Romance novels are some of my favorite forms of escapism. Personally, I like well written historicals-I like the tension between characters where they are in love with each other but something is keeping them apart-and lets face it, in modern life there aren't a lot of reasons for two adults who are interested in each other to be kept apart (unless they are married-and romance novels usually don't do adultery). In historical novels, there are oh so many legitimate reasons-the class structure, religion, family quarrels, espionage and intruge, being promised to someone else, etc.

And as an article I read once pointed out-good romances are actually pretty hard to write. After all, usually from the first chapter you can figure out who the hero and the heroine are, and you know that there is going to be a happy ending where they wind up either married or committed. So the author has to convince you, knowing the ending, to read the entire book anyway

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Originally posted by dcgrrrl1979:
- believable, funny, real characters (not to mention good dialogue). Er, and good pantyripping scenes.

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for historical novels, i have found that i like karyn monk, amanda quick and mary balogh...but then, i likes me a feisty heroine, anachronism be damned!

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Originally posted by hermitclare:
[B]for historical novels, i have found that i like karyn monk, amanda quick and mary balogh...but then, i likes me a feisty heroine, anachronism be damned!
B]

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Originally posted by Riah:
There's just something about a man who loves the "convenience" of wearing a kilt.

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*Snort*

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I hate the story lines where the main characters fight for 2/3+ of the book and then magicallly realize they fight because they are madly in love in the last 5 pages. I mean really, who wants 280 pages of arguing? If I want constant bickering I'll go stay with the in-laws for a weekend. [/B]

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*Giggle*

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Originally posted by EmmaNadine:
I used to read Amanda Quick, I'd snitch them from my mom.

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Oh yeah, I totally forgot to mention amanda quick!

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Originally posted by kmp_flamingo:
Oh, Jennifer Cruise is a pretty good trashy writer too. She has strong women characters and actual plot. I like her a lot.

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I too especially love historical romance. Especially when the plot is good and doesn't rely on raunchy sex scenes. I read awfully fast, so I can usually get one done in 2 hours or less, so I have to get plenty so I can just read nonstop all day. mmmmmmm

I keep this hush hush because if all of my other English major friends/professors/family knew they would never look at me the same. haha

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Originally posted by shadowfalls:

I too especially love historical romance. Especially when the plot is good and doesn't rely on raunchy sex scenes.

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Originally posted by shadowfalls:
I too especially love historical romance. Especially when the plot is good and doesn't rely on raunchy sex scenes.

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I think the funniest thing about my TR habit is that my "supplier" is my great-grandmother. She belonged to the H@rlequin book club during the 60's, 70's and 80's. The woman has literaly 50 or so boxes full of these books. Most of them have only a smattering of "lustful situations" (her words) and the plots are usually pretty good. You can really tell when the women's movment kicked into high gear, the female charaters changed from doe-eyed dependants to self-sufficent career women in the span of about 5 years.

How many more overacted TV movies can be made where the woman falls for the good guy, only for things to turn out that the good guy is really a bad guy, and the guy that she didn't trust is really the good guy (supported by a cast of 'stars' who were in TV shows of their own years ago).

I find that I actually skim some of the sex scenes lately

I guess that is why I really prefer historicals. In modern society, two unattached adults who are wildly attracted to each other and single really don't have many reasons why they SHOULDN'T get together, at least sexually. Well, OK, there are reasons, but none that can hold up in a romance novel where you have to have them really get together at the end. Lets face it, most of the conflicts in contemporary romances could be fixed if the two characters actually sat down and talked to each other.

On the other hand, historicals offer all sorts of reasons why they shouldn't be together.

Bertrice Small
Lori Foster
Emma Holly
Robin Schone
Thea Devine (although her books are really filled with symbolism and I don't read romances to look for hidden meanings )
Susan Johnson

Most of those authors are bordering on Erotica so like I mentioned.. depends on how trashy you want to go

I also enjoy Diana Gabaldon and Nora Roberts as well as Janet Evanovich and Brenda Joyce. And for a sweet romance with almost no naughty bits there is always Katherine Stone. Her books are really hauntingly beautiful.

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Originally posted by Ms. Moneypenny:

I haven't read any of them yet. I was too young when they were published and just haven't gotten around to it since I've gotten older. I need to start reading them.

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I don't suppose you could share a title with us? I would love to know If I have read them or not