Romance Lovers for the Challenge-Impaired discussion
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Notable exception to my Romancelandia rule.
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Thanks Lisa Kay and Kit for posting the pics :)
My pleasure, I assure you! **drooling still**
I don't know if I really hate this genre so much as think that you get a little much of it in PNR- the mortal enemies turned lovers theme. The first 2/3 of the book is usually spent with them hating each other, not trusting each other, but admiring how sexy they each are. Then, they do the deed, and for the last 1/3 of the book, they're madly in love, and having sex every other page, even in the midst of some world/ race annihilating battle. Seriously?
✿Michelle✿ wrote: "I don't know if I really hate this genre so much as think that you get a little much of it in PNR- the mortal enemies turned lovers theme. The first 2/3 of the book is usually spent with them hati..."LOL, I hope our buddy read doesn't turn out like that!
I'm reading another one at the moment Fallen from Grace where the hero is a male prostitute, not something I've ever liked, whether its H/h, but this is an enthralling read so far!
✿Michelle✿ wrote: "...the mortal enemies turned lovers theme..."Are you talking about a new Romanlandia theme: Frienemies? I just added it.
Lisa Kay wrote: "✿Michelle✿ wrote: "...the mortal enemies turned lovers theme..."Are you talking about a new Romanlandia theme: Frienemies? I just addeded it."
Yup! I was thinking of Eidolon and Tayla when I posted earlier.
second chance at a loving relationship this time aroundI'm not really big on second chances at love, especially after a break-up. I believe that once it is over, it’s over; why beat a dead horse? However, there is always the exception to the rule.
I almost feel that there should be two or three types of second chances: 1) first love/high-school (that never got off the ground), 2) their adults who had a one night stand or one week-end stand and now they meet again, or 3) they had a relationship and it’s been awhile since they’ve seen each other. Or maybe a fourth: 4) where the couple was actually married and are now find each other still attracted.
Strange Bedpersons is a notable exception to #3, though it hasn’t been all that long since they’ve seen each other. Of course, a good writer like Jennifer Crusie can pull it off. I didn't have a clear picture of the hero at the first, which takes off a bit, but I did by the end of the book. I really liked this quick read; it has some laugh out loud funny in parts and a nice secondary romance too.
younger hero, older heroineI was never a big “younger man/older woman” fan – until I got older. LOL! Maybe it would have been too much like "cradle-robbing" when I was younger. Anywayz, the first one to change my mind was Suddenly You by the incomparable Lisa Kleypas.
Because of Kleypas’ gift for writing, I actually now have a shelf call “mrs-robinson” on GoodReads. For those of you who don’t know, that is the “cougar” in the movie The Graduate played by talented Ann Bancroft, opposite Dustin Hoffman, a role that cemented his career. Speaking of gifts…on your next birthday, do like Amanda and give yourself the gift of Jack Devlin!
Lisa Kay wrote: "I was never a big “younger man/older woman” fan – until I got older."Maybe that's my problem. I'm sort of a hypocrite in I'm all about the younger heroine, older hero, but I don't like it the other way around, no way, uh-uh. I just don't know if I can picture someone my age with an older lady... But maybe when I get older I might understand it better. Dunno if I'll like it, b/c I've never liked guys younger than me, even if it was only by one year. I don't even like guys my own age, tried that 3-4 times, then realized I just liked the older guys much better for a million different reasons. Funny story though, my mom's husband is younger than her, so she apparently likes the cougar idea :)
Kit★ I never liked it even by a year or two either! When I was young, I had one guy pursue me when I was his senior by a year or two. He became very successful in business. I found out later that men who are attracted to older women often are successful financially and as entrepreneurs.P.S. In Suddenly You, Jack is just a few years younger than Amanda; great story! Wonderful love scene in a carriage! **sigh**
I saw Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" posted in HR group that she doesn’t like “silly heroines chasing rakes storyline”. I concur, and like her, prefer the “hero in pursuit”. Luckily, there aren’t many with a forward female (or maybe I just don’t consider reading the books). I do happen to know she likes one of my favorite books that slipped under the radar while using this storyline. I found Garters to be a sweet, fun, read with a touch of spice. Why, oh why, did Pamela Morsi ever stop writing historical fiction?
Of course, Cleavis Rhy is far from a rake.
Lisa Kay wrote: "I saw Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" posted in HR group that she doesn’t like “silly heroines chasing rakes storyline”. I concur, and like her, prefer the “hero in pursuit”. Luckily, there are..."I agree. Not a huge fan of that trope either Lisa Kay! I used to see it a little bit in the historicals, but not so much anymore... I think it makes a difference when the heroine isn't quite so "silly" though!
CaroB wrote: "Lisa Kay wrote: "I saw Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" posted in HR group that she doesn’t like “silly heroines chasing rakes storyline”. I concur, and like her, prefer the “hero in pursuit”. L..."I think you're exactly right CaroB. It seems that particular theme is ver popular in historicals. I recently read
, and the heroine wasn't too bad, which made all the difference.
addiction of some kind (drugs, alcohol, gambling): I love these!“angsty”: I love these!
Big Misunderstanding that could have been resolved with a simple talk: No me gusta!
bodice-ripper angst: Fires of Winter and Captive Bride by Johanna Lindsey
books that make me cry:
cheating by the hero: An Arranged Marriage by Jo Beverley
child/children in the story: I love these
couple jumps into bed too fast: Larissa Ione’s Demonica series
couple takes forever to “do the deed”: I actually like these too.
divorced, then reunited: Blah!
epic - too long: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
excessive amount of time spent on the secondary characters
frienemies : I like these
genre is just not my forte: Behind Closed Doors by Shannon McKenna
hero and heroine argue through most of book
hero too alpha: Behind Closed Doors by Shannon McKenna
hero too beta: Sweet Lullaby by Lorraine Heath
hero too much of an asshat at the beginning: Behind Closed Doors by Shannon McKenna
heroine is a prostitute: Rainbows and Raptures by Rebecca Paisley
heroine is too prissy: I love prissy heroines!
heroine is TSTL (too stupid to live)
heroine too bitchy: I have a very low tolerance for them!
heroine too sweet or “Pollyanna-ish”: All the Julie Garwood books
mistress: Claiming the Courtesan by Anna Campbell
more than just a “bad-boy” or a “rake” - he’s really a "man-slut": Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase
raped by the hero: Claiming the Courtesan by Anna Campbell
Regency (or other era) heroines act like today's girls (anachronistic behavior): not too many of these I like!
revenge (usually involves thinking: “I’ll sleep with her/him to achieve my goal.”): ah, a guilty pleasure of mine!
secret baby: Honor Bound by Erin St. Claire
silly heroines chasing rakes storyline: No me gusta!
switches genre w/o warning (from historical to time-travel or romantic-suspense to PNR): Prince of Dreams by Lisa Kleypas
time-traveling: Karie Marie Moning, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
"tough and clever" heroine almost always outwitted by hero
“wallpaper” historical only – no sense of time and place: Haven’t found one yet.
younger hero, older heroine: Untouched by Anna Campbell
The only book I've read where someone was struggling with an addiction was
. I loved that book! I believed its considered an erotic-historical romance.
Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress wrote: "couple jumps into bed too fast: Larissa Ione’s Demonica series..."Lady, D., I would have picked Pleasure Unbound, by Larissa Ione from the Demonica series. When I posted my questions for a "buddy read" of that book, I asked if anyone felt they jumped into bed too soon and Lisarenee posted that she felt they should have been formally intoduced first, LOL! Still, loved the book!!
✿Michelle✿ wrote: "The only book I've read where someone was struggling with an addiction was . I loved that book! I believed its considered an erotic-historical romance."I don't think that is my cuppa tea at all.
Lisa Kay wrote: "Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress wrote: "couple jumps into bed too fast: Larissa Ione’s Demonica seriesLady, D., I would have picked Pleasure Unbound, by [author:Larissa Ione|3751..."
LOL!!
The Demonica books make me into a hypocrite, because I love these and I normally don't like books that are mainly sexual.
Reading Bekah’s recent review of
made me realize I have another Romancelandia Rule – well, really a pet peeve. I don’t like reading books where the American heroine is
always
a "brash American"—the reference and stereotype irritates me, so much so that I recently set aside
. We are really not
all
that bad, IMHO. Must we all be lumped into having the same characteristics? Can't one American heroine be shy and withdrawing? Or with impeccable manners? But Kleypas manages to make Lillian, in It Happened One Autumn, a bit of a minx w/o being too irritating, especially when paired with Marcus and his "stiff upper lip, and all that" of the English! While she is not my favorite heroine in this series, I did like her much better on the second read, and loved her by the third.
I have to admit that I found Lillian annoying at times, and also Westcliff. But they were a great match for each other. I know what you mean about that stereotype. Multiply it times twenty for Texans. According to stereotypes, everyone from Texas is loud, annoying, judgmental, and guncrazy!
I didn't know you toted around a gun, Lady D. :)
:D yes I read the whole thread :D
I don't think I've ever read a book with one of my pet peeves that I ended up liking!
Oh, you're a hard nut to crack. LOL! No insult intended.
lol, I am ! You should read our discussion of whispers in the dark! I've only said half of the stuff I think is wrong with the story!:D
Oh, I've been reading that discussion. Not my cuppa tea. LOL!
Interesting list LK ☺ I don't know if I should admit to this or not....BUT I have never cried over a book or movie. I guess I'm just not a crier LOL
ShoSho wrote: "I don't think I've ever read a book with one of my pet peeves that I ended up liking!"Same here. I've read through the list and I cannot think of a single book that helped me overcome a pet peeve. All the list has done is make me remember all those books that made some of these themes a pet peeve in the first place :0(
Lisa Kay wrote: "Oh, I am."I'm a terrible crier. Almost anything can make me turn on the waterworks. I've gotten so many paperbacks wet with tears and actually smudged the print.
Now I cry over my Kindle - hopefully, I won't short it out.
Aw, Lauren! I hope so, too.
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Romance Lovers for the Challenge-Impaired
Books mentioned in this topic
It Happened One Autumn (other topics)Moonfire (other topics)
Pleasure Unbound (other topics)
Addicted (other topics)
Pleasure Unbound (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Larissa Ione (other topics)Lisa Kleypas (other topics)
Jennifer Crusie (other topics)
Shelly Laurenston (other topics)
Shannon McKenna (other topics)
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Is he? Lucky you! My niece is going somewhere in Australia this summer. Lucky her.....