I have a very serious problem with my mother. Al-Hamdu Lillaah, we are a practicing family who constantly strive to improve ourselves in our Deen. However, I discovered a few months ago that my mother (a revert of 20-years) has been reading modern romance novels.
This has distressed me deeply. My father caught her once and warned her never to read them again, yet she is doing so behind his back. I do not know what to do. May I add that these books contain the most shameful and disgusting details. My mother prays and wears Hijaab, but she also seems to be lacking in Eemaan. She only knows three short Surah and never attempts to learn anything, I have tried to teach her. She is not enthusiastic. I have tried tapes, given her books, but all she seems to care about is her romance novels. I fear this is also causing Fitnah between my father and her which is affecting all of us. I cannot approach this subject with her as it is too embarrassing. I really do not know what to do. What has distressed me the most is that she even read these books in Ramadhaan? Please advise me as I have no-one else to approach on this urgent issue.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

Romance novels have very bad effects on the heart. They may lead the person to indulge in forbidden affectionate relations. They may even lead him to passionate love which is forbidden. Therefore, these romance novels are means which lead to committing evil, thus it is forbidden to read them. If you know that your mother is reading such novels, we advise you to supplicate Allaah as much as possible to make her repent and grant her true faith and piety. You may advise her indirectly by letting her listen to some tapes with influential lectures about death, the hereafter, and so forth. 

Allaah knows best.