This week I am celebrating the release of my new novel, Ellenvale Gold. With it I am wondering what is it that draws people to read the romance genre. In an attempt to answer, I thought I would look at why I love to read romance.
I have always had a soft, gooey spot for a good love story. With a happy ending mind you. I am usually quite disappointed if the couple don't end up together. The King and I might be a classic, but I just can't enjoy it, no matter how realistic the ending might be. Right or wrong I wanted the King and Anna to be together.
When I think about it, the yearning for a fulfilling love story with a happy ending has everything to do with God. Everybody has that empty place in their hearts which needs to be filled with His unconditional love - the kind of love that last forever. And not just the friendly, affectionate kind of love. We want deep, passionate love - love that will sacrifice itself to show how important we are.
A good romance always emulates that. In my belief, the best romances also weave in the truth about Jesus as the ultimate person who can fulfil our needs. He loves us with deep, passionate love and went to the cross to prove it. People will search for love their whole lives, in all the wrong places, until they discover Him. At the very least, I think, I should point them in the right direction through my writing.
As with a multitude of things on earth, love stories reflect the heart of God. In light of that (and the fact that I adore love stories), please share with us either how you fell in love with your partner, or how you fell in love with the Lord. I look forward to hearing your stories. :)
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Amanda Deed resides in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne where she fills her time with work, raising a family, church activities and writing historical romance novels. Her new novel, Ellenvale Gold was released at the beginning of November. For more information, see:
http://www.amandadeed.com.au/
http://amanderings.wordpress.com/
