Craft Compelling, Salable Romances With a Christian Worldview &break;&break;Every novel needs believable characters, strong plot lines, and universal themes–and Christian romance is no exception. This unmatched resource by award-winning novelist Gail Gaymer Martin will help you master basic fiction writing skills, while ensuring your story meets and exceeds the standards of the Christian market. It comprehensively covers the special techniques and elements of the Christian romance novel, as well as how to sell your finished product to a publisher. Through detailed step-by-step instruction, examples from successful Christian romances, and practical exercises, you'll discover how to: &break;&break; develop a story that includes personal, romantic, and spiritual growth&break; incorporate prayer and spirituality into your story&break; use introspection to fully develop characters' relationship with God&break; discuss issues of sin and forgiveness in believable ways&break; present sexuality realistically, but from a Christian viewpoint &break;&break;Martin's exercises will help you apply what you've learned so that you are actively becoming a better writer and can work toward your goal of a finished romance. She'll also teach you the different options for romance publishing–a single title or a category romance–and help you decide what you want to write and who to market it to. Because it covers so much, Writing the Christian Romance will help you create a beautiful romance made even more meaningful because of its openness to God's love.

They say there's nothing new under the sun, and the Christian fiction industry certainly didn't spring full blown with the advent of the Left Behindseries in 1996. Remember Christyby Catherine Marshall? Published in 1967, its inspiration was the life of Marshall's mother - and the Christy Award, presented annually since 1999 to recognize novelists and novels in several categories of Christian fiction, was named after it. What makes Christian fiction? There are several givens, despite the subgenres- the Christian worldview must be woven throughout both the book's plot and its character development. But must it put proselytizing before telling a good story? How much sex - if any! - is okay in a Christian romance? Is it all right to approach edgy subjects in a Christian mystery? Is it possible to seamlessly integrate a Christian message in a crackling good yarn? In The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Christian FictionRon Benrey - himself the author of successful Christian fiction - offers readers chapter and verse of writing Christian women's, romance, thrillers and mysteries, warfare, historical, biblical, speculative, and young adult fiction that deliver strong, inspirational messages and sell!

Refusing to settle for anything less than a romantic relationship that pleases God, Faith O'Connor steels her heart against her desire for the roguish Collin McGuire. But when Collin tries to win her sister Charity's hand, Faith isn't sure she can handle the jealousy she feels. To further complicate matters, Faith finds herself the object of Collin's affections, even as he is courting her sister. The Great War is raging overseas, and a smaller war is brewing in the O'Connor household. Full of passion, romance, rivalry, and betrayal, A Passion Most Pure will captivate readers from the first page. Book 1 of the Daughters of Boston series.

The 1920s are drawing to a close, and feisty Katie O'Connor is the epitome of the new woman--smart and sassy with goals for her future that include the perfect husband and a challenging career in law. Her boyfriend Jack fits all of her criteria for a husband--good-looking, well-connected, wealthy, and head-over-heels in love with her. But when she is forced to spend the summer of 1929 with Cluny McGee, the bane of her childhood existence, Katie comes face to face with a choice. Will she follow her well-laid plans to marry Jack? Or will she fall for the man she swore to despise forever? A Hope Undaunted is the engrossing first book in the WINDS OF CHANGE series from popular author Julie Lessman. Readers will thrill at the highly charged romance in this passionate story.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE starring Abigail Cowen, Tom Lewis, Nina Dobrev, with Logan Marshall Green and Eric Dane, special appearance by Famke Janssen. Distributed by Universal Pictures with a screenplay by Francine Rivers and D.J. Caruso. California’s gold country, 1850. A time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep. Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal. Sold into prostitution as a child, she survives by keeping her hatred alive. And what she hates most are the men who use her, leaving her empty and dead inside. Then she meets Michael Hosea, a man who seeks his Father’s heart in everything. Michael obeys God’s call to marry Angel and to love her unconditionally. Slowly, day by day, he defies Angel’s every bitter expectation, until despite her resistance, her frozen heart begins to thaw. But with her unexpected softening comes overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and fear. And so Angel runs. Back to the darkness, away from her husband’s pursuing love, terrified of the truth she no longer can deny: her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael does . . . the One who will never let her go. A powerful retelling of the story of Gomer and Hosea, Redeeming Love is a life-changing story of God’s unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love. Includes a six-part reading group guide!

Is love worth a second chance? Jenny Hunter had her heart broken in her senior year, and she vowed to never let it happen again. But that was four years ago. Since then, she has busied herself with work and church activities, burying the pain and emerging a better person for it. However, when the new school year begins and new staff members join the team, the once optimistic Jenny is shocked to learn the new head coach of the basketball team is none other than her ex-boyfriend, the same boy who dumped her at the senior prom. Mark Davis once loved a girl but had walked away hoping to start a career in Hollywood. Unfortunately, he finds himself among millions who fail to make it in an industry that leaves most disappointed. Broken, depressed, and turning to alcohol, Mark returns to Hopes Crest ready to fix not only himself but those he has hurt. As he works alongside Jenny, his suspicions are confirmed--he loves her just as much today as he ever did. The problem is, she has made it clear that there will be no second chances. As the two are forced to work together, old feelings arise, and what seemed like simple solutions in the beginning become more complicated as time passes. For these two to reunite, Mark must understand what he truly wants in life, and Jenny must decide if she can forgive Mark enough to take him back. Welcome to Hopes Crest, a town unlike any other! A refuge for those who are hurting. A home for those who are lost. And a place where the brokenhearted are made new once again. Bullet 5 Pull up a chair, grab your favorite drink, and meet all the people who make this town a place you want to call home! One Last Dance is a clean, stand-alone contemporary Christian romance, the second book in the Hopes Crest Romance Series, with no cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed HEA.