My husband and I had Thai food today at one of our favorite lunch spots. When asked, “How spicy? 0 to 5,” my answer is an emphatic 2. Anything less is bland; anything more is too hot.

As it happens, that’s also how spicy I like my romance novels — the ones I read, and the ones I write. The books that fall in this range are often called “sweet romances”. A sweet romance can be just as sensual, and just as sexy, but they don’t include graphic sex scenes. The sex is off the page, so to speak. The focus is more on the emotions involved, and less on all the sizzling-hot sex the characters are having.

I have a fabulous critique group that meets online at Inked Voices. My critique partners are all talented writers and I wouldn’t trade any of them for the world. But guess what? We all have different spice preferences. One writes Amish romance. Another writes super steamy romances with scenes that make HBO seem prudish.

Fortunately, there are lots of great romance books to choose from, regardless of whether you’re a 2-star girl like me, or whether you like it hot, hot, hot!

So, what’s your spice preference?

“Variety’s the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavour.” — William Cowper