The romance novel industry has been designing covers for a very long time. We've seen swooning couples, floating heads, headless bodies, photoshop overlays of couples and scenery, women in fancy dresses, and plain fancy font covers with inserts. The current trends of floating heads and headless bodies are an interesting oxymoronic mix.
On the last, I asked on Twitter about the headless body phenomenon known as mantitty.
The tweet read:
Why do romance novel covers crop mid-head or at the neck? Seriously, my art professors would kill me for those design decisions.
I was taught when drawing the human body you never cut off at a joint. Ever. It makes the body look truncated, misshapen, and distorted. If you're going to crop a body you crop mid bone section - mid thighs, mid arms, etc.
@amhartnett: easier than finding models who match the entire look of char.? Let's the reader fill in blank face with their imagination?
Both responses point to the model as being a bad representative for the male lead. With all the models out there, there should be one that can represent the hero accurately enough.
The first response begs the question of what is handsome. Considering all the notions of beauty out there, one face might very well attract and repel the same amount of readers.
My guess is publishers are catering to the mass of readers instead of creating a cover that accurately represents the novel. I mean how offensive can a hot, finely honed male body be? Forget that 99.98% are hairless for those that love chest hair.
Originally posted 2009-06-11 14:48:38. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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.
Ten more fantastic blogs for you to check out today! Add them to your favorites and don't forget to say hi!
Subscribe to all Top 100+ romance blogs with this Google Reader Romance Novel Bundle. It's easy and a great way to keep your thumb on all the latest happenings.
Romantic Crush Junkies – Christine S. Morehouse runs RCJ. It’s a beautiful looking blog with lots of cover art.
Continuing on with the Top 50 New Romance Novel Blogs of 2010... Here are 10 more blogs to visit, say hi to, and fall in love with! Don't forget you can subscribe to both lists with this Google Reader Romance Novel Bundle.
Lusty Reader – She lusts for books, especially romance novels.
Medieval Book Worm – Meghan reads and reviews a lot of fiction set in the medieval time period; you will find everything from historical fiction to medieval romances and back again.
Monkey Bear Reviews – Sarah is a romanceaholic and like me began to read romance at a very tender age.
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.
These blogs are added to last year’s list of 50 romance blogs to watch. The grand total is up to 100. That's a lot of romance blogs!
There are at least 50 more I have not mentioned, especially author blogs, feel free to subscribe all at once to this ever growing list of blogs through the Google Romance Novel Reader Bundle I set up.
This list, like last year's, is posted in alphabetical order.
Alpha Heroes – And the Women who Love Them! Nicola O. runs it and has been reading romance for over three decades.
Bootstrap Book Marketing – More for authors than readers, though I find it very interesting. If you’re like me you will be bookmarking and saving a lot of the posts to refer back to later. ***Tracy folded this blog before this post went live but all the articles can be found here.***
Cataromance – All about category romance, it’s books, it’s authors, and it’s readers.
Last time I gave you 4 Monetary Tips to Reduce your TBR pile. This post is going to give you some ideas on how organizing your TBR pile can motivate you to get through it.
1. Start a Spreadsheet.
Enter all the books from your current to be read pile and then all the books you've read that you have on your bookshelf. Before selecting any new books for your collection double check your spreadsheet to make sure there are no repeats.
2. Group by Common Denominator.
Put your organizational skills to work and group your TBR pile into smaller piles. Sort your books by a common denominator such as subgenre, author, size, year, or similar titling. Do it however it pleases you best and make it a goal to read one book each month from your new smaller piles. By getting your TBR pile manageable, you are not faced with the daunting task of choosing a book to read or the prospect of a book avalanche.
3. Challenge Yourself.
Did you know that supposedly the average romance novel reader can read 10-40 books in a month? This statistic is pulled from the Romantic Times advertising page. With that in mind and knowing that some people work best with goals, I challenge readers to reading the mean - 20 books - with sub goal of reaching as close to 40 books as possible this month. Here's a game to get you started (and remember only choose books from your TBR pile!):
Books 1-5 by authors you've never read before.
Books 6-10 by your favorite authors.
Books 11-15 in a genre or sub-genre you've never tried.
Books 16-20 in your favorite genre or sub-genre.
Repeat for books 20-40 if you get that far. Do this challenge with a buddy and now you're accountable to someone other than yourself. Get together once a week and go for coffee. Talk about the books you read and if you're on target to the goal you could even swap a few and read for next month.
4. Purge: Be Ruthless.
Yes, I know, it's a sad thing to even contemplate, but it's for your own good. Go through the pile and anything you bought more than six months ago seriously consider removing, permanently. If you weren't inspired to pick it up and read it six months after purchasing the book, chances are you'll never get to it. Donate the books to your local library and get a receipt for tax purposes or use the books as swapping material on Paperback Swap.
5. The 3 Strike System.
Start a 3 Strike System. If you pick a book up and decide not to read it mark the side of the book (not the spine, the pages) with a pencil. When a book gets its third strike, remove it from your TBR pile. This system can be modified to 4 or 5 or 6 strikes, but be consistent and don't waver once you get to the last strike. The book might have sounded good to you when you first got it, but it's not calling to you anymore. Pass it on.
*This idea originally came from Willa in the Paperback Swap TBR Reduction Thread.
6. Keep it Simple. Start Slow.
Make the goal easy. Did you put last week's purchases on the floor because there was no space? Read enough from your pile to move those babies off the floor and onto the shelf.
Are your books in six locations? Pick a location and read them. All of them. That's one less location to trip over your books and a simple goal that allows you to focus on your reading instead of your buying.
7. Share Your Reduction Tip!
Now it's your turn to talk about your TBR pile and what you do to keep it under control. Leave a comment in the form below!
You know how they say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, well I do. I picked up Jacquie D’Alessandro’s Sleepless at Midnight last fall because of the cover. It was sensual while not being risqué. I bought it when I read that the heroine snuck into his room to spy on him bathing. I was not disappointed. What followed was some of the best dialog I had ever read in a romance novel with a touching story besides. In addition to the witty repartee the bedroom scenes should be noted. They are exceptional: steamy, sticky, and sexy.
Miss Sarah Moorehouse is plain, bespectacled, and unfashionably tall with a naughty side a mile long. She forms secret clubs, reads a novel that would raise eyebrows, sneaks into men’s private rooms, and draws pictures of naked men in her sketchbook. Matthew Langston finds her fascinating.
However, Matthew can’t afford to find her so. He has to fulfill two death bed promises to his father. The first is restoring the estate and the second is getting married within a year of the old man’s passing. His father’s last few words were about a windfall hidden on the estate. If he could find it before time was up he could marry the woman of his dreams and not the one of the pretty heiresses staying at his house party.
Rating: 5 Stars
Happy Readings!
Originally posted 2008-11-17 15:25:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Disclaimer: My tips are not guaranteed to work in real life. They are merely conclusions drawn from the literature I love to read and are meant to be fun and taken lightly.
First tip right off the cuff: Never insult a girl who reads romance novels. Whether you find them trashy or not, you need to support the literature of her choice. If you don’t she will throw a 1980s rapist alpha hero at you. I don’t imagine the results will be very pretty for you. So do take care.
The second thing you need to know is that every romance novel perpetuates love between the hero and the heroine as an automatic given. He gets the girl after courting her, even if he doesn’t realize he’s courting. He might think of it simply as seduction. And some heroes are just clueless about the whole process.
Romances play off the idea of the soul mate, the one and only and occasionally second chances. Does that mean number two is not as good as number one? No, that’s why the book was written about the second love instead of the first. Where am I going with all of this?
The sizzle of attraction.
I’m not talking about simple ordinary chemistry. I’m talking about potent chemistry. Chemistry that has your entire being screaming (as it did in Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie) “THIS ONE!”
Attraction is the foundation for first contact between leads in romances. If you’re not attracted to her, why are you pursuing her? If she’s not attracted to you, it’s not going to work either.
3 Tips on Being Attractive Without Being Friend Zoned:
Nearly every romance novel has a condensed relationship. Physical attraction is rapidly pushing both characters toward each other (and I don’t mean just in the sack!) Make your move sooner rather than later. Snails move faster than you.
Since I’m pulling from romances, I’m going to warn you that this tip is superficial. You guessed it: appearance. Almost every hero is smartly dressed and muscular/fit. Some heroes have chest hair, some have facial hair, some are smooth as a baby’s bottom, but they’re all well groomed. So comb your hair, throw away those shirts with holes, and take a shower.
Alphas, Betas, Omegas, and Nerds in romances all possess purpose. Being purposeful gives you an aura that is both sexy and attractive. Find what inspires you, makes you happy and psyched without a girl and keep that a vital part of your life. It's just a bonus if it's something you and her can share.
Courtship.
Usually by the courtship stage in a romance there are many indicators of interest on both parties (even if they are still refusing to acknowledge it openly) starting with physical cues.
Blushing, stammering, blood racing, eyes gleaming, all these are physical cues which go right back to that potent chemistry I was talking about earlier. Look for these clues in her and yourself. Do you get a buzz from being around each other?
Other indicators are touching, flirting, and kissing. The hero and heroine in a romance novel are always participating in casual touches, banter, and passionate kisses. Some of the most common descriptors for kisses in romance are devastating, intoxicating, slow, deep, and hungry.
It’s the hungry that I would like to take a look at more closely. What does a hungry kiss imply? It implies a few things—the first and foremost a singular craving for the other person. You are dying for a taste. (Back off Edward Cullen, I didn't mean quite so literally!)
It also indicates that the physical hunger is in part, a manifestation of deeper underlying emotions. Not only is she physically appealing to you, but the inner person is appealing also. (Chocolaty on the outside, crunchy on the inside with just a hint of caramel.)
Be sure to express the pleasure you find with her in every manner possible in both verbal and nonverbal ways.
Declaration of Love and Marriage Proposals.
Heroes of romances always have great lines even if they tank in practice.
Take Jane Austen’s Mr. Darcy: “You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and adore you.”
Who doesn’t swoon at that? (Well, okay, except for Elizabeth.) Sigh...
Mr. Darcy is the person in front of you in a competition who just wiped the floor with you before you even had a chance. But don’t be disheartened, just because Darcy’s a tough act to follow doesn’t mean you’re completely incapable of making a woman swoon. Like I said earlier, he's got the lines but his execution left a little to be desired. Darcy's first proposal to Elizabeth tanked, just as Mr. Thornton tanks his when proposing to Margaret. Don't know who Mr. Thornton is? Watch and find out:
Conclusion: Don't be afraid of a shaky dismount, just be sure to stick it. If they can come back from being shot down so completely, you can too.
But the words! How do I find the words?
Of course, all the great lines from heroes are scripted to them by writers, most of them female. We know how tough it is to come up with great lines in the heat of the moment, heck they're hard to find when you've got time to plan them out, and we don’t expect you to hand us the perfectly scripted line. In fact, I’m pretty sure the perfect line will be one that comes to you naturally, even if it’s silly or embarrassing. If it sounds like you we’ll trust it, love it, and accept it.
Though you really can't go wrong if you stick with, "I love you, please marry me."
Today I am reviewing Knight’s Fork by Rowena Cherry. This is my first ARC (advance review copy; official book release is September 30, 2008) and I eagerly read the whole novel in two days! Knight’s Fork is just one novel in the futuristic set series about the Great Djinn race. Knight’s Fork contains all the right stuff from a stowaway princess to a knight’s quest and the threat of death licking at their heels. This book and series would be great for any lover of alien paranormal romance or paranormal romance in general.
Watch out for the ‘Dj’ names! There’s quite a few to remember and follow! The romance novel is filled to overflowing with political intrigue and the key players are trying to play everybody else all at the same time to get their way. The main characters have to watch out for who their enemies are and who their allies are.
Cherry titles her novels after chess moves, and yes the characters do play chess and the move in question is used several times throughout the novel. Knight’s Fork in particular is about a choice between two evils – you’re going to lose something and the decision becomes which loss is acceptable?
This choice is ‘Rhett’s, a Saurian Knight, and it is between power and a female. Saurian is another alien race, but don’t let this fool you about this white knight. Back to the point - how can power or a female be a bad choice whichever you choose? A grab for power will set other leaders in a tizzy and the female is another male’s mate that’s how!
The rival male is King of another alien race, the Volnoth, and taking Electra could start a war on par with the ancient Greek war over Helen of Troy. It’s too bad for ‘Rhett that he’s tempted by Electra and not by the power offered. Far more tempting is that she wants him… for his sperm. What’s a knight to do?
This novel and series isn’t for the fainthearted that likes their romances to be mild and sweet. Urban colloquialisms for sex and emissions abound, the Great Djinn even regularly swear by Carnality! However for those who crave the contemporary slang and straightforward nature to the approach of sex Knight’s Fork is deliciously racy and erotic. The whole novel revolves around sex!
You could compare Cherry’s novel to Laurell K. Hamilton’s Meredith Gentry series about fairies because the Princess Electra seeks to get pregnant just like Meredith does. Or you could compare the novel to the Twilight Saga with ‘Rhett being a virgin, sworn to a vow of chastity, similar to Edward’s chase behavior. Whatever parallels you draw, Cherry spins a great story.
Rating: 3.5-4 Stars
Originally posted 2008-09-11 05:56:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Jennifer Crusie is a staple of contemporary romance. As such I felt the need to expand my acquaintance with her. Before this, I had only read Bet Me. So you see, I really needed to fix this oversight. I got Manhunting from the library and breezed through it in just a few short days.
Kate Svenson is a brilliant business woman in financial planning. She thrives on helping small businesses create and execute business plans that stabilize and expand their business. It’s been years since she’s worked on small scale though. Working for her dad, Kate does work for big business now and making oodles of money. She should be on top of her game, but three broken engagements in three years point to something wrong under the surface.
Her friend Jesse Rogers, a woman who Kate helped a long time ago with her cake decorating business, sets Kate down to do what Kate does best—make a plan! Not just any plan, but the plan that will help Kate find her perfect man and take a vacation while she’s at it. Her qualities are good on paper but the men she meets are anything but perfect. In fact her experiences at the Cabins make quite a joke.
Jake Templeton is the landscape manager and silent partner at the Cabins. His brother Will runs it and is the face. Will, like the rest of the family (which never makes an appearance), is tired of Jake’s lazy lay about ways. He wants Jake to take more interest in the hotel but Jake is determined to stay an ex tax attorney and not indulge in a single ambition. One failed marriage has cured him of what ambition he had.
Jake and Kate are thrown together a lot. Kate is certain he’s not her Mr. Perfect. Jake’s certain Kate is just like his ex-wife. They’re both about to find out how wrong they are…
Kate and Jake are kind of flat characters for me. They read like any other contemporary romance novel leads. Nothing in particular set them apart for me. The whole novel was like eating candy. It was good while you read it but ultimately lacking in nutrition.
This question has been asked in one form or another since romance novels went mainstream. Authors have been dismissed because they write romance instead of science fiction or crime books or other normal genres. If the cover has bulging pectorals and swooning women then it must be girl porn. Shame on you, haven't you heard the advice never judge a book by its cover?
Romance has been dismissed and labeled by many derogatory terms such as trashy romance novel, bodice-rippers, girl porn, chick porn, chick-lit, virgin bibles, horny hystericals, etc. Some of these terms like trashy romance novel have become a badge of honor to declare with pride by readers. i.e. "I love trashy romance novels!" Similarly there are people out there who will tell you they are proud that they don't read them. Did you know that the romance industry sells over 50% of all paperback books? Looking at figures like those, it's hard to mock romance.
Writing a romance novel takes a lot of work. What happens if you start off with characters and can't make them come together romantically in a believable way? You'll wind up with the square pegs in round holes syndrome and a book you can't possibly sell. Just look at JKR's Harry Potter Saga - the best romance in the book is the only one she didn't attempt to show or explain and that was James and Lily Potter. Clearly writing romance is not Rowling's forte. So if a world renowned author can't write romance believably wouldn't that prove it's a tough quota to fill?
To be able to repeatedly produce quality heroes and heroines that fall in love, have sexual tension, and resolve all their issues is phenomenal and should be awarded not punished.
But the sex and the sin!
A lot of people are under the misapprehension that sex, marital or otherwise in a romance is sinful and shouldn't be read. Romance novels are only okay if you can read them to your grandmother. But what if you're grandmother is particularly savvy and cool? Wouldn't this test be disqualified?
On an interesting note the romance industry not too long ago, think 80s and earlier, thought premarital sex would turn readers away. This is where the term bodice-ripper is derived, specifically in conjunction with Desert and Sheik love.
Erotica writers take sex in romance to a new level - is this a bad thing? No, I say, it's not. Sex has its place, so does plot, dialogue, and deux ex machina. It's hard to write - just read the author interviews here on this website and you'll see what I mean.
So I say to the unenlightened, this is the new millennia. Get over it or please tell me you only watch Bollywood movies where even kissing is taboo in most cases. (Though Bollywood movies can easily pour on the heat - it's all that unrequited tension! Yum!)
Does that mean that all sex is good sex in a romance or in other words when is sex gratuitous like a bathroom scene in a movie? The answer again is no. I think sex is gratuitous when it serves to just be there as page filler just like the bathroom scene in a movie.
Conclusion:
Clearly, I think the issue lies with personal phobias. The idea of being caught with a romance novel is embarrassing to some. These are the people I feel should most definitely be introduced to romance novels. It's okay, we're here to hold your hand and if absolutely needed, you have our permission to read it under the covers with a flashlight.
In the end I must ask, who's out there demeaning men for watching dare I say it - man porn?
Kiss and Tell is going to be the start of a new series of posts here at Love Romance Passion. The idea came to me last night when I was talking with my fellow romance novel reading friend about how heroes in romance despite having less wiggle room in appearance/wealth/status than their heroines, they are surprisingly unique across authors and within the writing of a particular author. We got to wondering if this was because the women writing them put pieces of their own real life hero into the fictional model. Did the author ever write a story basing a hero entirely on her own flesh and blood one? And perhaps he's never consciously influenced the heroes in the stories, but that doesn't mean he isn't a hero in his own right.
Authors Answer This: In the end what makes him, your husband (or boyfriend), your hero?
Male writers are welcome to tune in by answering what makes their wife or girlfriend their heroine. Similarly writers with same sex partners are invited to share as well. Just switch out any references below to the appropriate gender/status.
Why Participate?
You mean you might need other reasons than a chance to tell all how wonderful your partner is? If you write a byline to go with your article to introduce yourself, you can include any and as many links as you want to direct readers on where to find you. That's some pretty good PR right there because LRP has a solid Google PR.
How to Participate:
Participation in this series is pretty basic and virtually painless (unless of course you insult your lover in some grievous fashion, then I'm sure it'll be pretty painful. But as that is nearly impossible to do you should be fine. Grin.)
Post details: Include photo of husband to go alongside article. Photo could also be of you and your husband or one of the whole family. There is a 250 word minimum. No maximum as we'd love for you to share your courting anecdotes, happily ever after tales, gossip and dirt. Feel free to include any links to blogs and websites to feature alongside your submission.
Video details: Potentially less time spent on this than writing a post, and you can tell a lot in a very short period of time. Please make your video between 2 minutes and 5 minutes in length and under 100 MB. We'll host you on YouTube at Love Romance Passion's channel and share the video with blog readers. Twice the exposure!
Email article and photos to Keira at reviewromancenovel[at]yahoo[dot]com.
Her Every Pleasure is the third book in the Spice trilogy about three siblings, British citizens, who have grown up in India. It is a story of duty, honor and destiny which would seem predictable for a romance novel; but add an ambitious Sheik and ruthless Janissaries bent on conquering Europe and converting it to Islam, and it becomes much more interesting.
Gabriel Knight has retired from the Regulars and withdrawn from life while recuperating from an arrow in the abdomen as well as the horrors of war. Having had an after death experience, he believes that he has a destiny to fulfill. At six feet, four inches tall and heavily muscled, he is the epitome of tall dark and handsome. A warrior and leader of men he must learn to follow before fulfilling his destiny.
Princess Sophia has been attacked on the road to London and has fled to hide in a barn on what she supposes is an abandoned farm. She intends to masquerade as a servant while waiting to be rescued by her security team. Over the years, one by one, her entire family has been assassinated until she is the last in line to rule the Greek island kingdom of Kavros. She has been taught to defend herself by her head of security and will kill when necessary. When Gabriel finds her asleep, he assumes that she is a gypsy with loose morals that his brother sent to ‘take care of his needs'. They are strongly attracted to each other but each resist because of duty, honor and destiny, not understanding that those are the very reasons that they should be together.
Her Every Pleasure is told with vivid visual descriptions and a tightly constructed plot. The characters are fully developed and sympathetic. Although the characters and events are entirely fictional, the story is told with historical realism. Galen Foley is always a good read.
If you too would like to write LRP a guest post, Keira would be thrilled to include you on her blog. Please check out the provided link for guidelines.
Originally posted 2008-12-03 15:12:22. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
What makes a novel memorable? Is it the characters? The sex? The plot? The setting? The writing? The angst? All of the above play a part, but for me angst is king.
What is angst?
Angst is moving, and emotional, and evocative. It is 100% relatable. Everyone has doubts, fears heartbreak, has experienced pain.
In a romance novel angst is the big conflict. It is the elephant in the room or the giant hurdle the leads have to overcome together. It will drive a wedge in the relationship and they will separate as they try to figure things out for themselves. The test of the relationship is in the angst.
How deeply did they feel?
Angst is valuable and purposeful, not because it’s a way to eek out an extra 15-30 thousand words for a story. Angst is important because it is the culmination of all the little hints and worries and fears into the singular instance that will bring the conflict to its head and start the argument or break up of the leads. Our reaction to it as a reader is a measure of how much the writer got us to care. When we are invested everything changes.
How deeply do I feel?
The payoff:
Nothing worth while is achieved without effort and hardship and this includes the HEA.
"[A]bove all, in an ending, the reader/audience has to CARE. A good ending has an emotional payoff, and it has to be proportionate to what the character AND the reader/audience has experienced." Alexandra Sokoloff
Angst is just the first step in the emotional payoff the writer gives the reader for reading the story. We know going in that there will be highs and lows, happiness and sadness, fluff and angst. The second step in the emotional payoff is in the fixing of the mess or problem. This can be done any way the author feels like, but it must make sense.
A hero wouldn’t suddenly believe the heroine’s tale about how the man she spent the night with all alone at the inn was in fact her cousin if he’s prone to jumping to conclusions or is highly skeptical and jaded when it comes to women and their feelings. He will confront her and not give her a chance. He has to learn the truth of what actually happened outside of the relationship. Then he has to feel guilty for not trusting her and only after all that can he be allowed to find a HEA with the heroine. This usually comes after a nice long grovel. This heroic grovel is our reward as readers for dealing with difficult heroes and it tastes damn good.
or 
This question has been asked in one form or another since romance novels went mainstream. Authors have been dismissed because they write romance instead of science fiction or crime books or other normal genres. If the cover has bulging pectorals and swooning women then it must be girl porn. Shame on you, haven't you heard the advice never judge a book by its cover?
- the best romance in the book is the only one she didn't attempt to show or explain and that was James and Lily Potter. Clearly writing romance is not Rowling's forte. So if a world renowned author can't write romance believably wouldn't that prove it's a tough quota to fill?
Participation in this series is pretty basic and virtually painless (unless of course you insult your lover in some grievous fashion, then I'm sure it'll be pretty painful. But as that is nearly impossible to do you should be fine. Grin.)
