For many years, I've struggled to reconcile the type of romance I write with my Christianity. I love romance and I love writing romance. There's something so utterly special about falling in love that deserves to be celebrated.
Yes, I could write Christian romance, but I prefer spicy reads. Since it's becoming more difficult to find clean, spicy romance novels, I tend to write those. My characters don't use profanity, and most certainly never blasphemies. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to be preachy, and I have nothing against people who use such language. God gave us free will and allows us to use it to our hearts' content.
When I first started my writing adventure--several years ago, I found that Harlequin Mills & Boon romances were a guaranteed fun read. All the romance and heat, and no profanity, which is why, for many years, I focused my writing toward the Harlequin Mills & Boon market. As a result, I began writing sexy love scenes in order to fit, first the Harlequin Mills & Boon Presents line, then Modern Tempted (KISS), and finally their Blaze line.
If you've ever read these novels, you'll know the bedroom door stays wide, wide open. You may think that as a Christian I shouldn't be writing explicit love scenes, and I'm well aware that they're sweet romance lines out there, but here is my problem. What is the point of writing novels for a sweet romance line because the books avoid depicting fully recognized love scenes, but some have absolutely no problem with using the Lord's name in vain?
I'd rather write hot love scenes than to ever use the Lord's name as a curse word!
And here is my other reason. I'm not the only Christian woman who enjoys spicy novels. I know of quite a few who secretly read books far, far more a-hem...erotically explicit! I feel like it's my duty to present an alternative for the sake of Christian women everywhere who enjoy spicy romance. I only have to view the number of negative reviews on some books to see that there's a market for my books. Many readers complain about the volume of profanity in the books out there, yet they buy them all the same, which shows they want the spicy reads but not the profanity.
Yes, it is true that we live in the age of profanity, but not all of us enjoy reading or hearing it. I, for one, find it highly distasteful. I'm a firm believer that the use of profanity is a sign of limited vocabulary. You may not agree since we're in modern times, writing for modern tastes. Call me old-fashioned but I don't want to read or write anything that makes me uncomfortable. And, like I said, I'm not the only one.
So there you have it. The reason I write spicy romance is because I like them. And did I mention that sex is in the Bible? When you read passages like: and he went into her, or unto her...what do you suppose that means? As a Bible believing Christian I believe I can follow wherever the Bible leads.
If I had to pinpoint my audience, I'd say it's readers who enjoy sweet and spicy romantic comedy. Readers who love to laugh, who enjoy tasteful, explicit love scenes. Readers who love spice without the bitter aftertaste.
If you’re a Christian woman who likes your romance heartwarming, yet sexy. If you enjoy potent chemistry, humor and sizzling heat. Try a Monique DeVere romance.
And if you're not a Christian but you enjoy this type of romance, I'd be thrilled if you give my stories a try, too.
