On the first day of Spring Into Romance I am honored to have fellow member of the Girlfriends Book Club and amazing author Carolyn Jewel post about why she loves romance!
Ah, Romance Novels, How Do I Love Thee!
By Carolyn Jewel
There are a lot of reasons to love the Romance genre, from some damn fine writing to stories that will make you laugh, cry or wish you hadn’t turned out the lights just yet. A Romance can be set any time, any place and it can include any other genre as an over-arching container for the Romance. Mystery Romance? You bet! Steampunk Romance? Yes! Time-travel? Of course. Paranormal, Inspirational, Fantasy, Space Opera, historical, futuristic, horror, sweet, erotic . . . I really could keep going.
What makes a story a Romance? Characters who, by the end of the book, have fallen in love and are committed to a life together; a “happy ever after” ending. That simple element can drive some powerful stories. Think, for a moment, about the things that mean the most in your life. Love is one of them. You know it is. We all want love in our lives. It makes our hearts pound and our palms sweat and when we have it, when we’re right there head-over-heels in love, we are happy.
We want to love and be beloved. There are times in our lives when the courtship might not even have begun yet or when that happy ending is in doubt and we fear we’ll lose or never gain the person we love. It’s a shaky, horrible, awful feeling. A Romance shows us how the characters in a story overcome that shaky start. When we realize we love and are in turn beloved? There’s the lift of spirit you feel when the person you love walks into the room . . . and smiles at you. You’ll find that sublime moment in a Romance.
In the pages of a romance, the author will make you feel the emotions that lead up to falling in love; the doubt, the skepticism, the fear you’ll be hurt, the recognition that you’ve met someone who completes you, who admires you and thinks your jokes are funny. A romance will remind you how precious it is when you can confide in someone else, and how it feels when someone else places that same trust in you. The author will show you how that happens in the world she’s written, and with the characters she’s put on the pages.
A Romance might also explore the ways in which humans develop and express love through physical intimacy. Some might close the door at the bedroom while others keep that door wide open. For stories where the door is open, you’ll find the sexual intimacy has meaning and power.
The very best authors know that falling in love is worth the risk, and they write stories where you just can’t wait to find out how those characters make their relationship work. It won’t be easy, but then, as we all know, the course of true love never did run smooth.
That’s why I love to read romance.
Thank you, Carolyn! Please leave a comment about why you love romance. Everyone commenting will be entered into a drawing to win a copy of Not Wicked Enough, Carolyn’s latest novel.
Carolyn Jewel was born on a moonless night. That darkness was seared into her soul and she became an award winning author of historical and paranormal romance. She has a very dusty car and a Master’s degree in English that proves useful at the oddest times. An avid fan of fine chocolate, finer heroines, Bollywood films, and heroism in all forms, she has three cats and a dog. Also a son. One of the cats is his.
I love reading romance novels because it takes me away from my everyday busy life!
Wonderfully written, beautiful cover. Looks like you're off to a great start, Maggie!
Hi Carolyn. Thank you for the definition of what a romance novel is because it's been awhile since I've read one and I'm in a discussion right now about women's fiction and romance and how the genres cross over. Your post is very helpful. Good luck with your future.
I like romance because I want to read something happy in a world where most of the time all I see is depressing junk!
Being a medical student, I'm getting used to reading books after books of solid facts -a change would be "theories" rather than known facts-. I couldn't find a better way to relax after a long day's work than to read romance novels… I need something happy! I need "emotions" in my books!
Love this post, Maggie! And I love the idea of "springing" into romance– how perfect!!
Hi Carolyn!
That is one HOT cover! I love reading romance because it takes me to a different place. And I'm guaranteed a happy ending!!
Great kick off, Maggie! See you tomorrow!
I love reading romances, because I love happy endings. I want that guarantee. If I read a book that doesn't satisfy at the end, then I feel cheated somehow. I know others who don't feel this way, but that's me. I want to see the love shine through. Beautiful colors of red and gold on your cover btw!
Charlene Sands
I love reading romances because I know love will triumph in the end. No matter how many bad decisions the characters make, or how many obstacles are thrown in their way, they'll overcome it all.
Love that cover, Carolyn!
I read romances, everything from contemporary to Georgette Heyer to Jane Austen (yes she was!) because of the hopeful endings. Where so much in the world is sad and gray, and so much literary fiction is the same (have literary authors never heard of a happy ending?) Romance and other genre fiction is hopeful and optimistic.
I am such a sucker for a good, escapist romance. Just love the winding road that ultimately ends, sigh, happily.
Deborah Blumenthal
Such a great post! Love the cover…i adore romance because it transports me, makes me happy, and gives hope!
Fabulous Post.
I love romance because of the journey the characters take to that land of Happy Ever After. When Life with all its pitfalls overwhelms me and drags me down, I want to escape to what feels like a better place and romance takes me there.
I like to read romance because we can never have too much romance now a days.
I love romance for that exhale moment at the end. You know the moment when you sigh and hold the book to your chest in utter contentment. I love that moment.
i love romance novel because the happy ever after ending 🙂
I love romance because of its literary steaminess.
I adore romance because I love the feeling of excitement, the thrill of falling in love again. And I can do it as often as I want!
I love romance because there is nothing more important in life than love. All of life's most memorable moments and significant experiences have had something to do with love. Whether it was falling into it, losing it, strengthening it, or gaining a better understanding of it, the best parts of life are about love. So what could be better for the soul than reading about the creation of it?
I love romances because they always have a happy ending. I know that no matter what trials they have to go though in the book, things are going to work out. I also love that they offer an escape from our lives and just for a few hours you get to live in a fantastic world.
I like to read romance novels aloud in bed to my husband.
Keep me panting!
Love,
Katie
Random drawing–and Jennifer Probst is the winner of
Not Wicked Enough by Carolyn Jewel!
Tomorrow we have Wendy S. Marcus and she is giving away a copy of The Nurses Not-So-Secret-Scandal
Everyone, sorry for my tardy appearance here. Revisions for my next historical arrived with a very tight deadline.
Thank you, all of you, for your wonderful comments. I so much agree that after a day filled with responsibilities, work, school, family and more, it can be so very soothing to read a Romance.
Off to track down Jennifer Probst's contact info!