I've never read one... am I missing out?
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I used to read them. Haven't in years!
You're not missing out..! -
You are not missing out. I used to read them all the time, but they pretty much follow the same format. Amazon practically tries to give them away with all the Kindle deals, I've bought books on my Kindle app and they offer me romance books for .99, I never waste my money on that.
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Eh, sometimes, when I just feel like reading something super mindless and trashy. You're not missing anything!
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Not missing out..I have read a few back in the day
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I read them in junior high. So cheesy.
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Yes. Yes ,I do.
And while I agree with other posters that it is not a genre one needs in order to complete their literary experience, I don't think they are a waste of bookshelf, either. Just like any other genre there are good and bad authors ( or authors you like and authors you don't like).
On a side note, it kinda bugs me that 50 Shades and the knock offs it spawned are the most recent poster children of romance novels- that's erotica, not romance, and not every romance novel is about young women and domineering men hooking up. Just saying'.
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@lizzywiz: Recommend a great romance novel to me, and I will definitely read it!
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@mrbee: hm. I think I will take on this challenge! Give me a sub genre to help narrow it down: historical, fantasy, contemporary, paranormal, mystery, etc. In other words, tell me genre or type of setting you typically enjoy reading about and I will take it from there!
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@lizzywiz: I will read anything! No vampires though please.
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@mrbee: ok- I'm on a mission, now!
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@mrbee:
Ok- I wanted to think on this more but my lo is sickly and if I don't answer now I'll get lost in the sauce.
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Time traveling + Scotland= about as true to romance genre as it gets.
But if it is too long, I also liked Naked in Death by J.D. Robb (romantic suspense/mystery).
I might think of a couple more titles in the night and if so I'll update in a.m. -
@lizzywiz: ok let me know what your final answer is, and I'll check it out!
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Does 50 shades of gray count?! Other than that, I've never read a romance novel!
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I'll admit that I do. I have read pretty much everything by Nora Roberts. It's my secret guilty pleasure for when I want something completely mindless. My husband hates it. But I honestly think that lots of successful, intelligent women have an "escape," whether it be romance novels or trashy TV.
There's a negative side to romance, though. Much like fairy tales/princess stories, romance novels create a false sense of reality in which every man has a sensitive side and every story has a happy ending. I have gone through stages in my life when romance novels were NOT my friends because they gave me a really skewed view of how life/relationships should be.
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@mrbee: it is up to you- either of the two I mentioned. No new ideas came in the night
Outlander is historical, (think drama, intrigue, WWII, Scots fight for freedom, etc)600 pages or so.
Naked in Death is contemporary (actually set in the future) crime/police/suspense, 350 pages or there abouts.
They are two I really liked, and I *think* (if I remember correctly) no innocent young ingenue to be found, so I definite departure from some of the current popular stuff.
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I read them but avoid the "typical romance novel" that I started with back in the day like those from Harlequin. I used to love Sandra Brown and Nora Roberts style romance novels but over time they became too formulaic and I stopped reading them. I've since moved on to a heavier emotional side like books by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Susan Wiggs, and Robyn Carr for pure romance. There are so many sub-genres of romance that there is something for everyone in the romance genre - you just have to find it.
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@pelikila: I like Susan Elizabeth Phillips, too! Any recommendations for @mrbee: ?
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No... I read lots of books with romance in them, but it's never the main focus of the story.
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@lizzywiz: For SEP my two favorites are "Ain't She Sweet" and "Dream a Little Dream".
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If I want something mindless/easy then I read a romance novel. DH calls them my porns LOL
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Yep!
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I read them a lot - I like knowing there is always going to be a happy ending! Three I would recommend are The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne, Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh, and The Iron Duke by Meljean Brooks.
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I love historical romance, think regency, Jane Austenesque settings. I write them as well, sadly not been published yet but that won't keep me from writing and trying.
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@lizzywiz: YES to Outlander. Great recommendation.
I like romance novels because I always know what will happen at the end. Reading them is like a palate cleanser for me especially if I've just finished a sadder book. I stick to the historical romance novels mostly.
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@MrsKoala: My grandma hid hers, and one day I found one. She said, "That's my historical fiction. Don't tell your grandpa." I did wonder a little about the Fabio-esque man on the cover and the lady with large... assets, but her answer seemed reasonable at the time. I think I was eight.
I don't really read romance. I've definitely read some books where that was more of a focus, and I did actually enjoy Diana Gabaldon, but I generally like to stick to what Mr. T always teases me is, "Lit-rature." Stuffy books.
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Yes. Lol. I read it when I don't feel like thinking too hard about what I'm reading. They're light and fluffy.
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@pelikila: I have read a ton of Nora Roberts and just found Robyn Carr. I love her! Her Virgin River series is SO GOOD.
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My husband has been reading the Outlander Series. My DH is reading romance?! LOL. Is there a difference between romance and raunchy romance?
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I enjoy romance novels, I call them mind numbing fiction. Sometimes I just need to read something mindless and they fit that need. I don't really read erotica or harlequin type romance though, I like at least an interesting plot and story line. I also like chick lit and often those have romance as a subplot.
@pelikila: I've enjoyed several of Susan Wiggs books.
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@lizzywiz: Ok just bought Nora's book. Will report back after I've read, "Naked in Death"!
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@mrbee: Good choice! I enjoy her J.D. Robb books.
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Eh no. I read mostly non-fiction.
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@HolisticMama: Technically, the Outlander series isn't considered romance even though a romantic relationship between the two main characters is the center for the series and a lot of romance readers love it. I'd consider it more historical fiction. 10 years ago, you could find Outlander in the Romance section of the bookstore but now it's in the Fiction section.
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I do on occasion, just because I know they're predictable and they live happily ever after.
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I do. Especially when I just want a light easy read.
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I love Nora Roberts! I like her In Death series too.
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I do! I read pretty much everything
I do like the JD Robb books - it will be interesting to see if @mrbee likes it!I also really like Julia Quinn's books - they're Regency and I just find her writing really clever.
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I do read them, but not as often now. I still read every Nora Roberts even though the formularic nature does bug me more than previously. I used to read historical romance voraciously.
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@lizzywiz: I agree with you 100%!
I read paranormal romances and I LOVE them. The ones I read tend to have and overall storyline that spans multiple books while each book focuses on the romance between two people. But it's not JUST about the romance! I'm not embarrassed to have romances in my bookcase!
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44 comments