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I want to be hungover Hello! It's nice to see your pixels again. :)

I just read DANCE by Judy Cuevas (aka Judith Ivory). It's the sequel to BLISS. Both are awesome -- if you can find them, as they're also most unfortunately out of print. I have no idea why.

I've also been reading Patricia Gaffney's OOP backlist. I like her writing, for the most part. Her women's fiction (sort of like Marian Keyes, I guess) is still in print and they're good too; I prefer her romances, though. Esp CROOKED HEARTS and OUTLAW IN PARADISE.

Robin McKinley published a new book: CHALICE. I liked it quite a bit.

And I must recommend SLINGS & ARROWS. It's a tv show, but omg, do I ever love it. You know how some books make you stay up all night because it's so awesome all you want to do is stay immersed in the story? This is the TV equivalent. It's got everything: great writing, great acting, great characters, Canadians, Shakespeare... It's 3 seasons of 6 episodes - more like a mini-series, really, than the usual 22-24 episode format. Oh yeah. For a book that's in print, I just re-read Lisa Kleypas' Then Came You. I'd forgotten how much I like this book, and possibly, how atypical it sort of is for the romance genre. I mean, there's still some stuff in it that's a bit purple and clichéd, but overall, I like the characters and how they resolve their issues. I've no real suggestions at the moment, but can I say its good to see you back. Missed you lots, even though I'd become a terrible lurker.

And Lipo?!?!?!? A bit brave or what

Love
Tisty Titsy: Lipo was nothing really. I think people that go through life with a huge spare tire like the one I had are far braver LOL

Dance?,

Thank you so much for the recs. I didn't read anything this weekend :( But will definitely get some of the books you mentioned. And I will most definitely watcch Slings & Arrows. Will check about renting the first seasons. two books from this summer I really enjoyed: Hot by Julia Harper- LMAO and made me feel good- just like Bet Me by J Cruise. Also, The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter- this is first in Lords of the Underworld series and all the books so far are very good.

For the wholesome good feeling I usually stick with Rachel Gibson, Susan Anderson, Susan Donovan and Kristan Higgins. For adventure try Pamela Clare-start with Extreme Exposure and then go to the next books. Each of these authors are must buys for me and leave me thinking about the book after it's done.

However, the only books I have ever read that keep me dreaming about them for extended nights are ones that you didn't care much for- the BDB series by JR Ward and Dark Hunters series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Acheron came out 2 months ago and that book made me feel every emotion for a few nights.

I have tons others but just wanted to give you some ideas.... Well, I went to mystery when I get frustrated with romance.

I think I'm in love with Jack Reacher. Lee Child's hero. True there's not much romance in the books, but hot damn! The reader gives me a hard on if I have something to go hard, that is.

Shoshana Thanks for the recommendation ladies. I'm making a list and checking it twice, I'm going to find which is good and which not, Vicious Trollop is coming to town!!!!

No idea where that came from LOL I'm so going to be fired Wait until you read Blue Eyed Devil before you give up on what's his name for good!

Sigh. Wasn't VT just complaining about Blue Eyed? LOL. At least you get into your books big time VT Weird about the epilogue. Maybe it was a printing glitch?

"Who in their right mind would leave a hot, smart, sexy, arrogant millionaire like Gage for..."

Another hot, smart, sexy arrogant millionaire? ;)

That was one of the things I didn't like so much -- not the triangle part, which I quite liked, as much as I like any love triangle. Even with the dithering, I liked that Liberty (I think the name might be a southern thing?) was honest about her confusion with both Gage and Hardy.

BUT. I really disliked the way Kleypas wrote Hardy at the end. It makes Liberty's choice a non-decision; it takes away the consequences and meaning of her decision because instead of having 2 good choices, there is one good one and one bad one -- that's what drives me nuts about triangles in general*; it makes the one in the middle look stupid for not seeing what's so obviously the right choice, and then all the back-and-forth-ness becomes contrived.

*Except for certain OT3s, which don't count. You've got to read Blue-Eyed Devil. One of my favorite books ever. That Hardy... he totally redeems himself. I love him. I want him. He's mine. Dance, are you trying to get me fired? You'll need to get Blue Eyed Devil to read too!

**Shakes head at someone not liking Kleypas** (grin) I've always liked Kleypas. I can tracked my dip in grades to her publication dates. I'd stay up all night reading her book, even if I have a huge exam the next day.

Shoshana *grin* I'm glad you like it!

Sugar Daddy (and Blue Eyed Devil) is quite a departure from LK's other work, isn't it?

I'm interested in seeing what happens in her next book, which I think is a historical again.

I just re-read one of her earlier works - I can't recall the title, but I think it had "Angel" in it somewhere - and I think it's safe to say she's improved as a writer.

Sorry for the late reply. I've been offline the last few days (almost a whole week!) so I don't get fired from my job. ;) Kleypas' historicals are not the most thrilling, but Kleypas writing contemporaries is pure genius. Sugar Daddy and Blue-Eyed Devil are probably my favorite romances. Ever. That's a lot of romances. Too many In Death? 31??! Wow. And here i thought 7 books is pushing already (besides beloved Harry of course, heh).

Wonder if there's any series--in any genre--that can surpass that 31 books in one series by Nora. And i should really start reading her.. :/ I got kinda bored with the series after 8-ish books (I know it was more than 5 and less than 10, though I couldn't tell you which titles they were).

Maybe it had something to do with not reading from the beginning or in order, but there wasn't enough of whatever it is I like - change, character development, mostly, relationship issues (not that I wanted Eve and Rourke to break up, but their relationship is a little too stagnant/pat/HEA for me) - to keep my interest.

And in the full interest of disclosure, I should add that I'm not a huge fan of NR books - I'll read them, maybe, if there's nothing else around - though I do like her online persona. *or interest of full disclosure. or however that line is supposed to go. *sigh* I'm confused. Is it true that the whole series is about this ONE couple? I mean 31 books and all about ONE couple? How old are they now, 70? :/ Yeah, the main romance/characters is just Eve/Roark, though there are a host of secondary characters who do things too.

I don't know how much time passes between the books, possibly only a few weeks or days in some cases. I think they're in their mid 30s? throughout most of it. But 31 books??! I don't think even a book titled "The Dramatic Life of Brit Brit Spears" can be that long. :/ I find it hard to believe anyone can make 31 books about the same couple good. Hell, authors can't even write 31 good books through-out their careers let alone a series.

I'll give the first couple a try later on, but just thinking about such a long series has taken all the curiousness out of me LOL It's a bit procedural, like, say, "House" or "Bones", if each book is like an episode, I guess, only more self-contained.

The courtship part happens pretty quickly and after that, their relationship to me kind of coasts along, with maybe a few minor bumps here and there.

I'd definitely try them - I like them a little more than I do NR's "Nora Roberts" books - but they're not ones that are Must Reads, for me. And 31 books is pretty daunting. Oh, I love this series. I know 31 books seems like a lot to focus on one couple, but they're really worth it.

Each book focuses on a case Eve is working, with some relationship stuff (along with some amazing secondary characters) thrown in. The dynamics of Eve and Roarke's relationship are amazing.

Plus, he's a billionaire, sexy as hell with blue eyes, and Irish to boot. What more do you need? I am up to book 12 of this series, and definitely haven't got bored or anything like that!

Roarke is to die for, there is humour, there is mystery, Roarke is to die for, there is romance, there is depth. Oh, and Roarke is to die for!

Definitely give it a go! I love this series. Good writing, good mystery. I'm not certain I have read each and every one of the 31 books but I do love Eve and Roarke. They're my favorite characters from all of Nora's books.

Start with Naked in Death. It will give you a lot of background on the main characters.

Olly This is my favorite series of all time. I started reading them in high school and 13 years later I'm still buying every new book JD Robb puts out. (Yeah, I've read all 27 that's currently out.) Eve is probably one of my favorite (if not the favorite) heroine. And Roarke, well to quote Marg, he's "to die for." Other heroes now pale in comparison. JD Robb/Nora Roberts is so prolific that each new book is still fresh and interesting. I like the mysteries and how Eve solves her cases, but most of all I enjoy exploring the couple's life and marriage after they've achieved that HEA. (In other romances you close the book when they get together.) I highly recommend that you give it try. Read the first 3-5 books (start with Naked in Death - that's still my favorite) and if you don't like it, well, you can say you gave it a try. Good Readings to the New Year! Please give it a go! Start from the first one, Naked in Death. I personally, are hooked on them and will continue buying her new in death books. Happy Reading! Ok, you guys have won me over!

Holly, you hit the nail in the head "he's a billionaire, sexy as hell with blue eyes, and Irish to boot" that is ALL I need to be told to run and get a book LOL

I love me some rich and hunky heroes and men with Irish/English accents are my weakness *sigh* The series is a good one. There are a lot of books, and the main center is one couple, but there are so many interesting 'other' characters that they more than make up for the only one couple thing.
If you like crime type novels, you'll like these I think. I love this series! You should try it Trollop. I am up to the fifth and reading them in order. They are working for me till now. A real lot to go its true... Disturb me OH.MY.GOD.

This has got to be a fuckin joke Trollop!

I don't know if I should laugh or cry or thank heavens that I'm lucky enough not to have read this so called romance! LOL Oh yeah, disturbing romance. Let me see... Right now I can only think of Mary Jo Putney's BURNING POINT.

The hero and heroine divorced because the hero was an abusive bastard. Then they got back together after he convinced her that he has changed and will never do it again. Of course he hasn't. Whenever he gets mad he thinks about beating her up! Of course the heroine condones it. :S I DO NOT NAG. :@

Hallo everyone. :) *wave* Dunno what aberration can possibly top that Stormfire *shudder* but for my part, as of the moment, here's Awaken, My Love by Robin Schone (copied from a post of mine last year, heh :P).

Elaine, a 39-year-old woman who's been married for 17 years and has NEVER been French kissed (HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?), swaps bodies with a frigid woman (Morrigan) from 18th century (don't ask, never understood how this happened). As a result, she gets Charles, Morrigan's Neanderthal hubby, who's supposed to be an expert on Tantric love, *snort* but he makes sex uncomfortable, painful and degrading (his idea of foreplay is nothing but how many fingers he can fit inside his wife!). Except when he's imposing his conjugal rights, he and Elaine have never had a real conversation, and after she's nearly raped and killed, he ignores her for days while he's torn whether or not to lock her in a loony bin.

Oh, and lest I forget, the over the top villain. If you've actually suspended your disbelief and revulsion that got you to read until the end, you'll see the villain—the "frigid" woman (someone who has the ability to swap bodies with anyone)—decides she wants to know what it's like to have sex with HERSELF with Elaine in her former body! SERIOUSLY! Gad, that picture!

Good topic Trollop. It's like warning each other of what horrible books to stay away from. :P

Rosemary Rogers' The Wanton: repeated rape, tortured heroine, brutal hero, bizarre plot... one of the worst and disturbing romance ever. Okay, seriously. Who the f--- was that book written for? I want to know who thinks that could possibly be a romance? Because they should be tattooed on their forehead so everyone knows to stay away from them. Oh, I'm all for hoyay! :D

(And I know Outlander is not loved here for many reasons, but I do think that rape scene in it was supposed to be disturbing and possibly even off-putting; definitely not an easy read or something I'd fantasize about. I don't think a man raping a woman would (or should) have been easier to read either.

It's not the same thing at all, to me, as a sex/love scene between to men (or women).)

My fictional no no's would definitely include taking such acts lightly, not that I particularly want to read about them in the first place. I mean, I don't go looking for rape in romance novels, but if it is included... I'd want it to be written well. "Stormfire" sounds pretty terrible.

I don't have any specific books in mind right now, but I have been sort of "off" romances. Not sure why. I imagine I'll swing back to them again eventually. I seem to be on more of a SF/F kick right now. I agree with Dance about the scene in Outlander. It was pretty disturbing for me but I thought it was supposed to be like that. I understand why anyone would not like it.

I can't think of a specific romance right now but a big no no for me is the [gang] rape thing. I think many old romances have it which is disturbing on its own if you ask me. How could rape ever be romantic? The Outlander series has some very disturbing stuff in there but I love Jamie and Claire.

What about Catherine Coulter? She has written some disturbing books. There are rape, kissing cousins (or should I say fucking cousins) and very unpleasant heroes! I can't remember the title but there is one where the hero rapes his wife and when he finds out she isn't a virgin goes into a rage. Turns out the wife lost her virginity because she was raped. Dance, this might be a stupid question but what is SF/F? M - male, F - female, SF - science fiction? LOL Oh, sorry. SF/F = Science Fiction/Fantasy. :D So I was right about SF? LOL! I thought my science fiction guess was the wrong one. :)

By the way, I agree with Isabella on The Wanton, totally disturbing. Sweet Savage Love as well, also by Rosemary Rogers. I just recently read a Lisa Jackson book, that nearly made me hurl.

In the book, See How She Dies, the heroine may possibly be a missing hotel heiress. The hero is her possible half brother. The two have sex numerous times while knowing there is a chance they are brother and sister. At one point the heroine says something to the effect of, "I know it's wrong, but I can't help it." I'm forever turned off Lisa Jackson books, and I'm scarred for life. Syhloh, ewww! Thanks for the heads up. Incest is a big no-no.

Trollop, I'm loving this thread. I agree with Jordis on Catherine Coulter. One of the first romance books I read was Midsummer Magic. The hero repeatedly rapes his wife (the heroine) and has not shown any remorse about it. Very repulsive! I don't think there is forgiveness or excuse in rape but the hero could have at least say he's sorry or I don't know, show some sign he has realized that what he's been doing is wrong. At the first rape, that book is toast. I used to take abuse from authors I don't like, but only because I didn't have much choice in reading materials. Once I have, no sense in wasting my life over one such book.

Seriously, they can't have called that book romance. It's travesty! It's anything but. This comment has been removed by the author. Unconquered by Bertrice Small. Oh my goodness. Lots of nasty things have happened in that book.

*SPOILERS*
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Rape, adultery, cruelty, it's all in here. The heroine was kept as a brooding mare in a slavery factory. While pregnant, someone kicked her in the stomach so her baby was born disfigured.

The sex scenes are not even sexy! The hero and heroine are apart more than they are together that she has slept with her brother in law while her hubby/hero is away. Not disturbing like rape, gang bang, and the likes but disturbing nonetheless for me when I loved the first book and the H/H found happily ever after and then I read the second book in the series and for some stupid reason, the hero from the first book cheats on the heroine or he or she dies!!!!!! Most of Bertrice Small's books I found very disturbing. Ditto on the rape and incest. Trollop, this is a great post. List of books that I'm going to avoid, on the top of that is Stormfire, LOL.

I think one of the most disturbing books for me is Thomas Harris' Hannibal.

Some of Lora Leigh's books are pretty disturbing.

What about those romances with heroines who were raped by the hero YET THEY END UP FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE GUY? WTF? Speaking of Robin Schone, she has a a series where the hero of the other book is the villain in the other. I can't remember the titles but really WHY do authors do that?! I hate it when that happens. In series, the hero from the previous book dies on the second one!! Big no no!

Ally I haven't read the whole thread yet but I have to mention Lolah Burford. OMG. I'm not sure if her books are categorized under the romance genre but they are very disturbing.

Olly Ok, here is one of the books I mentioned by Lolah Burford - Vice Avenged: A Moral Tale.

(from Amazon)
FROM BACK COVER:

In 18th century England young men gathered in private clubs to devise mischievous and exciting schemes to while away their idle hours.
So it was with Bysshe, the young Marquis of Gore and his friends.

They were bored, very bored. What they wanted was a delicious new game--a shocking, sensational, dangerously different way to spice up their long days. And together they thought up an ingenious idea.
One of them would ravish a virgin of good family, an innocent maiden to be chosen by lot.

Only a game they said.
And so it was until the plan backfired.
Suddenly the game had become a sadistic round of violence and vengeance. The Wanton. I read it when I was 12. You can imagine how shocked I was. And then my mom found out I read one of her books and she almost blistered my butt. Eww to them all. Anything with rape or abusive heros ... mental or physical is a huge turn off for me. I don't bother reading them any further. Jolie, I kid you not. It was a very disturbing book, dark and twisted. Although, if I recall it correctly I ended up liking one of her books. lol

Olly Re: "Outlander", in all interviews w/ author Diana Gabaldon, she always says, "I am NOT a romance author!!!" so she apparantly agrees with all of us that rape is NOT sexy (but I loved her series anyway). I noticed that her last 2 books are centered on Lord John, though, the evil b*** rapor (?) from Outlander. How weird is that? And while "they" keep printing that women have "rape fantasies", I've never met one, have you? Ourtrumpcard, welcome. Hope you join us often. :)

Now, OUTLANDER. I have to admit i love admitting i loathe Fraser heh. :P Too many complains but mostly these: it really bothered and disgusted me that beating the crap out of Claire turned him on.
Then his "chaste" infidelity when he was imprisoned and abused over and over and oooooovvver again by a MAN. Any thought of Fraser as a man at that point went right out the window. :P

I have to admit that one of the things that put me off OUTLANDER was Gabaldon's "i do not write romance" attitude. I do think her books are not romance. Historical fiction with erm, sci-fi, but her first books were marketed as romance. They're spoken of, constantly, in the context of romance (they even gave out copies at the RWA conference). But really, who freaking cares where your books are shelved? She refused to sign books in some bookstore until they had removed her books under romance and shelved it somewhere else. I understand her point actually. Who wants to be mislabeled? But COME ON. Her publishers clearly made the right decision to put her first under romance as she's famous now not to mention a bestselling gazillionaire.

I'm not saying she is a bad writer because she's not (i actually like the way she strings her words together) though i'm not saying i like her writing either LOL. I *DESPISE* the continuous rape in her books. RAPE. RAPE. RAPE. WE GET IT WOMAN! Rape was rampant in that freaking time of history! But do you always have to include rape?!? Gah. I heard the latest book has Claire repeatedly rape. Is that true? That poor idiotic adulteress. I don't want to think she enjoys it... :P

As for that rape fantasy, one of this days i have to write about that.

Harlot I absolutely *love* STORMFIRE and own two copies. See my 'review' for it on the Romantic Times 'spoiler zone' forum. In September 2003 she committed suicide in Colorado.

Also, I like Lolah Burford to and *adore* her book ALYX, which shall always remain a favorite of mine. See my 'review' for that one too on the 'spoiler zone'.


Have a great day ladies! :-) New comer here.
Great post, great comments. Thanks for the disturbingly, entertaining morning =D seriously. *checks out the rest of the blog* i missed the chapter involving alfred e neuman. anyone got the cliffs notes? On halfwits and abusive fucks =O! Is that supposed to be sexy? "The fucking she deserves"? That's not right.

I normally like Linda Howard's stuff but this sounds crap. Especially since the 'hero' is a snob who uses the term white trash to the heroin. *whispering* I remember really liking this book...

I guess maybe it's very out-dated. The older romances tend to have some very abusive themes. It had to do with a man 'establishing his dominance' or whatever. It used to be very acceptable, but now reads as barbaric and gross.

Now I'm tempted to re-read this one because I don't rememeber the details (must have been more than 10 years ago that I read it).

I do love how you speak your mind, Trollop! ;)

Cheers,
ms I read this one and thought it was blah. Grossed me out that he had so many sex partners because he seems to be the type who would usually have some sort of an STD. I really liked this book. I agree with Malicious that old romance books have abusive themes. Look at Clayton of Whitney My Love, one of my favorite romances. When I first read it, I thought it was the perfect romance. It wasn't until years later that I realized Clay was what you may call too alpha. I can't hate him, though, and I can't dislike the book because it is well written and the love story is awesome.

After the Night is the same. It is intense with flawed characters. Some readers may complain why Faith still loved Gray after what he did but I think it made it all more real. Unlike many mediocre romances, the characters here have a wonderful chemistry, the story was well told and I was drawn to the mystery (albeit some of its disgusting aspects). I love Linda Howard and like most of her books, I remember loving After the Night. Over the years as romance novels evolve, my preference has changed as well. I used to like alpha heroes but now I do not care for books in which the woman is spoken to in a crude manner. Perhaps I should reread this book. Lol! I loved this book. I didn't realized it was that bad. Yes, yes, yes! I thought the sister's case was really disgusting. Still, LH is a very gifted writer. She has written some of the best romances on paper. Trollop LOL. I really liked this book, I thought it was different. Maybe I should re-read, huh. Though, I do remember why anyone didn't take care of Gray's sister. Not LH's most shining moment. I remember thinking what a complete doormat Faith was, which made the whole "I've bettered myself" concept lose credibilty. It was hard to believe she had the balls to become a succesful businesswoman.

I thought Gray was hot as hell, but he completely pissed me off anyway.

I thought the father's best friend/sister as a substitute for her mother storyline served to illustrate just how fucked up the family was, so from that standpoint it worked well.

This is just one of those books that made me feel dirty, yet I liked it anyway. *shrugs* Linda Howard doesn't write 'safe' romances. She writes about incests, too domineering men one step away from being abusive.

After the Night is not my favorite LH but I still enjoyed reading it. Oh, and did I mention the sex was hot? ;) Trollop, loved your little review. I think LH's old romances are very different from her newer novels. Not only the suspense part but the writing itself. I guess it is the same with most authors as they tend to grow with each book they produce. With that said, I think After the Night is not the best LH but still worth the read if you are a fan of hers.

Olly Oh. And I have to agree with Loralie on the sensuality of the book: hot sex scenes. (tee-hee)

Olly Trollop, sometimes, it's not about what an abusive fuck the person is, but how the book was written. I enjoyed this story even though I'd never be anywhere near a man like that...I don't care how big a cock he has...I think it's one of those bookwith well-endowed hero..yeah?

So, this is a good story with a really bad hero. Not Linda Howard's best but Gray is hot! I think that is one of LH's best weapons, she makes the best alpha heroes. o.o I always liked LH books for her trade mark humour ... but it was missing in this. I hate abusive male heros. I'm glad to say I have read much better LH's. Another writer whose writes awful male heros is Sandra Brown. I detest the STD action in her books. Absolutely YUK! This is where I'm scared to say ... this was my favourite Linda Howard book. I loved it. I'm with chez, this IS my favorite Linda Howard! A hero snob and proud of it! Hmmm. I've never really written a physically disabled hero and don't plan to (except my medieval hero whose body is covered in scars from numerous battles), but the tortured soul is a favorite of mine. I dont think I've ever read a romance with a seriously disfigured hero.. hmm...
what I cant stand is a hero who is too pretty and too happy. I prefer rugged, sexy heroes. I also like the tortured soul *sigh*. And this might seem a bit weird but I dont like it when the hero and heroine have the same colouring.

For example I just finished reading a book by Johanna Lindsey and the hero was 25, wholesome, happy and had a great childhood. He was blond haired and blue eyed and gorgeous. The heroine was overtly, unbelievably, angelically beautiful. She was also blond and blue eyed.

Might seem like a small trifle but it really got on my nerves. LOL. Trollop, you crack me up. I loved Princess but I know what you mean about poor heroes. I like me someone who is rich and handsome and if he has a jet much better. The same reason I won't read a romance book where the hero is a janitor or something. Not that there is something wrong with being one, but I'm reading romance for the fantasy of it all and I won't be a hypocrite and say I find a poor man who can't provide for me and shelter and feed me very attractive. Poor Quasimodo. :D

I don't know if I dislike disfigured heroes or just don't read stories about them -- though I love Beauty and the Beast and, uh, House. And Miles Vorkosigan.

I don't think I've read many (any?) romances where the hero (or heroine, for that matter) was poor and stayed poor at the end either. Though I don't think I'm very adventurous in my romance reading because there are certain things I don't care for. Now that I think about it, I can't remember reading a romance book with a hero who is balding or fat. I will not even pick up a book with heroes like those because I don't think I'll enjoy it. A hunchback? A balding or a fat romance hero? Is there such a thing?? i agree, where's the hot fantasy in it?

it reminds me of the jeffrey deaver crime/mystery series where the hero is a cranky quad and the heroine doubts he'll stay with her if he's ever cured because she has knee-arthritis-something but still runs down criminals, nervously picks her cuticles and scratches her head but is drop dead gorgeous.

something really off-balance about that.

i noticed in TBH that Tatiana picks up a facial scar and am wondering if 'Shunra' will use that as an excuse to cheat later. Please dont tell me. isabella,

gotta have a jet to go shopping right ;) ooooh, I love a guy whose scarred. I don't love a guy who does the dumbest things evah in a book because he's scarred and I really don't like it when he uses it as his excuse to be cold and mean.

but then I figure, scarred dudes need love too :)

DC :) Donna, yes.

And if he has a Caribbean resort much better :D LOL! Oh I don't mind scarred heroes. For example, in McNaught's Kingdom of Dreams, the hero Royce is scarred and battle-worn and I still find him very yummy... very yummy indeed. ;) I like imperfect heroes. Not the one who brutalize the heroine or cheats but a little quirk here, some scar there, or a troubled past makes him more "real" to me.

Regarding poor heroes, usually the story starts with the guy poor and then he becomes this millionaire so I have no problem with that one. I always say that anything can be overcome by a good story or sizzling titilating plot.

Now, a maimed hero and a badly or mediocre written book has no hope with me whatsover.

I admit that I love my heroes to be perfect or if they are imperfect, they must be sexually attractive, hot and limping maybe, but very handsome. Of course, handsome is so subjective, but if I don't feel the hero is at least handsome, I'll have a hard time enjoying the romance. I will have to imagine the story is science fiction and nothing to do with romance, because what's the fun in that? I agree with the jet. Hell, I'll settle for flying business class everywhere. It's as much reality as fantasy.

I guess I don't mind so much about disfigured heroes, but I admit I have a hard time getting into 'blind' hero stories. I know, I know, it's supposed to be deep and shit, but really? It's just a bit impossible. My brain can't seem to process it. :p I mean, how does he know if she's making faces behind, ahem, in front of him whenever they argue or something? If he regains his sight, then..

So, I'm ok with disfigurement, ok with not-so-handsome heroes, but NOT ok with poverty and SHORT HEROES OMGWTFNOWAYS. Although, I do love Lisa Kleypas' hero Marcus from It Happened One Autumn. :/ I'm conflicted, yes I know. Gah, Trollop and i disagree about this at least once a month and then we always, as she says, bitch slap each other silly from here till kingdom come--and no one ever yields! What i mean is: SHE should yield! *hmph*

She is a freaking hero snob. Whenever she's reading a book and she's liking it, she'll be like, "Babe, really liking this book but the hero has all his limbs, that might put you off. But maybe he'll loose an eye or something from here till the end jajajaja." GRRR

I DO NOT like a hero because he is maimed or limping or scarred. I like a book because of the STOOOOORY.

I'm not saying give me an ugly fatso hero who farts in the church. Of course i like me some delicious sexy man who is uber rich and won't make me cook, do the laundry and will buy me a villa in Tuscany. STILL, i do not overlook a good story if the hero is less than perfect--WHICH YOU DO!!! :@ AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, IT'S SHU-RA! Shura Shunra, all the same really! Cheating bastard is what he should be called.

Babz, LOL on the blind hero! LMAO Don't like them myself though have only read one, that first vampire rapper series I was reading some months ago.

And OMG short heros!!!!! UGHHHH Anything under 6'0 and I don't like. Ranger from the SPlum series is 5'10 and though I admit he's sexy there is no way I would date a man that short. I'm 5'8, a good 5'10 or more in heels. There is also a really really bad Balogh book where the hero is shirtless and fighting in the beginning -for reasons unknown to me- and he was 5'8 WTF? He was a midget in hero standards LOL There was also a guy missing an arm and with half his body horribly burnt and scarred.

Ladybug, SBrockmann has a book with a balding hero. Stupid ass book btw. IT's one of those police books of her or whatever... Ok after thinking about it for a while, I know now why I love Marcus even though he's waaay short for a hero. He's RICH AS CROESUS, PEOPLE! Also he has what has to be the best country estate in all of Regency England, to read Kleypas' description. And, if he can stand the heroine, who is very annoying, he definitely is made for me.

Trollop, I'm a height snob. I am 5'2" and my bf is 5'11", and he's actually the shortest of all the, erm, notches on my bed lol. Btw, which vampire rapper series? The Black Dagger Brotherhood? You talking about Wrath? I keep picturing him going inside a room, stumbling over furnitures, mistaking Phury for his wife etc etc.

That Sbrockmann book is The Unsung Hero. Don't like the hero, hated the heroine, hate most of the books in the series, I prefer her earlier work.

TBH has a cheating bastard in it?? OOOOOH. I hate cheating bastards :/ I remember reading a book where the hero is overweight and balding. One may say it is refreshing to find a hero who isn't tall, dark and handsome, and in real life, it's true that gorgeous millionaires don't just go knocking on plain janes' doors but why does he have to be balding AND overweight? Stop talking about Shura! :@ And it is NOT the same. This is what you do: you just zeroed in on the hero's imperfection and the whole damn book is bad already.

For example, that Hellion book by Loretta Chase. You loooooved it when the hero praying and stuff, promising God to be good just let the heroine be safe yada yada and all that thing. "Ohhh... that is just the sweetest thing!" But Jack--yes the same dude who gave you the "Tale of the Crypt Nightmares"--DID THE SAME THING FOR HIS HEROINE. AND OMG SO MUCH MORE! But of course, since it's Jack The Crippled Wanker, you didn't notice, you hero snob!!! Trollop, LOL! I agree about the poor hero and the ugly hero. Call me shallow but when I'm reading romance, I need the hero to be handsome and rich LOL. If he's not rich, he'll be rich mid-way in the book.

I don't mind some scars or some limp, like Colin who has a leg problem in Julie Garwood's book (I can't remember from which book). He is still manly and can still perform "manly" thing, if you know what I mean. ;) I don't mind little imperfections. In real life, I don't trust someone who appears to be too perfect. Those are the types who will leave you for the young model who doesn't eat. In books, I prefer a hero who is a little flawed and not too pretty.

I want a rich one though! This is probably why I don't enjoy historical romances where the hero is a gun slinger or a farmer who is as poor as the dirt he plows and has nothing but his farming techniques to impress me. Trollop, I love tall heroes but I don't like them touching the ceiling. Odd, though, that I don't mind when it's the dark hunters.

I was shocked when I first read Ash was 6'8. I thought 6'8??? Dude, that is way too tall! It doesn't bother me now. I guess I just got used to it that most of the DH are giants. LOL I am not rich nor am I model-looking but I want to read about good looking, rich heroes with their perfect limbs working.

I don't get excited reading about poor, ugly heroes so you can say that defeat the purpose of me reading the book. Ugh, short men! *shudder* I'm 5'2 and my hubs is a full foot taller. With broad, man-sized shoulders (and, to quote Mrs. Patrick Campbell, everything in proportion.)

If he's not a proper-sized MAN, he gets thrown back in the pond. Yech. Oh yikes short heroes. I gotta admit, this turns me off. :/ Both in books and real life, give me a tall man. I've talked about this before. :P I've never really thought about a disfigured hero but I guess I wouldn't like it if it were a major thing, like being in a wheelchair (how do you get busy?), missing body parts, major limps or leg drags...

My dream man is tough and with the exception of a few manly scars from fights or what not, my man would never get hurt bad enough to be missing a part or get a limp cause he is just too damn tough to get that hurt.

As far as emotionally messed up... I can only take so much. Like some of SK's Dark Hunter series heroes, tortured souls that even though the chick is standing right there, saying I Love You, 1,000 times, the man still doesn't believe it... I have NO NO NO patients whatsoever so, at that point, I'm screaming, FUCK HIM, he doesn't want to believe? Kick him the junk, tell him to call when his head is out of his sphincter, flip him the bird as you walk the hell away. I can't stand when people have to repeat themselves 4 and 5 times, let alone through a whole book.

GWB


P.S. I hate when the ages are under 25. A lot of historical (yes, I know that is how it was in the day) will have girls at 17 or so hooking up with a hero of late 20's or early 30's. CHESTER MOLESTER, I'm not digging it. I don't like when the hero is a late teen either. I like men, not boys. 25-30 is a good age for the chicks and 28-35 is a good age for the men, IMO.

Heroes in their 40’s are ok too, only if it their 2nd marriage or something. I like to think part of the HEA is kids, dog, house, and thinking of people having kids in their 40’s is weird to me. That would make them in their 60’s when the kids graduate high school and 70’s when finishing college and get careers and 80’s by time the kids marry and have kids of their own. That is too old, you couldn’t enjoy it.

LOL, am I over thinking this whole thing? I honestly can't remember if I've read romance where the hero is poor or ugly. I admit I like my heroes gorgeous but if the story is engaging, I wouldn't mind the hero's physical imperfections. The most fuckable literary crumpet Oh Harlot you are ebil, bewy bewy ebil.

Do I have to give 10 or just one? If I can only have one, it's a throwdown between :

Jericho Barrons from Karen Marie Moning's Fever series.
Drake Vireo from Katie Macalister's Aisling Grey series.

Do we get to separate, you know, historical, fantasy or contemporary heroes? HOW CAN YOU MAKE ME CHOOSE?? LOL at that picture but why is Daniel Cleaver in that list?

Now, the best hero ever... I'm with Babz, this is a hard call to make. I love so many heroes that it's hard to choose which one is the best.

Mmmmmm... If I have to choose, I think it's a toss between Derek Craven (Lisa Kleypas' Dreaming of You) and Bobby Tom (SEP's Heaven Texas). Ah too many yummy heroes! Babz LOL, yes, feel free to categorize them if you please. :P Mr. Rochester is right! Did you see Jayne Eyre on Masterpiece Theatre? It was fantastic! I just mispelled the title of one of my favorite books. Jane Eyre. Harlot, you crack me up. lol

What about Marc Chastain of Linda Howard's Kill and Tell? Oh! Ranger from Janet Evanovich's Plum series! What a man! I'm surprised no one has mentioned Mark from Lisa Valdez's Passion. :P Danielle, admit it, you only like Mark because of his big schlong. ;) Ohgod, Mark and his famous big cock LOL. We have a couple of posts dedicated to him actually. ;P

The big cock theory
His ever throbbing manroot 1. Dean Winchester (yes, so awesome, he counts too)
2. Jack Morgan (Kate Shugak series by Dana Stabenow)
3. Scott Summers (do comic books count?)
4. Robin Hood
5. Calvin O'Keefe
6. Ian Murray, the younger (Outlander series)
7. Tor (The Hero and the Crown, Robin McKinley)
8. Mel (Sunshine)
9. Ben Stirling (The Keeping Days series)
10. Nat Eaton (yes, still him)

... Was I only supposed to pick one? Ooooh! Love this post!

Here are mine:not in any particular order

- Adam Black and Dageus from karen Marie Moning's highlander series.
- Phin Tucker from WTT and Cal from Bet Me
- Mark from Passion

It's freaking difficult to choose! I don't understand why Mr. Darcy is so popular. He's a bit of a cold fish if you ask me. I prefer Captain Wentworth over him.

Other heroes I love:

-- Llewelyn Farr (Here Be Dragons)
-- Rhett Butler (Gone With the Wind)
-- Batman (comics is still part of the written world)
-- Jamie Fraser (Outlander, me running away from Harlot!) Dance, you are cheating! I know there are Charmed and Buffy books but are there Supernatural books?

Menchie, I have yet to read Karne Marie but I keep reading about this Adam Black. Her books are paranormal, yes? Conner Ford in Nicholas Evans' The Smoke Jumper. He is described as not so good looking, but to me there is just something about a man with big muscles that sky dives into forest fires to put them out!! Argh! I couldn't decide who I liked *best* but here's a basic list

Daemon & Saetan (Black Jewels Trilogy) - yes, I'd do the Father-Son combo in this case :P
Mark Darcy (Bridget Jones) - much more human than Mr Darcy
Dean Winchester (Supernatural) - doesn't matter if there are books or not, he's in the list!
Cal Morrisey (Bet Me) - charm boy
Alexander Barrington/Belov (TBH trilogy) - yes even when he turns bastard in TSG, I forgive him everything!
Batman/Ranger - They are the same person!
Simon Basset (The Duke and I) - mathematics geek
Mark (Passion) - big schlong...I'll give it a try!
Edward Cullen - *sigh*
Leonidas, King of Sparta - oooh, spartan men...

Hell, that was hard to choose Lorelei,
Yes, KMM's Highlander series is a paranormal. Adam Black makes my toes curl! Okay, this post appears to be yet another reminder that I need to read more! I've barely heard of any of these men (or books for that matter!)

I'm havin a hard time thinking of anyone to list. My opinions of heroes are mostly dependent on if they've been portrayed in a movie. Otherwise, I just haven't run into anyone that makes me want to drool all over my books.

Granted, Edward Cullen (*sigh*) sounds like a helluva catch (I bought and finished New Moon in 2 days!), but I mostly just love reading about the interactions between him and Bella.

I suppose Severus Snape (even though he's not the *real* hero of HP) if only because of his irresistible snarkiness.

And, wlel, Dorian Gray in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Let's face it, old world + immortal = mmmmmm. Even more so if I get to see him played by Stuart Townsend (GOD I love goatees)!

Guess I'm just an illiterate heathen who needs someone here to convince me to buy more books :D Oh God, how could I have forgotten Gilbert Blythe. Every time I read about him I totally swoon in my seat. I want T_T I see you ladies have included Edward Cullen. Somehow I feel a little embarrassed that I covet this 17-year old boy, LOL. He is unbelievably hot and so dreamy but way too young for me. We live in a cruel world. (sniff)

So I have to say...

Mark Darcy - Bridget Jones' Diary
Royce Westmoreland - A Kingdom of Dreams Pepper-Anne, I like Nicholas Evans but I was disappointed with Smoke Jumper. I thought The Horse Whisperer was much better.

Duvy, Severus Snape? LOL. I guess I can see the attraction ;). He made me cry. Incredibly loyal, loved Lily all his life... I'll pick Bill Weasley though or one of the twins. Danielle,
What endearing qualities are you thinking of? How he's good at, er, using his cock? :P


Dance,
I knew someone would mention Nat Eaton. :P His on my list too but i might have to agree with Jolie on this one. I mean, i feel it's itty bitty wrong of me to lust after such young men! Yeah, Edward is the exception since he's not really 17, isn't he?


Lorelei,
I have to agree with this. Mr Darcy is a cold fish. Plus, he can't even decide if he really likes Elizabeth or not! He did wonderful things though, and it's all because and only for her. I suppose that makes up for it. Pepper-Anne Doty,
Welcome. :D Not a fan of Nicholas Evans. :/ Neither of Nicholas Sparks. Here's why.


Mallymoodle,
Father-son combo? Please tell me not at the same time LOL. Never heard of the Black Jewels trilogy or The Suitor? This is good, i'm getting some recommendations as well.

I loooove Cal. There are times i like him more than Phin because, really, he's the best. I just love the way he loves Min. *sigh*

I love Batman too. The eternal dark knight; what's not to love. Though i fear every woman who falls in love with him gets her heart broken in many many ways, continuously... :(

I love Simon!


Duvy,
What can you say about New Moon? Have you read the first chapter of Eclipse already?

Snape? LOL! I suppose he is, er, a catch. I mean, extremely loyal, faithful and a one-woman man. And i do love sarcasm and a bit evilness. *blush* Heh. ;P

Dorian Grey? Isn't that a movie? First Dance cheats with Dean, then Mallymoodle, then you! We're talking about books here, people! Douglas from The Sherbrook Bride

Cal Bonner From NBBM By SEP

Mark From Passion

Trevor Sheridan from Lions and Lace

And Yes Trollop He is MINE
Calder Hart from The Deadly Series

Kell Kreiger Hidden Agenda's

Clint McIntyre Dangerous Games

And because I'm becoming a Prev in my old age or is it just from visiting here LOL.
TWO men yes I said TWO men John McCoy And Jethro yes I said Jethro Riggs From Lora Leigh's Forbidden
Pleasure.

Angela Contemporary novel: Cosmo Richter from Suzanne Brockmann's Hot Target. Navy SEALS anyone?
Historical: Sebastian St.Vincent from Lisa Kleypas' Devil in Winter.
Fantasy/paranormal: Er, still can't decide between Jericho and Drake :/
Movie world: Gerard Butler. Seen this man when I was 15, and I was lost.
TV: Craig Ferguson. Now don't look at me that way. Yes I have a thing for Scots, who doesn't?

Honorable mention: Eric Bana and Adrien Brody. You are all cheating! Actors are not included! LOL

Fine. Well, i only want my Raoul. But, um, if he'll let me, top picks: Gerry Butler and Aragorn in the LOTR movies. *sigh*

Angela, i looove dirty Calder. Oh my. Jamie Fraser! LOL! And Jason Fielding (Once and Always). Speaking of Diana Gabaldon, has anyone read her newest book Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade? What about the second one? Lord John and the Hand of the Devils? I'd tap Ranger from the Plum series! Hot, military, hispanic, alpha-male?!? OMG, I'm drooling and want one of my very own.

P.S. That is why I'm starting to hate the Plum series. Quit with the mind fuck of getting so close to Ranger getting a piece then backing off before he does! While Janet is at it, why not sit a fat kid in a room with floor to ceiling junk food and tell him not to touch it! Crazy bitch.

GWB Ok, yes to Edward Cullen and I'm surprised no one said Acheron "Ash" Parthenopaeus!


GWB Sam Starrett! From the Trobleshooter series, and Zsadist from Lover Awakened. LOL GWB, you're right about Janet! Actually, I think the Plum series has to end already. Let Stephanie and Ranger to be together and everyone would be happy. Ladybug, I almost picked Sam Starret instead of Cosmo, really I almost did, but it came down to which book I like more, and Cosmo's it.

And WHY are actors not allowed, Harlot?? >:( In that case, hands off my Gerry! lol I totally agree about Heatcliff. Bad, mad and yummy.

The best hero for me: Luke Costello on Marian Keyes' Rachel's Holiday. Thanks to BBC, I was introduced to this wonderful man!

Olly Oh yes, Ash! Thanks GWB. How could I forget him? Him too. lol

Olly What about JR Ward's BDB boys? I love Zsadist ^.^ Everyone likes Ward's Brotherhood. I think SK's Dark Hunters series is so much better. With that said, add Zarek and Ash on my list! :) Hi Harlot

The Black Jewels trilogy are by Anne Bishop. It's more fantasy than romance but there's a strong romance theme. AAR (if you read their reviews) gave the books B, B+, A. I'm not sure if I'd do Daemon (main hero) and Saetan (his father) at the same time...tag team? :P

The Suitor is by Sandy Hingston. Alain is a charming asshole with a heart of gold. Apparently people either loved or hated it. Ladybug,

Sam Starret?!?!?! Please say it isn't so *sniff* I read that book under false pretenses; people kept saying Sam was hot and like the best hero ever so I was curious and read it... And....errr... well.... errr... mmmmm....he was so not!

I will keep my comments on jamie fraser to myself seeing as I'm in the minority here and fear being stoned to death LOL

Now for my men:

Cal from Bet ME
Calder Heart from the Deadly series (that guy is so fucking intense pun very much intended LOL)
Phin Tucker from Welcome to temptation (rawrrrrr H.O.T. hot)
Ian Thorton from Almost Heaven: He's almost as rich/cute/adorable/sexy/wonderful as Matt is. Luuurve him and how he saves Elizabeth (who is an idiot!) :) Ladybug,

Sam Starret?!?!?! Please say it isn't so *sniff* I read that book under false pretenses; people kept saying Sam was hot and like the best hero ever so I was curious and read it... And....errr... well.... errr... mmmmm....he was so not! LOL

I will keep my comments on jamie fraser to myself seeing as I'm in the minority here and fear being stoned to death LOL

Now for my men:

Cal from Bet ME
Calder Hart from the Deadly series (that guy is so fucking intense pun very much intended LOL)
Phin Tucker from Welcome to temptation (rawrrrrr H.O.T. hot)
Ian Thorton from Almost Heaven: He's almost as rich/cute/adorable/sexy/wonderful as Matt is. Luuurve him and how he saves Elizabeth (who is an idiot!) :)
And of course, Matt Farrell, but that goes w/o saying seeing as I mention him in half my post and comments :P Am i the only one who doesn't like those idiot BDB K-Fed wannabes???

Mallymoodle, thanks. I'll check it out. :) Trollop, how could you hate Sam? I love him... and Ian Thornton from Almost Heaven, hot! Am i the only one who doesn't like those idiot BDB K-Fed wannabes???

Hee! I can't take them very seriously at all. So the hotness factor just goes way down, even though they're supposed to be hot.

Dorian Grey? Isn't that a movie? First Dance cheats with Dean

I'm pretty sure Dorian Grey was in a book first -- "The Picture of Dorian Grey" by Oscar Wilde?? Does that ring any bells? (I didn't just make that up, right?)

And Dean Winchester so counts! He reads!

Speaking of Diana Gabaldon, has anyone read her newest book Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade? What about the second one? Lord John and the Hand of the Devils?

I didn't think they were out until August or September (possibly November?). LOL Trollop. I guess my defense for liking SB is because her book is one of the 1st romance I ever read. I agree the story is sometimes confusing and it goes on.. and on.. and on.. which is why I read one book and I take a break. A looong break.

I nod heartily to your opinion about Sam though - no offense to anyone who likes him, I myself do, he was attractive in many books but then his own book.. sizzled. I don't get Alyssa too, really I don't. all I can say is, you sleep with a guy consciously, take responsibility, don't go crying in the morning. And she enjoyed the sex too!! I don't. Get her.

And everybody back off - any vampire with the initial Z is mine :D Dance, LOL love that pic! You know i don't think Dean is reading, he's just looking at some naked girl's picture. :P I miss Supernatural...

Anyway, i'm thinking i should write a post about these BDB freaks but, oh well.. let's see. And you're right about Dorian Gray! But Duvy said the movie not the book. Duvy only likes him because he's played by Stuart Townsend! Edward Cullen!!! Speaking of Bridget Jones, any news about the third book? I thought Helen Fielding is writing another book about our favorite spinster. I liked the BDB but I didn't like these super old, yet super young looking/hot guys with the slang. Hello! They are not from an urban setting, why act like it!

S. Kenyon's Hunter books are better.

GWB Why do people keep comparing BDB with Kenyon's Dark Hunters? Are these books the same? I'm excited for Devil May Cry! Dear Live Free or Die Hard also known as Die Hard 4 or Die Hard 4 POINT 0 (for fuck's sake) writers That's all fine and dandy Harlot, but you do know that Matt Farrell is taken, right?!?! HE'S TAKEN BY MOI!!!!! Oh, please, you romance hero snob. You only want Matt because he's uber rich! He's MINE anyway.

Harlot Farrell LOL. I love Paradise too. Sigh. Matt is amazing. But there are parts in Paradise that are a bit dull. I didn't like all that business part.

Now, my favorite JM book is Something Wonderful. That book is just the sweetest thing ever. Warm sweet romance. The best there is! LMFAO!!!! That, er, went well. Can't say I know who Mathew is but I absolutely LOVED DIE HARD. They need to make more, more, more!!!

I heard Willis say he didn't mind making another so long as it was good. I hope he does. :-(

Oh and another PotC with Jack would be good as well. :-P LOL! Harlot, I noticed it as well when I saw Die Hard. When they said Matt Farrell, I immediately thought of Paradise's Matt Farrell. Yippekiyay!

Mailyn, I'm a fan too. I read somewhere that Bruce is making more Die Hard movies. I think he should. The last one totally rocks! "Harlot's ONE and ONLY love"?

*snort*

Keep saying it, hot thang, and I'll keep shoving Daniel Craig in yo face.

*evil laugh* LOL. I love Paradise too and Matthew Farrell is the perfect man. He is one of my favorite heroes. :)

I have to agree with Petra about Something Wonderful. Also Once and Always. Jason... yowza. Now that man is hot! Mailyn,
Gasp! You haven't read JM's Paradise??? You can't call yourself a true blue romance lover until you have read this book!

P.S. Didn't like POTC3 :/ (Trollop loved it though) but i read that they will make another Pirates about that fountain of youth Jack got a map of in the end.


Babz,
You don't understand. *sniff* I don't know if you've read my "About" but like it says there, i don't care even if you present me with Brad Pitt with Gorgeous Clooney on the side, i'm choosing MY Matt Farrell. Ohhh, I love him. Oh, i do! He's my uber UBER true love. And true love lasts a lifetime. So yep, you can have Daniel Craig. ;)


Ladybug,
I think Jason is fucking hot. I've always thought of him as this bloke who's great in the sack, heh. Have to say though, not a fan of his. :/ Matt would never NEVER treat a woman the way Jason treated Victoria. Yes, he can be sweet but he's a brute! He basically raped her on their wedding night! I have a question. Harlot has mentioned being "ruined" by Matt. Do you think heroes like him make reading romance a bit damaging to women's psyches?

Let's face it, we all want someone like Matt. But that's not realistic. Men in real life are not like Matt Farrell. Real men aren't perfect. Real men can't compete with the heroes of romance novels. Women therefore end up being disappointed.

Olly I have to add this, Harlot Jason Fielding is lovely. It was just a misunderstanding!

Olly LOL I did read your 'about', but a looong time ago so I can't remember. But that book is in my TBR anyways so I shall read it pronto to know what you're talking about ;)

I think my one love in contemporary romance.. Drake from Katie MacAlister's Aisling Grey series. I KNOW, I know, many doesn't like her, but Drake is TO DIE FOR. Or maybe one of those cowboys from Catherine Anderson's books. *hyperventilating*

Ok I'm rambling. Shutting up now. Babz, I like the Aisling Grey series. Lol. I thought Drake is totally scrumptious. I particularly like the demon dog, he has the best lines in the book!

Olly Hahahaha! That was funny! I saw Die Hard 4 the other week and recognized Matt Farrell's name. On Justin's defense, I think he's adorable. :)

Matt Farrell is wonderful. I think Meredith is extremely lucky! Isabella I agree! We even had a Die Hard marathon at my house after we saw DH4.

Harlot dahling, I never said I was a true blue romance lover! I'm more of a fantasy and mystery girl. Gotta love people dying left and right! :-P LOL. I've yet to read Paradise but I loved Die Hard! Isn't Bruce Willis amazing? I think he should do Die Hard movies till he die. :P LMAO! Harlot, you crack me up. Funny, now that you mention it, Justin Long's name in the movie is Matt Farrell. I was so engrossed with watching the movie I didn't notice that tidbit.

I love Judith McNaught. I loved almost all of her books. I wish she would write another historical because she is better with those than with contemporary romances.

Favorite JM: A Kingdom of Dreams LOL! I loved Paradise too but I prefer Clayton of Whitney, My Love over Matt. Matt Farrell in Paradise is YUMMY. Though I'm a bit partial to Adam Black from KMM's Highlander series. I love Matt Farrell too! I read Paradise when I was in high school eight years ago. I'm in a committed relationship right now for four years, and I admit that I'm still hoping that someone like Matt would sweep me off my feet! That book just influenced my life that I even tried to take Business as my major. I'm a Paradise nut. Joline,
Welcome. Hope you join us often. :D


Andy,
Clay? Clayton Westmoreland? The one who flogged Whitney? The one who spend half of the book shoving Whitney around (note to men: NOT romantic AT ALL), always in rage and haulled Whitney from a ball because it's his "right" to rape her? Oh, almost forgot, isn't he the same guy who suspected his wife of carrying another man's child based from a stupid proof? That Clay? :P Olly,
Romance novels make me dream about my "perfect" man and the relationship i want to have with the said man. I have high standards, yes, (any smart woman should) but of course i also have realistic ones. I'm not saying stories from romance novels can't be real because they can. But as i said before, i think most women are capable of distinguishing fantasy from reality, and that a smart woman would know reality matters not if one cannot dream.

I don't expect the man i fall in love with to vanquish all my enemies, scoop me up on his white steed and carry me off to his beautiful castle. Nope LOL. But like Matt, i expect--no, i DEMAND my man to be faithful, supportive, to love me and ONLY me, want me and ONLY me, desire me and ONLY me. That's what reading romance does to me: it strengthens my conviction that women should be treated with tenderness and respect.

Is it unrealistic to ask for faithfulness, playfulness, respect, passion, security and good sex from the man who will share your life? I hope not. ;) Matthew Farrell is hot but he's nothing compare to Mr. Darcy. LOL. Matt Farrell is one of the best heroes of romance novels. I didn't like Paradise that much however. I prefer Ms. McNaught's historicals particularly A Kingdom of Dreams, Once and Always, Something Wonderful. Harlot! LOL. I want to say I love Matt too but I'm afraid that might get me into trouble. :P Anyway, there has to be a decree that the name Matthew/Matt Farrell should only be used by very sexy and very handsome men!

Jason of Once and Always is hot! "That's what reading romance does to me: it strengthens my conviction that women should be treated with tenderness and respect."

Well said, Harlot :)

Olly Just thought of a new post based from everyone's answers. :P Danielle, i agree. Actually, no one else should use that name period!

Love love love Something Wonderful and A Kingdom of Dreams! Just finished reading "Paradise". Hm. Farell is verra hot but I'd still take Drake. The 80-ness of the book made me cringe! Sorry. Babz, it's alright, gorgeous. He is mine anyway. ;) Oh, and here I thought you were talking about that Irish actor. Lol. Matt Farrell is yummy!

I've never seen a Die Hard movie, how many are there? A friend said the last installment is really good, though I have to admit this kind of movie does not intrigue me at all... Dance,
You're talking about Colin Farrell! LOL. Now, i know he's sexy too and incredibly fuck-worthy--oh boy, he is--but he is no Matt Farrell. ;P


Lorelei,
As of now, there are four Die Hard movies. (Snape is the original villain. ;)) Matt Farrell aside, i think Bruce should do more. If Harrison Ford could still do Indiana Jones now that he's 60, why can't Bruce? "Virgin heroines for 200, Alex." answering my own question here...

At Ames someone posted this:

"Although, in Ms. Foster's defense most of her heroines are not virgins. If you haven't read her Visitation series (starting with Say No To Joe) I would highly recommend them, they are a lot of fun. Almost all of the heroines in the series are ex-prostitutes".


Errr, HUH? LOL Maybe I am a prude after all! I dont like virgin heroines but I dont want to read about heroines that are ex-prostitutes either. Can't we have something in between? LOL Someone normal, like me. I'm 26 and I've had sex but I've never received money for it. Is that too much to ask for? LOL

BTW, love Pretty Woman, so maybe, just maybe if those books are like that I would give them a try. MAYBE... :P I have to ask Ames about this Niks and his sex cabin LMAO. First time I hear of this author but sounds like a fun book.

As far as virgin heroines go, I don't have a real problem with them unless they make the virginity thing a big issue. Some authors will go on and on and on about why the heroine is a virgin and how she's either proud of it or is dying to give it away to the next passer by.

Judith Mcnaught and Susan Elizabeth Phillips have contemporary heroines and they've done it right. Except maybe for the one with the cowboy and the girl who worked in a resting home. I liked the book and it was funny, but I found the reasons for her to be thirty and still a virgin to be a little ridiculous. Good post babe. Now about the damn virgins--i mean virgin heroines. :P

First off, DO NOT impose on me that *I* should be a virgin when you, the men, are not! So those stupid gits who have double standard, they can kiss my inexperienced ass.

As long as you're taking care of yourself, not having sex left and right without protection, etc, there is nothing wrong with being sexually experienced. Besides, personally, were i a man, i would prefer a woman who enjoys and celebrate her sexuality than someone who don't.

Now, virginal widows? WTF? I've read a few comtemporary virgin heroines that haven't made me gag, but it's tough to make them relatable. I mean, really, even most butt-ugly girls get at least a little experience by the end of high school. And most VH's are pretty, or "ugly" like Rachel Leigh Cook was in She's All That before Zack's sister made her wear contacts. Are you telling me no sweet-talking boy ever got these girls to go beyond kissing? Puh-lease.

And don't get me started on the ones who have never had any kind of sexual pleasure. I really believe that people who say they've never masturbated are lying. Barring medical or psychological issues, there is no reason a 20-something woman should not know what an orgasm feels like. Sparkling Cipher, i so agree! LOL

I have nothing against virginal heroines. Nope, of course not. If someone prefers not to have sex to save it for her hubby during their wedding night, more power to her strong will to resist temptation or something as i for one is weak. *sniff* Forgive me, it's hard to do it when you're surrounded with oh so delicious men ready to please you. :S

As for those who say they don't wank, oh please... Unless you're deliberately withholding yourself pleasure to achieve world peace or whatever, i'm sorry but i think only an idiot would protest to masturbation. I don't mind virgins in romance books, not even in historicals. I started reading romance in the early 80's and back then all the women were virgins so I guess I got used to it. With that said, I don't mind experienced heroines either. What I do hate are preachy, perfect and pure heroines.

About the ex-prostitues heroine: Is it a joke? Never heard of that series or the author but it sounds like something very hard to pull off. I love your pet peeves list bitches!

I think it's understandable to have virgin heroines in historical romances, even heroines who don't have any sexual experience whatsoever. But a modern virgin heroine? These days, I think it shouldn't be but most 13-14 year olds know what a blowjob is. It's hard to believe a virgin can survive high school, more so in college.

Regarding heroes who demands/wants their heroines to be a virgin when they are not, they are not so different with cavemen. Jordis, Pet Peeves list, where is that? Did I miss a post? Diana, click that link in "widow virgins". ;) Trollop, I have two words for you: Barbara Cartland. lol Have you read her books? Her heroines stay virgin from beginning to end. At least those titles I've read. The heroes like them as virgins so they stay that way. How very convenient and ignorant and uncomfortable too. Re: Barbara Cartland.

Actually I've never had the pleasure (?). I do remember owning one years ago (in HS). It was a small red hardcover, couldn't have been more than 150 pages. Never did get to it though.

Wondering now if it was so short b/c of the lack of sex? LOL It can't be that hard to keep the hero and heroine from getting it on if your book is thinner than a car's manual :/

Diana, I love our pet peeves post. We've been thinking of republishint it. Maybe soon... I actually prefer virgin heroines, assuming they're not too old. I think early 20s just about right. Anything above that is slightly unbelievable. I agree that Judith McNaught does virgin heroines well.

And about the masturbating comment...actually, I haven't done it :p. I swear I'm not lying. Just that me and my friends don't really talk about it, and it sounds weird. Just finished reading the pet peeves post. I haven't laughed so hard in months! Great article girls.

By the way, who are Bawdy Babe and Tart? Were they guest bloggers?

I do ask many questions don't I? LMAO

Read Trollop's post again and one of her questions caught my attention: "what is wrong with a heroine that had a nice loving relationship in her first marriage to begin with?" You know, I've often wondered about this myself. Authors seem to either write the older hero that was impotent, the abusive husband that had the horrible death he deserved, the good older friend that the heroine married out of kindness, but seldom do we read about the happy couple in love that had a nice loving relationship.

I think Francesca, from the Bridgerton books, had a nice story from her first marriage. I liked that :) RE: And about the masturbating comment...actually, I haven't done it :p. I swear I'm not lying. Just that me and my friends don't really talk about it, and it sounds weird.

Anon!!!!!! Do not tell me that. Ok, I understand it might sound scary and "weird" and even yucky but you'll thank us later *wink* it's so good you wont care about any of it or about what your friends think. They're probably doing it anyway and not telling you about it LOL

Really, you should try it. I swear you wont regret it *g* Diana, they are our friends who were part of blog but were too busy to participate and had to leave.

RE: "what is wrong with a heroine that had a nice loving relationship in her first marriage to begin with?"

To add drama i suppose. You know, i don't know what's worse. That or the main character whose spouse died and can't get over it therefore will not let anyone in up to a point they will resort to doing uber stupid things (take Rome Matthews for example). I think the main problem with virgin heroines in contemporary romances is that readers can't relate to those characters, especially when they're almost 30 or pass 30. There is nothing wrong with being chaste but in these day and age, it raises a lot of eyebrows.

If I have to read about a virginal heroine in the modern world, I want to have a believable reason why she remained "intact". I don't mind a virginal heroine, historical or contemporary. Neither do I see a heroine as a slut when she has enjoyed sex before she met the hero.

What is wrong with a heroine that had a nice loving relationship in her first marriage to begin with? Nothing. But there are many readers who like a heroine who has suffered sexually before meeting the hero and then have him make her feel things she has never felt before. Ah, virgins. I like virgin heroines. What I don't like is a virgin heroine who is a "proper lady" and keeps her virtue intact but gets it on with the hero after only a few hours of meeting. What is that? It is so out of character and not credible at all. And yes we know it's with the hero anyway but she doesn't know he's the hero! BBs, what about virgin heroes? Jamie Fraser *ahem* :P I don't have a problem with a heroine who is a virgin by choice. I can't relate with her though. The big problem about romance with a virgin heroine is that she has a sudden change of sexual orientation after she meets the hero. For someone who's been untouched all those years, suddenly she's really into sex and has no qualms about one night stand. I just think that's a bit odd.

BTW, awesome pet peeves list! Virgin heroines - nothing better guaranteed to make me fall asleep while reading. Too boring and not credible unless in the historical context. Even then it has to be an excellent story before I'll bother. I find it laughable that virgin heroines get it off (finally) with the Hero and suddenly they are sexual experts who cannot fail to please him ... yah, I really buy that! Pfft! I think virgin heroines are very popular. Look at the titles of many romances: "The Sheik and His Virgin Wife" "The Virgin Mistress"

It has to do with the "first and only" scenario. But we're living in the 21st century where it's hard to believe someone beautiful and passionate (most heroines are) could reach the age of 25 without having sex. Sometimes losing your virginity just dosen't happen! I didn't even have a boyfriend in highschool, let alone fool around till I was in uni-and even then it was only fooling around till we broke up and I explored my options a bit more once I left my home and went travelling. And no, I'm not 'butt ugly' it just didn't happen before that. So I can almost relate to them as long as there is no elaborate explaination, like keeping herself pure ect...and yes okay I will admit thirty is a bit unrealistic. Virgin heroines, mehhhhh... I'd rather have an experienced heroine. Plus virgin heroine who becomes a sex-pert all of a sudden, that's not believable I tell you.

Olly I don't think I'd mind so much if the heroine were a virgin in the 21st century if she weren't written like she knew nothing about sex. Because how can you miss it? It's everywhere.

As for (ex)prostitutes... remember that "whore" is another way of saying "I love you". (Er, not work safe.) ;) Oh. Also? I spend a good 5 minutes staring at the title, trying to make sense of it, before it clicked. Sigh. I'm very slow today. Ohgod, i just read the comments on this thread; i sound like a drunk. :S For one, that's supposed to be experienced, not inexperienced ass.

I swear i was dead tired when i was commenting. :/ It was election day here yesterday and it's my mom's birthday too. Have insomnia; i usually sleep at 7am, but since i have to vote in the morning, didn't get the chance to sleep. After voting, had to meet BF for lunch till 6pm. Then dinner out with my family and some of my mom's friends. I didn't get to go home from 8am till 11pm, that without sleep the previous night! Oh well..


Anon,
I'm sure you drove your ex bfs crazy, you minx. ;) I have to tell you ladies, i'm living in a very Roman Catholic country where virgins are a requirement or something. :/


Dance,
You're not the only one. I asked Trollop what the hell does "virgin heroines or 200, Alex" means and that evil woman said, "don't tell me you don't know what Jeopardy is?" *grr* Of course i do know about the show, but i swear i have NEVER seen an episode of Jeopardy in my life. I don't even think they show it here.. :/ Diana Palmer! most are virgins and 15 years younger than the hero, it just gets so repeditive and I can see books written 20-25 years ago but they are virgins now, and in some cases havent even kissed a guy at 21! what the hell I have read at least two Diana Palmer. I remember Lacy. Virgin. Very predictable but not that bad. Somehow the virgin sex therapist stories make me think of Helen Gurley Brown, sixties, Tony Curtis as hero movie, et al - and I wonder how anyone born after 1965 can conceive of that type of innocence. Probably just me. *g*

Thanks for the interesting post. Enjoyed it. Wow - I'm two weeks behind on my bloghopping and I see you lovely ladies mentioned lil ol'moi? Wow. :P Lyn, Tony curtis? LOL

Ames, sweetie, we think lil ol' you is fabulous and definitely Book Bitch worthy :P How fat is Min? I'm listening to Bet Me in audio too! The reader is good and entertaining. I love her voice for Tony.

I imagine Min on the fat side of chubby. Not huge but definitely not small either.

Like the painting Trollop. I read this book last summer, it made me laugh literally out loud. But as for Min's physical appearance I think she's a lil bigger I read the book 2 years ago. Good story and loved the shoes, too! But no, I didn't think Minerva was fat or (PC) big. I had the feeling her mother and sister were skinny bitches to tell you the truth! In US size 10-12 or even 14 are very normal even in size conscious California. You can find every thing in large sizes. On the other hand if you are looking for a size 2 or 4? Forget it! The important thing is to dress well. As in the book, it was the main thing. Minerva was dressing badly, boring business suits, baggy clothes, jeans…that sort of things. Remember Tony loved her in that soft pink (or was it blue) cardigan? She was well proportioned! No, she was bad dressed not fat! I pictured her as a size 16 or 18 n US sizes. Like a 38 inch waist I guess. Chunky but with clothes cut right looking cute/curvy. Maybe a little bigger than the picture.

When she says that her "chest" wouldn't fit in her mans shirt I thought it was cause she was busty. I couldn't fit in my man's in the chest but the stomach area I can. That is the way I took it.

I thought her to be chubby but people are their own worst critics so she saw herself as fatter. Me too GWB. I thought she was just being very hard on herself from brainwashing mother. I picture Min as very very voluptuous, like the pic but way more busty. And if her BF is wearing tailored dress shirts...... it'd be very humbling, lol.
I think she's a very well endowed 16. Trollop now you've got me thinking about this. I admit I didn't pay too much attention while I was reading the book -- I was too busy sighing over Cal.

Maybe she is rubenesque like in the painting only with bigger boobs though I can't imagine not fitting into Cal's shirt since I think he's described as a tall guy and well built. "I'm Norwegian. If you wanted a thin daughter, you should not have married a man whose female ancestors carried cows home from the pasture."

Being Norwegian myself, I'm not sure how to interpret this. Hmmm. Bet Me is one of my favorite JC. Funny that I never really thought of Min as "fat". I think I see her as Cal does, attractive and curvaceous (though with Cal around, I didn't give that much attention as to what Min really looks like, lol). I've always thought of Min as this busty babe who only thinks of herself as fat because of her mum. But if she can't get into Cal's shirt (which I can't remember reading) I'm beginning to think she's a lot bigger than what I imagined her to be. With that said, I loved Bet Me. I have no idea who Min is. I've never read Jen Crusie but this reminds me of Amanda on Lisa Kleypas' Suddenly You. Unlike most romance heroines, she too is on the flabby side. Despite that though, the hero (who is very sexy) thinks she's the most beautiful woman on earth. You have to admire a man like that. I think Min is size 14 or 16, average American size. That's not obese. Although I have no idea why Cal's shirt wouldn't fit. I think this painting shows Min's body. I don't think she's really fat but she's not one of those skinny heroines either. Oh I love, love, love Bet Me. Cal, sigh... I think Min is this curvy, busty girl. Though she must have really huge boobs not to fit into Cal's shirt... I don't know why but I've always imagined Min as a Renee Zelwegger look a like in the Bridget Jones movies. Chubby but not huge. I LOVE CAL!!! I don't remember Min that, er big. I mean Cal is tall and a fairly muscular guy. I don't see why his shirt won't fit Min. Unless the shirt is really small and Min is truly boobastic... I think Min is size 16. Not obese but definitely not small. Trollop, love the painting and I love Cal!

Olly I L O V E and will always L O V E Matt Farrell. Er, wait. I think that's another book.. :/ The not fitting into Cal's shirt thing... isn't she talking about buttoning the "chest" and couldn't? That means she has some good size breast, not that she is a super fatty. IMO I don't think Min is fat. My image of her is almost the same as the one in the painting but has a lot when it comes to the chest area. I think Min is a size 14 and I love it that a hunk like Cal is attracted by her "round" body.

The book is amazing, funny, witty and the right antedote for people constantly fighting their weights (like me).

But it is the stuff of fairy tales *sigh* Luci, I'm with you. I love it too that Cal adores Minerva just the way she is. Women are already hard on themselves when it comes to weight, so to have someone like Cal on your side, that's awesome I think. I love that Cal cooks for Min. *sigh* I think Min is size 14 and really busty. This is the book I want Jenny Crusie to write a sequel to. I love Cal and the way he loves Min. Sigh. Oh i have to agree about Cal cooking for Min *sigh* and how Cal ADORES Min, just the way she is. *sigh* Min was fat. Size 16 is grossly overweight. Keep in mind that the current size 16 is like a size 18 or 20 but manufactures want women to keep lying to ourselves. I couldn't get pass the first few chapters of that book. I joined the gym instead. Nora, Nora, Nora I second the MacKade series recommendation. Actually I prefer her writing as JD Robb. IMO her In Death books are better than any of her books under her real name (except for Montana Sky which is my favorite NR)

I'm definitely going to see the movies. Heather Locklear, that girl from Meet Joe Black... looks good. Harlot, I think everyone would see Nora kissing John Corbett. LOL!

What about her Irish trilogy? Jewels of the Sun, Tears of the Moon, Heart of the Sea. I loved the Gallaghers and if you decided to get them, I recommend reading the books in order. *Everyone would love to see... First of all, congrats on your 250 000! :D

And on to NR:

Maybe I've been reading the wrong NR books because, while I haven't come across any I hated (certainly not to the extent to which you feel for Outlander ;-) ) or even any I was really disappointed in, I haven't found one that I really loved either. And I've read quite a few of them: Montana Sky, Carolina Moon, The Reef, the aforementioned Irish trilogy, the latest flower trilogy and several others, the titles of which I cannot remember (though I think I'd remember the plots/characters if I saw them again).

I read some of the JD Robb books - actually, more than some; it was all the way to Portrait in Death and sort of got bored with it. Not sure why except I think NR's writing style just doesn't fascinate me as much as other authors do. It was never on my auto-buy list, either, and I usually waited until my library had an available copy to read it.

She's sort of one I'd read if I didn't have anything else to read at the moment, with the expectation of a good story but not one I'd really get lost in or think about much after. Plus her backlist is daunting (makes 15 books in a series look like nothing ;-) ), I wouldn't know where to start if I wanted to go on a NR binge. The last Nora Roberts book I read was the 3rd one from Circle trilogy. I didn't like that one. If I have to choose which NR book I like the most, it's Naked in Death (J.D. Robb).

I'm not really a NR fan. Like most of romance lovers I read her books but I don't get excited whenever she has a new book out, etc. Of course that doesn't mean I won't watch the movies. LOL. Besides, John Corbett is in Montana Sky! I loved him in Sex and the City. Angels Falls is pretty good. And Heather Locklear will play Reece! I wonder how much did Nora receive for the four movies. :P I should read the comments first before posting. Totally agree with Dance. LOL. Of all the Nora Roberts books I have read, HIDDEN RICHES is my favorite. It's funny, sexy,with well-developed characters and good dialogue. I wish they made it into a movie as well. What's not to love about Dora and the hot cop Jeb? And Dora's family is funny. There's intrigue, some suspense, romance... It should have been a movie! God, I hang my head in shame...I've never read Nora. Howevedr, she's very nice. I met her at RWA in Dallas and didn't even know who she was :)

As to the movies--I see the trailer on lifetime for them ALL the time. Heather Locklear is in one--don't know if I'll get the chance to watch, but I know my mom will. LOL

DC :) I like Hidden Riches too, and her Dream trilogy: Daring to Dream, Holding the Dream, Finding the Dream.

Nora Roberts has a LOT of books. It's easy to get confused with all the titles and all the trilogy and which one is connected to which...

As for the movies, I have no idea who that actor is in Carolina Moon, but he's a cutie. :P

Olly The Born In trilogy.

Harlot, Nora Roberts' books are usually reprinted in sets, usually her trilogies (3 in 1 edition). If by chance these are the books available to you, make sure you don't get the abridged versions. They suck! Olly, that's Kate Hudson's brother Oliver. He is a cutie :P. I like Nora. I mean she's not uber good like your "Bronze Horseman" or bad as the latest Madeiros, but she delivers entertainment.

She's the best there is for sisters or brothers series.

My favorite of hers are:
Montana Sky
Three Fates
The McGregor series (I love those families)
And the Cheesapeake series too.
Most of her series are worth reading.

I think Carolina Moon was "blah!" Although I am going to read it again. My sister gave me the hardcover book of that. And with the movie, I'm definitely going to read it again. Nora Roberts is so popular even my mom who doesn't read romance knows her. It is quite shocking especially when I don't like her books. I just don't think she's good. Montana Sky is good, and with the sexiest hero! I think I'm going to record Montana Sky. If it turns out to be good, I can watch it any time I want to. :P I'm with Olly about the Dream series. I haven't bought a newly released Nora book for years since she started having them in hardcover. Why do authors do this now? I know a hardcover is more profitable, but still, the price is too much and what if the book sucks? You end up buying a 17-20 dollars book that you will never read again. Okay I'm delurking to pimp the Quinn/Chesapeake Bay series. They are some of my all time favourite books and reread them frequently. Montana Sky completely creeped me out and it took a lot for me to finish that book (I'm a wuss and the bad guy was REALLY bad and did REALLY icky things). The one she wrote about the magician/thieves was great too as I like a bad boy type hero.

One of the reasons I love your blog is that you didn't get Outlander either. I have had so many people tell me this is a wonderful book, but I have tried three times to read it and can't get past the first 20 pages or so. I just want to kick the heroine and the hero hasn't even shown up.

Chez I love Nora Roberts. My favorites: Dream series, Quinn series, Born series, Montana Sky. If I'm not mistaken Hidden Riches is connected with the 3 Dream books.

I didn't like Carolina Moon either, but it would be interesting to see if the movie would be good.

How tall is John Corbett or Nora is a tiny lady? I loved the 3 Quinn brother books but not Chesapeake Blue. That one is baaaad and a bit contrived. After the 3 books, I wanted to know about Seth's story but Nora should have stopped after Inner Harbor. What happened to Aubrey? And Drusilla? What kind of a name is that? She sounds like a villain in some movie! Or Buffy! Nora must be a peanut or that handsome hunk is perfect....for me :D

I used to read Nora's and may try the McKade series. I remember the FATES series and that was when I stopped. I've never actually read any NR except for one short in a Christmas collection. I automatically walk past her shelves, probably because Danielle Steele has shelves too and I therefore make assumptions. i might have to check out one or two on the Lifetime list before the movies. Thanks for the info! Re: I just want to kick the heroine and the hero hasn't even shown up.

Chez, count your blessings! Claire is adorable compared to that vile abusive fuck Jamie Fraser!!!!!!

I´ve read some NR´s and they´ve all been good with the excpt. of Born in Fire (the hero was fav but the heroine drove me up the wall, and what´s up with the stuff she wore?!?! UGHHH).

Harlot, I´ve told you over and over GET HONEST ILLUSIONS!!!!!! I really liked that one *g*

BTW, reading BBC and loving it (so far!) and another book called Going Down, its a bout a girl that prostitutes herself through NYU acting school, its sad and sick but very entertaining LOL

After this will start reading Enoch, since I hear so many people raving about her stuff! :) Gosh I just can't wrap my head around Nora's books either and I DO keep on trying - well maybe not hard enough! Both my Nan and my Mum love her books and are constantly trying to pimp them out to me ;-) The absolute BEST NR books is "The Reef!" Followed by "Montana Sky" and a few others! But "The Reef" is... I love that book! I personally haven't liked some of the ones everyone raves about and her recent ones have lost a bit of umpft in my opinion. I really liked her OLDER triologies... The Quinn Brothers are hot. I also like her Irish Trilogies (both the Born in and Jewle of the Sun ones). My three faves though are "The Reef," "Montana Sky," and "Private Scandals"...OH! and "Rivers End!" I like her older stuff her newer stuff not so much! Good luck and let us know what you think- T Trollop! Jaime is NOT abusive for their standards. I mean this is the 1800 and all that smut. Of course, now we know better, but it would be an awful story if Jaime said to Claire. "I cannot touch you in anger Sasenach because the you might sue the pants off me!"

It wouldn't fit. Then Outlander wouldn't be a bestseller.

In context, it's just their times. Even today, we have a lot of losser who can only feel great about themselves if they squash someone down, or beaten their wives (may those assholes die a painful slow death).

So lay off Jaime already. He knew better later on...or if you read the series, you'd know he's not an abusive fuck.

OK...I could finished the last 5th of Drums of Autumn, but then war is not my thing...and there was just so much war planning for my taste. But Drums has LJG and Wee Ian all growed up. :D

Harlot,

Apologies for being off-topic, but it's McKinley, you know. Are you still looking for a copy of Beauty? Because, I, um, went through a box of books yesterday, and apparently I have, er, 6 copies of this book. I swear I only remember buying 3 or 4 of them (different editions! How could I resist the pretty covers?).

I also have doubles of Rose Daughter (Beauty and the Beast, take 2 - though it's really quite different from Beauty) and The Hero and the Crown. I'm afraid to look in the other boxes, as I probably have multiple copies of all her other books too.

If you want them, let me know: fourfoothunter @ gmail.com (remove spaces). I haven't read Nora Roberts either. However being a huge Sex int he City fan... and "Aiden" *(he will always be Aiden to me)* lol there looking so so so cute! I'll watch and buy the book too!

All the best to you both!

M I heart John Corbett. I think he is hott and loved him in Sex In The City. I miss that show :(

Never reas NR and I don't watch Lifetime. Thanks you guys. I think for my first Nora, will get HONEST ILLUSIONS as i'll get strangled if i don't. Btw, i really don't like Aidan, gack, LOL but i think this pic of Nora and John is so cute!


Chez, Girly,
Welcome!


Natalie,
Did you get TWILIGHT already? Oh, i hope you get it soon. :) I know what you mean about having post problems!!!


Dance,
Ohhh, you are in trouble now. You see, i think it's bad luck to say no to free books. :P Nope TWILIGHT’S not even arrived in the country yet, never mind been delivered!! I’m hoping that it comes VERY quickly once it hits my shores. :) I have to say, since I have read every nora book ever published that I can give some pretty good recommendations:

1.) Three Fates. The beginning chapter is FULL of backstory and it could get a bit tedious because its like a history lesson, but the rest of the book is PHENOMENAL. The men are SMOKING.

2.) The born trilogy is great but my personal favorite is the Chesapeake bay saga. Four men, four stories, four really hot romances.

3.) Hidden Riches is good, an oldie but a good one.

4.) Montana Sky. Its going to be one of the movies on lifetime and if you can, try to read it before the movie (just in case the movie sucks and it turns you off). This was one of the first Nora Books I had ever read and it made me completely fall in love with her.


5.) I am a huge fan of the McGregor's series. Its annoying that she didnt get a chance to finish (she switched publishers). But try out the series if you have read one or two of her other ones and if you like any of them.


P.S. Nora's books have two major flaws: 1.) She loves to give a ton of back story in the beginning of her books. Lots of insider information. Its hard to go on after starting with that but the rest of the book is usually great.

2.) The hero is perfect and the heroine is strong. Very few flaws. If you read a bunch of her books then you can tell that a lot of the characteristics are cookie cutter from one book to the next.

Nora's strong points? She tells one HELL of a story. And she's classic. Very classic romance. The man takes care of the woman. The woman fights it but in the end finds a way to take care of the man because he needs her too. There is a mystery complication in which the characters find themselves so its not just about the romance, either.


Anyway, I hope that was helpful!

Happy reading. Mr. Perfect, not so perfect with chlamydia I lub this book. Sam is so fucking hot! But yeah.. :/ no condom, no sex please.

Speaking of LH, it's been ages since i've read a book of hers. (I think the last i've read is TO DIE FOR. :S) She used to be one of my auto buy authors no matter what, but now, dunno, have yet to get any of her newest. Anything particularly good? What about that DROP DEAD one? I love Mr Perfect as well! I don't remember that scene about the condom, I may have to re-read. However, I have to agree, as I've done before, that condoms are a MUST. Geez.

Harlot, haven't read DROP DEAD GORGEOUS yet but I've read COVER OF THE NIGHT. That one is very disappointing. It felt like the story was rushed. Not a good LH book. I say skip it. Trollop, you are right about using condoms on sex scenes. I think it's important to know our beloved hero and heroine won't be getting any STD. LOL. Sam is hot! Yes, skip Cover of Night. Drop Dead Gorgeous is good though. Kill and Tell is still my favorite LH. LH is one of my favorites but lately she has this hit and miss thing going on it's frustrating. Especially when she used to produce such great books before. Men will always give an excuse not to use condom. Jesus, be smart or you'll end up getting diseases. Whatever Trollop said on that LIVING WITH GENITAL HERPES post, I agree. LOL. That's a great post. I love that condom post too! Very well said Trollop. ;) After the Night is my favorite but I love this book too. Love the dialogue between the characters, very funny. This is one of my favorites too, very funny. I also like After the Night and Open Season and the Mackenzies. Linda Howard writes the sexiest heroes and the witty dialogues. She's definitely one of my automatic buy. In Sam's defense he did ask if she had anything and named specific things such as AIDS, herpes, etc.

Come on! He is hot and a cop! Cut him some slack! Natural born charmer I can’t wait to read this book! I love the excerpt, too!
Only the imagination how the Beaver tried to get into Dean’s Aston Martin makes me laugh!! I can't wait for this book. I really like Match Me and Dean just have to have his own story. A jock and a beaver, very funny! I love the cover. The red is very striking and the woman's blue dress compliments the background. This one will definitely stand out in the book shelves. Can't wait! I have to agree about Heath LOL. This is my only complain about MATCH ME (which i really liked), the sex is awfully bad! :/ Poor bloke. Poor Anabelle!

I do miss SEP's old style of writing her sex scenes. Just look at IT HAD TO BE YOU, now that's a SEX scene--hot! LADY BE GOOD, nibble, nibble, nibble... yummy! HEAVEN TEXAS, oh my, drool. That ice cream scene is priceless! I'll admit I have not been a huge fan of SEP. I think the only one of hers on my keeper shelf is Kiss an Angel. But I was laughing as I read this excerpt (oops - at work), so I've added it to my shopping list. That's funny! I've been waiting for NBC ever since I've heard Dean will have his own book. Can't wait! Are the other characters from the Stars series going to have an appearance in this book? I love Kevin Tucker and I was really glad that he's in MATCH ME IF YOU CAN. I like the Bonners too. I think most of the excitement in sex comes with anticipation. When there's not anticipation, it's blah.

I want lots of anticipation, and a lot of bang too! Excerpt was great!! It sounds hilarious... Come on people, Heath wasnt that bad... I liked him despite the fact that he didnt take his time... Dean seems sexy though... Hotmama, you know I firmly agree with you on this topic. I love Heath, he's one of my fav. heros. I'm just as much about the sex in my romance novels as the next girl but in Match Me he was such a sexy guy, no matter what. And, you have to give him a little break given that he had to wait so long to have sex since he wasn't doing it until he met his match. Give him some credit for that. And Annabelle did seem to enjoy herself ;).

Now, as for the rest of the book. That balcony scene wasn't HOT!

I can't wait for Dean's book, it's really just too long till Feb. I love that excerpt. Heath is sexy but he needs improvement in his bedroom skills. Or maybe SEP just didn't like writing sex scenes anymore..? Anyway, I too am waiting for Dean's book. I can't wait for this book. I love SEP and I really enjoyed MATCH ME IF YOU CAN. I think it's one of the best books I've read this year. Inspirational romance? I need lovin' in my romance, so not reading those. If i want to read about God, i'd read other books, like, the Bible? Anyway, the romance novels i read are inspirational enough for me. I mean, doesn't GREAT sex inspire you? :P Have nothing against being religious but I don't think I would like to read about faith and all that preaching while I'm reading romance. So, not for me either. LOL I do believe that "inspirational romance" is just another [cover up?] name for Christian or Religious Romance meaning it's high on spirituality/morality and targeted to nice church-going people.

I tend to stay far away. I figure the holiness of the book will probably burn me soon as it comes into contact with my skin. LOL.

Oh yeah, there's no sex and no explicit love, sensual scenes either. Hmm. LMAO. P.S. It's apparently a pretty popular sub genre of Christian Fiction and there are tons of websites, authors, and publishing houses dedicated to this. Mailyn, there's another genre named Christian or Religious Romance? I swear I'm buying my books in respectable places but I've never heard of those either. Yikes LOL The appeal? The no sex before marriage.

Gawd...I have my mother totally to blame for this and all here neverending supply of duenas.

OMG! Let me go and duke it out with her right now! I must admit, I have read a few inspirationals, some by accident, some knowing it was an inspirational.

A recent one I read was True Devotion by Dee Henderson. I'm thinking where was sex in that one, but I could be wrong because I was skimming by the end (really bad "bad guy" plot made it way too predictable as well as unbelievable). The hero was a Navy SEAL, and he went to church with other SEALs and their wives. I don't know, that just didn't ring believable to me. Heroine was religious too.

I read another religious book that I have remembered forever - Tempted by Robyn Carr. It was about an associate pastor and a widow, and what surprised me was they actually had sex before they got married. And not just a once-by-accident-got-carried-away, but repeatedly. What a surprise.

But I've also read non-inspirational books that had no sex for whatever reason. If the romance was good enough, it was still a good read. I think those were mostly categories, not single title book.

They're not my first choice, but can be a good read. I understand why this version of romance is popular for the more 'spiritual' individuals but it's just not my kind of book.

I read romance because I enjoy everything that goes into them, including (and most importantly in some cases) the sex. I don't want to wait until the couple marries for them to be having sex. You'll have a whole book without sex and honestly, that's no fun. Although, in Bet Me Cal and Min didn't have sex till the end but it was totally worth the wait.:P I highly doubt these spiritual books get you all hot and bothered by a little foreplay. But I could be wrong. I used to read them all the time as a kid. They've changed for sure nowadays, though.

I really believe you have to read what you live to a certain degree and if you've had sex before marriage (raising hand. LOL), you're less likely to identify with folks who don't for religious reasons. I have to admire it though. As a parent, I will always wish my sons to wait until they're married.

Like that'll happen, eh? LOL

I will say that most of them these days don't make you feel like you've commited a cardinal sin if you've had sex before marriage. They're not really as preachy as you'd think and I kind of like the idea that the comittment to God is so inspiring.

However, I dig paranormals and I haven't found a paranormal Inspirtational yet. LOL

DC :) Have a question. It says in IR, there's no sex before marriage. Fine. But what if the story involves a marriage couple? Could we expect some sex scenes then? Or IR means no sex scenes at any cost? Dakota, I haven't read one of the inspiration/spirtual books but had an acquantance who read them and was always very 'preachy' to me and others regarding her faith so I think I got turned off from those romances, thinking they'd be 'preachy'. I do appreciate the committment to God. I have strong beliefs of my own, I just don't like how this woman treated people so didn't take well to her book recs. Now, if you had some rec's I may try them out. :)

Oh, and I'm with you on hoping (probably uselessly) that my boys wait till marrige to have sex. DH just roles his eyes when I say stuff like that then says "How can you expect them to wait when we didn't" LOL. I'm all about the double standard.

Petra, what about the balcony scene in Match Me? That was a good one :P. I Love that book, it's one of my favorites! Petra - I honestly can't think of any other inspirationals that I've read that I thought were good; some were okay, but only the two I mentioned above are on my keeper shelf. For the most part, I find them shorter, without the depth of single titles and certain category romance lines. Sorry I'm not more help. Isabella, according to Wiki and a few online places yeps, this is the same as "Christian Romance" which is a genre of "Christian Fiction" but MY guess is that they call it Inspirational so it doesn't sound so religious. LOL.

OK, don't mean to offend religious people but WTF!? I don't think I could read these. I think it would be THE most boring books ever. I do believe they have no sex at all. Or, IF they do, it has to be something tame. I think they are supposed to be more about the relationship and trust and getting to know each other than the, er, banging. LOL. Mailyn, LOL, I don't think those are my type of books either. I mean, it's good that some people are getting inspiration from romance books that talk about God, but really, no sex? Not for me, LOL.

So anyone reads them? I'm curious too and want to know the answer to Harlot's question. :P GWB, you should try it sometime. :P I mean you'll be surprised how effective it is when you tell your lover, "Oh gawd, your molten member is so biiiig! Yeah baby--scorch me, scorch me, scorch me!!!!" I've yet to read inspirational romances. When I read romance, I want more of the "intense" side of the love story (and yes that includes the sex) rather than the family values I'm supposed to be picking up while reading. Now if IR gives inspiration to others or make them closer to God, good for them. Produce more IR then. LOL

Harlot, scorch me? LOL You mean you've tried this harlot, and he didn't run away?! You must have one sexy voice becuase I find in the heat of the moment, If I say anything much, the guy tends to laugh and lose -er - impetious. And that is without mentioning his molten member! No one takes me seriously, gawd knows why.

So babe, you have just earnt my respect BIG time oh and I don't read inspirationals. i think aspiring to gorgeuos men and outrageously good sex is enough of An insperation for! Oh Tisty, you have no idea what my voice can do. Eheh. :P It says that inspirational romances are "wholesome entertainment". Well I don't want wholesome! I have a lot of books without sex in them but those are not in the romance genre.

I used to read a lot of Young Adult books, there are no sex there as well, but those books are for teenagers. As a mature woman who enjoys sex, LOL, I want sex scenes in my books. :P I think religious people find inspirational romances appealing because they promote strong christian values. I'm not sure how exactly that would work for me, but if it's a well written book, sure I'd try it.

Harlot, is that a recommendation then? :P Petra, I agree with you. I would really prefer my daughters to wait before they're married. But like you said, as long as they would practise safe sex and be responsible about it, as long as they're happy, I'd be happy for them. I was looking for these inspirational romances and found this:

Here, you will find stories and articles filled with:
-encouragement
-uplifting messages
-heartwarming characters
-refreshing insights
-inspirational new ways to look at life
-all the love & romance God meant us to have without all the trash

Trash? It's one thing to promote your "inspirational" romance books but to call the other sub-genres trash just because it has sex in it, i'm sorry - WTF? I don't read inspirationals. Not because of the "no sex" thing but because I fear they might be too much like a double dose of "mum talk" or a tripple serving of the village prayer group. =P

Jolie,

Where did you get that quote? I can't believe a romance a reader/writer would refer to Rbooks as trash.

Trollop,

I think I know what site you are talking about, and I agree. If something makes me feel uncomfortable I shouldn't be called names for it.

I will try to get my 16 yr old daughter to wait until she's in a serious commited relationship until she has sex. I don't think that will happen until after college. Still its her choice, I can only advice her and tell her what I think is right. The rest is up to her. Very well said, Trollop. I agree about the preachy people too.

To each their own. I like sex in my books but if some readers enjoy those so called inspirational romances, then more power to them.

What's up with this "trash" calling? Who said that? Well said, Birdie.


GWB,
Don't forget to whisper in his ear that you can't wait for him to spear your lily. Verra effective, i tell ya. Trying to instill christian values to romance readers is fine, but inspirational romances are not my cuppa tea. Thank God romance has a lot of sub-genres that can cater to different types of people.

Trollop, I agree with you. Some people think they and what they believe in are the only thing right. If you have a different view, you're wrong. Ugh. Harlot, LOL! I don't like preachy books, especially not in romance. I'm curious though with how these books work, like, is groping allowed? :P I think it's great that people have a variety of choices if they want to read romance novels. I don't think the IR's would be too 'preachy' because the reader's picking them up would know what they were getting themselves into and it would be expected.

I wouldn't mind reading an IR, I think it would be a refreshing change and I'll take away what I want from it and ignore things I don't agree with. No groping! CBA guidelines rule the content of Christian fiction. The "clinch" is back and here to stay *groan* Oh alright. *sniff* I confess, i luuurve clinch covers, i can't get enough of clinch covers, i simply have to have them, I HAVE TO HAVE MI AMOR FABIO!!! :S Never liked clinch covers. Yuck! This is the reason why it took me years before I picked up a Laura Kinsale book. Her old covers are just plain UGLY! Never get compeled to buy them. But last year, I got SHADOWHEART (her "comeback book", decent cover) and really liked it. Still even then, hesitated to buy her old books. Thank God they reissued her backlist with new covers without Fabio in it or couples embrassing like there's no tomorrow! Sometimes I buy a book based on it's cover. It's one of the perks of having a fabulous cover. It surely attracts one's attention and they stand out against other books alongside its perch on the shelves. This usually happens in chic lit books. If a cover attracts me so much, there's a big possibility I'll get that book even if the blurb is so-so. Now, clinch covers, I stay away from. Unless I know the author, usually I don't even bother picking it up. Where do these publishers get their stats? I used to sell books at Ebay. No profit there. LOL Anyway, speaking from experience, I know for a fact that customers prefer covers without those "people" in them. Present a title in two different covers, a boring flowery theme and a clinch cover, customers will pick the boring flowers. And those are butt ugly! But they would rather have those than a clinch cover. Harlot LOL. Trollop, between the last cover of Paradise, a view of Chicago at night, and this new purply clinch one, I very much prefer the former cover.

I like Liz Carlyle's covers too. Those are very pretty. Love the colors, very attractive. Those are the kind of covers that would make me pick them up and read the blurb. Not the clich ones. I don't mind clinch covers LOL (and seriously i can't afford to be picky since where i live my choices are very few). Sure i prefer a more decent cover but if i like the author and there's no other copy, i won't hesitate to get the "people" cover.

Romance is all about sensuality and intimacy. So a couple embracing/groping/kissing fits right in. Why can't the cover reflect what's in the pages? (Just please, no stupid legless horse with a hero who has bigger tits than the buxom plastic doll he's holding, and the likes!)

I used to get too embarrassed to read romance in public LOL. But really, why would i care, right? I'm not reading romance to impress literary snobs. I'm not saying people who don't like clinch covers are snobs LOL. I'm talking about those "literary people" who would never touch a romance book because, "Those are trashy. Read a classic instead." Yeah, right.

I think i'm getting sidetracked!!! LOL Anyway, just saying, yes, i too don't like clinch covers, but would that stop me from buying a book? Definitely not. ;) Nice site, that bit that scrolls down the right hand side as you scroll down, very nice.

BUT COULD YOU PLEASE PUT A "NEXT BLOG" BUTTON AS I'M CHEESED OFF HAVING TO GO BACKWARDS TO GO FORWARDS EVERY TIME I STUMBLE UPON YOUR SITE.

Cheers. Hmm me thinks they put a few 'clinch' covers on some authors that seriously sell in anycase so obviously they sold duh!

As I know I will buy certain authors regardless of the cover (until they do 3 books I don't care for in a row).

H. Harlot, well said. I too prefer clean plain covers than clinch. Actually, I hate clinch covers! I look like a sexually frustrated housewife when buying those covers. LOL

I like Johanna Lindsey's old books. But the covers, OMG. I cover them up when I go out! LOL Was so glad when her books were reissued with plain covers without the naked men. I wish all publishers would do this. Let the books sell based on what's inside. Not because of the naked man and woman on the front. Usually I based my covers on my "cringe" factor. If I see a clinch that makes me cringe, I won't but that book. That's why I like those step-back covers, it hides the clinch. Good compromise if you ask me. Those who like clinch can have them, those who prefer a plain cover can have them as well. You know it's funny, clinch covers are usually the ones that attract my attention. But do I buy them? Hell no. Because I'm embarrassed to purchase them, not to mention read them in public. LOL Romance covers used to bother me a lot, especially clich covers. I still don't like them actually, because I'd rather use my imagination, thank you. Some of the people on the cover doesn't even match the description of the characters in the book! Look at Matt in the new PARADISE cover! YUCK!

Many of romance covers are just too awful for words and please, am I supposed to find those naked gay looking men attrative? LOL Lollie Rose, I know what you mean about Laura Kinsale's book! EUUWWW I gag everytime I see Fabio's face on FLOWERS FROM THE STORM! It took me months before I actually purchased the damn book and only because I love LK. I think the problem is the trending thing in covers ie:

you go to buy a romance and checking out the covers you see: flowers, flowers, flowers, big boring house, flowers, looking glass, slipper, flowers, fan, flowers, flowers, flowers, flowers..... Oh man titty. You don't like man titty on your books particulary, because it makes you laugh and the woman being clamped to them looks like a complete bitch... but you pick it up and maybe buy it because its different and the blurb doesn't sound that bad and if you don't take it out in public...

Forward 12 months....

you go to buy a romance and checking out the covers you see: man titty, man titty, bitch, man titty, muscly back (With the promise of man titty at the frount) drag queen, man titty, man titty, man titty.... Oh flowers....

So the problem isn't perhaps closet clinch cover lovers but the mindlessness of cover artists.

And for the record I'm no fan of the clinch cover but I have been known to refer to them when I can't rember what the Hero's hair colour is etc. Nothing makes me crosser than when and artist is so distracted by tits (Both his and hers) that they get the details wrong!!! The clinch covers have such hot men and flawless women. Hey - you can always get a book cover. I hate romance covers. And not just the clinch cover, anything with shirtless testosterone "hunk" cover. I think they are demeaning to the genre. Romance authors are missing a lot of potential readers because of them: the literary snobs who will never touch a clinch covered book, the clueless readers who think romance is nothing but trash, the conservative/repulsed readers who see these covers and cringe.

When I'm in a bookstore buying romance novels, no way I'll be picking clinch. I'm ashamed to be seen buying those. Sorry, I'm a wimp. LOL There's so much to say to read clinch in public, and not be embarrassed. HM,
Have you encountered a wrong blurb? I did! OMG, i think that's MUCH worse than a wrongly depicted illustration! Some blurb writers (who write those anyway?) can't even get the names of the characters spelled correctly.

I also hate it when the heroine is only identified by her first name or Lady Puss, while the mighty hero's whole name is given: first, second, third(!) name with surname and full title to boot! WTF? Hotmama, THEY DONT READ THE BOOKS BEFORE CREATING A COVER. A writer sends in a discription of her characters and stands back to await for the disaster to appear. Boring Flower covers are probably a relief!

I was on a loop where a new writer was complaining that, without consulting her, her publisher had put on their web sight a cover for her book that she hadn't seen before. It was only when a friend gave her a heads up she went and found it. Not only was she suprised that a cover could exist in the public domain without her knowledge, she was royally ticked that her red-headed heroine had suddenly become a blonde! That means to me that they don't even read the nice digestable blurb they get from the writer!!!

Scary or what?? A wrong Blurb....??? WTF, how is that even possible??

And yeah I've often wondered about the Hero get a full name + all titles, while the Heroine is just known as Kat, Pussy or whateva. Maybe because your meant to identify with the heroine so much that your on first name terms right from the start. Or maybe we are all just meant to be such material obsessed bitches that we need to know that the hero has lots of nice titles as well as breasts that make mine looke small (And i'm DD!!!) Yikes, Tisty, that's bad. I feel sorry for your friend. No wonder we get such bad covers!!!

Harlot, wrong blurb? OMG that's worse! Thank God I've never encountered those. I'd rather have an ugly clinch cover than an inaccurate blurb. I can always pretend the naked couple in the front doesn't exist, besides my mind is capable of imagine what the characters look like without illustrators depicting them, but with a wrong blurb, you might have soemthing you don't even want to read about! Tisty, oh yikes, that sucks. :/

Yes, wrong blurb. Sometimes they give wrong descriptions of the characters. I mean, for example a a heroine would be described as sexy flirt when the heroine within the pages is actually a shy flower. Truly irritating when someone misleads you.

What I hate about blurbs are the lengthy ones with over dramatic descriptions like "a forbidden and tumultuous, fiery love that would set their lonely hearts afire..." Oh please. That doesn't give me anything at all! Certainly doesn't help me to choose a book! Just give me hint of the plot. It's romance, i know it's a love story for fuck's sake! Hate clinch covers but I buy a book based from the author and storyline, rarely by cover. But if the cover is very pretty and interesting, I might pick it up and buy it. Well the covers of today are not as bad as the covers of the early 90's and '80s! Remember those? Some poor woman getting her clothes RIIIIPPPED off, a look of orgasmic pleasure on her face and the him looking like he is not sure if he wants to have sex or beat the shit out of her!

Honestly, I am a big cover girl, not cinch covers persee but I do like it took "pretty!" You can tell a lot by the cover, if it is corney... I am not there! '

I like the colors on the new JM but not the look... does that make sense? Anyway... I like the "picture" look they have going right now but agian... I would rather not have the orgasmic couple, although in this way it would not deter me, just make me cautious

Oh and I think she is trying to say that the book industry may have seen the "boom" of Erotica so they are trying to incorporate some of it into their other covers. Boosting sales and bringing some of those people over to other lit. It is a sales tatic basically of "SEX SELLS!" First lesson of marketing class! LOL DO NOT throw stuff at me. I'm a clinch cover-lover.

So there. Take that. LOLLOL. ANd you can't make me say otherwise.

Whew, it's good to be back. I've been busy :)

Hey, ladies!

DC :) To be honest, I hate clinch covers. Covers do matter! It's really irritating when you're reading romance and passersby look at you like "gee, read a real book" or something. I noticed when you read sci fi books, you'll get the same reaction. I prefer the discretion, not to have everyone knows what I'm reading. I don't like people seeing I'm reading a book with a naked guy on the cover! Unless it's Brad Pitt or George Clooney but I doubt they can afford them.

Lorelei mentioned Johanna Lindsey. I agree about those old covers. Ugh, Fabio, I hate those despite the fact that she's one of the authors I like. First, this is such a great blog. Now about clinch covers, I have to say I love it. I can understand why some people find it embarrassing or get offended by them but let's face it, clinch covers help put romance books on the map. When you see a clinch cover, that's nothing but romance. Romance novels are always evolving, plots are always changing, style, terminologies used by authors (as it has been proven in your penis post below, very funny by the way, good job), etc. But no matter what changes are occuring, clinch covers are as much a part of the whole process. I just don't agree that clich covers have no place in romance because it's giving romance a bad name. Badly plotted books, bad writing, gossips, authors fighting each other are what giving romance a bad name, not bare chested men on the cover.

Keep up the good work! Can you believe I'm working on a Saturday? Ugh. Anyway, I agree with L Foster. Clinch shouldn't be considered as a thing that gives romance a bad name. It's part of the genre. However, I do believe many readers are put off by it. For example, I don't like clinch covers. It kept me from buying books by authors I'm not familiar with. This is why I think those stepback covers are great. I can't believe the number of people who said they were embarrased to be caught reading a romance novel! I really thought that attitude was gone.

I don't care one way of the other about clinch covers - some will prompt me to read the blurb, others don't, but I never buy a book based on the cover.

I'm an elected official where I live, and when I first got in to office, I started to realize how many people "knew" me, or realized who I was. All of a sudden, the people at the UBS called me "madame trustee", the guy at the pizza place knows I eat just Crazy Bread for a meal, the people at the gym now know elected officers have cellulite. It's disconcerting, but I'm not doing anything illegal, so why should I be self-conscious?

I read romances in public, it doesn't bother me, and I often tell people that I am a big reader of "trashy" romance. I figure I am where I am at in this world because of my voracious appetite for reading; I shouldn't feel bad about what I was reading. Step-back cover is nice but isn't that one of the reasons why book prices are getting through the roof?

Aynway, I don't mind clinch however I would prefer it if they didn't look like an uncomfortable couple in dire need of privacy to get it over with. And it would be nice if the artists would get the right hair color, period costumes, character's age, etc right.

Like I said yesterday, "people" covers are less popular. I refuse to be embarrassed by a book cover though. It may attract or repel me but it all comes down whether I like the author or the blurb sounds interesting. I don't have a problem with clinch covers. I buy a lot fromt he UBS and sometimes you have no choice but to get 80's versions of books and most, if not all, of those books have some sort of clinch for art. What I usually do is cover them with a simple paperback cover (I have a couple, I think I paid like 6 bucks for them at target).

Unlike others that have commented I do go back and check the models in the cover for reference of the characters physical description and get quite peeved when the characters are totally different from the picture!

I agree with L Foster's remark: "Badly plotted books, bad writing, gossips, authors fighting each other are what giving romance a bad name, not bare chested men on the cover."

I have been completely turned off by those cat-fighting authors of late. I don't care if they have the prettiest covers in the world, if they are so unclassy that they're publicly trashing each other I'm not buying them!

Also, sadly, there is a lot of badly written/edited romance out there =( I wish publishing houses would be more careful as to what they put on the shelves. It's contrived. It really does sell, apparently cos it appeals to our "fantasies" and "imagination". I think it's trying to make semi pr0n look "decent" enough to be resold at a school book bazaar or summing. Have you seen the futuristic ones? where the women are these Amazonian looking things in what looks like fur shift dresses? You can't blame someone when she doesn't feel comfortable reading clinch in public. Those are seriously naked dudes in the covers LOL, and usually most of them have the "lordy, i love myself, kiss my big pecs" look. It's the same as not calling someone prude just because she prefers differently or does what SHE thinks is proper.

Now, some people just don't like it. Period. Different people, different tastes and preferences. Some just want the option of discretion rather than showing everyone whatever it is she's reading. The thing with lurid covers, it's insulting by implying that romance books are nothing but mindless sexual romps. But yeah, sex sells. Or as the publishers have said, attracts attention (doesn't mean people would buy though as many, including myself, prefer no clinch). I think it's the same as those suggestive, sexy ads. Not always related to the product but they surely get your attention. But would people ACTUALLY buy? That's the question.

Like i said, i don't let a cover keep me from reading/purchasing a book. LOL, many of my books have naked couples who look so uncomfortable reclining in some god-forsaken meadow i feel sorry for the models. All i can say is if you're uncomfortable reading clinch in public, cover it LOL. It's easy to cover them up with a paper. If you can't make one up and still want to read, just think, "Never explain. Your enemies won't believe it anyway." ;) Well said, Harlot. For me, I am SICK of people making fun of romance book covers! I purchase books according to the author, synopsis, reviews not by naked men on the cover. For a while when romance moved away from clinch, I was so glad to see them slowly being replaced by more decent covers, but now, they're actually making a comeback. Ugh.

Olly I hate people on covers and therefore, hate clinch covers.

FReaking, I don't want to see a couple having whoo-hoo on the covers of my books; the writing is enough for me.

Besides, seeing people on covers throw me off. I'm late on discussion again (out of town with CRAZY family)but I will put my 2 cents in anyway.

I used to buy books more on their cover until I figured out which authors I liked. Now I don't really care what the cover looks like as long as the author is good.

As for the clinch cover I don't mind reading a book with one but it doesn't hurt if the guy is REALLY sexy and he MUST have nice abs.

But I admit that if I know I'll be reading in public (a plane, dr. office) I won't bring a book with a clinch cover unless it's tastefully done. I have some books I'm even embarrassed that my husband sees, lol. Some are just over the top!

But with and without clinch, some can be really cheesy.

L.Foster, is this you? Who created the sexy Winston brothers? What the fuck? Oh, yuck. *cringe*

My poor Matt. *sniff* So now i have to fucking see this... THING everytime i check up on blog??? Oh good lord. :S


Jolie, Hotmama,
Something Wonderful is my favorite romance book evah--oh i love that book! *sigh* It's just, i love Matt Farrell more. *g* WTF? This sucks. It's obviously an attempt to sell more. The old cover was a nice contemporary cover and this cover is cheesy and the couple ruins it because NO one could hold a candle to Matt *sigh*

Hotmama, LMAO, with the balcony!

I'm feeling left out, I suppose I should get off my arse and ready Something Wonderful? Ugh!

I much prefer the previous cover! Am I the only one who noticed this is the same cover as JR WARDS Dark Lover? Sorry, I am on a vampire kick right now and keep reading this damn book over and over, maybe that is why I noticed BUT... it is the same colar basically AND the same people! OMG what an ugly cover! I can't believe they actually thought this looks better than the previous one.

T-girl you're right. This is the same as JR Ward's cover! I hate clinch covers, especially those that has Fabio on it. That guy may not be Fabio but still, it's awfully bad. So embarrassing to read these covers in public. LOL Oh, euw. It must be the new/hot thing in publishing to have the most generic cover possible because Linda Howard has had very similar, IMO, covers on her last 3 or 4 books. @@

B O R I N G !!! :-/ OK I'm not offended by the cover so much as BORED!!! What, where they thinking that if they could bore people into a coma, then they could sell them the book without them recovering till they get home? It is strange because I thought book covers where meant to inspire not look like slight embarressing wall paper.

it is so sad I agree with Kelly. Romance genre has a way of producing the same covers over and over again. And usually when a trend starts, you'll be hard pressed not to see 4-5 other books that have the same covers. For example that headless couple cover, this is very popular still. Liz Carlyle, Gaelen Foley, Lorraine Heath have them. What a coincidence! I am re-reading Paradise for the nth time now! Yeah, Meredith is blonde (young Grace Kelly) and Matt is tanned! The previous cover, the one I am reading is better, color and all.

LOL here on the balcony, MMIYC idea. The make must be a fan of Bodie and Portia. :)

Anyway, I love Something Wonderful too. It was my first JM and definitely a good start! I thought the cover of my copy is bad (flowery and looks really cheesy) but this one is worse. I'm with CB, I too hate clinch covers. And please, no Fabio or any of his naked brothers! Cora, I've always pictured Meredith as a young Grace Kelly. I can't recall if she's described in the book like that. Anywho, I like Meredith but there were times she's acted like a dumb blond. In the first place, why on earth would anyone wants to stay away from Matt Farrell? Phew. I feel a little better knowing that JM didn't like it either. That guy is def. not waht I picture Matt looking like. This usually happens. The characters are described differently in the story from the ones they show on the cover. If you're going to do "clinch" at least make sure it's right. Jeez. Thanks, Trollop. It's good to know JM doesn't like the cover either. And she's right. I don't care about Meredith but the "Matt" in this cover looks like an eye-shadow wearing punk. Yikes! That drag queenesk 20 year old boy is not matt! On bi-sexual heroes (if that even makes sense!) Trollop, you always put a smile on my face. Your crack me up!

My non-negotiable things are pretty much the same.

Sex w/ children or animals - BIG FAT NO!
The rest I'm in aggreement as well. You know the orgy thing is what annoyed me about that vampire book by MaryJanice Davidson. I know their feeding (ew) but still the orgy was really unappealing and ruined the hero for me.

Also, I can't stand asshole heros The kind that never even for a second show a softer side, just grunts and insults. I don't care if the sex is hot and the girl thinks he's sensitive on the inside an asshole is not appealing. Tough and rugged is wondeful but asshole is out.

Great post Trollop! I have some questions about this book (author?).

What does that mean, he has total control over his body? Does it mean he can turn his privates into female/male ones? Is this book paranormal? Or will he just fuck anything in sight? Also, why would he need to kiss/sleep with a man to begin with, does he work only with gay men and women? I find no need for this in a romance novel. Kudos to the author for pushing the boundaries as trollop said, but I aint reading about a bi hero :P Forgot the question :P

I don't like warewolf books. Books where the heroine was raped and carries the scars for life. Anything that constites physical/verbal abuse from the hero to the heroine or vice-versa. Lola, I thought the same thing. Total control over his body? So my first guess was it's a paranormal book. I mean if heroes can be dogs, cats, worms, surely they can turn into a woman(?). :S But I checked! It's NOT a paranormal! LOL Now I'm intrigued. :P OMG I blogged about this today and OMG your list looks alot like mine!!! Bahaha, great minds think alike. LOL.

Although I don't mind bisexual men much. What can I say. LOL. I'll admit that Stuart's book doesn't really catch my literary eye, but not necessarily because of the male/male stuff. I hate gratuitous sex in my romances. I like sex, I like erotica, but let's put a little emotion behind it, huh? That this hero will do men just to get a job done is not within my meaning of romance.

I have read some more racy erotica - Lora Leigh, Emma Holly, etc. - that includes menages and male/male stuff, but 1) there is always romance behind the acts, not indiscriminate sex, and 2) if there is m/m action, it is only a by-product of what is "felt" for the heroine in the story (gee, does that sound cheesy or what?). The stuff that is purely gay or lesbian romances, I don't touch.

I recently bought two Aphrodisia publications, a new erotica line by Kensington, and I won't buy another one, because it is just gratuitous sex, no emotions or romance behind it, IMO.

My list of non-negotiables in romances include infidelity (during break-ups is okay, but anything during or before the story is not acceptable), I don't even think I've seen a book with children, but I did see an erotic with a disclaimer on animals once; but both are no-nos for me as well.

Um, ah, what is "granny sex"? I haven't heard of this before - is it a position or an aged person? I once dated a guy who's bi. It didn't bother me at first, he's such a great guy, but after a while, everytime he'll look at men I couldn't help but think he's checking them out. That creeps me out.

Now my non-negotiables in romance: definitely rape, pedophilia, bestiality. Big no nos to those!!! Like 2nd Amdt, I've read some books with menage that have M/M action. I don't mind bisexuals too, but I understand what C Bradshaw has said.

My non-negotiables in romance:
1. Hero who sleeps with everyone. The same with heroine, no nymphomaniacs please.
2. Too stupid too live heroine.
3. Ugly hero. Sorry, but I want me some fantasy.
4. Villain that is better than the hero. WTF? Or villain that looks better than the hero. Same reason as 3.
5. Unresolved problems. Hate this! I should mention that I'm a sucker for epilogues. 2nd amdt, I think "granny sex" is having sex with an aged person. LOL I don't like this too, come to think of it. Just the thought of my parents having sex is creepy enough already, what more of a young person having sex with a 70-yr-old! Great topic, Trollop!

Have a question. :P Just a bit confused. Bisexuals sleep with both men and women. The hero mentioned above sleeps with men "without emotional feelings whatsoever."

So he's not gay? Because first you have to be sexually attracted to persons of the same sex as yours to be gay? Or he's gay anyway because he fucks men? A hero who sleeps with men?!?! Emma Holly has a bisexual hero in Beyond Seduction. And I liked that one. I don't mind bisexual hero or heroine for that matter. As long as they love each other and the story is a good one, please, pass that book to me. ;) What is wrong with being bisexual? If you can read about vampires werewolves, etc, in romance, why can't you read about a hero who fucks another man? At least he's doing it with someone who is alive and won't turn into a canine. Kris, what's wrong with being bi? Nothing. Just because I don't want to read about a man kissing/doing it with another man doesn't mean I hate gays/bi. I just don't want to read about it. Kris,

If i don't want to read about a bisexual hero/heroine, would that make me a homophobe? No. Don't i have the right to choose what i want to read or not touch those i'm not comfortable reading? Of course i have.

Just because i don't want to reading about two men doing it doesn't mean i think it's wrong or immoral. I'm just not comfortable reading about it. The same principle applies to those who enjoys reading about books with bisexual hero/heroine. Are they rotten pervs? Absolutely not. :) Hotmama, if the hero is an artist, then that's what I'm talking about. The sex was freaking hot! LOL Anyway, I've yet to read more of Emma Holly's books but from what I've heard, many of them have bisexual heroes. Is this true? I think this is all about what appeals to you as a reader, or what you fantasize about. LOL Let's face it, most people read romance because of the fantasy it brings. If you're not into bisexuals, then there's a big possibility you won't like a book with a bi hero/heroine. This is the same with me and BDSM. I do not like books with BDSM because I don't care about it. I'm personally not into it, it doesn't appeal to me.

I agree with what Harlot said. If a bisexual person turns you off, or it's outside of your comfort zone (fiction wise), you won't read it. But that doesn't necessarily mean you have a problem with bis/gays in real life. >>>RE: Jamie Fraser LOL LOL LOL How could I forget him? Though he can be grouped in the beatings/rapings category!

Oh babe, Jamie Fraser is in a category of his own. I have a lot of gay friends, some are bi. As much as I love them, I don't need to know (or in this case, read) about their detailed sex lives.

Now my non negotiables: asshole hero who treats the heroine like crap and the stupid heroine justifies it. RAPE and sex with animals. Gag! Hero and heroine who don't end up together - very rare but this still happens!!! I forgot this. Non negotiable? I'm sorry but if i buy a romance novel, there better be some laving in it. Yeah, sex me up, baby; the hotter the better. ;-P That's why i'm not buying one of those inspirational romances. Just like me not reading about bisexuality, believe it or not, despite what it may seem, i SWEAR i have nothing against virgins. I'm with GWB (OK, so I'm not, really, but I agre with her.)

I don't care if you aare gay, just don't put it THERE.

Know what I mean?

And I don't want to read about a guy stickin' it THERE either.

Actually, truth be told, sex in books is a bit of a non-event for me. I prefer characters who wake up together over ten pages of pounding.

Now, if there were pictures... Haven't you ever read The Story of O or Beauty's Punishment? "i SWEAR i have nothing against virgins."
Harlot, that's funny! LOL Now about bisexuals in romance genre (or any other topic for that matter), if I like it, I'll read it. If I don't, then I'm not going to.

Kudos to Anne Stuart for introducing bisexuality to Harlequin readers. If you don't want to read about bis, that's fine. I would find it wrong though if you'd try to ban this book because of bisexuality.

My non negotiables are pretty much the same as Trollop's, except I like threesome. LOL But no swinging! Definitely no bisexual h/h. I don't care that the h/h is hot, I don't want to read about that kind of stuff.

Your list pretty much is the same with mine.. but I don't want to read about a hero who is old. Like, I don't want the girl to be 20 and the hero to be 55 (and vice versa).

Gross... I was wondering if it cool to link some of your stuff on my blog, let me know. I like what y'all have to say and its setup well. One of you is a lawyer and can tell. Check my blog out to see if you cool with letting me link some of your stuff


THE STU Bisexuality is irrelevant, so is the color of one's skin. No one is saying it doesn't belong in the romance genre. Just that some people are not comfortable reading it. Same with erotica. Would I buy bi books?
Bugger off! No, it's bye bye to Bi & no buy at all!
I don't even want to know who its by. Label & avoid.

Good god BB, you're making Aggie rhyme. LOL! Loved it. Trollop, my list is the same as yours. Plus Mikal's too old hero. I don't want to read about a 45 year old dude humping an 18 year old. Euw. Bi-sexual? I've never really read a romance where the Hero was a comited bi-sexual. I have read books where the hero has been involved with homosexual acts in his past (thinking of Laura Kinsales The Shadow and the Star (Excellent by the way)) and still enjoyed the book (Actually the S& the S is one of my faves. The hero Samuel is damaged by a life of Childhood homosexual prostitution (*gasp* also on list) and he is a truely bueatiful human being) So that is not an absolute no for me. I might even check out Anne Stuarts book at some point.

Your other 'I don't think so' that i didn't entirely agree with is physical disfigurment. Yeah as a selfish teenager I hated those books, but I've found a growing appreciation of that kind of thing being explored in romance.

The rest?
Barn yard animals? NO
Spineless characters? NO
Whacking with a mallet? well if the mallet is fur lined and the offending area soothed with kisses... well... yeah, maybe.... I love PRETTY WOMAN. Also, Gaelen Foley's THE DUKE. The heroine there is a courtesan. You should read it! No books that include sex with aliens or machines either. I can handle bi-sexual if I have to, but not bestiality. Sex with a horse is not sexy! Incest. Shouldn't even be included unless it's to see absolutely that it is wrong and evil!

It's what killed that LONESTAR *now I've totally ruin it, Matthew M is in there* movie for me. but editors were smart enough to put that at the very very very end, I'd have broken the DVD in pique if it weren't a damned recording.

Ah Chris, aren't "vibrators" considered machine? That kind can be really sexy. OK portable hand held machines are ok. I agree with Serendipity, vibrators can be really fun and hot!

Chris, alien sex? WTF? I'm afraid to ask. LOL

Trollop and Harlot, I love Pretty Woman. I will never get tired of watching it. LOL this post had me howling. I agree with your list totally (the up the ass thing with a hero, who then has sex with the heroine just doesn't work for me...sorry Anne Stuart, I'm passing on your book) I would add to the list, sex with a hero who has a hairy back. Yuck. Yes, Harlot, too stupid! LMAO!!!

Love this post BBs! :D

Trollop, I thought the same thing while I was reading Rebecca! I mean WTF? I don't know why she put up with too much crap!

Harlot, I've read The Wedding years ago and loved it! LOL Hmmmm, maybe I should reread. I thought Sara from The Gift is the worst of JG's heroines. :P Pussy de Winter?!? LOL LOL

I love this! :D And you're right, they should be shot! I've only read Rebecca and The Wedding - I actually enjoyed this one, Harlot. :P

Trollop, Pussy should shag Mr. De Winter after she tied Mrs. Danvers on a chair next to the bed so she can watch. That woman has the hots for Mr. DW. LMAO I agree about Mrs. De Winter, I mean Pussy. LOL She could have shoved Mrs Danvers through a window form the very first day.

Regarding the other heroines, never read those books, but thanks for the heads up! Yeah babe, in our archives, will look at it. I think I have darling Clay Westmoreland there... :/

I agree about Sandra Brown! That book HIDDEN FIRES where the hero is an abusive fuck and the heroine just lets him! Ugh. Come to think of it, i think he's with Clay on my list of "outstanding" heroes. =P Okay, found the link LOL. Here's our list of fuckwit heroes. =P Check it out! Love your list BBs! This is too funny! Trollop, Pussy? LMAO

I'm with those who don't like Sandra Brown. Tried reading like 5 books of hers, I just couldn't get into her characters. I liked FRENCH SILK though. :P LMAO!! Good list-I've only read The Wedding, but now I know to stay away from all those other books.
I did read a Mary Balogh book, but it wasn't the one you gals mentioned. LMAO Too funny, ladies!

Trollop, I've just read Rebecca for my class. HATED IT! "Pussy" drove me nuts!

Harlot, I've read all of Garwood's books and I agree with you about Brenna! I loved The Bride and when I found out it has a sequel, was so excited to read it. But dude, The Wedding is no way as good as its prequel. LOL LOL LOL

This is hilarious! Thanks for the laugh BBs, and thanks for the warning! Hate stupid heroines!!! I reeeeallly need to get out more and hit Waldenbooks. LOLLOL

Dakota :) LMAO, too funny!!!!!

You BBs rock! I completely, utterly, wholeheartedly agree with you. Personally, I hate nearly all of Wendy Holden's books. The first one was funny, the last one merely ok, and the others were worse than getting kicked in the head with steel-toed boots. Her characters are mostly whiny, without self-esteem and just getoveritalreadygodammit! I only recently read her latest book because I found it for 50 cents in a second-hand store, and I didn't have anything else to read... Hahaha! Totally cracks me up..

This is totally topic, but I was reading through TBH Book Discussion, and WTHeck, Alexander cheats in the third book? Argh! Don't get me wrong, I love Alexander and I love TBH + T&A, but.. freaking, what is wrong with that boy? Mikal,

Can't say anything about this since, the injustice, i still don't have a copy of SUMMER GARDEN. *sniff* But yeah, that's what i heard. Actually, i'm afraid to read TSG now. I can't stand cheating. I don't want to hate Shura. :(

Glad you loved TBH and T&A! You girls entertain me!
Thanks for ending my evening online on a high note
Hugs
Roxy Ooh ... (wiping tears from corner of eyes) Trollop and Harlot, stop ... can't take the laughing anymore.

Seriously, when's the post on brainless heroes coming? LMAO!

I've read both Rebecca and Slightly the one with Rannulf and I have to say couldn't agree more! Harmful fantasy? Cute article, and it makes some good points.

I will admit that I mostly stick to category romances, Harlequin, Silhouette, etc. They're not quite as indepth as the single title books, but I'm looking more for quick reads and HEA then an involved novel.

I think the weird thing about all of these series is that the sex in them varies enormously from author to author, book to book. Although the Blaze books always have sex in them, some other lines are very hit or miss, and outside of the Inspirational series, I don't any of the lines have no sex in them at all anymore.

But even in some of the erotica lines, and the single titles I've read - the heroine always comes (except for Phantom Waltz by Catherine Anderson or if the heroine was/is a virgin and part of the plot is based on that "bad experience".) The sex may be more realistic in when/how "completion" (there's another euphemism) happens, and shows the enjoyable part of rougher sex, the stuff I've read is still the typical HEA.

Does it give women an unrealistic idea of sex? Maybe. But maybe they are missing the romance part of sex in their relationship and are looking for that in the books.

This is fiction. I don't want to read the realities of romance and sex. Miss H. sounds like she is either a complete dud in bed (by choice) or stuck in a relationship that doesn't satisfy her. I'm no sex kitten but, yeah, I *do* orgasm every time I have sex with my husband. Why? Because he's not a selfish knob. If he was, I wouldn't be with him. If he's greedy and selfish in bed where we're supposed to be having FUN then what the hell kind of husband or father would he be during the times when life gets a little tough? Greed and selfishness like that will translate into other aspects of any relationship. As for BJs being off the table after marriage. WTF? Nothing is off the table unless you take it off the table. Now as for pure realism in romances, well, for the most part 'fiction' isn't 'real', that's why it's called 'fiction'. I don't care to read about the clean up or the hero getting a pube stuck in his teeth during oral. I'm a grown-up. I know the difference between a sex scene in a book and one in the real world. I don't think it's a bad thing that women have high expectations from their sex or love relationships and if romances help to reinforce that then that's just fine. I love the fantasy in romance novels; I think we all do. I don't mind descriptive sex as long as it doesn't turn too gross. I mean, I don't want to read about a guy going down on a woman who has her period for example =P

Re: The swallowing and the spitting. Not sure which one I'd prefer; perhaps neither. The swallowing is ICKY IMO since I don't do it in my personal life, but the spitting would pull me off the fantasy.

I hate purple prose. I find it irritating and stupid. A penis is a penis and a vagina is a vagina. I don't want to hear about spears of love and moist caves! What are we 12? Oh, Emma,bravo! well said-- "I *do* orgasm every time I have sex with my husband. Why? Because he's not a selfish knob. If he was,"

I think that what writers try to portray is exactly what you said, A FANTASY. Yes, we keep some aspects realistic, but for the most part in your fantasies, when you think about your soul mate, he/she fulfills you and would certainly make your pleasure as important as his own. It's a book--fiction, not a guide to better lovemaking.

That there are certain word guidelines for each pub is standard and one of the reasons I write erotic romance. I depict the total culmination of the love between two people and it's always fair and square on the give and take. LOL. I think it would be much harder to try and write it without being able to use the more graphic words. That's when you have to be super creative.

I also agree with the idea that we're adults in a pretty informed society and we should have a basic idea of what borders realisim and what doesn't. You can watch anything almost anytime and be informed on a million doifferent topics. Not to mention the Internet being a haven for a wealth of info.

I don't want to read the icky stuff either, Emma, LOL. Cuz it's a fantasy and in my fantasy, you just don't need any cleanup :)

Dakota :) Ooops. I just wandered into a sewing circle full of helpful knitting tips and hand stitching techniques...

Backing out...

Pardom me, ladies... You are a coward Scott. Maybe this is the kind of 'knitting' men should read! :-P

Yes Romance has some funny conventions. For instance my book is now in the copy edit stage and i was surprised when I read that all of my hero's 'erections' had been changed to 'manhood' or 'member' (HATE MEMBER. its a terribly dislocated word and I'm from Australia where all of our successful politicians are called 'Members of parliment' or the 'member for wherever'. and I do not find Politicians sexy. Ewwww). I was even more confused when my villian was, however, allowed to keep his entirely nasty erection. WTF? what kind of convention is that?**

But have you read the sex scenes men love? All the women are cum eating monsters who wilt if they don't give a blow job a day to three different men and go down on at least one woman. Fantasy? You bet. That is deffinatly only some women

Different strokes for different folks then, if you forgive the blatent double meaning. Sure in Romance the woman comes every time becasue the hero trys very hard to make it so. Why would we call him a hero if he was such a selfish fuck that he cums, rolls over, burps, then snores. That may be some womens reality, but it is neither romantic or heroic IMHO.

** When I asked my real editor what was going on, he got very cross and said I could have my erections back. I'm sure my hero is most releaved! Cough, karma, cough. Oh LOL

Anyway, all i can say is sex is sex. Why do publishers/authors have to paint it into something it's not? Fellatio, cunnilingus, coming, swallowing (i don't, but some people do), masturbating, and more postions than Trollop can think of (er, hmm, maybe not :/ she's verra dirty, i tell ya), it's all part of the bee-yoo-ty of sex. Like Woody Allen said, "Is sex dirty? Only if it's done right." ;-) I'm with ya there, Harlot. I was thinking about the word fellatio, though. That sounds like a romance novel hero's name, don't you think? LOL

Scott, you wimp. LOLLOL and no, that doesn't mean look out ladies. LMAO

DC :) "I doubt they're talking about cliff diving." LOL Good article. :)

Anyway, 2nd Amdt has a point. Even in erotica, women ALWAYS come. Though the sex there are done in many positions. LOL I think Dakota, our erotica expert, can confirm that. ;) I don't have anything against women who keep coming LOL it's part of the whole "fantasy" thing. And really, who doesn't want to always come? I do. But yeah, I guess, it could be misleading to young readers. Usually, it takes more than a grind.

Yesterday's romance readers are not the same romance readers of today. Why not have a little change? Well, I gotta say I haven't read an erotica where the woman doesn't come, Danielle. However, it's fantasy and sure, there are times when a woman doesn't come in real life and I wouldn't be upset by it in a book much. Cuz that is REAL, but I think I'd prefer that she ends up satisfied. I'd prefer I end up satisfied too. LMAO

The point being is that it's fiction and if I were to write my fantasy, it'd include the big "O" baby, every bloody time. LOL. We read romance to go somewhere we've never been and might not get the chance to go to. That's what I want from my fiction :)

I do understand that younger adults may get an impression that's unrealistic, but then, I have to wonder if they were taught to dream and explore? Just a thought.

DC :) Let's face it, romance novels are fantasy for women. How many handsome, sexy, successful multimillionaires fell in love with a Plain Jane?

If oral sex, coming, etc, ruin the fantasy, I think it's better off that they're not included in the books. Though doing it just in the missionary style? Er, someone should tell those Harlequin people that's NOT a fantasy at all! The more positions the BETTER!!! Jeez. "I was even more confused when my villian was, however, allowed to keep his entirely nasty erection."

Tisty, what does that say about the hero? Oh god, he'll be the loser with towering lance of lurve while the villain runs rampant with his erection. Ack. Glad you got your erection back. :)

And I didn't know you're a writer too! You never mentioned anything! :o LMAO-- That means Leave My Ass Out, right?

Alright. A couple of things. Men love women who come regularly and easily. If a man could just breath on a woman and make her delightful, he'd be a happy man. Then he can get on to his snoring and other commodities without feeling "guilty" about not sharing in the nights'cookies. This is a fact. So the real trick is in how much "training" a woman is wiling to do to make herself susceptable to the vagaries of the artform?

Rather than complain about "his" inconsiderations, how 'bout makin' his life easier in regards to your pleasure?

Just a thought...

In Japan-- the word for masturbation for men is "sen zuru" (a thousand strokes.)

For women it is "mon zuru" (ten thousand strokes.)

Women need to get up to speed, here. They're laggin' behind... I don't mind the word pussy. Or clit. Actually, please, let there be a clit! But cunt? I don't like that word.

With that said, what's the purpose of making everything like it is anything but a fantasy? Is it to remind us that these books represent nothing BUT dreams? That, unless you look like a freaking gorgeous model, really, those things are not going to happen? Now THAT I find disturbing. Those romance novels are unrealistic. The sex in my novels is much more realistic. See them at:

www.nicholasborelli.com

And as for fellatio being off the menu after marriage, I dare say that hasn't happened around here and we have a long marriage.

Regards,

Nick Borelli Isabella, I'm not a real writer. You know the kind. a catolugue of thirty books, 2 houses and a poddle name mr Darcy. I've only just sold my first book for a spectacularly tiny amount of money and as it's not even on sale yet, I can't take myself seriously.

Or that's how my logic works. Besides I vist this site as a reader because it makes me smile when I should actually be working. Bad Bitches they are, always distracting my.

I only came out of hiding because my erection story was sooo on topic.

and Scott a thousand strokes???? seriously????? Gosh you must know some men who are stayers. In the teenage years, when masturbation was a life style choice, all the boys I knew need was 6 good strokes and a dirty thought. It's only a little better now.

Maybe I need to get to know some Japense men! Blow jobs don't stop after marriage. When I was married - what ended the blow jobs was the turn off of always being around his mother. That ended the marriage. Seriously, I don't think sex scenes are necessary to sell a book. There are a lot of audiences for books that don't have sex scenes. But if you must do it, for heaven's sake, do it right. Well, they have to print it pretty or some emotional constipated reader will not buy the book...what about the marketshare of the preacher's family?

Hence to cock, or suck, or vagina because it would offend even though everyone in the world either has a cock or vagina and will most likely engage in fucking relationship at some point. Most anyway! tisty-- That's right, a thousand strokes. But we're talking Japanese men. Think of the way a Caddilac's piston goes up and down when you are tooling along on a coastal highway. Now think of a Datsun B210 's piston...

More like a bee in a plastic bag, if yo ask me....

Hotmama. My life is true. Just ask me. And I'm pacing myself. Just getting started.

Mum is old now, and we almost lost her last year. She asked me to write all my stories down so she can read them. I've been telling her my stories for over twenty--five years. She knows me, and still thinks I'm makin' half this stuff up.

Sigh....

And I post pictures and everything... Sex scenes in romance novels can be pretty creative. Not directly using the actual/real words. But I think many readers prefer that than reading graphic details of the sex. They'd rather read about how the hero made tender, passionate love with the heroine.

Reading is an escape. Does reading romance novels create unrealistic expectations about love? Probably. But women readers are smart. We know the difference between reality and fantasy of course, that real life is far from a love story we read in a book. Still that shouldn't stop us from hoping that we too would get that kind of romance. What? blowjob is off the table after marriage?!?

No wonder men are afraid of getting married. Snort. very nice blog This is fiction and really, I'd rather not read about farting, burping and a guy's hairy balls and ass.

However, these stories are still based on our reality and therefore should adhere to what is real. I don't know why authors and publishers are afraid to show what's really going on while you're having sex. This is like Trollop's previous post about ignorant authors refusing to mention the use of condoms in their books because "it ruins the fantasy". Yeah, let's advocate fantasy of STDs!

Would it ruin the "fantasy" if a guy cums in your mouth? What's wrong with swallowing cum that it's not allowed? Why restrict intercourse with just so very few foreplay or positions when, in reality, LOL, women prefer more of those? Bj is kindda lowered in rank of importance once ur married and got kids runin' around. Couples just fall into a routine, It does not stop some from begging though...lol I just read three different Harlequins published within the last 7 years that made no mention of condoms. Come on! All three made a big deal about how the hero loved that the heroine was "intelligent." HA. Two of the three heroes were of questionable trustworthiness until near the end and had been known to the heroine for less than a week.

Lucrezia Borgia: Life, Love and Death in Renaissance Italy
by Sarah Bradford

"This novel is about everything but Lucrezia; promising outline, disappointing story."

The Winter Garden
by Adele Ashworth

"Lovely writing style and passionate story line. You will fall in love with the Winter Garden and its characters."

Harlot - Keeper of the Dream
by Penelope Williamson

Trollop - Mary: Queen of Scotland and the Isles
by Margaret George