Romance novels

[nonionay]

I just started one of Jo Beverley's books (Skylark). So far, she's the only romance novelist whom I've enjoyed consistently. I'm a crotchety, cynical, practical thing (as are, to my delight, many of her heroines) but I'm also a closet romantic. I love reading about emotional humans, human relationships, and soft, squooshy, broken people. I like to giggle and sigh while reading in bed.

This is the third book of Beverley's that I've read, and I'm starting to figure out what makes me like them. Most of the heroines have something else at stake in their lives beyond the need for love. In Skylark, the hero isn't even brought up until the third chapter. The heroine in Skylark also beautifully fits my definition of squooshy and broken. In those first three chapters--heck, in the first chapter, I get the picture of a heroine ready to be unfolded. The hints of her potentially uncontrolled lust, her readiness for new love, her need for an ally in her life. I'm excited for when she'll unfurl from worried widow and mother into a windblown romance heroine. The romance isn't all out there at once. So many authors rub my nose in the puddle of sugary piss that just dribbled down the heroine's leg on the first page when she saw her burly man.

Though I know Beverley has enough books out there to fill my occasional urges for romance, I'd like to broaden out. So, I made a little more effort to look at the romance novels in the grocery store's meager book section last night. I just read the first page, and didn't check the back. No luck, so far.

So far, I've been hooked by the first page of each of her books, so I think I can use that as a reliable indicator.

Comments

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

You make me want this.

I used to read every Susan Elizabeth Phillips book. I loved hers for the reason you outline about these...it has been ages though since I read any true romance (okay, that wasn't m/m romance lol).

I'm a closet romantic myself.

[criada.livejournal.com]

Awesome, thanks. I'll check her out. Most people tend to like romance for different reasons than I do, so it's usually hard to find books through reviews and recommendations. I first heard Jo give a keynote speech at Writers Weekend. I found one of her books at the train station on the way home, and bang, I was hooked. I got to actually meet her at a later convention. She's awesome.

[westrider.livejournal.com]

I might actually have to check those out. Romance isn't generally my genre, but you make Beverly's work sound really interesting. Kind of reminds me of what I like about Lois McMaster Bujold's books that have heavy Romance elements.