Romance Lovers for the Challenge-Impaired discussion
Archived: BOM/SGOM
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Sub-Genre of the Month for January 2018: ♥ Villain to Hero Romance
Too bad we don't have that Hugh d'Ambray story Ilona Andrews is apparently writing: Iron and Magic. I'd love to read that one!
SO in! still deciding...
I voted for this sub-genre so now I have to see if I've got anything on my To Read list that will fit.Wow that was tough. Not much that really fits in this sub-genre. I chose
Fire and Ice by Anne Stuart.
Lara wrote: "Too bad we don't have that Hugh d'Ambray story Ilona Andrews is apparently writing: Iron and Magic. I'd love to read that one!"Ooh that would have been perfect!
I think the problem with this sub genre is that most of the books are not the 1st book in the series. They have to show up in a few books to do their villainy and then be redeemed and have their own HEA .
my favorite romantic villains.
If this were a reading AND watching challenge, I would have it nailed with Once Upon a Time. Can't get enough of those villains turning into heroes-Rumple, Regina, Hook. I've read the first two Lords of Avalon which fit this challenge perfectly.
May do a reread cuz I really liked them. Also thinking about
It's been awhile since I've read a sexy highlander book.
I'm in but will have to search my books and TBR lists but I promised my husband for 2018 not to buy any books to meet a challenge, but I will enjoy the hunt
Okay, I checked the lists and found these: Jane Erye
Darkest Night- Gena Showalter
Darkest Pleasure-Gena Showalter
A Shade of Vampire-Bella Forrest
I have all of these on my TBRs ahy help on if these will work?
I see a lot of Anne Stuart books on this list. I'll pick one of her books for this challenge.
ShoSho wrote: "Debby "Piene Raven" wrote: "I chose 
The Obsidian Heart by Nalini Singh"Such a great book."
looking forward to the read
The Mad, Bad Duke by Jennifer Ashley fits this sub-genre.
also fits, really well, if you're looking for a contemporary.
This
book is on my TBR list and for me is the next in the series, so I have a win win if I get it done. Looking forward to it!
I've decided to read
, which has great dialog so far. The "hero" really is manipulative and amoral. It appears to have been inspired by
, though I'm expecting a happier ending (I hope!).
Lara wrote: "I've decided to read , which has great dialog so far. The "hero" really is manipulative and amoral. "I saw that you were reading that. I might read it too if you like it!
ShoSho wrote: "I saw that you were reading that. I might read it too if you like it! "So far so good! Very good banter! At first I didn't care for either hero or heroine, but now like them both. Though, the hero is very underhanded, and does not have the best interests of the heroine at heart. It's very much for his own benefit, much as he enjoys getting to know her.
Finally decided on:
I will read
because it's already in my TBR. Thanks for the recommend/idea Oleander!
Carly - Resident Supergirl wrote: "Finally decided on: "I was thinking about that one too as Rogan is not a hero when he is first introduced, and even at the end is a bit questionable.
Lara wrote: "Carly - Resident Supergirl wrote: "Finally decided on: "I was thinking about that one too as Rogan is not a hero when he is first introduced, and even at the end i..."
Yup have had this one on my radar for awhile and got it for a buck a few months ago on my kindle so was a no brainer! :)
I just learned about a book being released this month that sounds like a great fit:
.
Lara wrote: "I just learned about a book being released this month that sounds like a great fit: ."I have yet to pick up a motorcycle club book. I don't find them romantic in RL, I don't think I would in a romance book. have you read any?
ShoSho wrote: "Lara wrote: "I just learned about a book being released this month that sounds like a great fit: ."I have yet to pick up a motorcycle club book. I don't find them romantic in RL, I don't think I would in a romance book. have you read any?"
ShoSho, I know you put this to Lara, but I'm going to throw my two cents into the ring too. I have read several Motorcycle Club books, and how well the romance works is really dependent on how well the author can do a redemption story. My belief is that Sons of Anarchy made them extremely popular, so now we have a huge influx of them. (Sons of Anarchy was what got me interested in them in the first place!)
I've read some really good ones, but also some really bad ones too. Kristen Ashley has the Chaos series, which technically starts with Own the Wind, but in reality, you need to read Motorcycle Man first. (For me, that meant I had to read the entire Dream Man series before that, which was hugely frustrating!) I'm not a huge Kristen Ashley fan, so for me the books aren't as good as I'd want, but they do keep me coming back for the new releases. Joanna Wylde has the Reapers series and the Silver Valley series for her MC clubs, but a couple of words of caution here: Reaper's Property is not a good start to the series, though the series does improve somewhat. Silver Valley has never gone beyond the first book in the series, which annoys little OCD me. There is no real redemption story here, though the heroes do change to a certain degree. Julie Ann Walker's Black Knights series that we group read is technically considered Motorcycle Club Romances, though I really disagree with that classification. Laura Kaye's spin-off from the Hard Ink series, the Raven Riders series, is a great introduction to Motorcycle Club romances, in my opinion, and the characters are familiar from our group read of the Hard Ink series. I really hated Chantal Fernando's Wind Dragons MC series, and can't recommend them. I have to say, I highly recommend River Savage's Knights Rebels MC series! They have great redemption stories, touching plots, and are very quick reads! I have reviews up for several of the authors and books I mentioned above, if you want to check them out.
For this month's SGoM, I read Vicious Cycle by Katie Ashley, though I haven't gotten a chance to review it yet. It's a solid 3 star read for me, with a slow moving redemption story. It was a little too violent for my tastes, and not enough romance between the main characters either, but it did give me a feel for how the author will do a Motorcycle Club romance.
I know I got long winded here, but I hope that helps you out a bit!
Lara wrote: "I just learned about a book being released this month that sounds like a great fit: ."UM this book sounds like my catnip! lol. Definitely throwing this on Priority TBR!
EDIT: Seriously just put myself as a Hold because Library has it on order, lol.
⚜️Trea wrote: "My belief is that Sons of Anarchy made them extremely popular, so now we have a huge influx of them. (Sons of Anarchy was what got me interested in them in the first place!)"I've never watched Sons of Anarchy . Instead I have watched a few short TV series with MC as the villains(very evil ones). Plus all the news about MCs on TV. Motorcycle gangs are illegal in our state as of a few years ago.
Julie Ann Walker's Black Knights series that we group read is technically considered Motorcycle Club Romances, though I really disagree with that classification.
I agree with that. They are not a MC.
Laura Kaye's spin-off from the Hard Ink series, the Raven Riders series, is a great introduction to Motorcycle Club romances, in my opinion, and the characters are familiar from our group read of the Hard Ink series.
I think they are a milder sort of MC. From what I remember from the other series and books they were all good and decent guys. If I want to try a MC book I might pick that one. I don't think the series would fit the SGOM though.
Thanks, Trea! It does help :) I'm going to have a look at your reviews now.
Motorcycle clubs books have never caught my fancy. Being good friends with two L.A. County Sherriff Deputies has but the kibosh on any romantic thoughts about these very vicious, nasty people.
Anita wrote: "Motorcycle clubs books have never caught my fancy. Being good friends with two L.A. County Sherriff Deputies has but the kibosh on any romantic thoughts about these very vicious, nasty people."Me neither! That's probably one of the only tropes I don't read.
I just read
and holy Baby Jesus, that guy was a real villain. If the heroine hadn't known how to handle him, I would have dnf it.I was sort of enjoying it, thinking there was going to be epic groveling but it didn't happen! That pissed me off.
Of course, the book made me think of
so I'm really tempted to re-read it.
Anita wrote: "Motorcycle clubs books have never caught my fancy. Being good friends with two L.A. County Sherriff Deputies has but the kibosh on any romantic thoughts about these very vicious, nasty people."Me either.
ShoSho wrote: "I think the problem with this sub genre is that most of the books are not the 1st book in the series. They have to show up in a few books to do their villainy and then be redeemed and have their o..."
Anne Stuart is known for writing about villainous heroes so most of hers will probably do.
Lara wrote: " also fits, really well, if you're looking for a contemporary."BOTH MCs are villains in this one. Here's my review (no spoilers)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
D.G. wrote: "Lara wrote: " also fits, really well, if you're looking for a contemporary."BOTH of them are villains in this one."
Ooohh sounds good to me!
⚜️Trea wrote: "ShoSho wrote: "Lara wrote: "I just learned about a book being released this month that sounds like a great fit: ."I have yet to pick up a motorcycle club book. I..."
Trea, thanks for that overview! I haven't read any real MC books yet, and just realized they would fit with a subgenre I avoid (along with American Civil War, Westerns, and time travel). I may have to try one out, though I suspect I'll have to be careful.
Like ShoSho, I should probably try out a nicer MC rather than a gritty one.
ShoSho wrote: "D.G. wrote: "Lara wrote: " also fits, really well, if you're looking for a contemporary."BOTH of them are villains in this one."
Ooohh sounds good to me!"
It was good! The heroine is self-centered and the hero a killer. It takes time and a major life event (or two) for change to occur. There is a certain supernatural element as well, though I wouldn't call it a paranormal romance.
D.G. wrote: "I just read and holy Baby Jesus, that guy was a real villain. If the heroine hadn't known how to handle him, I would have dnf it.I was sort of enjoying it, thinking..."
I have had Lothaire come up on SO MANY LISTS of book styles I adore and it is driving me crazy that is number 12 in a series...I have heard good things about the series but I just don't have the time or room to read the first 11 GAH lol!
D.G. wrote: "Of course, the book made me think of Lothaire (Immortals After Dark #12) by Kresley Cole so I'm really tempted to re-read it"I feel the same! I keep hearing :" Lisbetha" in Robert Petkof's voice in my head whenever I think about that book! lol
Lara wrote: "ShoSho wrote: "D.G. wrote: "Lara wrote: " also fits, really well, if you're looking for a contemporary."BOTH of them are villains in this one."
Ooohh sounds good t..."
That's my next read!
Carly - Resident Supergirl wrote: "I have had Lothaire come up on SO MANY LISTS of book styles I adore and it is driving me crazy that is number 12 in a series...I have heard good things about the series but I just don't have the time or room to read the first 11 GAH lol! "Carly you should start the series! The whole series is fantastic specially the audio with Robert Petkof's narration. You should give them a try and see for yourself.
Carly, if you decide to read the Immortals After Dark series, as ShoSho said, the audio is fantastic. I had tried to start the first one and dnf because I wasn't in the mood at the time but followed Lisa Kay's recommendation to try it on audio. I was hooked, the narration really does take it to the next level and you can tell that RObert Petkoff is having a blast reading them. Hope you try them!
I finished
and Derick Novak is the evil vampire king. When he awakens from long sleep he is offered several women to feed from but he finds Sofia feels different and as she stays as his slave. She changes him and he gives her her freedom. Liked it hope to read more of series.
Lara wrote: "Trea, thanks for that overview! I haven't read any real MC books yet, and just realized they would fit with a subgenre I avoid (along with American Civil War, Westerns, and time travel). I may have to try one out, though I suspect I'll have to be careful.Like ShoSho, I should probably try out a nicer MC rather than a gritty one."
You're welcome, Lara! I'd recommend starting with Laura Kaye's Hard Ink spin off: The Raven Riders. They're on the right side of the law for the most part, have a good sense of family, and aren't overly violent. Kristen Ashley's Chaos might also be a good place to start, but it has been a while since I've read them and I can't remember the violence level.
⚜️Trea wrote: "I'd recommend starting with Laura Kaye's Hard Ink spin off: The Raven Riders. They're on the right side of the law for the most part, have a good sense of family, and aren't overly violent. Kristen Ashley's Chaos might also be a good place to start"Thanks Trea! I don't mind some violence, but don't like drug dealing and abuse. I get the feeling that some of the nastier crimes are part of many of these series, and that has kept me from wanting to read them. It's like another book I heard about that is historical and the hero was a slave trader. While I agree that (especially at the time) he could have otherwise been a great person, in today's world I have issues with romances being written with heroes that think slavery is okay. If I were to read one that was written at that time, I'd feel differently as it would have been written when world views were completely different. But, it doesn't work for me in romance books written today.
@ShoSho and @Gisela , so tell me this about this series though...because and don't be shocked but I am not a fan of the Blackdagger Brotherhood series I got through the first 4 and just wasn't my bag...way too much insta-love/lust for me, I prefer a build up. Is Immortals After Dark different?
Romance Lovers for the Challenge-Impaired
Books mentioned in this topic
If You Dare (other topics)Les Liaisons dangereuses (other topics)
Knight of Darkness (other topics)
Sword of Darkness (other topics)
Devil in Winter (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Anne Stuart (other topics)Nalini Singh (other topics)
Joanna Wylde (other topics)
Laura Kaye (other topics)
Julie Ann Walker (other topics)
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Villain to Hero Romance is self-explanatory so here is a few links to help you find your Romantic villains/Villains turned heroes.
Keep in mind there are books on this lists that don't fit the sub-genre
Villain as romantic love interests
Villain Gets the Girl
Romancing the Series' Villain