Let’s face it, even Christian men and women want to feel that spark of attraction in a romance novel or their own relationship. God designed us to be attracted to each other, but there are definite limits we aren’t supposed to cross before we marry.
Some readers prefer their romance novels squeaky clean. Other readers want their romance novels to express some physical attraction.
What do I mean by squeaky clean?
These novels don’t go farther than the man and woman finding each other physically attractive to their eyes, and maybe near the end of the novel they’ll feel a spark or tingle at the other’s hand brushing their arm. But throughout the novel, they don’t hug or kiss. Maybe they hold hands once or twice.
So, in a squeaky clean novel, the writer has to really develop the characters’ personalities and they have to know what they are looking for in a person they would want to marry. These things have to come out in their dialogue and the activities they participate in with each other. That’s how they will eventually come to realize that this is the person for them without getting into any physical affection, or keeping it minimal like the spark when his hand brushes hers or the hug he offers when someone or something upsets her.
One other great way to show their attraction without the physical, is to have him protect or defend her in a situation. For example, he protects her from an old boyfriend showing up and grabbing her arm, demanding she talk to him. Or maybe he defends her when one of his friends says something negative about her.
Readers who like their novels squeaky clean find a man who will protect or defend a woman swoon worthy. They also enjoy when a man sends flowers or presents her with chocolates or a small piece of jewelry, or offers his coat on a chilly night, or opens an umbrella to protect them from a downpour.
Don’t get me wrong.
Readers who like novels with a little more physical attraction action also like the above signs that he cares. But they also want to feel the electrical spark between the leading man and lady, and they want to read about their hugs, caresses, and kisses and their desire for more, even though they refuse to cross that line until they’ve tied the knot.
The readers who want a little more physical attraction don’t want things to go beyond the bedroom door. They just want to know that when the time comes for these two characters to cross the bedroom threshold, there will be some fire, but they don’t want to read about it.
Your Christian or Clean romance novel doesn’t have to be chaste to please your reader. It just has to be either modest, sweet, or steamy as long as it doesn’t go beyond kissing and hugging. None of your Christian or Clean romance readers want to read about the sexual act. They just want to read about the physical attraction.
Kelly F. Barr lives in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She is married and has three sons. She writes historical romance. She has also been a blogger for ten years, and every Friday, you can find her Flash Fiction stories posted for your reading pleasure. She loves her family, including the family dog, books, walks, and chai lattes.
You can find her online at:
Website: kellyfbarr.com
MeWe: KellyBarr8
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