Clean Romances discussion

Hey Everyone!

Thanks to Kiki's brilliance, we have added a new feature to Clean Romances. Our group bookshelf is now divided into sub-categories to make "shopping" for a clean read easier in a particular genre you're looking for. We're still refining the shelf titles, but if you click on "bookshelf" on the upper right of the screen (over by our group picture), you'll get a list of all the shelf categories currently available. We would like each of you that have added a book to call up your additions and assign them to a specific shelf. Or if you weren't the one who added the book but know which category a title would best fit in, go ahead and assign it where it fits. I've added rough dates to the historical categories so you'll know what years to use for a framework, if you're not sure where a book goes. This will help people who are looking specifically for YA romances, Regency romances, Interracial romances, etc, be able to locate titles quickly. We have over 300 titles on our shelf, so we need everybody's help!

Thank you for your assistance. (And if you find a shelf missing that you think we need to add, just let us know here in this thread.)

I added a fantasy shelf, Joyce. I just wanted to let you know. Also, should there be a paranormal shelf?

Ah, yes, I meant to add a fantasy shelf (or have Kiki do it), but I forgot. Thanks, Jaimey! Why don't you make it a fantasy/paranormal shelf, in case some people don't know where to classify one vs the other.

I had that thought but wasn't sure. I'll get right on that. :o)

For those of us who have never done this (grimace, feeling silly) would you please walk us through exactly how to assign a book on the list to a specific shelf?

Sure, Tammy! :o)

Over to the far right of each book on the shelf is a link that says "edit." If you click that, it will pop up with that book's info. There is another link that says "choose shelves." After selecting the appropriate shelves, be sure to click "save group book."

Thank you so much! I'm off to assign some books!

OK, another question... what about books set after 1900 but they aren't really contemporary (say WWI, WWII eras etc.)? What name, era or category would that become?

Tammy, start an American 20th Century shelf. Or maybe just a 20th Century shelf, in case we want to include European, Asian, whatever. If you don't know how, give me the title of one of the books you're talking about, and I'll go in and make the shelf.

good idea, I will categorize the books I added.

Thanks, Rebecca!

I have enough books in my goodreads shelves set during WWI & WWII that I have an actual shelf for them. There is a special something about books that focus on those difficult, emotional years. Could we have a topical bookshelf for those books in this group?

I don't know how many romances we have in that time period, but I'll add it. Your assignment, Angela, is to go through our bookshelf and find all the titles that belong there, 'kay? (Well, only if you want to and have time. :-) )

Yes, ma'am! :)

Angela wrote: "Yes, ma'am! :)"

Thanks! :-)

Hey, I'm new to this group, but I just noticed that Inda by Sherwood Smith is on the bookshelf...as far as I remember that had a sex scene in it. Should it still be there?

Emily wrote: "Hey, I'm new to this group, but I just noticed that Inda by Sherwood Smith is on the bookshelf...as far as I remember that had a sex scene in it. Should it still be there?"

Thank you, Emily. Obviously, I can't read all the books on our group bookshelf myself, so I do rely on group members to alert me when they run across books that are questionable for our shelf. I did read a few reviews on Goodreads just to double-check, and you certainly seem to be right. I do not believe that Inda belongs on our shelf. I'm going to remove it. If anyone wants to make an argument for why I should re-add it, by all means, chime in. I'm willing to listen, but please re-read our group description first. Thank you!

I recently read The Fairy Thorn by Dorothy M. Keddington. I used to read this author when I was a teen, years ago so when I saw it in the library I had to pick it up. I enjoyed this light romance. It is clean and fun. Nothing burdensome, just a nice little read.

I like to sit down with a Harlequin series romance every so often. When I see Rebecca Winters, I know it will be a clean romance with a pretty good story to take me away. I recently read The Chief Ranger and I it was a fun relaxing read for me. It is set in Yosemite National Park and now I definitely need to add that to my desinations list.

Nanci, I hope you're adding these clean romances to our group bookshelf, it they're not already there. :-)

I did. I love this resource!

That's great, Jenna! If you want the cover to appear at the top of our bookshelf, give it a "read" date after the book that's currently at the top of the shelf. It took me awhile to figure that trick out. Otherwise, your book gets shunted behind all the books that have a "read" date on them.

Oh, and I hope you remembered to assign it to a category, so people interested in your particular sub-genre can find it more quickly, too. :-)

How do you add categories? I didn't have those options: Victorian, European or Historical- I created a Historical folder instead of Book Club and such. ???

Debra wrote: "How do you add categories? I didn't have those options: Victorian, European or Historical- I created a Historical folder instead of Book Club and such. ???"

Debra, find your book on the group bookshelf. You should get a list of columns, such as Title, Author, My Rating, Shelves, etc. At the very end of that row for your title, there will be the word "edit". Click on that and it will call up a screen that says "Edit Group Book". Under the picture of your book with be a link in green that says "choose shelves". Click on that and you'll get a whole list of categories (such as Victorian, European, etc) that you can click on for your book.

Thank you Joyce!

Is it OK if I add my own books to the shelf? I write sweet romances & would love for this group to be able to find them easily. Thanks

(I did, lol.)

Louise wrote: "Is it OK if I add my own books to the shelf? I write sweet romances & would love for this group to be able to find them easily. Thanks"

Absolutely, Louise! Please do. :-)

Joyce,

Thanks for putting together such a great resource for clean romance readers. It's not always easy to tell what a book will be like just by reading the cover description. I can think of no better way to learn about good books than peer-to-peer review.

P.S. - I added The Forbidden Love of Don Ramon to the bookshelf. I just finished editing this book, and can vouch for its cleanliness firsthand.

ML wrote: "Joyce,

Thanks for putting together such a great resource for clean romance readers. It's not always easy to tell what a book will be like just by reading the cover description. I can think of no b..."

Your book sounds great. Thanks for adding it, ML!

I added my Regency Romances and Romantic Comedy books to the group bookshelf.

I mostly read Traditional Regency Romances and LOVE to discover new authors!

Thanks so much for putting together this list.

Shirley

Thanks for adding your books, Shirley!

Hi! My name is Leah and I'm new here. I just started a new book The Winter Sea and so far, I'd recommend this book. It's historical fiction. Can't say until I'm done if this will perfectly fit into this site, but I'd rate it a G or PG at this point. Is there a folder for historical fiction?

Zumbagirl wrote: "Hi! My name is Leah and I'm new here. I just started a new book The Winter Sea and so far, I'd recommend this book. It's historical fiction. Can't say until I'm done if this will..."

Hi Leah! Welcome to our Clean Romances group. :-) If you scroll down the home page, you'll find that we have a group bookshelf. If The Winter Sea turns out to be a G/PG romance, you can add it to our group bookshelf and assign it a historical category. If you can't figure out how to do this, let me know and I'll try to walk you through the steps. :-)

I just noticed that The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant is on the group bookshelf. I have not read it myself, but several people in the "Clean Reads" group have commented on it being graphically sexual. Candidate for removal?

Abigail wrote: "I just noticed that The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant is on the group bookshelf. I have not read it myself, but several people in the "Clean Reads" group have commented on it being graphic..."

I went to the Goodreads page for The Red Tent and read some reviews, and you're right, Abigail, it doesn't sound like a title that fits on our bookshelf. Thanks for alerting me. Obviously, I can't read and check up on every single book myself, so I rely on group member feedback to help keep our bookshelf Clean Romances appropriate. :-)

I recently saw a new book in my local library by Betty Neels. I hadn't read a Neels book in forever. This one didn't disappoint me. Classic Neels. ( I sort of thought she would be too old by now, silly me) I read it in about 3 1/2 hours and enjoyed it all the way.The Course of True Love

I also read The Christmas Child (Love Inspired A sweet little romance. I guess it is part of a series set in this little town. The ending seemed a little contrived but hey, it is a romance and "happily ever after"s abound. The "Love Inspired" series by Harlequin is Christian but not denominational and this one wasn't intrusive with it's message.

OK, I have found a new author to love. I just finished a book by Susanna Kearsley, The Rose Garden. This is my second book by Kearsley and I have loved them both. In this one, she does time travel so convincingly and she weaves the present and the historical so well. I love her characters, I love, her settings, I love her stories. There is a depth to these books. The romance is moving, yet she keeps the bedroom door closed. I know I have some Celtic blood in me that allows me to believe in the "possibilities".

Nanci wrote: "OK, I have found a new author to love. I just finished a book by Susanna Kearsley, The Rose Garden. This is my second book by Kearsley and I have loved them both. In this one, she..."

This book made it to my top ten reads of 2011. I just finished Mariana and it's good too.

Hi everyone!

Quick q for you all - books on here to be considered 'clean', should have

a) no sex at all (not just sex scenes)?
b) closed-door sex?

Thanks for letting me know! :)

I don't know how others feel, but my preference is no sex scene at all (or closed door after marriage).
Love all the new authors letting us know about their books. Thank you!

Teryn wrote: "I don't know how others feel, but my preference is no sex scene at all (or closed door after marriage).
Love all the new authors letting us know about their books. Thank you!"

I agree with Teryn. No sex before marriage and close the door after marriage.

Laura wrote: "Nanci wrote: "OK, I have found a new author to love. I just finished a book by Susanna Kearsley, The Rose Garden. This is my second book by Kearsley and I have loved them both. In..."

I discovered my library doesn't have it so I will have to go look for it elsewhere. Glad you gave it the plug. I look forward to reading it.

Thanks Teryn & Cheryl :)

Zee, your books look very interesting and have great reviews. Can you tell me where they fall in your categories, (a) or (b)?

Thanks Teryn!

The romantic suspense books are not 'clean' - there are definitely sex scenes (though not erotic!) in them.

The sweet romance ones are those that are clean - with closed-door sex in some, and no sex at all in others

Thank you so much Zee, I will be looking into your sweet romance books.

Thanks Teryn :)

Cheryl wrote: "Teryn wrote: "I don't know how others feel, but my preference is no sex scene at all (or closed door after marriage).
Love all the new authors letting us know about their books. Thank you!"

I agre..."

I concur with Cheryl and Teryn--no sex scenes at all before marriage or closed door after marriage.

Hi! I added my debut novel Life On the Edge to the bookshelf. It's a YA/New Adult romance with no sex.

Love reading all the recommendations here!