Before I begin, thanks Susan for your 5 tells - they're hilarious!
Now, when it comes to our favorite literature is it possible to ever read too much of it? What are some of the tells of overindulgence in romance? Let's take a look!
You Know You Read Too Much Romance When...
Most of your email is author newsletters telling you about latest releases, contests, and book signings.
You insist on bringing a chaperone on romantic dates; even though you're 25 years old.
You own a digital copy of every print romance book on your favorite’s shelf.
Your favorite’s shelf is now the entire bookcase and the area in front of it on the floor.
You have a plot trope, character type, or preference you are too embarrassed to share with other romance readers.
Your bookshelves are classified first by subgenre, then by author.
After kissing each other breathless, you accidentally say, "Please Lord Mark take me now to your bedchamber."
He says, "I know-I know you can't spend the night with me because your aunt Lady Marie will start the rumor-mill."
Your fictional boyfriend is Mr. Darcy, Mr. Thornton, or another romantic alpha hero.
You once had to question where the hymen was located, because most romance novels have the hero penetrate it somewhere inside the vagina instead of at the opening.
You clip the covers off your romances and make a mantitty wallpaper collage.
The name Vladimir de Laaf, the Duke of Longwood, sounds like a valid name for a man and Lady Saramia, the Widow of Evesham, makes for an equally good heroine name.
In your mind, being unwed and over twenty is a crime.
When making love-you find yourself moaning, "Oh yes, all the way to the hilt!"
You’re actually disappointed he showed up in his Lexus....where's the black stallion?
You own or are following every romance blog you encounter or have written blog posts for them.
If the first thing you can find in your purse is your latest romance read.
You’ve attended more than five romance conventions just because. Jane Austen and Regency period conventions count, even if they aren't about books at all, because the subgenres are prominent.
You can spot a secret baby within a 100 yards.
If you ever daydreamed about being a heroine in one.
Bonus 21: If you’re like me than you’ve come to the conclusion, there’s never too romance in your life!
The final ten romance novel blogs. You now have all 100 blogs, 50 from last year, and 50 new ones from this year. I hope with them you find many new books to read, friends to chat to, and good times to share!
True Romance – Borders book blog run by Borders and Waldenbook stores romance book buyer, Sue Grimshaw. Jane and Sarah from Dear Author and SBTB swing by on Sundays. Lots of guest blogs, giveaways, and fun.
Looking for new romance blogs to check out in 2010? Don't worry I got you covered! Below you will find 10 more romance blogs to visit. The list is in alphabetical order. Don't forget to check out 2009's Top 50 List for even more blogs!
You can subscribe all at once to last year’s and this year’s list (and more besides!) through the Google Reader Romance Novel Bundle I set up.
Accomplice Press is proud to announce a new romance book line called Curvalicious.
Here at Accomplice Press we love a good juicy romance and a few of us are vivacious, full-figured women, so we are extremely excited to bring this series to our readers. The Curvalicious line will be short novella length romance stories that showcase plus-size heroines in a very positive light. These curvy, inspirational women are beautiful, strong, sexy in their own ways and intelligent. The best part is that Curvalicious women always get the man of their dreams without losing weight or changing who they are on the outside. The stories will be available in e-book format with periodic print anthologies.
As publishers and women we feel that there are countless romance lovers who don't see real life females, like themselves, portrayed in the books they read. We offer books that stimulate hope and build self confidence while entertaining with enticingly creative plot lines spotlighting the voluptuous heroine's point of view. Our selections always depict relationships between a hero and heroine that are fully realized by the end of the story with a "happy ever after" or "happy ending for now". Romance novels should be like a warm sunny day in the middle of the coldest winter night, we strive to make that happen with every turn of the page.
"Society and the media have convinced women that men won't find you attractive if you are double-digit sizes. This is reinforced by the romance book industry. The leading terms used to describe a heroine are slender, thin, lithe, small, and tiny. Real women read romances, and real women deserve to be able to relate to the heroines. Romance stories are about fantasies, and as a large woman, I personally do not find it satisfying to fantasize about a man touching a body that I can't relate to. I also happen to know that men love women of all sizes. Sexy comes from within. That is why I created Curvalicious." --DJ Alling, CEO, Co-Founder of Accomplice Press and Editor in Chief
At Accomplice Press we realize that the word "romance" means different things to different people so Curvalicious will have two distinct categories based on the relationship's heat level. Curvalicious Sweet is romance with sweet or sensual love scenes, but no explicit language or sex. Curvalicious Spicy is erotic romance containing explicit language and sex scenes. The first book released in this series is a spicy but touching romance called A reason to Stay by Delinda Jasper. The heroine Ellie is ready to move far away from the home and man she loves because she doesn't feel her best friend Jake will ever feel the same way. After an amazing evening together she wonders if she's lost him forever.
In conjunction with this groundbreaking launch Accomplice Press is holding a Curvalicious writing competition. Beginning on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2010 and ending at midnight on May 14, 2010, we'll be accepting submissions in two different categories, one sweet and one spicy. On May 28, 2010two winning entries will be announced on Accomplicepress.com, then contracted and published in e-book format by the publisher. The top three submissions of each category will also be included in the first Curvalicious print anthologies. Curvalicious contest entries must be sent to curvecontest@accomplicepress.com. The specific guidelines for sweet and spicy submissions, word count and formatting requirements are all available at our website accomplicepress.com.
Accomplice Press may be a new kid on the block but we aren't amateurs, instead we're perfectionists striving for literary excellence. Accomplice press is NOT a self-publishing company; we are a full service, boutique-style publisher dedicated to being a partner to our readers and authors.
by Fiona Jayde, guest blogger and author of Cold Victory.
I've been hooked on romance novels ever since my best friend in eighth grade let me borrow The Pirate and the Pagan by Virginia Henley. I never really understood what it was about romance that I liked, but I would rarely pick up a non-romance book. And only recently, when my editor at Loose Id gave me some terrific advice about punching up Cold Victory, did I understand what exactly about romances drew me.
Sexual tension. It doesn't matter the genre of the book, the label, the slot, the shelf in a book store. If it has coiling sexual tension between characters - before, during and after the big deed - I'm hooked.
To list a couple of my favorites:
Han Solo and Princess Lea.Empire Strikes Back will always be one of my favorite movies. Yoda was great, Luke had to grow up, but it was Han and Lea that held me captivated. (My parents always wondered why I would watch the movie over and over and yet keep fasting forward on some of the parts) That scene where Han tells Lea he's a "nice man" before kissing her?? HOT!
Starbuck and Apollo from Battlestar Galactica the re-imagined series: So many reasons why they couldn't be together. And yet the tension between them was so tight it all but melted my screen. (That scene where Lee's eyes all but bugged out when Starbuck cleaned up nice with that red dress? YUM!)
Buffy and Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I can hear Angel fans cursing me now... Actually I used to be one of them. But this is where Joss Whedon's brilliance shines - a perfect example of sexual tension. Those two characters seriously hated each other, and that hatred literally brought down the house when they finally got it on. I loved the scene where Spike was fighting Buffy and tried to kiss her - both of them shocked, and both of them wondering what it would feel like.
Naked in Death by J.D Robb is something I consider a classic. A tough yet vulnerable heroine, a mysteriously sexy hero hot enough to melt through her detective shield... A cop who falls for the murder suspect - talk about sexual tension there!
In Cold Victory, Zoya Scott must choose between her duty and the growing desire for the ship's Commander. I hope you enjoy the result:
“We both know what’s happening.”
She didn’t want to go there. “We don’t.” A straight cross finally made contact. His head snapped back; those wild, blue eyes flared. Excitement pumping through her blood, she lifted her fists, expecting payback. Instead, Stark caught her arm, spun her around so that her back pressed hard into his chest, his hand gripping her wrist, the heat of him fueling the tug of need inside her.
She couldn’t move, couldn’t force herself to think. In a slow, controlled motion, he banded his other arm around her, bringing her flush against him, back to chest, her buttocks pressed against an unmistakable arousal.
A biological reaction. Nothing more. And yet her pulse shuddered in her throat, her muscles tightening against him, wanting to get away, yet needing to get closer.
“I keep thinking about this,” he muttered in her ear, his rough voice an unwanted and delicious rasp over her senses. “I can’t get it to stop.”
Intergalactic warfare has not been kind to humans. Convicted pilot Zoya Scott has the chance to avenge her family, redeem an act of desperation with that of sacrifice. She’ll end this war if she betrays the man whose touch burns through her soul, the man whose ship and crew she must destroy. The man who is her bloodmate.
Commander Galen Stark never expected the convicted pilot on his ship to be anything more then a good looking inconvenience. A small brush of their hands grips him with vicious lust, a need he can’t control. She is his bloodmate – a biological reaction burning through his veins.
Except she carries an explosive. And Stark may have to give the order to destroy them all.
Fiona Jayde is a space pilot, a ninth degree black belt in three styles of martial arts, a computer hacker, a mountain climber, a jazz singer, a weight lifter, a superspy with a talent for languages, and an evil genius.
All in her own head.
In life, she is an author of kickass, action packed, steamy romances, possesses a brown belt in Tae Kwon Do and blue belt in Aikido, a web developer, scared to death of heights, loves jazz piano, can bench-press about 20 pounds — with effort, speaks English and Russian fluently, and when not plotting murder and mayhem enjoys steamy romance novels, sexy spy thrillers, murky mysteries and movies where things frequently blow up.
To the readers: what are some of your favorite examples of sexual tension between characters?
(As part of Fiona Jayde's book tour she's giving away a $15 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky commenter on the tour. To increase your chances of winning follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. Click banner to find a list of blog stops.)
Have you ever read your name in a romance book? How about with different spelling? I rarely do as my name is fairly unique. Listening to my name as a protagonist in Destiny's Jewel was definitely a bit of naughty fun.
Rebecca Rogers, who narrated Maestro's Butterfly, narrates Destiny's Jewel and does another amazing job! Five out of five for steamy!
I recently went on a road trip to meet with some friends and Destiny's Jewel was my trip companion. Who needs the radio? Seriously! Listen to some erotica instead - it's sure to keep you awake and get your blood pumping.
Kyra L'orrac has been entrusted to guard a royal treasure, a giant sapphire known as the Stone of Destiny. It is her first big assignment under the Royal Special Forces (RSF). She is protecting it from the incoming vizier and magician Ellard J'aron, who seeks it for personal gain and power.
For Ellard it is imperative that he retrieved the star sapphire and its two sister jewels, an emerald and ruby respectively. If he fails to bring the trio home to Dolnair he faces execution and his family the ultimate disgrace. As if Ellard's troubles aren't enough he is under a very strict time limit and the pretty girl who holds the first of the jewels inspires passions he should not-nay can not-indulge, even if he wants too... desperately.
The genre Romantic Suspense Shattered has plenty of suspense.
The sex
Hot, hot, hot, but not crude.
There is one scene of angry sex, but they are both equally angry, it is not one-sided.
Lots of twists and turns
This includes intertwined relationships which might seem contrived (and they are) but they don't read as contrived. In the context of marital separation, there is a hint of another romance, but it is never consummated.
Violence
Yes. Torture (off page but strongly hinted at.) Murders. Kidnapping. Children witnessing murder.
Heads up Negatives to me
One of the children in the book is diagnosed with Leukemia. I'd rather have had this left out of the book. Is it a romance book or reality book?
There are a number of treatments discussed in the book.
The child survives and likely goes into remission in a relatively short time, which might not happen in RL.
All's well that ends well.
The ending is satisfying. Everything is settled in 423 pages and a pretty fast read, one you won't want to put down. If only life would follow suit!
Part of the Bitter Creek novel series
This book is part of the Bitter Creek series, one of seven other books. There is enough information given within the book that someone who has never read any of the other books, can get a sense of who is who and have a pretty good guess at what the other books contain.
My take
I liked this book a lot, but then romantic suspense is a genre I particularly like to read.
Rating: I'd rate it a 5 Stars for romantic suspense, and a 2 Stars because of the Leukemia thread.
This is the perfect day to give thanks and without further ado here is what I am most thankful for about romance:
Billionaires. Like Harlequin, I am thankful for billionaire heroes. Can you imagine an arrogant, brooding, and handsome Harlequin man not being the CEO of his own company? The horror! Shudders. Category romance would not be the same without them!
Vampires. I love vampires in my romance. I have loved them since I picked up Guilty Pleasures, my first Anita Blake Vampire Hunter book, and the loving hasn’t stopped. Thank you Joss Whedon for making Buffy The Vampire Slayer and giving us Angel! To Stephenie Meyer also, because now I have Angel and Jean-Claude and Edward Cullen.
Dukes. Historical romance, especially Regency romance, would languish without these handsome brutes. They do plenty of things real dukes did not like become spies for England on a regular basis, but that’s what make them so sexy. Don’t we all want to seduce a duke?
Blind leads. I love blind leads and I’m thankful for each and every romance book out there that has one and for every author that wrote one! You make my day every time I find a novel with this character flaw. There are never too many!
Authors. I am extremely thankful to romance authors. Without you, my bookshelves would be empty and my time filled doing something else other than reading, and as reading is my favorite thing to do that would be very sad indeed.
Publishers and Publicists. Without you I would not have heard of, found, or read many of the wonderful books you sent to share with me. Thank you for that and thank you for your generosity with my readers!
Bloggers. To my fellow romance bloggers, you are all wonderful and extremely talented, kind, and entertaining! I love reading your blogs and I would miss you if any of you decided to quit blogging.
Readers. To each and every reader of my blog, I am thankful for you too! I am so happy to have you here and enjoy reading all of the comments you leave. I hope to continue to earn your trust and friendship in the months and years to come.
Today is part four of five in announcing the Top 50 Romance Novel Blogs. I hope you take the time to go to these blogs and see what they have to offer!
And as always be sure to drop a comment and let me know if I've missed any of your favorite haunts as I will be composing a fan list to supplement my list at the end.
Romance B(u)y the Book- Dish with Michelle and the Bellas @ RBTB about Love, Sex, Family, Life, and, of course, Romance! (They have a newsletter subscription contest going on - ends 31st of March.)
Romance Novel TV- Video interviews with romance authors, really need I go on? Make it a destination of yours.
Romance Rookie- I have to promote Jill just because of the Florida background- though her 500+ bk reviews don't hurt either. She works at my alma mater. If it weren't for the trees and two kids I'd say we were the same person. (I loved Nancy Drew growing up and am also a Virgo.)
Romance Vagabonds- Four ladies + romance novels + hunks = a whole lot of fun.
Romancing the Blog- The title of this blog was my first idea for naming my blog. Isn't it cute? The columnists on Romancing the Blog are readers, reviewers, aspiring authors, and bestsellers.
Romantic Inks- I just love the colors of this website and the design - very pretty. 15 women actively write for this blog - that's a whole lot of wonderful posts!
It's past midnight - that makes it the next day right? I just couldn't wait to share these amazing blogs!
Get your pointer fingers ready to click on some great sites. I fully expect you to spend a few hours getting sucked into their blog posts. Don't forget to bookmark!
Without further ado here's the next ten blogs in our countdown of the Top 50 Romance Blogs:
Much Cheaper Than Therapy- No, they're no psychologists, they're a group of authors blogging for our enjoyment.
Night Owl Romance- Book reviews, excerpts, chats, and more. Be sure to check out the main site also!
Racy Romance Reviews- Reviews, reflections, and commentaries on the genre. Jessica tends to write with a slant toward feminist ethical criticism.
Ramblings on Romance- Katiebabs Kristie is like me addicted to reading, reviewing and writing. lol
Reading Adventures- Marg enjoys lots of genres but mainly Historical Fiction, Romance, Cozy Mysteries and Young Adult fiction
Reading Romance Books- Written by lovers of the romance genre who like to read and give their opinions.
Rip My Bodice- Reclaiming the term bodice ripper one book review at a time!
Risky Regencies- The original, riskiest, and forever friskiest Regency Romance Blog.
Romance Bandits- Stories that will steal your heart. Viewpoints from a number of 2006 Golden Heart finalists on life, love, romance, the writing industry and various forms of chocolate.
I've been getting some good recommendations from readers - keep them coming! I'm going to build another list out of your favorites that didn't make the original Top 50 list!
by Virginia Henley. I never really understood what it was about romance that I liked, but I would rarely pick up a non-romance book. And only recently, when my editor at Loose Id gave me some terrific advice about punching up Cold Victory, did I understand what exactly about romances drew me.
will always be one of my favorite movies. Yoda was great, Luke had to grow up, but it was Han and Lea that held me captivated. (My parents always wondered why I would watch the movie over and over and yet keep fasting forward on some of the parts) That scene where Han tells Lea he's a "nice man" before kissing her?? HOT!
the re-imagined series: So many reasons why they couldn't be together. And yet the tension between them was so tight it all but melted my screen. (That scene where Lee's eyes all but bugged out when Starbuck cleaned up nice with that red dress? YUM!)
. I can hear Angel fans cursing me now... Actually I used to be one of them. But this is where Joss Whedon's brilliance shines - a perfect example of sexual tension. Those two characters seriously hated each other, and that hatred literally brought down the house when they finally got it on. I loved the scene where Spike was fighting Buffy and tried to kiss her - both of them shocked, and both of them wondering what it would feel like.
by J.D Robb is something I consider a classic. A tough yet vulnerable heroine, a mysteriously sexy hero hot enough to melt through her detective shield... A cop who falls for the murder suspect - talk about sexual tension there!
, my first Anita Blake Vampire Hunter book, and the loving hasn’t stopped. Thank you Joss Whedon for making 
and giving us 
! To 
