What Turns You OFF When Reading an Interracial Romance? Showing 101-150 of 1,097

[Bekah, Mod]

Yeah, I think that is important in the balance. I mean if you don't talk about it, or recognize it, it's sorta like the pink elephant in the room for me. Thats part of the appeal to reading an ir romance for me. I want to see those interactions between them. They just seem natural. If a white man has never been with a black woman, then you know..the hair issue is gonna come up.

I'm a sucker for blue and green eyes!

[Arch , Mod]

Bekah wrote: "Yeah, I think that is important in the balance. I mean if you don't talk about it, or recognize it, it's sorta like the pink elephant in the room for me. Thats part of the appeal to reading an ir ..."

Bekah, I understand what you mean about Something New. I was going to say something about the hero and heroine and the hair issue earlier.


A lot of black heroine haven't been with a white man before, I don't see them doing the hair talk.

[Bekah, Mod]

Yea, I bet probably most don't Arch. My man has long curly hair, and it's absolutely gorgeous, and he can not be in public without women of every color stopping him to ask if its real. So it's pretty prominent in my life.

Also, the book I was referring to wasn't an ir, it was two white characters.

[Arch , Mod]

Bekah wrote: "Yea, I bet probably most don't Arch. My man has long curly hair, and it's absolutely gorgeous, and he can not be in public without women of every color stopping him to ask if its real. So it's pr..."

Okay. :)

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

The hair issue does come up. My friend thought it was gross that I don't wash my hair every day. I don't have to. It would probably be bad for it if I did. I can't speak for all Black women, but in general, most don't need to wash their hair daily. I think some White and other ethnicities, too. My friend who is White couldn't wash her hair daily either.

[Arch , Mod]

Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "The hair issue does come up. My friend thought it was gross that I don't wash my hair every day. I don't have to. It would probably be bad for it if I did. I can't speak for all Black women, but i..."

I can't wash my hair everyday. That would dry my hair out.

Once a week is good enough.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

My hair tends to be dry. I've gotten pretty good about taking care of it, finally!

[Elise-Pinterest+Goodreads=The Perfect Book Boyfriend]

@Danielle-LOL @ freakishly large. Don't know why, but that just sounds hilarious to me.

Anyway, I emailed C. Feehan and told her about the discussion that we had regarding MaryAnn and her book and the whole nine. She emailed back and said that she appreciated the positive responses and she plans to introduce more AA heroines in both the Dark Series and the Ghostwalker series (I have not read any books from this series but I hear it's good). But anyway, she appreciates the positive vibes.

[Elise-Pinterest+Goodreads=The Perfect Book Boyfriend]

Oh, and about the hair, I don't know why it wouldn't come up if you they have never dated a black woman before. My white friends are always asking me questions and always have, especially since I have been one to have many different styles. Right now I am SisterLocked so they had and have many questions about this. Also, I find more white guys really dig my hair loc'd, which was very unexpected. They never said anything about my hair when it was permed so I am relatively shocked when they say something. Really unexpected.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

saninbham wrote: "@Danielle-LOL @ freakishly large. Don't know why, but that just sounds hilarious to me.

Anyway, I emailed C. Feehan and told her about the discussion that we had regarding MaryAnn and her book ..."

Yay!!!!!!

[Cinquetta]

What I don't care for in romance/erotica stories....when the author mention the characters race over dozen time it leave a sour taste in my mouth, one or two times is enough. I don't really care for same sex stories unless their is woman in the relationship.(M/F/M) I don't like cougar stories unless they are 10 years apart. I might read it. I don't care for muscularity woman strong woman yes. Also no gramma or weak men total alpha males. I don't have any more to say bascially have been written.

[Davina]

Totally with you on the butch women, Cinquetta. JR Ward completely screwed up the character of Xhex by constantly describing her as this the butch, she-male of a woman, imo. What the devil was she thinking, esp when Xhex is the love interest of my boy, John Matthew? Sigh...

Some cougar stories are tolerable, but generally I really can't understand why an older, mature woman would want to hang with someone with the maturity of an 8 yr old. But that's just me. Not passing judgment on anyone whose preference this is. Whatever floats your boat. To each their own.

And hell yeah on the alpha dudes! I think these are the best type of males! Love 'em. No wimpy arse guys need apply. LOL :)

[CaliGirlRae, Mod Squad]

Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "Rae wrote: "Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "Rae, I wouldn't mind a Thomas K clone myself.

I finished Dark Possession, and I loved it. I felt that a lot of love went into writing MaryAnn. Sh..."

Oh bummer. Well, I'll wait until I start from the beginning. I don't want to be lost. :-)

[CaliGirlRae, Mod Squad]

Eugenia wrote: "Bekah I am too.

And yea, if it's the thing I like about IR romances that is IR and I like white men and as a black woman it's great to read a book where there's a white guy appreciating the bea..."

Well said, Eugenia. I like those differences too and I like when the hero and heroine acknowledge the beauty of the other instead of objectifying like Danielle mentioned. Thankfully I haven't come across the latter (it'd be an instant wallbanger if I did) but I always loving coming across the former. :-)


San, that's awesome news about the Dark series! That's one of the ones I'll be tackling next!

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

Rae wrote: "Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "Rae wrote: "Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "Rae, I wouldn't mind a Thomas K clone myself.

I finished Dark Possession, and I loved it. I felt that a lot of..."

Rae, I wouldn't recommend starting with Dark Prince. I have been told it's not as good. It might turn you off the series.

[CaliGirlRae, Mod Squad]

Eek. Any suggestions where to hop in?

[CaliGirlRae, Mod Squad]

Eugenia wrote: "Rae wrote: "Eugenia wrote: "Bekah I am too.

And yea, if it's the thing I like about IR romances that is IR and I like white men and as a black woman it's great to read a book where there's a wh..."

Too true! Here's hoping our trend continues! :-D

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

Rae wrote: "Eek. Any suggestions where to hop in?"

I started with Dark Desire. It's the second book. It was good, but there's an improvement in the series as she goes along. Let me tell you, I am addicted to the Carpathians, although the GhostWalkers are my first love.

[Chaeya]

From my perspective, the hair issue will come up. In my story, my heroine's hair describe's her emotions. When she gets shy, rather than say she's "feeling" shy or she wants to hide her emotions, her hair falls down over her eye. I did it more from a sensual standpoint not from a "hey look what great hair she has."

I've had people curious about my hair, so I could see where it could an issue in some stories.

I understand everyone's irk points, but some things it's gonna be hard to get around in a Romance book. If it's mentioned in every other sentence, it can get old and boring. But to not have it mentioned at all. Sometimes I like to be reminded how beautiful the characters are. I know in Anne Rice's vampire series, you could describe Marius over and over, I'd be in the puddle on the floor cuz he was too fine.

[Davina]

I agree with you, Chaeya. The thing about dating a person from a different race is that its such a great journey of discovery for all involved. I know some people are of the opinion that their are no (cultural) differences between races, but I don't agree with this. When I dated black guys they taught me many things about the AA experience that I either didn't know or appreciate enough until they came along. I'm not really a church going person, in fact I'm not a believer at all, but I learnt to appreciate spirituality in AA communities.

When it comes to natural differences between races, I too want to see that acknowledged. I love how it was done in Something New. I understood the sensitivity of Sanaa Lathan's character, but I also understood it from the guy's POV as well -- what with him never having dated a black woman before (or did he? Don't remember...). I harass my AA friends with all kinds of questions about hair maintenance and what not all the time, especially when my interest turned to writing IR stories.

So I do see why it would come up. I just don't like when it is used as an extreme point of differentiation. That novel I mentioned earlier, the issue of hair and the fact that heroine was black and the hero was white came up in every other paragraph. It was distracting and annoying as heck. To me it came across as though they were from different planets. It's not necessary for such a big deal to be made about it, imo.

[Davina]

Rae, all the talk about Dark Possession got me interested in bumping up CF on my TBR. I have quite a few of the dark books, though not all of them.

I'm eager to read Dark Possession because of the positive reviews and because I want to see how she handles the IR, but most of the times I hate reading a series out of order. I don't like having the feeling of being lost while I'm reading. Anyway, I started Dark Prince last night. I'm not very far in, but so far it's fine for me.

I'm intrigued by the characters and the world that is slowly being introduced. Feehan's writing is also quite okay.

I picked up the entire Ghostwalker series in London when I went there in February. I got an amazing deal of 3 books for $5 and change. I love buying books in the UK. They do some of the best book deals I've ever come across. I'm looking forward to reading this series. My sis gave it mostly positive reviews and I've found she's never too far off the mark in her opinions. Now if only there were enough hours in one day to read AND do everything else I have to do. Sigh...

[Arch , Mod]

As a black woman, I know that there are differences in hair, etc. between black women and white women, just as their are differences between black men and white men.

Everyone from every race should know there are differences between the races.

And at the same time, there are similarities as well.

Everyone has a right to want to read certain things in an interracial book.

I'm speaking for myself, which I always do. I can't tell a writer how to write their stories. I would never do such a thing. As a reader, I want to see the black woman as being a woman and not have the white man looking at her and wondering certain things about her.

I have read many white man/native american book and not once, did I read where the white man was interested in the woman's hair.

We all know that a lot of black women wear fake or other people hair too. I'm sure a lot of them do in books as well. I haven't read a lot of interracial books, because of the genre and a lot of them are in ebook format.

Other race women wear fake or other people hair too.

I don't wear fake hair or even other people hair in my head.

I had a "what" moment, watching Something New.When it came down to the hair.

If the black woman's hair is going to be spotlighted in a bw/wm book, then I think the white man's hair should be too.

[CaliGirlRae, Mod Squad]

Davina wrote: "Rae, all the talk about Dark Possession got me interested in bumping up CF on my TBR. I have quite a few of the dark books, though not all of them.

I'm eager to read Dark Possession because of ..."

Davina, I know right! More hours would be awesome! To be honest, I'm more jazzed to read Ghostwalkers because they sound right up my alley and I keep hearing good things about them (awesome book deal you got there btw!). All of the books are in audio except the first book which I'm bummed about. I'm going to wait a bit and see if it will be released soon like the Dresden Files (I'm having a ball listening to those now).

I don't usually read series books out of order unless they're loose enough like Brockmann's Team Ten series but I really want to read Dark Possession, too. I may see how I am once I get out of my IR/MC historical romance mode.

[CaliGirlRae, Mod Squad]

Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "Rae wrote: "Eek. Any suggestions where to hop in?"

I started with Dark Desire. It's the second book. It was good, but there's an improvement in the series as she goes along. Let me tell you, I ..."

Thanks Danielle! I may start there then fudge a bit toward DP hehe.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

Rae, definitely start the GhostWalkers soon. I think you'd love those books. Warning, they are pretty sexy, but in a hot way.

[CaliGirlRae, Mod Squad]

I'll move those up my list. Just as long as they aren't TMI, I'm good! Lol.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

I don't think they are TMI. (If you were okay with my story, you should be fine).

[Arch , Mod]

What's TMI?

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

Too much information.

[CaliGirlRae, Mod Squad]

Arch, TMI = Too Much Information. :-)

Danielle, groovy. I'll be good to go then!

[Arch , Mod]

Rae wrote: "Arch, TMI = Too Much Information. :-)

Danielle, groovy. I'll be good to go then!"

Oh okay.

I like using abbreviation for things as well.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

I tend to abbreviate a lot, as well.

[Arch , Mod]

Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "I tend to abbreviate a lot, as well."

I can't wait to write The Agent. Michael will be using some slangs and abbreviations.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

I look forward to reading The Agent.

[Arch , Mod]

Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "I look forward to reading The Agent."

Hopefully, it will not be long, before I start this story. I want to definitely finish Trespassing first.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

I need to finish Wedding the Desert King. Maybe I'll try to set aside some time this weekend to work on it.

[Arch , Mod]

Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "I need to finish Wedding the Desert King. Maybe I'll try to set aside some time this weekend to work on it."

I'll get back to Courage, before I start The Agent.

[Giselle]

Stacy-Deanne wrote: "Danielle said,

Stacy-Deanne, I have to be honest with you. I used to feverishly devour the BET/Arabesque Black romances, but I lost interest, because I started getting bored. I thought the chara..."

I hear you on the "street lit." During my senior year of high school, all of the girls I knew were insisting that I read The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah and I fell for it. Most of what I was reading at the time was assigned for school, so I looked at it as a welcome break from the classical lit my teacher assigned. Boy, was I wrong...

It was absolutely the worst book I have ever read. Then they told me to read other "street lit," and once again I did. I, a Black woman, could not relate to any of the books they recommended to me. I had nothing in common with the heroines. And then after reading a couple more books, I felt like I was reading the same book over and over again.

For my own peace of mind, I had to stop reading them. Now I'm not saying that there isn't any good "street lit" out there. I'm just saying that I haven't come across them in my limited experience with reading that genre.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

I have a personal bias against 'street lit' because it puts forth stereotypical views of Black Americans. That is a real hot button for me. I cannot say often enough that all Black people are not the same, but the publishing industry insists on sending this message. I don't know if it's just their marketing strategy, or if the reading choices reflect that this is what readers want as a message. I hope it's not the latter. I know that is 'real' to some people, but not all people of this diaspora. The fact that it's offered up as African American fiction in the bookstore offends me deeply. This is one small sector of African American fiction, but you look on the shelves at Walmart, and you see nothing but this. Granted, I haven't read these books, but the content expressed on the blurbs really don't encourage me to read it. That's just my opinion.

[Desperado]

I don't know if its been mentioned, but I hate when the hero/heroine obsesses over the race difference. Ok I get it that your different races & its gonna be hard/embarrasing/you have dif backgrounds et cetera. I don't need to be beaten over the head with your worries & insecurities every other freaking page.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

I hear you, LL.

[Leah]

when the coupling is black women and they make all black men dirtbags love is colorblind. because Hohenlohe are involved on relationships with non black men doesn't make them all bad

[Elise-Pinterest+Goodreads=The Perfect Book Boyfriend]

I love the black women in Shelly Laurenston's stories. They are usually fun and very intelligent. One is a genius. I do not like to read ghetto black women especially with a lot of slang. I have found slang "dates" a book. I read one where the heroine said "talk to the hand" which I personally hate, and it immediately let me know the time period the author was writing.

[Andrea]

Sandy Elise-all things bright and shiny wrote: "Everyone knows my number one pet peeve so I won't bother to mention it again. ..."

lol! Maybe I'm not around enough but I don't know. So of course, now that I've read that sentence, I just have to know.

[Michelle, Mod with the Bod]

Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress wrote: "I have a personal bias against 'street lit' because it puts forth stereotypical views of Black Americans. That is a real hot button for me. I cannot say often enough that all Black people are not ..."

I agree with you 100%

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

Glad it's not just me, Michelle.

[Michelle, Mod with the Bod]

Well, not to pick on Wal Mart, but I went there and started browsing the book shelves and was completely turned off by the multicultural selections.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

Hey, I shop at Walmart all the time, but I will definitely join you in picking on their multicultural section!

[Michelle, Mod with the Bod]

Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress wrote: "Hey, I shop at Walmart all the time, but I will definitely join you in picking on their multicultural section!"

Some of the titles really turned me off. I was thinking of writing a letter of complaint because there are so many other books out there- not that I mean to bash those authors whose work are on the shelves- but Wal Mart's shelves completely lacked balance.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

I know what you mean. They don't have any high quality AA fiction to balance out the thug lit. And they don't even bother to do any Black History Month programs if they are trying to sell it as an A/A Fiction section.