Romance Novels
This should be titled a thesis on Why I Like Romance Novels. But it's not. Most people have a common and totally wrong misconception on romance novels, because they think of those brain candy Harlequin romance novels with the bodice ripping covers. Which is so wrong. Mind you, I have no problem with those, though I don't usually read them because I like plot with my well described sex scenes. Romance novels are typically viewed to be the housewifes' version of porn, which in a sense it is, but not entirely. I admit, I like those scenes, if they're tastefully well written. But to me, if there's no plot behind it, it makes it pointless, rather like sex without a meaningful relationship, which I understand not at all. I beg anyone who is so anti-romance novel to pick from a list that I think is a bunch of really great novels (indeed I may post some examples below) and ask them to come back to me and tell me that their idea of a romance novel is still the same. I also think it's stupid to think that romance novels are solely for women and not for straight macho men at all. Romance is romance. If you see a great chick flick at the theaters, and your guy has a soft heart, what I beg of you is the difference between that and a novel? The beauty of romance is that you can see so many different relationships unfolding and not only can you get a taste of what you can't have, but also what you wouldn't want but enjoy fantasizing about, and you can also (yes) get ideas. I'm not talking about positions or anything like that (though it's possible), but there is wisdom contained in them. The author of a book doesn't typically set out to write nothing memorable. What makes it memorable for them to write it, is to take their experiences and put it into the form of a character to impart knowledge onto the reader. I can't tell you how many things I've read and then turned around and watched for in people and discovered them to be true. I can't tell you as an aspiring author how many ideas I have floating around in my head that I'm dying to show people in this medium.
You have mysteries, you have fantasies, science fiction, thrillers and drama. All of these elements can be present in what I consider to be good romance novels. I also disagree with the statement that all romance novels are the same. I agree that there are a limited amount of ways that relationships tend to start and end, but it's the path that gets the story there, and the character richness that's great. I loves it. I could go on for hours on this subject (indeed, wrote my opinions on romance novels into a fiction piece once), and I shaln't bore y'all. But I will always stand up for them and I do wish that people would take my challenge and try reading some of these books - I think you'd be pleasantly surprised....
The below are some of my personal favorites (and only some - else we'd be here all night). Please note that when I say fantasy, for instance, I'm not necesarily talking about knights and such, but that it has that tinge of fantasy to it.
Mystery novels:
Envy by Sandra Brown
Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts
Northern Lights by Nora Roberts
Carolina Moon by Nora Roberts
Fantasy/sci fi:
Three Sisters, Keys and In the Garden trilogies by Nora Roberts
Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux
A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux
Midnight Bayou by Nora Roberts
Misc inner discovery books:
Anything by Nicholas Sparks
Enjoyable simple romance stories to lounge with:
Slightly series by Mary Balogh
Quinn brothers series by Nora Roberts
Words of Silk by Sandra Brown
Coast Road by Barbara Delinsky
A Woman Betrayed by Barbara Delinsky
You have mysteries, you have fantasies, science fiction, thrillers and drama. All of these elements can be present in what I consider to be good romance novels. I also disagree with the statement that all romance novels are the same. I agree that there are a limited amount of ways that relationships tend to start and end, but it's the path that gets the story there, and the character richness that's great. I loves it. I could go on for hours on this subject (indeed, wrote my opinions on romance novels into a fiction piece once), and I shaln't bore y'all. But I will always stand up for them and I do wish that people would take my challenge and try reading some of these books - I think you'd be pleasantly surprised....
The below are some of my personal favorites (and only some - else we'd be here all night). Please note that when I say fantasy, for instance, I'm not necesarily talking about knights and such, but that it has that tinge of fantasy to it.
Mystery novels:
Envy by Sandra Brown
Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts
Northern Lights by Nora Roberts
Carolina Moon by Nora Roberts
Fantasy/sci fi:
Three Sisters, Keys and In the Garden trilogies by Nora Roberts
Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux
A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux
Midnight Bayou by Nora Roberts
Misc inner discovery books:
Anything by Nicholas Sparks
Enjoyable simple romance stories to lounge with:
Slightly series by Mary Balogh
Quinn brothers series by Nora Roberts
Words of Silk by Sandra Brown
Coast Road by Barbara Delinsky
A Woman Betrayed by Barbara Delinsky