I was recently scrolling through my Instagram feed and I came across a post announcing an upcoming November Clean/Closed Door Romance promotion. First — I love they have coined the phrase ‘Bell Pepper Romance’ to describe these romances. I’ve always been uncomfortable with defining books as ‘clean’, ‘wholesome’, ‘sweet’ etc. Makes them sound so…well, ‘meh’. Like there won’t be any substance to the stories which is so far from the truth as these kinds of romances often deal with difficult subject matter, have emotionally layered characters and complex plots. So, Bell Pepper Romance is not only fun, but perfectly compliments its sister, ‘Spicy Romance.’ I really hope this trend catches on.
Anyway, the definition of a Bell Pepper Romance is no sex on the page and no swears….except for bible swears? I’ve never heard that term before and wonder if any of you have? I’m assuming it means words found in the bible that are generally considered as ‘mild’ cuss words? Like um, well, the other word for donkey or h-e-double hockey sticks (true confession, I’m super conservative about language as you can tell by my inability to even spell the words out here! 🙂 )
So, this got me thinking — what does ‘clean’ actually mean to you? Just the absence of physical intimacy and no crude cursing in a story? Because, that’s not what I am looking for when I am reading Christian Fiction (especially!) or a Bell Pepper Romance.
For example, if you take the biblically acceptable h-e-double hockey stick word and turn it from a place name noun into an exclamation, then it becomes swearing as far as I’m concerned. I recently read a contemporary rom/com which used that word as a form of cussing a few times and it totally took me by surprise. Enough that I won’t be reading any other books by that new-to-me author. I mean, if you’re only going to use the word a handful of times, why even bother? Surely there are other ways to show a character’s shock, dismay or other strong feeling.
And don’t get me started on using the Lord’s name in vain — another bible word that is all to often used as a curse word. I stopped reading a Historical Romance author I loved when I noticed this kind of profanity creeping into her stories more and more. I finally DNFed one where a number of male characters kept using the Lord’s name in vain…as if that was somehow an acceptable ‘clean’ alternative to coarser language. Now, this is a secular author, so totally understandable that she is fine with that type of language in her books, but it’s just not content I want to read.
So, tell me, am I too conservative? Could some of these milder examples of swearing be more acceptable in some regions/countries than in others? Or am I just a prude? (I won’t be offended if you say I am.)
And how do you source out your really, truly ‘clean’ (for lack of a better word) contemporary and historical romances? Any recommendations? I’m excited to have chance to discover new authors and books during this special November promotion…just not sure how I can avoid the ‘bible swears’.
Stay tuned for details on the Bell Pepper Romance Bookstagram Event in November!
Kav's Best Reads 
Kav, you couldn’t have picked a more perfect topic to start your new Conversations with Kav post! And you know I like to talk, lol. I have not heard the term “bell pepper romance” but it’s a good fit. I have wanted to talk about this so many times, but it can be hard to do without giving specific names and titles but here goes.
I don’t think you’re being overly conservative at all. I have run into some curse words, and it has surprised me. Most recently, picked up a book on sale with a cute baby on the cover/Christmas story by an author who writes “Hallmark-ish” sweet/clean type stories. By page 2 the author said, “He was so da__ed relieved”. I figured if it was in the very beginning it would go throughout and I never read books with language, so I deleted and lost my 2 bucks. Lesson learned, read the sample/first couple pages to get a feel what I can expect.
A few years back I read a pretty good indie mystery romance series. The author used the word scr_w here and there. It made me cringe, but it wasn’t too bad once or twice. By book 4 it was in there almost a dozen times. I couldn’t take it anymore and did something I have never done in my life. I emailed the author and told her I enjoyed her books, but did she realize how often she overused that word. I explained where I’m from that’s a cuss word and while it may not be where she’s from it was a crass word that pulled me out of the story. She replied and thanked me for my observation and said she would be mindful of it in the future. I also read another book from another author this year who used the word a couple of times so now I’m wondering is it me or is that a cuss word to others too? I haven’t run across h_ll or a_s, but I read CF 95% of the time.
Another thing that horrifies me is too much explanation. In pursuit of my goal to read new-to-me authors, I picked a Christian fiction author that had a cute book cover and the story sounded good. Within the first couple of pages the bride, 30 minutes before her wedding, walks in on her groom and the floral assistant together. That would have been enough explanation, but she goes on to describe their clothe-less state, ugh/gross, I didn’t need to read the details! There was one other description later in the book of a situation that made me cringe. I did read the whole book, but I won’t read her again as I assume shocking the reader is part of her style.
And lastly, I have a real aversion to books that use rape/abuse as part of the storyline. I have read a few that I didn’t realize that would be part of the subject matter, all very good know Christian authors, but after the fact the abuse scenes are what are most prominent in my memory. I have a hard time with it so if I know it’s in a Christian book, I just don’t read it. I can’t even imagine what a “bell pepper” sweet/clean author would do with that topic, and I don’t want to know. It’s just a very sensitive subject about a topic I find no reading enjoyment from. May be just me, inquiring minds want to know!
That’s my 2 cents for now, I’ll check back later this afternoon after church. I can’t wait to hear what everyone thinks on this topic 🙂
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Ooohhh, you’ve brought up some great stuff. Oddly enough, I’ve never run into the words you mentioned in my reading of Christian Fiction, but I agree with you, whether it’s mild cussing or very coarse language, I just don’t want to read it.
And brave you! Writing to that author! And she was very gracious in her response. Have you read anything by her since then? That is such a crass word to use in a ‘clean’ read — but then, it looks like we all have different ideas about what is acceptable and isn’t which I find so frustrating. I’m wondering now if maybe it’s also a generational thing? Like maybe twenty somethings standards are different from us…er…um…more mature readers. 🙂 Or maybe authors hope to appeal to a younger audience by going a bit edgier with their language?
Good point about overly descriptive too. That’s a fine balance to walk…or should I say write? Giving the reader enough of an idea about what’s going on without ‘baring it all’ shall we say?! I’ve found that there’s a bit of a heat range even in Bell Pepper Romances (CF included) and it’s definitely a personal preference kind of thing. I read a book that was definitely clean as in closed door, but laden with so much innuendo and sensually suggestive (without crossing a line) that I ended up DNFing it.
And your last point about rape/abuse…again that’s definitely a personal preference thing and good for you to know what’s best for you to avoid. There are so many wonderful books out there that you could be reading instead. I have enjoyed some books that managed to make the redemption arc overcome the abuse details in such a way that it was really uplifting and didn’t leave me dwelling on the abuse factor. I felt freed right along with the heroine. BUT, I’ve also read books like you describe — where the abuse scenes overpower the rest of the story and left me feeling ‘ick’ by the end…if I made it that far.
I’m discovering that even within a specific genre like Christian Fiction and Bell Pepper Romances there’s going to be controversy over what’s okay and what isn’t. As you mentioned, it’s hard to determine what a book will be like unless you read the sample….and even then questionable things might not show up until later in the book. You’ve given me an idea though — even though I don’t read ebooks, there’s nothing to stop me from reading the samples offered up on Amazon, right? That would be very helpful, especially when trying to choose new to be authors.
Hope you had a wonderful church service. Mine was full of thanksgiving — and we sang some of my favourite thankful hymns. 🙂
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Interesting topic! I had not heard that classification term, either, but I have done little reviewing in the last couple of years, and so I am not so up to date. I guess it is just personal preference, but I don’t like to read books that focus on abuse or rape or those type topics. Details are too much. I don’t like to read “bad words” as my mom called them (and she was a stickler for proper manners, morals, and conversation), but I might let a book that I feel is absolutely great overall slip by with a handful throughout the whole book. Usually that is something grittier such as a war related book, and I don’t think all the guys crawling up Pointe du Hoc are saying “oh, golly”. Granted, the author might have used less conversation and more an overview type of writing or however that would be termed. I just look for overall decency, I suppose. It does seem that times have changed, and more people are using questionable language. Now I really sound like my mom did.
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Bwahahaha! “Oh, golly” reminds me of my mum saying “Golly gee oh my!” That was her only venture into ‘questionable’ language. She was the youngest of eleven children and came down hard on my if I dared say the word ‘stupid’ (fave insult of her numerous brothers) In fact I’d get such a tongue lashing for calling something or someone ‘stupid’ that I never dared try anything more daring. So I come by my conservative speak honestly.
I don’t know if it’s fair, but I have a different standard for secular books. Like, my cozy mysteries are largely clean as far as language goes but there’s an occasional series that will slip in an h-e-double hockey stick a time or two and I’ll let that slide. More than that or the use of cruder language and I’ll drop the series. But when a book is categorized as CF or Bell Pepper Romance then I’m expecting more…well, less language actually…from them. If that makes sense. I think that sort of relates to what you were saying about war related books.
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If something is labeled as Christian fiction (the vast majority of my reading), I personally expect no “bad words” at all and no bedroom scenes. If I am reading the very limited mainstream authors I have enjoyed in the past, I look for no or few questionable words and no detailed bedroom scenes. Just my preferences……. and so that gives a smaller array of offerings. I also enjoy biographies and histories. That term clean fiction is seeming to be a gray area or not well defined based on publisher or author or……
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CC you made me laugh talking about sounding like our mothers. There’s a little rhyme that describes that, and me, perfectly, “mirror mirror on the wall, I am my mother after all” 🙂
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I get so upset when my daughter says, “You’re acting just like Grandma.” Then when I get irritated with her, she says I sound just like her, too. No, I don’t! I only look like her. That’s all! 😂
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Oh yes, Happy Thanksgiving Kav! Church was great, started a new series, Letters from John.
The first author I mentioned is a Christian fiction author, I found her books on amazon Christian romance page and liked her series/characters well enough I read all 7 books and the novella. But that word! She has some historical I would likely read too although I haven’t yet. But her most recent rom/coms aren’t listed as Christian fiction so I wouldn’t venture there knowing what she’d write might be iffy. She lives on the opposite coast from me so there’s geography involved, and she’s definitely younger than me but still, my kids are in their 40’s and none of them talk like that and no one I know does…so there’s that.
You’re right about the “clean” books and the suggestiveness/innuendo stuff. I had to stop reading an author I really like because I was convicted her recent heat level/innuendo had crossed my acceptable boundary. I see others raving about the recent ones, but I’ve moved on. Everyone just has to follow their own conscious/sensitivity level. Honestly some of the stuff I have read in her CF if I had to read it aloud to people, even to my husband, I think I’d be embarrassed. That’s a good boundary to have, am I willing to read this aloud or not?
And yes, you can read the sample on most books without buying the ebook. I usually do this with authors I don’t know even to get a feel for their writing style. Some I’ve continued on with and enjoyed, others I was glad I looked first. Once and a while one gets by me but for the most part it works.
Like I said earlier, most of what I read is wonderful CF, but even then I have to be watchful. I will read a “bell pepper” clean romance on occasion but honestly there’s enough good reading with CF I don’t have to often. I will be looking forward to that upcoming Nov promotion and what you think of it, but you can bet I’ll be doing some sample reading. Great talking the pros/cons of sweet bell pepper vs spicy jalapeno pepper, and boundaries in Christian fiction. Looking forward to more book talk this week 🙂
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I really got into Bell Pepper Romance rom/coms this summer and enjoyed quite a few though some pressed my boundaries a bit as well. I did find myself craving inspirational content after a while though. I really love a good Christian Fiction novel with a strong faith thread.
Guess what I’ve been doing this afternoon? Reading samples on Amazon. Who knew that was a thing? It’s helping me prioritize what I want to read next though. Thanks for the suggestions, Tracey!
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Well, as you already know, Tracey said she loves to talk, but she’s not alone. Yours truly enjoys conversing . . . especially about books! It’s so weird though. I don’t like talking on the phone. I’d rather talk to the caller in person or text. 🤔
Anyway, I hadn’t heard the term Bell Pepper romance, however, some should be called Jalapeno Pepper romance. Maybe I’m exaggerating a bit, but before I quit blogging I used to do some editing & beta reading as well, before the books go on the shelf. An author we all know & love her books decided to do a bedroom scene between loving spouses. I mean she talked positions, deep kissing, negligees, taking off of said negligee, etc. That was embarrassing for me to even type out. It was hard bc she’s a famous author, but I went back to her & very timidly said, Can you leave off the part about the black negligee? (Bwahahahaha) I was such a chicken. She said she would consider doing that, but the entire scene was over the top! Now that I’m bolder, I believe I could honestly tell her to leave the whole scene out.
There’s a CF book club I’m in that’s very strict in their rules so I thought the administrator would like to know a book on there used foul language in the 1st chapter. And there is no question that they were foul. The administrator told me if I didn’t want to read that I should just stick with LI books. What?? I enjoy them, but there’s many (CF) authors who also don’t have cussing in their novels. I went back to the administrator & named a bunch of famous authors whose books I helped influence who didn’t use curse words and she said, I got lucky then. I.Don’t.Think.So.
I was surprised to read the word “cr*p” in a couple of Christian contemporary books we all love. And also the “sc**w” word Tracey mentioned. We’re taught as kids not to use those words & I taught my own kids not to use them. I know the “c” word is slang, but was surprised to see it. If I see the Lord’s name taken in vain, no matter how good the book is I will put it down. I do the same thing with movies on TV. I think that’s why I enjoy hallmark movies so much. Although some are sappy they don’t use any curse words. I don’t particularly like “clean” reads bc I enjoy that spiritual thread in my books & it feels like something is really missing, so I stick to CF. But it’s almost getting to be that way now in a lot of CF. The characters don’t even go to church & they may cry, Oh my God, help me, & that’s the extent of their prayers. I understand not wanting to be preachy bc the sinner will put it down, but we won’t reach the sinner acting like the world. A little faith thread interspersed throughout the story helps the unbeliever & Christian both!
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I’m glad to know I’m not the only one new to the Bell Pepper Romance trend….if it’s a trend yet. I think it’s a fun alternative to the ‘clean’ and ‘wholesome’ descriptors and I love the idea of calling spicier reads Jalapeño Pepper Romances — wonder if that would catch on? lol
Oh wow, Diane, that would have been so angsty to try talking to an author about suggestive content like that. Though, if they are writing in the Christian Fiction genre you think certain things would be a given, even if the scene is between a husband and wife. Much better to fade to black. I like Tracey’s suggestion of testing the read aloud-ability of a scene. Like could you read it to your mother? Or if you were listening to an audio book in public and your headphones popped out would you be mortified? If so, likely best skip that scene or the whole book!
Whoooaaaaa — I can’t believe your book club administrator convo…I mean, the whole reason I got into Christian Fiction int he first place was to avoid the explicit scenes and crude language I was running into in mainstream books. Then I discovered the power in significant faith threads in a story and I was thrilled. To tell a book club member that she should stick to LI books if she didn’t want to run into questionable content is, well, questionable, since it was a CF book club! Good for you for standing up for your principles — and the authors who manage to tell a compelling story with including cursing!
You know, I think the reason it was so easy for me to slide into reading Bell Pepper Romances was because so many of the CF books I was reading didn’t have any faith content anyway, so it really didn’t make that much of a difference. I remember hearing an interview with a CF author who talked about deliberately ‘gentling’ the faith message to appeal to a wider audience and thereby being able to introduce non-believers to Christ through story only if you don’t mention Him in the story, how will that work? I totally get it if an author wants to go the Bell Pepper route in order to appeal to a wider audience, just don’t market it as CF.
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I totally agree. Makes no sense at all. Sometimes I wonder if it’s done to appeal to a wider audience so they can make more money. Maybe more so on the publisher’s end than the author. If it’s an Indie author then it’s on them. I don’t think Laura Frantz would mind me mentioning her name here bc I respect her so much! She told me in private that a publisher said she could make so much more money if she crossed over to secular bc as you know her books are amazing. She said she couldn’t do that. She said, “Diane, I’ve got to stand before the Lord someday!” That’s what it really boils down to. Is CF honoring & giving glory to God? He will make sure it gets in the right hands. Yes, Nancy Mehl’s last book in her series, Cold Vengeance, is about a serial killer. But the faith thread is super deep & at the end she gave the sinner’s prayer & a reader (probably more than one) gave her heart to the Lord & told Nancy.
And speaking of reading that steamy scene in front of my mother, I was embarrassed telling about here! (blush)
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What a great story about Laura Frantz. I love that she’s following where she feels called to go with her writing and we are all blessed for it. And Nancy Mehl too — highlighting how sharing faith through story can change lives. Thanks for sharing that, Diane.
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I’m glad to share, but I’m afraid I kinda got off the subject a little. 😕 Sorry, I took a Sun afternoon nap. We were discussing bell peppers, right? 😉
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Bwahahaha!!!!
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I think this is a fun idea and a way to get more conversations happening.
I personally don’t like cursing in CF. They can say someone cursed to be true to the character in the book, but they don’t need to actually put the words in. I also don’t want any risqué bedroom stuff. Closed door—without details—between a husband and wife is fine.
I don’t have a problem with clean fiction but I want it clearly marked as clean fiction. I am disappointed when in what is implied to be CF (because of the publisher) and then there is no faith content at all. I feel it makes the publisher somewhat dishonest. I’m hearing many are pushing the authors to cut down on Jesus content. That’s really disappointing and sad. If that’s how things are going, having more authors go independent is probably best.
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Very good point, Tammy. Yes, just saying ‘he cursed under his breath’ gets the point across without spelling it out so to speak. 🙂 I was listening to a tens romantic suspense — either Hannon or Eason, I think — and the author did just that and it totally fit the context and the intensity without any vulgarity.
One hundred per cent agree about clearily categorizing fiction as either CF or clean — especially when it’s a Christian publishing house. Thomas Nelson started dropping faith content in some of their fiction a few years back and it was so frustrating, buying a book and thinking you were going to get an inspirational story and finding it wasn’t that at all. I think enough readers complained that they now have Thomas Nelson and HarperCollins Muse. Thomas Nelson is supposed to be Christian Fiction and HarperCollins Muse is the secular (though I’ve found not always clean or language free.) But, like you, I’m seeing the trend for less faith content — even in indie books these days.
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I too stopped reading a Christian author when I was increasingly uncomfortable reading her stories.
I have only been on Netgalley for under a year. I also noticed that Thomas Nelson and particularly Harper Muse have books that have swearing in them. I DNF two of them. But at least you can do that without penalty if you tell them why. Then the comment goes to the publisher.
In agreement with others in this discussion, in CF I expect no swearing and definitely closed door intimacy. Stories can be well written without blatantly stating things. Like some have said: There are too many good books out there to read. I can avoid the things that are not God honoring.
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Ohhh, that’s good to know about Net Galley. I just started going for audio books on Net Galley this year and I try to be very careful about what I pick so I won’t run into problems like that. Good to know that they won’t penalize you if you DNF with a reason. And good that the comment goes to the publisher. Harper Muse is supposed to be considered ‘clean’ but, like you, I found swearing and even an open door scene in one book. So, it’s really just a secular line.
I like the way you phrase it — “God honouring” — a perfect way to approach our reading.
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You’re definitely not too conservative with your language, I can’t say or even type out those sorts of words either🤐 I pretty much stick to CF, but even in that I’ve come across some language (not often) that has shocked me! Even just words that a lot of people don’t consider to be bad words shock me when I see them written though😅 I’m definitely all for keeping the language out of my books completely. Also, I definitely know what you mean about the easy transition! There are too many CF books lately with such a weak faith thread that I barely feel like it was worthy of being categorized Christian😕 I guess, as with most things in life, we’ve just gotta sort out what things are edifying and not, individually, and not leave it up to another’s labeling to tell us what we should find acceptable in our reading.
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Great insights, Elly. Glad to know that I’m not alone in my thoughts on this subject. I think since I am listening to a lot of audio books now, actually hearing the swear words makes more of an impact than if I was just reading from a book. It’s easier to skim over them then but when the words are spoken right in your ear it’s jarring! And yes, words of wisdom about sorting out what edifies and what doesn’t and then standing fast to those standards.
Sometimes there can be pressure to read beyond our comfort zone because the book is a best seller or everyone is reading it or it covers an important topic, etc. etc. I’ve tried to join a few book clubs but never get past the first meeting because the books chosen have objectionable (to me, anyway) content. When I express my feelings about the language or explicit sex or violence I’m met with stunned silence. And then objections that always start with, “Yeah, but…” followed by all kinds of justifications. Gah! So frustrating, but that’s mainstream fiction drama and it shouldn’t be spilling over into my Christian Fiction life and yet, here we are.
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I am enjoying this conversation very much and am also pleased to know that there are others who are struggling with what they read. From my experience I have been trying to stick with Christian Fiction. I have read a few “clean” or “wholesome” novels and although many are very well written and are clean as they say, I still find that I’m looking for the reason of our living a “clean and wholesome” life style. I’m looking for the faith that leads us to live like this. So with that said I decided not to pick up these type of books anymore and simply continue to read Christian fiction only. The sad part is in doing that I too am finding many that have a very weak faith thread and that is so disappointing.
It’s good to hear that there are authors who will continue to weave the Gospel message into their stories. These authors are like missionaries to me. Missionaries that stay home while spreading the gospel all over the world through their stories. That’s what I want to support.
Thanks Kav for starting this post. Happy thanksgiving to you and all our other Canadian readers and authors. We have much to be thankful for today and we should not be ashamed of addressing the One from whom all blessings flow. May God bless you all today.
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Happy Thanksgiving, Becky! I plan to spend the afternoon working at all those end of the season chores in my garden and then feasting on tofu stir fry (I’m a vegetarian so no turkey for me.) and pumpkin pie this evening. Hope you have a lovely time with your family.
I absolutely love this bit of your comment “These authors are like missionaries to me. Missionaries that stay home while spreading the gospel all over the world through their stories. That’s what I want to support.” Amen to that! And, you know, Believers need to be ministered to in this way just as much as non-believers. I’ve lost count of the times that a fictional story has spoken directly into my life — either through a personal struggle I’m having or questions I’ve been asking — and voila, I find a kindred spirit character going through the same thing and we discover peace and understanding together. God bless Christian Fiction authors!
I’m so happy to discover that I am not alone in struggling with some of the content I’m finding in my fiction. Like you, I do prefer reading Christian Fiction with a significant faith thread but those books are becoming scarcer. It’s made easing into the Bell Pepper Romance genre easier for me because there really isn’t a whole lot of difference between them and some CF but I do want to make a more concerted effort to source out faith based fiction that will nature my soul too.
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Nope, I am 100% with you. I don’t want cussing, not even mild cussing in my books. It is triggering for me. I read Christian fiction, and some clean fiction, and I have come across it in both, which is very disappointing, and I will write it in my review. Amazon used to have a “search this book” feature and you could type in any word and it would tell you how many times it was used in the book, even if it wasn’t in the sample. I guess now you have to go with the sample and see if it is helpful. I do follow other bloggers/instagrammers who only read Christian or clean fiction and that helps as well.
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I didn’t know about that feature on Amazon…too bad it’s not available any more. I find it strange that we even need to worry about a language issue in Christian Fiction at all. I’ve finally come to accept that the ‘clean’ descriptor often only refers to closed door not necessarily a guarantee of no swearing. To me it should mean both…but..as you say the best way we can check out books and authors we’re not familiar with is to follow like-minded readers. Sometimes it’s a lot of work to be a discerning reader. 🙂
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It might still be available for some books, just when I checked two books yesterday it wasn’t. I do mark in my reviews if the book has cussing, and I appreciate others who do as well! I have even asked authors on posts if the book has cussing. I only want to be feeding myself “good stuff” 🙂
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We’ve been traveling, so I’ll have to check out this “bell pepper romance thing.” I mainly read Christian Fiction, but must say that I always appreciate and agree with your conservative values.
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