolen from their parents when very young. They were used for experiments in which they were made into bird like children, Yes, they fly. They are constantly being chased by the “Erasers”, another breed that flies, and are very much like wolves.
There is no sex, well in the one I fjust finished, Max received her first very innocent kiss.

I love Maximun Ride. And it’s a young adult series, I highly doubt they would put a sex in it.Which one did you finish?

 

[lizbas]

Dear people, forgiven my bad english, but i living in Argentina. I read Austen and Wilde (La importancia de llamarse Ernesto). Two excellent writters. For mistery i like Father Brown is more lealtly and clean and logic in his lines. And romantic i read The Noha Diary is good. In paranormal and romantic novels i read Crepusculo (Twinlight) is good, but i must said that: In the four (the last) book of the Stefany Meyer i think is a novel not good (mediocre y parecida a un comic), and another thing i dont like is a critic of the Saint Father. This are innecesary for the history and reveled a prejuicie of the writer (she is mormona). So i fell a few sad. I hoppe you understand me. Bye.

 

[cdanison]

I love Maximun Ride. And it’s a young adult series, I highly doubt they would put a sex in it.Which one did you finish?

The book I finished a couple of days ago was “School’s Out Forever”. I didn’t realize it is Book 2 of a 3 book trilogy. Last night I started “The Angel Experiment” number 1 in the trilogy. I also have the third book, “Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports”. I then have two more, “The Final Warning” and “Max”. These should catch me up on the Maximum Ride books. I also have a Danel X book - I started it, but it didn’t turn me on. I will work on it later.

I would suggest if one gets tired of the same old romance stories, the book “Necessary Heartbreak” by M. I. Sullivan. It is our church book club book for this month. It is mainly about a man and his daughter who are taken back in time to the crucifixtion. Very interesting.

Have you read the two Anne Rice books on the life of Jesus. She is a convert, a vampire writer. I hate vampire books and stories, but she has redeemed herself with “Out of Egypt” and “The Road to Cana”. They are a fictional look at Jesus, but very much like his childhood and later years could have been.

Over Lent I read the Pope’s “Jesus of Nazareth”. A lot of it was over my head, but the parts on The Lord’s Prayer, the Beatitudes and the deciples were very interesting.

I guess I don’t read “romances” anymore. But these are interesting reads.

 

[leonie]

Joanne Fluke’s books are the Hannah Swensen mysteries. They are:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder
Strawberry Shortcake Murder
Blueberry Muffin Murder
Lemon Meringue Pie Murder
Fudge Cupcake Murder
*Sugar Cookie Murder
Peach Cobbler Murder
Cherry Cheesecake Murder
Key Lime Pie Murder
Carrot Cake Murder
Cream Puff Murder

*Christmas Themed

There are a few times when Hannah does kiss her suitors but there isn’t anything “heavy handed”.

I love these!!! You might also like Martha Colley’s books–though, they are primarily mysteries.

 

[SHW]

Debbie McComber (sp?)'s books are quite good. Occasionally her characters engage in unmarried relations but the discussion is brief. She even has a character who is pro-virginity until marriage!

The books are lighthearted and about relationships and a romance. I like that some of her characters are featured in several books.

Debbie MaComber’s earlier books are too graphically sensual for my taste but her later ones seem to be much better for Christians. I am reading one from 1993 and I have to skip through parts of it due to this “problem.” I read in a Christian magazine that she cleaned up her writing but don’t recall the “date” she did this.

Phylis Whitney writes like Victoria Holt.

shw

 

[Biblioassistant]

This is kind of old, but I had to chime in. I recently was at the local Barnes and Noble and picked up one of Debbie Macomber’s books - a sort of biography. She said one thing that made me burning angry. She was “raised a Catholic, but now I am a Christian”

I wonder if she has any idea how offensive that is. Anyway, I have read some of her books and find them juvenile and twee. She has a series of stories that feature a trio of angels named Shirley, Goodness and Mercy. Ick!

For good, clean romance novels, Give me Georgette Heyer. She had style, and excellent characters.

 

[Barbara_Lee]

One of my favorites is Deanne Gist… very clean, old fashion love… historical romance

deeannegist.com/

 

[Hope3]

This is kind of old, but I had to chime in. I recently was at the local Barnes and Noble and picked up one of Debbie Macomber’s books - a sort of biography. She said one thing that made me burning angry. She was “raised a Catholic, but now I am a Christian”

I wonder if she has any idea how offensive that is. Anyway, I have read some of her books and find them juvenile and twee. She has a series of stories that feature a trio of angels named Shirley, Goodness and Mercy. Ick!

For good, clean romance novels, Give me Georgette Heyer. She had style, and excellent characters.

Debbie also used to write in a manner not befitting a Christian woman. Her early books are extremely offensive.

I cringe every time I hear or read of celebrities who mention their personal “Catholicism,” but who also disregard its teachings. Many people believe that all “Catholics” are just like these immoral “Catholic” celebrities.

 

[betsyg]

I really liked Jill Eileen Smith’s ‘The Wives of King David - 1 Michal’. It was a wonderful story. Of course, the author only surmised what could or might have happened. However, a lot of the novel retold stories of David as told in the Bible. What I found from reading this novel, was that I now remember names of people and order of events alot better than before. I also read the 2nd book ‘Abigail’ Which was also good, but I did enjoy and learn more from the first. Many of the religious novels have nothing to do with reality, so you do need to choose carefully.

 

[LilyM]

How can the phrase ‘romance novel’ be bandied around without anyone mentioning the grande dame of grande dames of romance, Barbara Cartland?

Guaranteed clean. I’ve only read one of hers. It wasn’t too bad (romances aren’t really my thing, though, so I don’t have much to compare it to).

I second Victoria Holt. She wrote historical novels as Jean Plaidy, which are good but (for someone who loves modern-day historical novels like me) a tiny bit dated in their style.

Fascinating life - she started writing in the mid '40s and kept going until the mid-90s!

 

[catsrus]

I do not like romance novels per se but if you like some good romance mixed with lots of other “good stuff”, I cite Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell and was really surprised that no one mentioned it.
Also, I liked Resisitance by Anita Shreve. Romance during a war.

 

[MyCatholicHeart]

Kathy Herman write some very good clean books. Her Baxter series is awesome-very thought provoking, complex story lines that left me guessing until the very end and I’ve read so many mysteries I can usually “spot the murderer” from the 1st chapter! I’m in the middle of her newest seies and it is very enjoyable so far. One of the things I like best about many of her books are some of the lessons the characters learn. It’s relevant, real life struggles that normal people have with decisions and I like how her charcters grow and ultimately make better decisions.
Karen Kingsbury is another good clean author, though she shows a definite protestant bent sometimes, but I don’t recall anything anti-Catholic. And I second someone else’s suggestion of Beverly Lewis and various other authors that write about the Amish. Very fascinating reads, even if only for the information on the Amish culture. I added Lancaster County to my “places to visit before I die” list after reading Lewis’ novels.
There’s also a section of the Steeple Hill publishing group called “Love, Inspired” that is all contemporary christian romance novels-nothing trashy at all. There’s also a Love Inspired Suspense and Historical.
I also suggest asking your local librarian for suggestions. My local library also has special stickers they put on books to mark genre so I know I can always look thru the fiction section for the pink stickers and get good clean books that way too. That’s how I’ve discovered many of my new favorite authors.

 

[child_of_God85]

I do not like romance novels per se but if you like some good romance mixed with lots of other “good stuff”, I cite Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell and was really surprised that no one mentioned it.
Also, I liked Resisitance by Anita Shreve. Romance during a war.

I actually did mention Gone with the Wind. It’s on the first page of this thread:thumbsup:

 

[Peggy_in_Burien]

Here is one I just finished: Sarah by Orson Scott Card. Yes, the same fellow who wrote Ender’s Game.

He has written a triology of books about women from Genesis, called the Women of Genesis Series. So far, he has written Sarah; Rebekah; and Rachel and Leah.

They are very clean and free of sex, exciting adventure, and really well written. I enjoyed the first one very much, and I’m looking forward to getting the others from the library.

 

[catsrus]

originally posted by child_of_God85
I actually did mention Gone with the Wind. It’s on the first page of this thread:thumbsup:

Oops! Sorry.