Last week I traveled to New Orleans to attend the Romantic Time’s Booklover’s Convention. I had never been to the city before and never attended a conference with over 2,500 attendees! It was packed, bustling, fun and chaotic! Fascinating and wonderful on all counts.
I ate more than I should, walked miles throughout the French Quarter and loved meeting friends, readers and folks who simply love books – specifically romance books.
What struck me was the vast array of romance available: Country Cozy, Hunky Cowboy, English pastoral, Black Ops, all forms Military, Sassy, Sweet, Spicy, Erotic, Vampires, Paranormal, Erotic, Regency, Historical, Other Worldly, Pre Worldly… I can’t list all the varieties, but I did mentioned “Erotic” twice because there was lots of it. :)
So this got me thinking: You all graciously read our blog and our books and I’d like to know more about what you like. What do you love to read? Inspy, yes – other genres? Romance only? What is your sweet spot? What, if anything, pushes the envelope too far? What do you most like to read, see, feel between a hero and heroine? I really want to know.
If you’ve read Dear Mr. Knightley, you can probably guess where I land. And on that note, I’ll confess that as I wandered the corridors looking at all the posters – some quite steamy – I could hear John Cusak in my head from The Sure Thing chanting “REPRESSED” to Daphne Zuniga. (I know I just dated myself horribly with a 1985 movie quote.)
Not that it’s a bad thing — the reference, not my age. In my defense, it only takes a kiss to make me swoon and that’s much less work for the writers. :)
But what about you? Let’s discuss…
ausjenny says
I read Christian fiction I rarely read anything that is not Christian and really don’t want to. I like historical best but contemporary is ok as is LIS and mystery. I don’t like horror, heavy suspense etc. I really don’t like chick lit or regency. I don’t mind some amish also.
Valerie Comer says
I read mostly inspirational romance (surprise!), but I have a few automatic-buy authors in historical romance as well. My other love is fantasy. I have a romantic fantasy releasing next week! For me, the romance is central to my enjoyment of a book, so I tend not to read a lot of women’s fiction/literary. Because I snatch my reading hour just before bed, I’ve veered away from most suspense, and don’t like anything darker than that.
Kathleen Y'Barbo says
I love smart romances. By that, I mean that the battle of the minds between hero and heroine is far more entertaining to me than anything else. Give me a stubborn hero and a heroine who won’t budge either, and that’s the recipe for a good story. As for the level of steam, I would offer this: many books are based on the question of “will they/won’t they”. Once that question has been answered, then what?
Many of you may not remember the old television show Moonlighting with Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd, but it was romantic comedy/romantic suspense at its finest. The tension between those two characters was electric, and the writers maintained this for several years. Every week the question of when hero and heroine would give in to their attraction was palpable. Then they finally did. The show only lasted one more season. Everything that their witty banter was built on was gone. What was left in its place didn’t work at all.
I’ll probably get slammed for this, but I feel the same way about the show Castle. Once the tension between them was gone, the show nosedived for me. Now the writers are struggling to keep interest in the show by dropping in will they/won’t they in other forms. From the outcry on social media, it’s not working.
So…how much more does that not work in books? For me, a lot more. So give me plot, make me wonder, but please don’t answer the question of will they/won’t they in chapter 2. Let me watch them fall in love and get married. I don’t need to watch anything more than that.
Jessica B. says
I like inspirational romance, but I also like chick lit and some suspense and historical romance (especially Deeanne Gist). I will also occasionally read some Amish books.
Katherine Reay says
There are such wonderful historical novels out right now — I hope you are happily reading for ages :) I like all the genres you mentioned as well, but I confess — I like contemporary best. It allows me to see how an author puts characters into situations I experience around me today and gives new perspective on them. Happy Reading — and check out Sarah Ladd, Kristy Cambron (her wonderful debut comes out in July) and Carrie Turansky…. Actually I shouldn’t have gone down this road at all… too many wonderful novelists to list :)
Katherine Reay says
I hear ya, Valerie, about the dark stuff. I’m reading a book now that I’ve been asked to read (no turning back) but I know it’s skewing dark, about to get darker… not one I’ll read in those magical few minutes before sleep.
Katherine Reay says
What a fantastic reply, Kathleen, and I agree on all counts — except Castle. I have a serious soft spot for those two…. but back to the point. I agree that I like it when it’s almost a foregone conclusion that the hero and heroine will end up together but the obstacles (emotional, physical, spiritual etc.) are real and get worked through. I want to know that much more is going into the romance than just one element. I like the way you stated it… “smart romance.” Thanks!
Katherine Reay says
All good. I agree about some suspense — when done well, the touch of mystery and the ticking clock add to emotion beautifully. Gist is wonderful — love her books as well.