I’ve noticed a trend on review sites, of one-star reviews that come from readers offended and angry about finding swear words in romance novels. Often these readers specify they’ve returned the book, got their money back, but decided to leave a one-star review anyway. According to these readers, a romance shouldn’t have swears. It means there’s nothing redeemable about the story.

I’ve got these reviews myself. Lately, for my first book, a reviewer found it “peppered” with the f-word. (For inte...