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September Challenge - Sparkling Spring Romance
Sharon wrote: "MMMMMM I want to play but I'm not really a traditional romance reader although I have read many and have enjoyed lots, well I like to think I prefer love stories that do not fit into a standard rom..."I agree with Kathryn's suggestionsfor non-typical romance books: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion and Me Before You by Jojo Moyes.
Both fabulous reads
Found another for this challenge which I may have to get to first as it needs to go back to the library. Adultery
. Perhaps not your classic romance.
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And I just found it. A romance /thriller Justice for Sara by Erica Spindler
Phrynne wrote: "I'm not a real romance fan so I will be looking for something a little different yet still with romance in it.And I just found it. A romance /thriller Justice for Sara by [author:..."
A couple of people in this group have read this - and they all seem to like it :)
Elaine wrote: "Found another for this challenge which I may have to get to first as it needs to go back to the library. Adultery
. Perhaps not your classic romance."
Very unclassic - still romance happens in all sorts of situations and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't :)
Will be interested to see what you think of this :)
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And I just found it. A romance /thriller Justice for Sara by [author:..."
More thriller, but there is romance in it Phrynne! A fabulous book!
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The Blue Mile fits perfectly Julie:) I loved it! One that's now on my favourites list!
Brenda wrote: "☼♄Jülie wrote: "I'll try to find something in my Spring challenge choices...I'm sure something there should fit the bill....I do have The Sunnyvale Girls by [author:Fiona Palmer|317..."Oh good! Well I guess I'm in then :) ...and they fit with the Spring challenge.
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Brenda wrote: "There you go! It's pretty easy to find a match, isn't it:)"Yes and all but one of my Spring challenge selection are on my TBR pile all stacked and ready for the start gun. I just have to get Big Little Lies ...but there's plenty of time for that ;)
☼♄Jülie wrote: "Brenda wrote: "There you go! It's pretty easy to find a match, isn't it:)"Yes and all but one of my Spring challenge selection are on my TBR pile all stacked and ready for the start gun. I just h..."
I just finished that this evening, Julie! Hope you enjoy, when you get to it - very cleverly done, by Liane Moriarty... It was a bit of a slow start because I didn't feel much connection to the characters with their apparently vapid, superficial lives, but once the problems were shown to be deeper, more fundamental issues, I started to enjoy it more. I think it will be quite hard to write a review for it, because it's hard to say much without giving important details away!
Kathryn wrote: "☼♄Jülie wrote: "Brenda wrote: "There you go! It's pretty easy to find a match, isn't it:)"Yes and all but one of my Spring challenge selection are on my TBR pile all stacked and ready for the sta..."
It sounds like it's as good as her last Marianne...The Husband's Secret ... in that it was written in such a clever way as to conceal the depths of the undercurrents among the players.
I look forward to getting to it.
Phrynne wrote: "I'm not a real romance fan so I will be looking for something a little different yet still with romance in it.And I just found it. A romance /thriller Justice for Sara by [author:..."
I'm not a romance fan either. After reading this and realising its on my TBR I will be picking it too
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And I just found it. A romance /thriller [book:Justice for Sara|16045..."
There is such a huge variety of romance that means the genre is very broad....
Brenda wrote: "Kadi wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "I'm not a real romance fan so I will be looking for something a little different yet still with romance in it.And I just found it. A romance /thriller [book:Justice f..."
When I hear romance I automatically think Fabio haha. So after digging around I have realised it is broad genre.
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And I just found it. A romance /thriller ..."
I used to think - romance = mills & boon! But now I know it's not the case! lol
The romance genre as such is very clearly defined by its readers; and many of its earlier and current writers...and its publishers...but after taking note of some of the suggested reads and opinions here, is the romance genre correctly perceived by publishers?Romance is define by any romance chapter (traditional readers and writers groups) as being a romance story or love story about one man and one woman, or later days as also one woman and one woman, or one man and one man. As we know some erotica vergers out of that, but a romance is define by the relationship of a man and a woman or the other matches, but where romance is the main point of the story.
Not my words, but clearly defined to all writers wanting to submit to any romance agent or publisher ...The romance must feature as the main point of the story and in certain genres such as the regency romance genre, they do fit a certain pattern to cater for their readers or is it the publishers?...
One scene from him, one scene from her, and lets repeat it until we reach the end. In a true romance, nothing distracts from the romance. Secondary plots are not treated with the same strength as the romance plot.
But what I see from you guys, and myself, is that often we seek to read or determine our perception of romances that don't fit a certain pattern...example as Brenda gave. "I used to think romance = Mills and Boon...
Mills & Boon are romances in the genre meaning...and they must be written a certain way, well, be presented a certain way and depending on their heat level, must stay in the restrains of what their readers desire...oh, Desire I think is another Mills & Boons inprint or someones...
Fabio was a hero presented on so many covers he must have felt special and that is what romance readers wanted...Fabio like men. Yes, I see the wrong wording, but I'm sure some wished they could make Fabio feel special.
The truth is, many of us fell in love with men who look or are built very different than Fabio...do we love them less? NO. Do we truly desire to be held by fellows like Fabio? Not me, I'm quite happy with my none Fabio look alike, but many women desired or desire to be held by some fellow who does resemble Fabio or Richard Gere...yeah, ok. I personally had a thing for Harrison Ford and and and and, but well!!!
True romance (classified partly as a relationship between two people), is only as broad as its periods or settings.
A true romance as defined by the romance chapters around the world, will not delve beyond a couple. She can't have a fling with him and skip back to the ex...at least not in a single story...to be considered a true romance. No external or secondary plot that involves or takes away from the romance....romance readers read for the stories of love...just you and me type stories...true love where nothing is really a great issue, me and him. The pain and heart ache stretching only as far as misunderstandings in many of them. Romance readers, and publishers, apparently want to read a story that allows them to retreat into a world where love is blissful (my words) where love wins out against all the odds and the conflict of that love is the denial or reaching an understanding or acknowledgement of the love between them.
Stories that become more or have more depth and complexity beyond a couple falling in love are not considered as romances...some would fall into love stories (of which there is no genre that I know of) The Thorn Birds and Gone with the Wind are not romances, but historical love stories.
It is nice to see that readers here are defining romances beyond what is the perceived industry perception. I wonder what Romance Australia or the Romance associations around the world would think to know that some readers are quite happy to delve outside what is the highest selling genre in the world and perceive writings not deemed romances as romances.
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Phrynne wrote: "I don't mind reading historical romance, paranormal romance or romance in thrillers etc. I just can't do straight romance. I actually get bored:)"I agree, Phrynne - I don't do plain romance either - there needs to be something else to stop me rolling my eyes and thinking, "Give me a break!" The current book I'm reading, My Brother-But-One, would probably fit well in the September challenge (except that it was part of my winter challenge so had to read it before Sept!). It is very action-packed (good guys on the trail of a gang of poachers in Zimbabwe) but with a romance side story - a bit more sentimental and soppy than I prefer, actually, but the poacher part of the plot is keeping everything moving along quickly.
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I agree, Phrynne - I don't do pla..."
Sounds good:)
Me too! I don't mind a romance if there is a good story in the background but I don't enjoy novels where the whole point is the romance. I think from what Sharon is saying that I like love stories like Gone with the Wind and Doctor Zhivago but not the Mills and Boon type books (except for a brief period in my teens! )
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Exactly!
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I agree, Phrynne - I don't do pla..."
I have got that one here to read Kathryn. I received it as a gift for Christmas 2013!!
It might be a good time to read it, then, Brenda! It probably doesn't fit the definition as defined by Sharon, but it would be close enough for me! There is a definite love interest and some (not many so far) slightly soppy sections!
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It would definitely fit with our criteria for this challenge, that's for sure! I'll see if I can fit it in;)
Phrynne wrote: "I don't mind reading historical romance, paranormal romance or romance in thrillers etc. I just can't do straight romance. I actually get bored:)"Lol, I get a headache ;)
As a start, I'm going to read The Promise by Danielle Steel.I do love me a bit of romance, so this may be added to!
Oh, I wasn't trying to define what should be read for this challenge...romance and love to me is all the same and it appears many readers feel that way as is clear by earlier posts which prompted my too long post, while I pondered reading about love and loss and romance...all very different emotions in my mind and reading about such.I often wonder what makes a great love story, which is what all romances aim to do...but some of our greatest love stories don't fall in the romance genre was the point I was trying to make.
I also wonder as I have read many romances written in the traditional manner, but sadly too long ago to remember what they were to put on my shelf, if those types of romances from Mills & Boons ect filled a certain need at the time....at the time I was reading them, I hadn't met my great love, and fed on reading about others who were meeting their partners.I wonder if that is what romance as a genre does...introduces younger readers to the whole concept of love in a fictional environment, and that some readers become addicted on the perfect form of relationships and continue to read about happy endings...after all, most of us experience much more pain from any romance than any romance book has ever presented. We know as adults romance and love has faults...
IN romances, those faults presented in books about first love, we know that most romances don't end happy, or we wouldn't put up with the behaviour of the heroes, we suspect that we know better after our experiences, and therefore some of the content presented in romances become trivial to us as we grow, and therefore we stop reading true romance...
I often think true romance, true love, is much harder than romance, so perhaps as we get older it is harder to suspend our belief of the happy ever after when it is presented in surreal world of perfect love.
Once we have been there and experienced first love, I often wonder how longer we can suspend our belief to read romances that are about first love, which really, all romances are about, that never contain the true heartbreak of most first loves.
I guess those stories become something other then romances, but perhaps as we get older, because we've been through the romance, we seek something of more substance?
Sharon wrote: "The romance genre as such is very clearly defined by its readers; and many of its earlier and current writers...and its publishers...but after taking note of some of the suggested reads and opinion..."Very interesting points there.
Actually even Mills and Boon and Harlequin have evolved - they still have the traditional romances but also subdivide into intrigue, spice, teen, heartwarming, historical, medical, suspense, nocturne (paranormal) and Christian.
I remember when I did my first work placement when I was doing my library degree one of the other students turned up her nose at the Mills and Boon rack and basically said she didn't know why the libraries stocked such unworthy reading. Then she was shown that statistically they were the most borrowed books in the library.
Fabio dropped off the scene after he went on a roller coaster ride and a goose hit him in the face - blood every where! Not something ladies want to swoon over. Poor bloke!
Sharon wrote: "Oh, I wasn't trying to define what should be read for this challenge...romance and love to me is all the same and it appears many readers feel that way as is clear by earlier posts which prompted m..."Don't change your post Sharon. I think we all understood that you were saying that many of the great love stories don't fall into the genre of romance and yet they can be romantic. I think perhaps you're right in saying that romances may fill a need in telling us what romance can be but then once we experience it (a few times perhaps!) we are ready to move on.
I still crave romance in my books. Even the darkest thriller needs to have a little romance for me! I'm a sap perhaps! I don't really want the 70s style of romance, however. That is, the Greek tycoon who kidnaps his secretary, taking her to his private island where he hopes she'll bring up his lovechild, whose mother is the heroine's mixed up twin. ;)
(And obviously I've read a lot of these in my day or I wouldn't know all the tropes! Reading anything is better than reading nothing!)
Melissa wrote: "As a start, I'm going to read The Promise by Danielle Steel.I do love me a bit of romance, so this may be added to!"
That is one of my favourite books, but I wonder what I would feel if I read it now...I was about 18 and I loved it and cried...and thought...oh, really love does come through
Lee wrote: "I still crave romance in my books. Even the darkest thriller needs to have a little romance for me! I'm a sap perhaps! I don't really want the 70s style of romance, however. That is, the Greek ..."LOL :)
Sally906 wrote: "Sharon wrote: "The romance genre as such is very clearly defined by its readers; and many of its earlier and current writers...and its publishers...but after taking note of some of the suggested re..."That's hilarious Sally. I hadn't heard that story about Fabio!
Carolyn wrote: "Sally906 wrote: "Sharon wrote: "The romance genre as such is very clearly defined by its readers; and many of its earlier and current writers...and its publishers...but after taking note of some of..."You google Fabio and bird and there are pictures - not very nice though. I certainly wouldn't swoon if he glowered out of a book cover looking like that :)
Sally906 wrote: "Sharon wrote: "The romance genre as such is very clearly defined by its readers; and many of its earlier and current writers...and its publishers...but after taking note of some of the suggested re..."Sally906 wrote: "Sharon wrote: "The romance genre as such is very clearly defined by its readers; and many of its earlier and current writers...and its publishers...but after taking note of some of the suggested re..."
Yes, they have revolve thankfully to allow more margine in writings and variety for readers..but still the true romance genre is hard core. The divisions in genre though, I suspect are merely in periods or tastes, not so much format in the presentation of romantic fiction.
Nothing wrong with that.
I find it fascinating that the romance genre statistically is the highest selling genre...but we don't see it here on this group.
Many Australian writers, and I must go find some of them tomorrow, are some of the top selling romance writers in the world that stay tuned to the romance magna of pure love.
Lee wrote: "I still crave romance in my books. Even the darkest thriller needs to have a little romance for me! I'm a sap perhaps! I don't really want the 70s style of romance, however. That is, the Greek ..."Um, it didn't copy the other part of your post....BUT where is that story about the rich Greek kidnapping his secretary and taking her to an island? I kind of find that story has potential :D
Sally906 wrote: "Fabio dropped off the scene..."He had made a lot of money by then and gave a few happy housewives reason to stay in bed caressing the book covers lol
I frankly don't have a thing for men with long hair, so I never quiet got the whole Fabio thing, and on top of that he didn't have hair on his chest...oh Sisters, how we all differ :D
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Phrynne wrote: "I never read Mills and Boon but I did read the Angelique series by Sergeanne Golon. Does anyone else remember them? They were classified Historical Fiction but reall..."The cover rings a bell, although to me, at some stage romance covers did start to blend together and look alike.
by Jessica Brockmole will always be one book I will immediately think of when looking for Romance. So vivid and so believably real.
Sally906 wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "Sally906 wrote: "Sharon wrote: "The romance genre as such is very clearly defined by its readers; and many of its earlier and current writers...and its publishers...but after taking..."Oh my goodness, not an attractive look at all! Hope the goose was OK.
I'm with you Sharon, Fabio never did much for me. He has that overcooked, muscle-bound look.
@michael. Love the video. He's a naughty boy that Shaun!
Sharon wrote: "Melissa wrote: "As a start, I'm going to read The Promise by Danielle Steel.I do love me a bit of romance, so this may be added to!"
That is one of my favourite books,..."
I haven't read any Danielle Steel books in a while, so will have to see what I think of it these days! I used to love them back in high school :)
☼♄Jülie wrote: " by Jessica Brockmole will always be one book I will immediately think of when looking for Romance. So vivid and so believably real."I have a copy of Letters from Skye Julie. I bought it a while back because it sounded like a beautiful love story, but I didn't think of reading it for this challenge.
Carolyn wrote: "☼♄Jülie wrote: " by Jessica Brockmole will always be one book I will immediately think of when looking for Romance. So vivid and so believably..."Oh you need to read it Carolyn!! It is a beautiful love story :)
☼♄Jülie wrote: "Carolyn wrote: "☼♄Jülie wrote: " by Jessica Brockmole will always be one book I will immediately think of when looking for Romance. So vivid a..."I'll try to fit it into the challenge! September is going to be a busy month :)
Aussie Readers
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Lily these challenges are suppose to be fun - you don't have to read 3 books - even reading just one would be great and you certainly will not be letting anyone down if you read just one. If you want to read 3 then that's fine too :)