Romance and Me: Is it the money? – The Appeal of the Billionaire Hero

Hey Everyone!

It has come to our attention (thanks Amanda for pointing it out) that lately there has been a real billionaire hero boom in romance novels. No, of course I’m not saying this is something new, wealthy, obscenely rich, exotic heroes were always à la mode for category romances, it’s only that in the past couple of weeks we have read novel after novel featuring one of them (like Weekend Agreement, The Marriage Bargain, Blackmailed by the Italian Billionaire just to name a few). So we wondered what is it about rich heroes that makes them such a popular choice?

Nina Croft author of Blackmailed by the Italian Billionaire even asked readers for their opinion and here are some of their answers:

Gaby: I think it’s because usually money gives a man power, and women don’t like powerless …

Romance and Me: The InstaLove Connection

Hey Everyone!

Today I thought I would talk to you about pet peeves. Romance novels certainly have quite a few of the usual clichés (soulmate connection, misunderstanding crisis, big love declaration at the end, etc.) and we romance lovers tend to tolerate and even enjoy them at times. However there are some that we just can’t accept.

One of those pet peeves that irritate me more than anything is the instalove connection. I’m sure you have already come across it in a novel or two when the hero and heroine meet, lock eyes and bada beem bada boom feel the Earth-shattering love, soul-deep connection after having known each other only for 5 minutes /2 days/ a week, etc. (recurring mentioning of the words destiny, fated, special bond, etc. usually appear) Any time I read this happening to a fictional couple it drives me hair-tearing-out mad.

Yep, just like …

Romance and Me: The Much Hated/Beloved Love Triangle

Hey Everyone!

After a little break Romance and Me is back but this time we are not talking historical romances but a much debated and controversial romance trope: love triangles!

Love Triangles seem to be “in”, wherever you turn it seems every novel or movie features them, from the Twilight saga to the new Hunger Games movie it is everywhere.

And everyone seems to have their opinion about them, you either love or hate them, there is usually little middle ground.

I would say I am pro-love triangles. Maybe it’s because until now I have only encountered ones where 

1) it was crystal clear to me with whom the heroine would end up, and

2) I was rooting for that hero.

Of course if I preferred the underdog hero maybe I’d have to revise my statement regarding love triangles (I’m …

Romance and Me: The HR Pet Peeves Edition

Hey Everyone!

Welcome back to the 4th Romance and Me post devoted to discussing Historical Romance. We have already discussed whether HR is a genre you enjoy reading, what attracts us to these stories and what is our favourite time period, so it’s time to share what we dislike about HRs, let’s talk pet peeves!

If I have to name one thing I don’t like about HRs what first comes to mind is TSTL (too-stupid-to-live) simpering whiny heroines! They irritate me so much, nothing like them to turn me off instantly of a perfectly good story. I like strong, intelligent and independent (at least in having them have their own ideas and thoughts) heroines and I don’t believe that only because it is a historical romance the women should all be weak simpering inane characters without any independent thought or backbone. …

Romance and Me: What do you love the most about Historical Romance?

Hey Everyone!

Welcome back to #3 of our Historical Romance sessions. Today let’s talk about what we love the most about historical romance stories!

I personally love them because they are the “grown up” version of fairy tales: there are princes (or at least dukes ;-)) and fair maidens, villain step-mothers and jealous sisters and of course a love that conquers all. I love the escape HR novels provide from the real world, that for those hours when I’m reading such a book there are gowns and balls and carriages and etiquette. And if I had to pick only one favourite thing from all the things I love about this genre is the fact that due to the time period’s social restrictions the love story between the h/h is even more heightened: every small glimpse and touch becomes more just because liberties aren’t done. *sighs*

Err..ok, …

Romance and Me: What’s your favourite HR time period?

Hey Everyone!

Welcome back to #2 of our Historical Romance sessions. Today we’ll discuss time periods. One of the best things about historical romance stories is that they come in all shapes and sizes i.e. set in so many different time periods. There are some set in Ancient Egypt (like Priestess of the Nile), Greece or Rome, Medieval times (all those delicious Highlander heroes *dreamy sighs*), then there are the many set in Regency/Victorian/Edwardian England with those dashing dukes and rogues, and sure there are the more modern ones set during World War I or II or later, just to name a few.

I love them all without any discrimination. I never discard a HR story based solely on the time period it is set in. I can’t pick one favourite time period I love above all the others, but there are certainly …

Romance and Me: Do you like the Historical Romance Sub-genre?

Hey Everyone!

When creating this bi-weekly feature we brainstormed that it would be a good opportunity to highlight and discuss the various romance subgenres as there are so many. Well the time has finally come to start our venture into Romance Sub-genres 101.

As Jackie needs her blackboard for her Elements of Lit 201 class, why not make this a more relaxed event and take a comfortable seat around the coffee table, you can choose from the sofa, armchairs, the plush carpet or even bean bags and let us begin!

Our first sub-genre to explore will be historical romance. As it is such a vast genre and we can discuss so many related topics it will be the subject of our discussions for a few weeks.

So to warm up the session,  as I knew that our little Book Lovers team was quite heterogeneous on the subject …

The Romance and Me Reading Challenge 2012

I love participating in reading challenges but I only discovered how much fun it was to organize them as well when I hosted the Book Lovers Inc Holiday Reading Challenge. Well I am back with a new challenge for 2012:

The Romance and Me Reading Challenge!

Why is this challenge different from the others? I’ll tell you, because every month we’ll be exploring new horizons of the romance genre! But here it is in more details:

Rules:

1. You have to read at least 1 book per month from the monthly theme.

2. There will be a monthly theme: each month we will explore a different romance sub-genre.

3. The challenge runs from 15 January 2012 until 31 December 2012, you can join anytime.

4. You can join the challenge by submitting the link of your general sign up post in the linky below (if …

Romance and Me: A Ghost Love Story or Romance Busters?

Hey Everyone!

Today’s discussion topic was inspired by our special author guest Stacey Kennedy and her latest release Supernaturally Kissed, which is a paranormal romance story between a breathing living heroine and a deceased ghost hero (you can read our dual review here).  I was immediately intrigued by the concept of how could an author write a love story, romantic relationship between a living person and a ghost and have the readers believe in their love and happiness? We romance lovers need our hero and heroine to touch, kiss, make love, then how can an author make a romantic relationship sound satisfactory and fulfilling without any physical contact? Is it possible?

To get the answer to the above question I asked my fellow Book Lovers, curious to see whether they have read any ghost romances and if they believe that ghost romances can be just as good …

Romance and Me: What’s your story?

Hey Everyone!

We have been discussing romance novel related topics for some months now, and even though you have told me about your firsts, I still haven’t heard your story. The story of how you discovered and fell in love with the romance genre.

Was it love at first read? Or did it take several books? What kind of romance novel is your favourite?

I started out by falling for historical romances, I’ve always loved period dramas, so reading historical romance stories felt natural to me. But somehow I wasn’t eager to read contemporary romances, the only exception were Nora Roberts books. (I discovered the whole romance genre thanks to my high school best friend lending me one of NR’s stories, and she became my “Nora Roberts dealer”.) HR was my first and only love for a very long time. I only got to like …