To be considered a romance, a book romance must have a happy ending, just as every detective novel must include a mystery to solve. There’s an expectation of a committed relationship that will stand the test of time. But what about those romances that broke the HEA rule? Let’s look at some pre-2000s novels that did the unthinkable.
Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas features one of her most beloved characters, Derek Craven. Derek was previously seen in Then Came You, whose reserved hero, Alex Raiford, was more to my liking. This is a wonderful romance by the talented Kleypas where two people from contrasting social classes come together in love. 4 stars
There are Christmas tales that inspire, ones that make us cry, and others that make us laugh with the joy of being alive. Too Many Husbands by Elise Title falls into the latter category. It’s a zany romp of a romance that could have been an old-fashioned screwball comedy on the live screen. 4 1/2 stars
Today, the age difference in romantic couples is between 2-3 years, with men mostly older and women younger. Romance novels love to play around with age gaps. One of the most common themes in these books is a significant age difference between the hero and heroine. Let’s take a look at some romances that have employed this trope.
This review is of Timeless Love, book #11, and the final book in the “Bachelor Arms” series. It is the second of two written by Judith Arnold, a pseudonym for Barbara Keiler. (Harlequin Temptation #565, published December 1995)
For the week of Monday, December 13, 2021, to Sunday, December 19, 2021, we’re spreading some cheer and giving our loyal readers an early gift. Please enjoy some Christmas-themed romance covers!
There are lots of fun things you can do while reading romances. You can read by author or trope, or even make a game of it. We’ve designed a game of BINGO for you to play while enjoying your books. Use our ready-made BINGO card. Play alone or compete with friends. What you win is up to you!
Kristin Hannah is a successful author of women’s fiction. It’s fortunate she found success in that genre because her romances I’ve encountered are–sad to say–lacking in excitement. When Lightning Strikes is a time travel romance that starts out promisingly but takes a boring turn into snoozeville with its drawn-out plot. This should have been a category-length romance of 190 pages not 400 pages long!
Violet Winspear’s bestseller, The Honey is Bitter, was originally published in 1967 by Mills & Boon. Paul, a Greek tycoon, blackmails Domini into marriage. 4 stars
This review is of The Lady in the Mirror, book #10 in the “Bachelor Arms” series, and the first of two books in the series written by Judith Arnold, a pseudonym for Barbara Keiler. (Harlequin Temptation #561, November 1995). 2.77 stars.
