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Black romance is a blooming section of romance industry and is still growing. Officially having its start in 1980 with Entwined Destines written by Rosalind Welles, black romance has expanded and taken shape over the years. While it’s true that the genre could benefit from more authors and more books, black romance is a force to be reckoned with and getting stronger all the time. It is my hope to see the genre grow out of its own publishing lines (by sheer volume) and start to mingle alongside romance about white leads. Part of what will make this happen is for the genre to see writers become as influential and iconic as Nora Roberts, Danielle Steel, and LaVyrle Spencer. If authors become a household name to buy, sales will pick up and the genre will be more validated as whole.

It is said that the head of Kensington Publishing had been visiting New York bookstore when he overheard two black women wishing for more African American romance. In 1994, Arabesque was created as the first major line for black readers. Since that point 250 titles by approximately 50 African-American authors have been published.

Arabesque was later bought by Harlequin, increasing the number of released books to 450. Now Arabesque is the nation’s leading line of single-title African American romance. Besides publishing Arabesque, Harlequin also publishes Sepia, New Spirit, and Kimani Romance lines. Kimani is a female African-American name that means “sweet and beautiful.” Kimani is Harlequin’s equivalent to category romance as Kimani novels are mass-market paperback series.

I’m curious to learn if there are Caucasian writers writing about black leads and African American authors writing about white leads? After all we already know there are male authors producing novels that we love… this can’t be too far of a stretch.

Photo Credits: 1, 2

Originally posted 2009-01-02 05:07:16. Republished by Old Post Promoter

• Harlequin Romance Audio Books
• Black Romance Audio Books
• African American Romance Books
• Kimani Romance Books
• Romance Novels

One of the first romance novels that I ever read was the Gamble by LaVyrle Spencer. I snuck it out of my mother’s collection because I was curious about all the fuss. I am glad I did, because it rates as one of my dearest favorites, set during the Temperance movement.

Scott Gandy dresses smartly, behaves politely, and smiles cheekily at Miss Agatha Downing. She can’t stand him! Scotty Gandy owns a saloon, sells alcohol, promotes gambling, and why he even hangs nude portraits over his bar! Ever proper, Agatha is a touching heroine because she is handicapped.

Made lame by an abusive alcoholic father, Agatha has come to terms with the sorry little life she leads; dinner every night at Perry’s down the street, a slowly dying millinery shop, and Miss Violet Parsons as her only friend. She isn’t expecting a man or any children in her future, but that doesn’t keep her from dreaming.

Then one day that infuriating Scott Gandy brings three saloon singers into town and nothing is dull again. Agatha is given a job that just might save her business. She is to make each of them a can-can dress. What follows is a colorful tale about friendship, love, and one woman’s fight against alcohol. Agatha is determined to see Kansas dry, save the little boy Willy Collinson from his abusive father, and to not fall in love with Scott Gandy. She will succeed at all but one of this goals.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Happy Readings!

Originally posted 2008-11-20 04:38:34. Republished by Old Post Promoter

• Romance Novels

I recently was able to reacquaint myself with an old friend… Years by LaVyrle Spencer. I find Spencer’s writing to be so thoroughly engrossing that even after finishing a novel, the story of the leads cling to you. In this particular novel, set near the end of WWI in the middle of American farmland, the cast of characters are motley but endearing.

The hero is a young man of 33 years of age.  He has been a farmer and has been content to be a farmer since the age of a young boy. When he was merely 17 or 18 he met and married a young girl of similar age passing through the Midwest on a political campaign. The girl was bipolar and not at all suited to life without constant stimulation. After the birth of their child her despondent mood increased until she up and vanished to the west coast. After the passing of several years, Theodore heard of her passing, but even had he wanted to remarry ninety percent of the women where he lived were related to him.

His son is 17 years old and is anxious to see part of the world and yet perversely content to be a farmer. Kristian’s restlessness is not released until after the new schoolmarm arrives to Alamo, North Dakota. His grandmother, Nissa, lives with Kristian and Theodore in their farmhouse and his Uncle John comes by for every meal. John is slow, but not stupid. He’s singularly incurious and doesn’t feel the need to question things. John by the way is just one of many uncles.

The heroine, Linnea, is a young vivacious woman of just 18 years. She’s earned her teacher’s certificate and has set her heart on being a teacher (on her own and away from her family.) Little did she know that she was hired because the school board thought she was a man. Theodore is most surprised at finding a girl still wet behind the ears at the train station. His house has always been offered to the teachers because of its close location to the school. Immediately he rebels at the thought of hosting a female in his home - he’s had enough heartache and feminine wiles to last him a lifetime. For being a grown man - he still caters to his ma so when Nissa declared Linnea was staying he had no choice but to let her.

To his dismay, Teddy is drawn to Linnea’s freshness, spirit, and innocence. His old soul is given new life around her, but he knows his attraction is wrong. He may not be able to read, and he may not know half the words Linnea throws at him when they argue, but he can count… at nearly twice her age, he’s old enough to be considered her father. On top of that his son is just a year younger than the pretty schoolmarm, wouldn’t it be more accepted to see them pair off? Teddy throws in the path to love as many obstacles as possible because Linnea has an uncanny ability to see to the heart of a matter.

Can love bridge the age gap? This question is met and answered in a timeless story that entwines joys and sorrows.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

• North Dakota US State, Town Views Postcards Collectibles
• North Dakota Patches Police Historical Memorabilia Collectibles
• US North Dakota License Plates Automobilia Transportation Collectibles

I’ve spent the last couple of days reorganizing my space (which is small) for several new (to me) books were coming my way. I got a second bookshelf (surprise, surprise) and cleared out a corner for it. This took some ingenuity as this used to be my junk corner. The corner I knew would contain anything I couldn’t find because I thought I wouldn’t need to anytime soon. It’s the corner or the drawer or space that accumulates undesirables that can’t be thrown out for some reason or another.

It started with reprioritizing a lot of it and finding new homes for it all one piece at a time. I did throw away a lot of paper and the ilk. By throwaway I mean I stuck it in the pile of papery/cardboardy things that I take over to my library’s dumpster reserved for such purposes. It helps them make some money and its recycling so two points for me.

Next I did the sweeping and the dusting. Unpleasant tasks, yes, but ones that must get done. I broke a ceramic mug in the process. Whoops. The pieces were very sharp and had to be taken care of immediately. Luckily it wasn’t a mug I was particularly attached too.

Now I was ready. Boy was I unprepared! I was gaining a new collection of novels today. My new collection filled out eight office crates and contained romance (enough to fill two shelves triple stacked give or take) and crime/western (enough to fill three shelves in a similar fashion.) I still have a crate and a half with books. Part of the books had been mine to start but wouldn’t fit on the shelves and part of the new collection.

There are some whoppers in this batch. I have been caught giggling over titles and covers as I uncovered them. Several titles from Nora Roberts, Amanda Quick, Danielle Steel, LaVryle Spencer, Sandra Brown, and Julie Garwood. I’m so excited. I can’t wait. I finally own my own copies of The Bride and The Wedding. Woo!

Of course with the books being double stacked in front of each other and then stacked on top of twice it’ll be a wonder to find any of them. I do have a system, sorta anyway in place to get through them. It’s very simple really. Start with one, read it, review it, keep it/offer it on paperback swap. Not only will I be getting several hours of reading pleasure, I’ll get to organize again. Double the joy… hehe.

What’s on your shelf?

• Nora Roberts Romance Audio Books
• Nora Roberts Romance Books