Romance Novels - Favorites or Duds

theowlbox

I've been reading the intros and some peeps are super into romance. What are your favorite genres or sub genres, favorite books, or what have you not liked? Personally I like Meljean Brook and her Iron Seas books. What is not to love about Steampunk Romance???? Anyone else?

lunabellz

I love the Black Dagger Brotherhood by J R Ward. I've not read any Steam Punk yet but have some books on my TBR list on Goodreads.

theowlbox

I've read all the Immortals After dark series but i feel like Kresley Cole's friendship with Gena Showalter is coming out. The guys started having these horrible pasts rife with abuse and she is seriously hitting every sexual kink hard and (unfortunately) clinically. I am getting pretty bored with her. I don't need a beginner's guide to (insert kink here) with each new book. You know who I like? Loretta Chase. Recency romance with complexity, humor, and tension without needing to reach so hard!

lunabellz

I've just discovered Regency Romance and I like it

theowlbox

I'm a fan of paranormal romance for candy books. I like the Charlaine Harris Sookie Stackhouse books ( though they were way different than the true blood series). Love Meljean Brook because she is in the Steampunk genre and I love that. I straight up loved the Julie Anne Long Pennyroyal Green series because it coupled really great writing with compelling storylines. But I'm looking for a new series. I love getting to know a family of characters or place over time so you keep meeting some characters over and over. It gives me a Star's Hollow kind of Gilmore Girls feel! I'm not so much enjoying the more popular authors on Amazon pumping out 85 page books for 99 cents. It's slightly too trashy to be really enjoyable. I read sometimes, but they don't give you enough time to give a crap about someone. Suggestions always welcome!

RunionX4

I am not a big romance novel reader. But there are a couple that I can make it though. Jane Austen's books are great and I enjoy reading them but I don't really consider them "romance". Kay hooper has some good romance novels too but I prefer her mystery books tho. If there is a bit of mystery and intrigue I would probably read it more. But I just can't get into all the steamy romance stuff. If you wanna recommend a book I'd be happy to try one. ☺

jesspen91

I'm sorry but I really can't 'do' romance novels. I have read books that have included great romances but they are never the focus of the plot. If a book has a shirtless man on the cover I definitely give it a miss!

theowlbox

I love reading them every once in a while! I read some pretty boring crap sonetimes and It's a nice palate cleanser. Also, It's great to read something where you know it'll resolve in the end in a satisfactory way. Pulp mystery, romance and a lot of popular series have that going for them. Sometimes I just want to read a book where things end up ok in the end
Of course, I don't usually pick something with a man on the cover, because there are a ton with the women on the cover. Molly Harper has a great vampire series that is hilarious, Meljean Brook has an amazing steampunk series, etc. I just want good stories and I want people to be happy. Escapism!

WickAndArtoo

After reading Wuthering Heights, I think I can finish reading romance novels for the rest of my life, I reached the highest peak and it's all downhill from here (just kidding). But seriously, anyone who loves romance should read it, it consumed me in every way, I feel like it was one of those stories that became a part of who I am when I was finished.

lilithsrose

I generally only read Paranormal Romance. I like the action and violence with just a smidge of romance scenes. Cheesy romance isn't my thing.

My favorites within the genre are the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning and the Sensor series by Susan Illene.

theowlbox

I am not down with cheesy anything. I think that's just terrible writing. But i think there is an element of romance in a lot of books and shows that no one refers to romance. The will they/won't they or the painful refusal to be vulnerable...ahh! I just finished 16 seasons of CSI and I love the romance between Sarah and Gil but it was in the background most of the time.

I enjoy paranormal a ton. I already like sci fi. The c Harris sookie Stackhouse books were pretty interesting (way less sexy than the show) even if the ending blew. The one regwncy series I like is julie Anne long Pennyroyal Green series. But that's mostly because it was very well written and so compelling. It wasn't trite and didn't utilize the recency period to make a formulaic story.
Has anyone read the Presley Cole Immortals after Dark series? Interesting. And thanks @rhaiin for the suggestions! I need escape in these trying times! I will likely also start watching something old like Frasier (niles & daphne!) to calm my nerves.

Cris_elaine7382

I'm not crazy about cheesy romance either but love a good romance hidden in some suspense or humor. My all time favorite author is Kristen Ashley. The Rock Chick series is great if you love to laugh.