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If you caught me on #StopEverything this morning and found yourself thinking “Gosh reading romance novels sounds fun, I would really like to read one!” Hello. Welcome.
Allow me to recommend some wonderful books that will end happily and with a sense of emotional justice....
Allow me to recommend some wonderful books that will end happily and with a sense of emotional justice....
First up historical romance:
Technically, historical romance relates to romance novels set 50 years (or more) before the publication date.
So technically, if a romance novel was written today and set in 1971 it would be a historical romance. Just sayin.
Technically, historical romance relates to romance novels set 50 years (or more) before the publication date.
So technically, if a romance novel was written today and set in 1971 it would be a historical romance. Just sayin.
(Although last night I was reliably informed by romance editor extraordinaire @katydidinoz that the 50 year rule is debatable and also the more recent historical romances are sometimes called recenties (like regencies but recent!!) so that’s cute)
Anyway...
Anyway...
The Heiress Effect by @courtneymilan
Jane will do anything to stay unmarried — including turning herself into an unfashionable object of ridicule. Oliver will do anything if it helps him get elected to parliament so he can enact social change.
Think regency era She’s All That!
Jane will do anything to stay unmarried — including turning herself into an unfashionable object of ridicule. Oliver will do anything if it helps him get elected to parliament so he can enact social change.
Think regency era She’s All That!
Rebel by @authorMsBev
Set in Reconstruction era NOLA.
Valinda is a teacher looking to help the newly emancipated community. Drake is a builder and v v sweet. A white supremacist is fed to an alligator. What more do you want???
Set in Reconstruction era NOLA.
Valinda is a teacher looking to help the newly emancipated community. Drake is a builder and v v sweet. A white supremacist is fed to an alligator. What more do you want???
The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics by @O_Waite
By day aspiring mathematician Lucy interprets a complicated French text about... maths and science stuff? And by night she falls in love with her benefactoress (and incredible embroider) Catherine the Countess of Moth
By day aspiring mathematician Lucy interprets a complicated French text about... maths and science stuff? And by night she falls in love with her benefactoress (and incredible embroider) Catherine the Countess of Moth
His at Night by @sherrythomas
Lord Vere has built a reputation as a harmless (if unintelligent) man in order to work as a spy. Which was fine until he meets Elissande — a woman desperate to marry anyone (even him!) so she can escape her cruel uncle’s control.
Lord Vere has built a reputation as a harmless (if unintelligent) man in order to work as a spy. Which was fine until he meets Elissande — a woman desperate to marry anyone (even him!) so she can escape her cruel uncle’s control.
Next, Paranormal/SFF romance:
It’s exactly what it sounds like — romance novels with fantastical settings or elements.
Space sagas, werewolves, steampunk, post-apocalypticness, witches, cyborg-human hybrids attempting to learn knock-knock jokes. You can have it all PLUS kissing
It’s exactly what it sounds like — romance novels with fantastical settings or elements.
Space sagas, werewolves, steampunk, post-apocalypticness, witches, cyborg-human hybrids attempting to learn knock-knock jokes. You can have it all PLUS kissing
A Conspiracy of Whispers by @adahwrites
Olivia Shaw is an assassin with a SECRET. But when she gets caught behind enemy lines with her target things get... complicated.
Olivia Shaw is an assassin with a SECRET. But when she gets caught behind enemy lines with her target things get... complicated.
Polaris Rising by @jessiemihalik
SPACE! SAGA! WITH! A! SPACE! PRINCESS! ON! THE! RUN!
Ada is a princess on the run. Loch is a deserter and traitor and possibly the only person in the universe with a bigger bounty on his head.
Can I make it any more obvious
SPACE! SAGA! WITH! A! SPACE! PRINCESS! ON! THE! RUN!
Ada is a princess on the run. Loch is a deserter and traitor and possibly the only person in the universe with a bigger bounty on his head.
Can I make it any more obvious
Gunpowder Alchemy by @JeannieLin
Qing Dynasty steampunk with a slow burning romance.
In an effort to restore her family’s good name Jin Soling has to track down a rebel alchemist with the help of the man once meant to be her husband
Qing Dynasty steampunk with a slow burning romance.
In an effort to restore her family’s good name Jin Soling has to track down a rebel alchemist with the help of the man once meant to be her husband
Deal with the Devil by @KitRocha
Knox is a super soldier in desperate need of a biochem hacker. His best bet is to kidnap and ransom information broker Nina. Basically, it’s a book about mercenary librarians living in post-apocalyptic Atlanta
Knox is a super soldier in desperate need of a biochem hacker. His best bet is to kidnap and ransom information broker Nina. Basically, it’s a book about mercenary librarians living in post-apocalyptic Atlanta
Slave to Sensation by @NaliniSingh
Nalini Singh is a goddess among us and her books rock.
Also once I went to a romance convention in Las Vegas and she knew the stranger I was hitching a lift with so she vouched for them. And you know what? They WERE nice and not a murder.
Nalini Singh is a goddess among us and her books rock.
Also once I went to a romance convention in Las Vegas and she knew the stranger I was hitching a lift with so she vouched for them. And you know what? They WERE nice and not a murder.
Finally, contemporary romance —
Books set (generally) in the same time period they’ve been published and DON’T include fantastical elements.
Fun fact: By this definition Jane Austen wrote contemporary romances. But here’s are some more recent ones I like....
Books set (generally) in the same time period they’ve been published and DON’T include fantastical elements.
Fun fact: By this definition Jane Austen wrote contemporary romances. But here’s are some more recent ones I like....
Rafe by @RdotSpoon
Rafe (n): A buff male nanny.
That’s obvs a joke but also not? Coz titular character Rafe IS a buff male nanny and I might not be able to hear the name without thinking those words anymore. Anyway this is a great novella with low conflict.
Rafe (n): A buff male nanny.
That’s obvs a joke but also not? Coz titular character Rafe IS a buff male nanny and I might not be able to hear the name without thinking those words anymore. Anyway this is a great novella with low conflict.
Work For It by @TaliaHibbert
Want a small town gay romance with angst that ends happily? Let me introduce you to cynical city boy Keynes and gruff, soft-hearted farmer Griff.
Want a small town gay romance with angst that ends happily? Let me introduce you to cynical city boy Keynes and gruff, soft-hearted farmer Griff.
Liquor & Laundry by @tashalharrison
Hadassah's high school crush Ahmad is back in town for his little brother's graduation. There’s this moment when Haddie talks about sometimes feeling like she’s Too Much for people and Ahmad tells her he likes that she’s A Lot
Hadassah's high school crush Ahmad is back in town for his little brother's graduation. There’s this moment when Haddie talks about sometimes feeling like she’s Too Much for people and Ahmad tells her he likes that she’s A Lot
Wrong to Need You by @AlishaRai
It’s a truth universally acknowledged, if I make a list of romance recs I will put Rai on it. This is about a widow falling in love with her late-husband’s brother. It’s got angst, sex, and a grilled cheese sandwich
It’s a truth universally acknowledged, if I make a list of romance recs I will put Rai on it. This is about a widow falling in love with her late-husband’s brother. It’s got angst, sex, and a grilled cheese sandwich
Thirsty by @MiaHopkinsxoxo
Truly one of my fave pun titles ever because this book is about an ex-con who makes craft beer. Also it’s a pretty horny book.
Sal and Vanessa are a classic bad boy/good girl pairing but there’s so much more to both of them
Truly one of my fave pun titles ever because this book is about an ex-con who makes craft beer. Also it’s a pretty horny book.
Sal and Vanessa are a classic bad boy/good girl pairing but there’s so much more to both of them
Ok. That was a lot and there are way more romance sub-genres. Like way way more, and they can get super specific.
But the Golden Rule of romance genre is: the romantic relationship is integral to the story and it has to end HAPPILY (Ever After/For Now).
But the Golden Rule of romance genre is: the romantic relationship is integral to the story and it has to end HAPPILY (Ever After/For Now).
The other Golden Rule (Platinum Rule?) is that you don’t need to be embarrassed about enjoying romance novels.
Yeah some romance novels are kinda bananas but that’s their charm. Plus plenty are beautifully or powerfully written. Like. The skill and craft my friends!!
Yeah some romance novels are kinda bananas but that’s their charm. Plus plenty are beautifully or powerfully written. Like. The skill and craft my friends!!
I promised myself I wouldn’t do this coz I tagged her and I try to keep my fangirl gushing down but!! Courtney Milan is an absolute master. Like when I tell you that she wrote what is for me The Definitive Scene about sexual consent...
Like... hairpins lives in my head. Always.
Like... hairpins lives in my head. Always.
Imagine being able to write a scene that manages to show deliberate and considered care for the consent of a sexual assault survivor and also making that scene funny, sweet, romantic, and still drive the plot further. Imagine!!
*The Governess Affair btw
*The Governess Affair btw
Anyway I got a little carried away at the end there but oh well.
Wishing youse all very happy reading!!
Wishing youse all very happy reading!!
