SLCLS Genre Study discussion

To be a historical romance, a romance has to take place at least 50 years ago, but other than that requirement the historical romance genre is wide open. Some are darker, and mysterious, some are lighter and comedic. Personally, I like fluffy, funny stories, so tend to read authors like Julia Quinn and Eloisa James.

What kind of historical romances do you like to read? Who are some of your favorite authors?

I used to read the zebra regency romances before they stopped publishing them. They were light and fluffy and always ended with a kiss and a proposal. I prefer them to the books with more explicit content.

I think, although I can't be certain, that the first romance I read was a zebra regency romance. I know they discontinued the line in 2005, which I always thought was kind of sad. How explicit, or not explicit, the content is doesn't bother me, as long as it feels natural. Although, I'm a big believer in the "drumroll". (That's a term I got from How I Met Your Mother to describe the lead-up/tension to the first kiss). I was reading a book, I'm not certain which one it was, and the heroine was at a ball, naturally, and she goes out onto the terrace with the hero, and she gets her first kiss, and that part was awesome. Then, all of the sudden, her bodice is around her waist and it took me out of the story. I actually thought, "Well, that escalated quickly."

Historical romance has 4 extremely popular areas, medieval, regency, victorian and American west. Do you have a favorite area?

I think that the next historical romance book that I am incredibly excited to read is Eloisa James' Three Weeks with Lady X which comes out on March 25. Which books are you eagerly awaiting?

One of my favorite romances is Katherine by Anya Seton. It's not light and fluffy, nor dark and brooding. It's also probably out of print.

I'm looking forward to Lynn Kurland's next book. It looks like it will be a straight up historical, no time travel. It has shipwrecks, castles, and damsels in distress. I know a lot of people don't like a lot of explicit sex in their books, and she is an author that can be counted on to keep the bedroom door closed as it were.

Cherie wrote: "One of my favorite romances is Katherine by Anya Seton. It's not light and fluffy, nor dark and brooding. It's also probably out of print."

Cheri - I have not heard of that one. What's it about? I like the middle of the road type books, where it has some lightheartedness to it, but also has a little seriousness as well. Sometimes books can be too dark for me.

Sarah wrote: "I'm looking forward to Lynn Kurland's next book. It looks like it will be a straight up historical, no time travel. It has shipwrecks, castles, and damsels in distress. I know a lot of people don't..."

Sarah - It's nice when you know an author, and know they'll fit in your content comfort level. I've only read a few of her books and time travel was a big part of them. I'll have to give her new one a try. Do you know what it's called?

Well, I like all kinds of books with all kinds of sensuality, but I know some people prefer books that fade to black. Anyway, her new book is Dreams of Lilacs. It is Isabelle's book, but she does not (at least from the description) travel through time.

Elizabeth wrote: "Historical romance has 4 extremely popular areas, medieval, regency, victorian and American west. Do you have a favorite area?"

I like American West. Robin Lee Hatcher is one author I like, so is Deeanne Gist. Jennie Hansen's bracelet series is also a favorite.

Marinda wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Historical romance has 4 extremely popular areas, medieval, regency, victorian and American west. Do you have a favorite area?"

I like American West. [author:Robin Lee Hatcher|6..."

Marinda, I LOVE Deeanne Gist. Her Courting Trouble books are my favorite. They made me cry. Love them. I have not read the other two. Do you have a favorite Robin Lee Hatcher book?

Sarah wrote: "Well, I like all kinds of books with all kinds of sensuality, but I know some people prefer books that fade to black. Anyway, her new book is Dreams of Lilacs. It is Isabelle's book, but she does n..."

Hmm... I might have to try her new stuff. I THINK I've read some of her earlier work, but I'm not 100% certain.

I really like Sabrina Jeffries' novels. I think she was the first romance author that I ever read and I love her characters. There are two in her "Duke's Men" series out (still haven't read the second one) and there's a third coming out soon that I'm excited about. Elizabeth got me hooked on Eloisa James' stuff too, especially the fairy tale series - I LOVE fairy tales! :)

Yay for Eloisa James. I was just SO EXCITED about her actually running a book club and interacting with the fans I just couldn't shut up about it. :D I'm going to have to check out Sabrina Jeffries' newest series. I don't think I've read them yet.

I like reading historical romance. I've enjoyed several books by Carla Kelly. Some have taken place in England and some in the USA. I've enjoyed Borrowed Light and Enduring Light especially.

Thank you ladies for a very informative genre training!
The refreshments were delicious! I didn,t realize how many sub genres there were in romance literature. I love happy ever after endings. My favorite romance novel is A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux. Most of her stories have strong females and the stories end well.

I LOVE Carla Kelly, such a strong writer. She wrote a lot of Signet Regencies in the 90s, some are being reprinted now. Lovely sense of history and character. She's great to recommend to older readers who want a less racy story. I also like Eloisa James. I got an ARC of her first novel when it came out, still have it. I just read the memoir of her year in Paris, that was really pretty fun as well. I'd probably only recommend that to her fans, but it was like hanging out with her for a couple of hours.

Thanks for the lovely compliment. I'm really proud of our team, and I'm glad you enjoyed the training! Also, who does not love A Knight in Shining Armor? Super fun book. For a while after that came out, there were tons of time travel romances, but we don't really see them anymore, maybe their space was taken up by paranormals?

I love a good time travel romance! See Lynn Kurland's books for lots of time travel fun. There is definitely not as much of it as there was in the 90s, but it is still there somewhat.

Time travel romance is always lots of fun! I've read some of Lynn Kurland's stuff and enjoyed it quite a bit. Diana Galbadon's "Outlander" is great too (though it's not a straight-up romance, it sometimes gets lumped in with other historical/time-travel romances).

Sonja wrote: "Thank you ladies for a very informative genre training!
The refreshments were delicious! I didn,t realize how many sub genres there were in romance literature. I love happy ever after endings. My f..."

Right there with you, Sonja! My first Jude Deveraux was Knight in Shining Armor and I totally devoured it. The story is timeless.

Can I say that I didn't love the ending of that book? Knight in Shining Armor still irritates me any time I think of the ending!

Naomi wrote: "I like reading historical romance. I've enjoyed several books by Carla Kelly. Some have taken place in England and some in the USA. I've enjoyed Borrowed Light and Enduring Light especially."

Naomi, I think that Borrwed Light was my favorite book of hers I've read.

Heather wrote: "I LOVE Carla Kelly, such a strong writer. She wrote a lot of Signet Regencies in the 90s, some are being reprinted now. Lovely sense of history and character."

Heather, I love it when an author you enjoy has a backlist of books that you can look up and read.

Sarah wrote: "Can I say that I didn't love the ending of that book? Knight in Shining Armor still irritates me any time I think of the ending!"

Okay, so I'm going to say it. I didn't really like that book either. I have issues with time travel romances. Frankly, I would be horrified to end up in an earlier time, and I do not think I would adapt well.

Although, I totally love Outlander and am psyched for the show (but I don't have cable, so I'm going to have to wait for it to be on Netflix or DVD or something.

Sonja wrote: "Thank you ladies for a very informative genre training!
The refreshments were delicious!

Thank you for the compliment. I'm pretty sure Ruby brought all the refreshments if you wanted to know what something specific was.

I loved them all! Especially the strawberries. Take a bite of the strawberry and then a bite of the chocolate and you have my favorite dessert! Thank you, thank you!!

You guys, Three Weeks with Lady X comes out soon. I am SO EXCITED. I can hardly wait:

http://www.eloisajames.com/bookshelf/...

Just finished the first Romance I have read all the way through. It was good, fun to read. The only problem is that the "Happily ever after" was just too much. Three parents, thought dead were found alive on top of the "girl was suddenly rich" scenario. The title was "Loving a Lost Lord" by Mary Jo Putny.

I have problems with the happily ever afters sometimes myself. Though I admit I take it one step farther. I recently read Edenbrooke by Somebody Donaldson (hey I'm a shelver give me a break I only have to know last names)and loved it until the end. The main character considers herself to be the plain sister of twins. Her twin invites her to a social gathering, ignores and belittles her for the majority of the book. Causes a bunch of the problems but then at the end she is magically on her sisters side and a good person even though she was fairly horrible the whole book. Phew, that was a rant that needed to happen. sorry it had to be here. the point is the Happily ever after went a bit to far for me.

Elizabeth wrote: "Cherie wrote: "One of my favorite romances is Katherine by Anya Seton. It's not light and fluffy, nor dark and brooding. It's also probably out of print."

Cheri - I have not heard of that one. Wh..."

It's about Enland during the War of the Roses. The title character is the mistress of on the kings sons. It's been a long time since I read it so some of the details are murky.

Me, I want the protagonists happily married at the end, but I don't really like the afterwards where you see everyone's sweet babies and fabulous houses and happy neighbors etc ad nauseum. Most other readers disagree with me on that.

Oh no, Heather--there are lots of readers who loathe the baby filled epilogue. Especially where the main characters never give any hint that they wanted children, or maybe struggled with having children, then whammo they are happy with kids and a house in the suburbs and their lives are completely different from what they seemed to indicate they wanted through the whole book.

I'm actually fine with couples that make commitments, even if it isn't marriage, as long as one feels confident it is a happily ever after, not until something better comes along!

I read "Loving a Lost Lord" by Mary Jo Putney, but I don't actually remember much about it. Enough said.

Sarah and Heather,
One of the books that the baby epilogue bugs me the most is in Jo Beverley's Malloren World books. The Duke of that series doesn't want kids because one of his parents were crazy, and he worries that he'll pass it on. So, he doesn't want kids, the WHOLE TIME. And then the epilogue he has a baby and everything's cool. And I remember thinking, really? He went through this whole book not wanting kids, but NOW he's got one and it's fine?!?!?!?!

I seem to gravitate toward Julie Klassen and recently enjoyed Edenbrooke, but I haven't read Malloren World books, so I can't attest to your frustrations Elisabeth, but I'm pretty sure that would irritate me too :)

I am reading Where the River Once Flowed. It is billed as a romance set in the late 1800's in New Mexico. It does not follow traditional romantic conventions. Here is one example of a traditional rule it breaks, "give the character time to mourn the end of one relationship before starting another." The main character loses her husband and son and home in less than 2 months and will now form a romantic attachment with someone she has only shared a handful of words with. I am 2/3 of the way through the book. I like it, so far.

I love the regency period. Mary Balogh and Stephanie Laurens are two of my favorites. I also really love Julie Garwood - especially her medieval books. For fun Scottish Historical I love Hannah Howell.

I had a really good time yesterday recommending some historical romance titles to a patron to check out on Overdrive! We have a good collection of e-romances as well!

Nanette - I love Mary Balogh, Stephanie Laurens and Julie Garwood's Medieval historicals. I got to read an ARC of Mary Balogh's next book. It's my favorite in the series so far.

Sarah - I love that we have authors' backlists as ebooks. I'm always browsing through that section and checking out new books. :D

I'm not much of a romance reader, so I decided to dip my toes in with a Georgette Heyer regency romance. I read April Lady. I enjoyed the description of the time period and style, but the story itself was pretty silly. There were a lot of misunderstandings and the plot bordered on ridiculous. I was a little put off by how little time the couples actually spent together. I didn't love the book, but I liked it enough that I will probably try out some other books by Heyer.

I love Heyer, but I too did not like April Lady. Three of my favoriets are Venetia,Sprig Muslin, and The Talisman Ring. I also liked The Corinthian and The Grand Sophy.

Meghan - I also like parts of Georgette Heyer, but don't enjoy everything. If you want to give a more serious romance a try, you could try Mary Balogh. Her newest series deals with a group of soldiers wounded during the war with Napolean and how they deal with various issues (PTSD, blindness, crushed legs, etc.) Definitely not as silly. The first one is The Proposal. Or you could try Sherry Thomas' Not Quite a Husband. That's a Victorian romance, she's a divorced Doctor working in India, and her ex-husband has been asked to find her to bring her back to her family. It deals with a lot of stuff, including a revolt in India. Good stuff.

Elizabeth, I love your suggestions!

Heather wrote: "I love Heyer, but I too did not like April Lady. Three of my favoriets are Venetia,Sprig Muslin, and The Talisman Ring. I also liked The Corinthian and The Grand Sophy."

Thank you for the suggestions. Heyer has written so much, it's good to have some direction.

Elizabeth wrote: "Meghan - I also like parts of Georgette Heyer, but don't enjoy everything. If you want to give a more serious romance a try, you could try Mary Balogh. Her newest series deals with a group of sol..."

Thank you so much for the suggestions. I'm especially interested in the "Not Quite a Husband" one. I will have to check that out.

Heather, THANKS!
Meghan - let me know if you like it!

I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed the Romance genre training. I recently read two romances and I kind of liked them! :) I definitely think about romances differently now and am much more willing to give them a try (esp. historical ones).

Ashley, I'm really glad you liked the training. Thanks for the kind feedback!

Ashley,
What were the two books you tried out?