While pirate romance seems pretty self explanatory the truth of the matter is that modern romantic notions of pirates are far from fact. When we think of a pirate, I am sure many of you will conjure up an image of the deliciously sexy and adventurous Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean. The code that they lived by was far from the images brought to mind by the movies or by modern day romances. Pirates in truth were vicious and the chances of two pirates following the same code of honor were pretty slim, but that doesn't stop them from being some of the best of the bad boys in romantic literature.
What makes the pirate so sexy?
We love reading about pirates, of that there is no question. Why, you might wonder. The answer is thus: who wouldn't want a handsome man to give us permission to buck the rules of society, live life voraciously with no limit on what we can or should do? Rogues and rakehells might make delicious rapscallions on land and in London society, but it is the pirate captain that is both scandalous and notorious.
Lead males in pirate romances are muscular, domineering, swashbuckling, passionate, buccaneers. The open sea is their mistress and no female can tame their hearts... or so they think. Pirate heroes soon realize just how lonely their life on the water really is and endeavor to capture the love of a woman. When they loot, pillage, and ravish pirate heroes find themselves desiring to do so to the pretty maid with the feisty tongue and not the nearest enemy ship.
This is the character cast in romance novels. The truth however is that pirates have never been truly noted for charms, manners, or fantastically gorgeous good looks. Despite their shortcomings, the romance of seven seas calls out like a siren's song. Thrills, romance and adventure, you can't go wrong with a pirate romance.
Originally posted 2008-07-02 05:10:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Highlander romance is a subgenre of historical romance. Not to be confused with the show, highlander romance is all about those sexy warrior men. The setting for these romances usually takes place in Scotland or Wales. You may be familiar with the 2008 movie Made of Honor; it was a movie that pitted the typical Highlander, Scottish, hero against a trust fund city slicker. An exemplary novel of this genre is Julie Garwood's The Bride. Overall, Highlander romances are as formula based as any other genre in romance or fiction.
What are the Clans/Tribes involved in Highlander romance?
I am sure there are more, and if you know of them inform me and I’ll flush out this section!
Celtics
Saxons
Scottish
Welsh
Highlanders
Lowlanders
The lore behind Highlander Romance:
Most Highlander romances will use a Romeo and Juliet theme where the clan/tribe/family rivalry and hatred separate the two lovebirds. They will either fall in love in spite of the mutual dislike or be forced into it by another typical plot line such as the girl’s family being indebted to the hero or his family. The debt will be settled by marriage and unwilling or not family honor must be upheld. Luckily for the main leads, they end up liking each other.
There are also plenty of curses and cursed heroes and heroines alike in Highlander romance. A cursed hero will be destined to lose his love or perhaps has already lost his love and finds a new one. He might be cursed to never find love, get married, bear children, etc. The heroines could face similar curses.
Highlander romance also includes a lot of vendettas and bride stealing.
If you would like to add to this section or review a Highlander romance please contact me!
Originally posted 2008-07-09 21:12:11. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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.
Well we can easily define paranormal romance as subgenre of romance. But what is it really? Paranormal romance combines the supernatural world with that of the real, the natural, the plain. One lover is sure to be something special and the other lover is special because they are so plain; something is found in their ordinariness that strikes a cord with the extraordinary lover.
More than not these stories take place in America, especially when dealing with vampires, but it's not a requirement for the genre. Paranormal romance usually blends mystery, thriller, or suspense as part and parcel of its tale. You could consider these novels to be more than a bit Gothic in theme. Anita Blake Vampire Hunter and the Twilight Saga are two such series that can be found within the category of paranormal romance.
Why do people like it so much?
The sales of paranormal romance have risen over the years. It is not uncommon to find several titles of paranormal fiction in romance aisles. Why is that? As I said when discussing Edward and Bella in the Twilight books, I believe it is because we are all craving that extraordinary romance.
As with time travel romances, paranormal romances that involve vampires have that glorious advantage of a love out of time. One person waits, separate from the time stream of the normal world with all its stresses and hectic schedules just for you. Waters run deep in the one that has been waiting, he (or she) knows just what it is like to live a small eternity in loneliness and now that you've been found, you won't be let go. He (or she) will love you forever.
Besides vampires what fits into this category?
Magic users, lycanthropes (like werewolves), selkies, fairies, ghosts, superhuman capabilities (like flying), gods and goddesses, and angels and demons are all perfectly acceptable.
If you have more on the subject of paranormal romance feel free to add!
Originally posted 2008-07-01 08:32:53. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Vikings were warrior men from the Scandinavia region of the world including specifically Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Viking is linked to naval expeditions or naval raids. A member of such a trip is called a Viking. Typically it is thought that the Viking period began as early as 700 A.D. and ended somewhere in 1100 A.D. Women warriors were known as Valkyries. At the peak of their influence Vikings reached as far east as the Byzantine Empire and as far west as Iceland and Greenland.
Warring or to ‘Go a Viking:'
Viking expeditions were one of two things. Firstly, Viking could be referring to a mercantile seafarer dealing in commerce and trade. Secondly and most commonly referred to today when brought up, Viking relates to warriors seeking vengeance or urged into the act by need/greed to find slaves and other worldly goods. The term to ‘go a Viking' specifically relates to warring or act of raiding and pillaging.
Ships:
Longships, or dragon ships, are the warring vessel. They had sails and room for oarsmen so they could battle and move without interference from the wind. Longships are shallow and narrow, and this design aids in Viking expeditions by making it easy to land and deploy troops.
A knarr vessel was roomier and could hold far more cargo than a longship. It did not have room for oarsmen. This ship was specifically used in trade and commerce.
Horned Helmets:
Horned helmets were never a part of Viking apparel. Sorry to say, the idea of a horned helmet being Viking is merely a myth. It was dreamt up as part of the romanticism revival to associate them with Classical antiquity. A horned helmet would be too unmanageable in battle because of the ungainly weight of the horns.
Cleanliness:
Steam-houses (saunas), dips into geothermic pools, and regular bathing occurred in Viking culture. It is thought they bathed every Saturday as it is referred to as the washing day still in Scandinavian countries. As part of their ablutions Vikings washed hands and faces every morning. They also had a wide diversity in grooming items including soap. The soap was used to clean their hair as well as strip it of color to make it blond. Vikings are not the unclean barbarians we imagine them to be, perhaps however they were blonder.
Classes:
There were three classes of men in Viking civilization.
The Thrall - an unfree servant whose status was marked by a collar around the neck and short hair
The Jarl - a member of the aristocracy or nobility, was a man of high birth and includes kings
The Bondi- included farmers, craftsmen, landowners, and other freeborn people
Women's Rights:
A girl or woman had no right to choose her husband. However, if she was under her brother's protection and rule she could declare rights to marry the third suitor to seek for her hand.
A free woman in Viking culture owned her children and could divorce without stigmatism associated with other cultures of the time a man who was a bad husband. All she had to do was declare herself so at the door to their home and at their martial bed.
The gravest insult for a woman is a slap to the face done in public. The insult goes beyond her and impugns on the family's honor.
Viking Weddings and Romance:
Vikings would marry on Friday or Frigg Day. Frigg was the name of their goddess for marriage, thus explaining the tradition.
Courtship was frowned upon and poetry expressly forbidden as it was thought that the wording could enthrall a woman. Only the goddess Freyja could be given poetry.
Women were expected to be unsullied or virginal before marriage and after display fidelity within her marriage.
The ring a man gave to a woman was highly important as it was indicative of the respect and esteem he held for her.
Weddings were rarely conducted for lovers. Typically a marriage was arranged between the groom and her family or between both families. Occasionally a marriage was served as a ‘peace-pledge,' which means the marriage is a sign of cease fire between feuding families.
The wedding ritual consisted of exchanging swords between man and wife. The groom gave his sword to his bride as a legacy to be passed down to their first born son. The bride then gave a sword that represented their union and future family to the groom. It was then his duty to take care of the sword as he would take care of her and their children. Vows were then said over the groom's new sword to cement the union.
The Wedding Night and Morning:
The bride wore a bridal crown and it was in their bedroom chamber that this crown was removed by her husband as a symbol of their sexual union. After this symbolic removal the wedding witnesses would leave the couple alone to consummate the vows.
The morning after, once again before witnesses, the groom gave his wife a gift. This gift marked that the marriage was complete. He then would give her the keys to his home and all the buildings he owned. The keys represented her dominion over his holdings and declared her as his lady.
Vikings in Romance Novels:
Nearly always Viking romance novels contain references to the mythology and religion of the time period. They take place in the Scandinavian region, sometimes including the regions within the wide reach of the Vikings. Without fail Viking romance novels include a Viking warrior. He is strong, robust, and very masculine. You could say he is the epitome of alpha males. Standard themes of Viking romance include bride stealing, kidnapping, slavery to freedom archetypes, enemies to lovers, and strong women. Rape also comes up in Viking romances whether or not it actually occurs due to the nature and background of the culture. Viking romances are easily recognizable by their titles which usually include the word Viking.
Viking Love on Youtube:
Originally posted 2008-12-13 22:06:51. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
There are two male extremes in romance novels. The first is the rake, who is a ladies' man among ladies' men. The second is the untested virgin hero. Both are equally well received if given the right set of circumstances, but the rake is by far the most likely hero candidate. Why? When as Jane from Dear Author points out a rake in any other romance subgenre outside of historical romance is an indiscriminate immoral playboy? Surely by comparison a virgin hero is sexier! Let’s examine how:
While there can be trouble with any ethnic group pairing up outside of their background, people usually think of interracial in terms of black and white. Which begs the question can a white lead and a black lead fall in love?
It is said that love cannot be defined by the color of skin, but just because it is understood intellectually doesn’t mean it is accepted socially.
When I read in the news about interracial couples and the problems they face today it seems that prejudice is still running high on both sides of the line. The offended parties are the losers in love, and they spill poison and hate on those who have found love. The losers feel they’ve been deprived of their due when they see someone of their skin color happy and in love with someone of another skin color. In their jealousy, they don’t take into account what the two have in common with each other and immediately see only the differences… Superficial differences that is.
A man or woman dating someone of another color is seen to be driven by the urge to be that other skin color or a expression of a form of racial self-hatred. Skin color separates lovers today in the same way that society pressures rich men into seeking equally rich or highborn brides of the past (and present) in real life and in romance novels.
Interracial novels have to deal with the same issues and troubles that plague real interracial relationships today- prejudice and jealousy- to be authentic.
Which begs the question, when did vampires and werewolves leave their home in Paranormal Land and cross into the Fantasy World? Isn't fantasy populated with witches, magic, dragons, and princes? As Orson Scott Card said (and I’m paraphrasing) if you think trees the story is a fantasy; if you think metal it’s a science fiction… or in this case not-fantasy. I think of vampires and werewolves as claws and teeth, which is probably why I’m so confused. Are you? Let’s figure it out together.
Urban Fantasy Romance Is:
Fantasy elements (also including paranormal here don’t ask me why) in a people populated setting be it city or town.
Sure to deal with mystery, suspense, and/or crime.
Reliant heavily on world-building to make it work. How did these creature rise from obscurity and into the everyday? How do normal humans deal with them?
A romance, but it doesn't overwhelm the driving plot.
Usually a series so world-building and romance arcs are sprinkled throughout many books.
Usually contemporary or modern, but can be set in historical or futuristic settings too.
Populated with tough kick-ass heroines.
Never fluffy. It’s gritty, dark, and thrilling.
Urban Fantasy vs Paranormal Romance:
What’s the difference between an urban fantasy and a paranormal written in an urban setting? Please explain! Here’s what I got so far…
Paranormal romance is usually hero-centric whereas urban fantasy tends to be heroine-centric.
Paranormal romance is about the hero and heroine’s relationship first and foremost with a HEA (happily ever after). Urban Fantasy romance is about saving the world and finding love while you do it.
Avon executive editor Erika Tsang explains: “In paranormal romance the relationship between the couple is the focus of the main plot. In urban fantasy, the world that the couple exists in is the focus.” Publisher's Weekly
This is why everyone says the two get confused and are used interchangeably. It really is a difference of degrees I feel.
Do you prefer Urban Fantasy or Paranormal Romance? I am clearly a fan of both even though before I wrote this post I thought I never read an urban fantasy. Give me Edward Cullen and Buffy Summers!
What are some of the other Urban Fantasy Romance series that you enjoy?
In the comments I explored what I thought made the difference between a sexy romance and an erotica romance and then I thought it deserved to be explored some more.
I agree with Evangeline that the lines are blurring but will the line ever disappear? My guess is not anytime soon.
How are sexy romance and erotica romance the same or merging?
Both types of romances can have vanilla or kinky sex. It can be explicit and it can be blush inducing… it can turn you on and rev you up. Yummy.
How are they different?
As I said it’s not so much anymore that the sex is there and is explicitly described; both types of romance write it and write it well. The main difference that I see is language. The diction between sexy romance and erotic romance are two very different types of words.
Sexy romance still uses in many cases the tame terminology romance has used since the beginning. I say tame because it’s many times wrapped in euphemisms. It's still polite.
Examples: cock, center, sheath, thrusting, pumping, bundle of nerves.
Erotica romance takes the words people use today and waves it like a banner. It’s not your mother’s romance in other words... pardon the pun. Modern/urban colloquial terms are the cornerstones of erotica.
Examples: cock (hey it’s versatile!), dick (even though old romances used it, it’s not used now in sexy romance [or if it is I haven’t seen it]), cunt, pussy, twat, fucking.
Wrapping up:
They are also different because erotica romance also has a history of ménage a trios/multiple partner sex. Same sex stories currently fall under erotica. Do I expect this to change? Yes and no. I expect the forbidden aspect will fall to the wayside and some sexy romances will start incorporating multiple partners/same sex. However, I doubt sexy romance which is firmly entrenched in romancelandia will ever buy into more than one soul mate at a time as romance’s cornerstone is the perfect match, the happily ever after.
How about you? Do you think the lines are blurring or have blurred all they’re going to blur?
Gothic romance is a genre you can't find all too easily today. It was a popular genre a few decades ago and lovers of this romance sub-genre will have to troll secondhand bookstores to find titles. Classics of this genre are novels such as Wuthering Heights and Scarlet Letter. Well known authors of Gothic romance/horror include Ann Radcliffe of the past and Stephen King of the present.
A typical Gothic romance revolved around conflict and mysteries. It made the heroine choose between two male characters for love. One is bright, sunny, cheerful and charming. The other was dark, mysterious, secretive, and brooding. Plotlines of cursed leads and daring adventures took place on wind-swept moors, and places that were haunted. The heroine would embark on a thrilling journey to discover if her hero was worthy of love. Her task usually boiled down to find out if the hero really murdered his first wife, brother, mother, insert other relation.
It is interesting to note that Radcliffe introduced this brooding male as the Gothic villain, which developed into the Byronic hero. She is considered a pioneer of the genre. The movie Becoming Jane shows a meeting between Radcliffe and Jane Austen but there's not basis for this meeting. However it does provide an interesting backdrop on the dual rise of the two types of popular novels.
As Gothic or dark romanticism developed it became more distinctly separated. The first direction of Gothic novels glorifies gore. The second took on the key aspects of modern romance. This new evolution made the focus on the romance instead of the mystery. These are the romances that disappeared after the eighties.
So what is a Byronic hero?
Trivia: The name of this hero comes from the English poet Lord Bryon.
The hero himself is highly intelligent, urbane, sophisticated and introspective. In other words he's arrogant, mysterious, seductive, and moody (see bipolar). We see male figures like this all over, you could make the argument that Mr. Darcy is a Byronic hero on top of being a Regency hero, as Byronic heroes dislike social formalities and functions. Of course Mr. Darcy doesn't have a troubled past or flippant air towards the wealthy and privileged, as he is one of that set. While Mr. Darcy was disliked he was not a complete social outcast and exiled from polite company. All these things are attributed to the Byronic hero.
What's a good modern Gothic romance?
Some titles of the modern Gothic romance include:Bells of Widow's Bay by Miriam Lynch, Castle Midnight by Evelyn McKenna, and Satan's Rock by Marilyn Ross.
Authors to look for include (past and present authors): Victoria Holt, Dorothy Daniels, Theresa Weir, Phyllis Whitney, Barbara Michaels, Allison Knight, Mary Stewart, Joanna Challis, and Megan McKinney, Kay Hooper, Eve Silver... to name a few.
Trivia: In the 1980s Harlequin had an all Gothic line of books. See here for Gothic titles. Harlequin Intrigue also contains several titles that could satisfy your craving.
Originally posted 2008-09-24 15:10:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
by Rebecca Ann Collins, guest blogger and author of My Cousin Caroline
Love, Romance and Passion are the essential ingredients of many modern novels set in the Regency period—a mere 20 year time span in early 19th century England. It may lead one to conclude that the literary output of the period must have been pretty hot!
Not really; because the writings of authors of that era are set against the manners and mores of a rather formal society, with strict protocols of social behaviour and the “adventure and romance” were of a somewhat tamer variety than one might have expected.
The Regency bucks and their willing women portrayed in many novels written about the period were chiefly those in the small circle surrounding the Prince Regent and his hangers-on, with their superficial liaisons and risqué pastimes that were not admired by the general populace. Quite clearly Jane Austen, Mrs Gaskell, George Elliot and the Brontës did not fall under spell of the Regency rage, that absorbed the courtiers of George IV; few of their characters are seducers and fallen women and those who are, seem to get short shrift from their authors—mainly women. Their novels are filled with far more traditional, but no less attractive characters than those of the Regency set.
All over England, thousands of families and communities had grown heartily sick of the excesses of the Regent and his court. They mainly lived ordinary lives – whether they were well bred, wealthy, educated and professional men and women or simple, hard working farmers and tradesmen, their lives were filled with activities and anxieties that many of us would recognise as part of modern life. Their concerns – how to get their sons into employment or their daughters married, while maintaining their hold on the slippery social ladder, provided the subjects for many a famous novel. We meet them in the stories of Austen, Gaskell, Elliot and the Brontës (I would exempt the Gothic drama of Emily’s Wuthering Heights) and later in the novels of Charles Dickens.
Families like the Bennets, the Gardiners, and the Knightleys, fill the pages of the novels we turn to when we want to discover what life was really like in Georgian and Victorian England. Familiar rather than bizarre, they were one reason for the huge popularity of these writers.
This is the genre into which The Pemberley Chronicles, my sequels to Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice, fit, and My Cousin Caroline is about the development of a young girl, whose romantic nature and deep passions do not preclude her from becoming a woman of strong convictions, with the skill and sophistication that enables her to match her wits with the best minds in the land, when she is lobbying politicians or running a business.
And, there is certainly no lack of Romance, Love or Passion! Indeed Love and Romance are vital ingredients in almost all the novels of this period. It may not be the reckless romance of the so- called “penny dreadfuls” that filled the circulating libraries, but it is certainly romantic love with familiar elements of dalliance, flirtation, falling in love, courtship and marriage, with an emphasis on the exploration of deeper emotions that engage their hearts and minds.
When Caroline Gardiner, Elizabeth Bennet’s incurably romantic young cousin, falls in love with the amiable Colonel Fitzwilliam (Mr. Darcy’s cousin), few would have believed that she would be more than a compliant Victorian wife and mother. Yet, she surprises her friends and family and even her adoring husband, when she takes up causes dear to her heart with enthusiasm, without losing any of the passion and warmth of her relationships. One of the most attractive couples in the Pemberley Series, Caroline and her Colonel have a very special place in my heart.
My Cousin Caroline; In Stores September 1, 2009!
In this installment of The Pemberley Chronicles series, Mr. Darcy's cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth's cousin Caroline Gardiner take center stage.
The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Caroline develops from a pretty young girl into a woman of intelligence and passion, embodying some of Austen's own values. Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth, Jane, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, and the Wickhams all move through the story as Caroline falls in love, marries, and raises her children. Caroline rejects the role of a compliant Victorian wife and mother, instead becoming a spirited and outspoken advocate of reformist causes in spite of the danger of scandal.
Caroline's advocacy of reform, undaunted by criticism, demonstrates strength in a time when a woman's role was severely restricted.
About the Author
Rebecca Ann Collins is the pen name of a lady in Australia who loves Jane Austen’s work so much that she has written a series of 10 sequels to Pride and Prejudice, following Austen’s beloved characters, introducing new ones and bringing the characters into a new historical era. Thoroughly researched and beautifully written, this series has been extremely successful in Australia with over 80,000 books sold.
Giveaway: Rebecca Ann Collins and Sourcebooks are sponsoring a giveaway of one set of two books: The Pemberley Chronicles (Book 1) and My Cousin Caroline (Book 2)—these two books have a lot of parallels and will make a great introduction to the series for one lucky winner! Open to US and Canadian readers only. Enter by leaving a relevant comment or by asking a question of Rebecca. Then be sure to come back and comment often! Winner will be announced September 15th, 2009.
I don't know about you but I get very confused when it comes to Science Fiction Romance! What is it exactly and how do I find it? To help explain, I invited Heather Massey of Galaxy Express to Love Romance Passion to share her thoughts and perceptions of this very complicated (romance) genre. Please extend a warm welcome to her! Feel free to ask any questions you might have and she'll do her best to answer them!
Bio: Heather Massey is a blogger who travels the sea of stars searching for science fiction romance adventures aboard The Galaxy Express. Additionally, she pens a science fiction romance column for LoveLetter, Germany’s premier romance magazine.
Defining the Genre: Science Fiction Romance
by Heather Massey, guest blogger
Simply put, science fiction describes stories set in an alternative reality that are technology driven, (as opposed to fantasy, which is magic-driven). Romance, of course, is about the emotional journey of the hero and heroine as they discover true love.
Opposites attract, and science fiction (SF) and romance are no exception. And when they decided to get it on, they had not one baby, but triplets!
What do we know about these fine offspring? The answer: plenty. Below I’ve listed the most common labels for blends of romance and SF followed by a description of the stories frequently associated with them:
Romantic Science Fiction is SF with a romantic subplot. The speculative elements drive the plot. Take away the subplot and the story marches on just fine. Romantic SF falls under the SF umbrella since a Happily Ever After is not guaranteed.
Science Fiction Romance (or Sci-Fi Romance) tends to be a 50-50 split between the SF and the romance. Both interweave to drive the plot forward. Take away one or the other and you’re left with only half of a story. A Happily Ever After of some kind is guaranteed.
Futuristic Romance typically describes stories wherein the romance drives the plot. Romance with science fiction elements, as it were. Take away the speculative elements and the story survives just fine.
Basically, it comes down to this: How much of the speculative elements drive the story vs. how much of the romance drives the story?
Where It Gets Tricky
No wonder readers can become confused about blends of SF and romance. There are many terms floating about. Some are reader/author coined. Others were developed by publishers as marketing labels. The difference is important to note because marketing labels change for the same type of books. Publishers have described them on the spine as “Romance,” Futuristic Romance,” and “Paranormal Romance.”
It also gets tricky depending on the time period in which they were written. Historically, romance was a dirty word in the SF community (still is in some circles). So readers relied exclusively on word of mouth to learn which books contained romantic elements. The term “Futuristic Romance” gained a tarnished reputation in the eighties and nineties for some mangling of the science fictional elements. Frequently, the speculative elements were sometimes little more than backdrop. But it’s still the primary marketing label used by publishers today, and for very smart and sophisticated books.
But even if the speculative elements only take up 1% of the plot, the onus is on authors these days to execute them well. Either they should contain some degree of accuracy or they should be depicted in such a way that the reader can willingly suspend her disbelief despite the presence of elements that defy the laws of science. Otherwise, why bother setting the story in the future?
Science fiction romance is a reader/author generated term. It’s been used concurrently with futuristic romance and also as a way to describe stories blending SF and Romance that weren’t a rehash of archaic, MARS NEEDS WOMEN type plots and substandard worldbuilding. Regardless, readers tend to use all of the labels interchangeably.
Another factor that impacts definition of the genre is reader expectation. One’s reading experiences and preferences impact what one expects to gain from a story. In any given book, some will feel that the romance has enough development; others will crave far more. A few lines describing the means of interstellar travel might overwhelm some readers; others won’t even bat an eyelash.
Finally, there’s no umbrella term for *all* stories blending SF and romance, or at least one that covers “science fiction romance,” “futuristic romance,” and everything in between those two. If one catches on, terrific, but right now it’s a challenge to create the ideal term.
The relevancy of subdivisions based on content, as noted above, lets readers know what to expect from a story. But publishers aren’t going to alternate between labels just to suit our whims. Reader subjectivity alone will make that a nigh-impossible endeavor.
That’s why communities of readers are crucial for cross-genres like science fiction romance. We rely on word-of-mouth to ferret out which particular blend suits our individual tastes.
For the purposes of my blog, The Galaxy Express, I made “science fiction romance” an umbrella term for my blog. More than any other label, it clearly conveyed the content. Plus, I wanted to blog about everything from Romantic SF to stories that were heavily romance driven. When it comes to blends of science fiction and romance, I love it all.
There are many fictional desert kingdoms in Sheik romance. In these desert romances the handsome and enigmatic sheik or prince finds love with the white woman for her sass and zeal of life. She is usually American or English. Powerful and very masculine he domineers her despite her Western background.
Did you know the term bodice-ripper comes from Sheik romance?
The very first Sheik romance/s contained a rape scene. In an article published in 2006 by the Chicago Tribune, staff writer Patrick T. Reardon, writes, “this pattern of kidnap-rape-love, rooted in a pre-1980s cultural belief that unmarried women shouldn't go looking for sex, involved ‘forcing pleasure on women.’ For their own good, apparently.” Of course in these rape fantasies the heroine never truly suffers or afterwards is traumatized. The experience is a passionate one on both ends and eventually ends in love.
Interesting Fact: The Biblical Dinah was raped – or not – and when Shechem asked for her hand in marriage, he was told only if he and all his compatriots were circumcised. While they were recovering, Dinah’s brothers, Simeon and Levi, killed them all. To take a woman, then ask for her hand, was one way to ensure you could marry her, especially if the two of you were interested in each other, and the match might not otherwise be received. (Gen: 30-34).
The Sheik:
In desert romances, the male lead is darkly exotic with dark eyes, handsome features, and tawny sun-kissed bronze skin. He’s been educated at Harvard or Oxford and has learned to tolerate or prefer Western culture, ingenuity, and technology. Almost always, he is forward thinking and Westernized to some degree.
Possible Plots:
Some themes in Sheik romance include marriages of convenience, kidnapping, and rescues, similar to Highlander romance.
The Lure Behind the Desert/Harem Fantasy:
Sheik romance like Paranormal romance has risen in the last few years. In an age where chivalrous princes are nearly nonexistent, Sheik romance offers a modern prince to romance readers. He's a little bit wild, more than a little dangerous, but very much in love with his heroine. Combine this irresistible masculine force with the exotic and (most times fantastical and fictional) lands of Africa, the Middle East, and the East and it's magic in the making.
Difference between a Sheik and a Sultan:
Abstractly, the word sultan means strength and authority. A sultan is like a king. Some basic research shows that lands under or previously held under sultan rule could be found anywhere in the East or Middle East.
Lands held by a sheikdom are usually solely Arabic. A sheik in Arabic means "elder" and refers to the elder in a tribe or lord of a tribe. Also it can be in reference to Islamic study and is a title earned upon completion of studies. But in desert romances the title is used as the official title of the Bedouin tribe leader and for nobility.
*You can also spell Sheik with an ‘h’ as in Sheikh romance or sheikhdom.
Originally posted 2008-07-30 05:26:23. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
What is regency romance and how does it differ from historical romance?
You may well recognize Jane Austen as a regency romance writer. She is best known for works such as Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.
So what makes a regency romance?
Well if you look at Pride and Prejudice you can see quite clearly the basic setup of a regency romance. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet stir the hearts of readers as they bicker and dance around each other, but a key element to the novel is that their romance is not the only one. Miss Jane Bennet and Mr. Charles Bingley also fall in love in this classic tale, though perhaps with fewer hindrances on the characters' part.
To break it down:
Regency romance is based in the early 19th century and will normally revolve around a comedy of manners. The romances are very chaste and do not include conversations about sex between the main characters. In several cases, there will be a side romance to the main one.
The monarchs you will find in regency romances are George IV and William IV. Some novels may be included in this genre, even if George III is ruling, though technically speaking he is not part of this era. George III is before the regency era. The period starts when he was declared insane by the Parliament Regency Act and his son was placed on the throne as acting king. The regency (and post-regency) period ends prior to Queen Victoria's reign.
Time Frame: 1810-1820, generally speaking.
Historical Romance on the other hand is considered to be everything prior to WWI in history. Contemporary attitudes usually color the writing enabling the female lead to be more educated, witty, or relatable. There are many sub genres to this type of romance including but not limited to pirate, colonial United States, and western.
In conclusion, regency romance is included in theme of historical romance as a separate genre.
Originally posted 2008-06-11 05:27:41. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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, and 
. If authors become a household name to buy, sales will pick up and the genre will be more validated as whole.
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.
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A man or woman dating someone of another color is seen to be driven by the urge to be that other skin color or a expression of a form of racial self-hatred. Skin color separates lovers today in the same way that society pressures rich men into seeking equally rich or highborn brides of the past (and present) in real life and in romance novels. 
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Are you? Let’s figure it out together.
This post is in response to 
(releases in May 2009).
shows a meeting between Radcliffe and Jane Austen but there's not basis for this meeting. However it does provide an interesting backdrop on the dual rise of the two types of popular novels.
This is the genre into which The Pemberley Chronicles, my sequels to Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice, fit, and My Cousin Caroline is about the development of a young girl, whose romantic nature and deep passions do not preclude her from becoming a woman of strong convictions, with the skill and sophistication that enables her to match her wits with the best minds in the land, when she is lobbying politicians or running a business.
(Book 1) and 
(Book 2)—these two books have a lot of parallels and will make a great introduction to the series for one lucky winner! Open to US and Canadian readers only. Enter by leaving a relevant comment or by asking a question of Rebecca. Then be sure to come back and comment often! Winner will be announced September 15th, 2009.
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