Category Archives: reading

Victoria Janssen’s Keeper Categories – Exploring Category Romance

Posted on September 26, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

I had a difficult time narrowing down this list–I tend to keep a lot of books–but finally decided to choose books I am most likely to re-read more than once. (Also, I did not include any of Carla Kelly’s Regency … Continue reading →

Posted in category, reading, recommendations, romance novels | 3 Comments

SuperWendy’s Keepers – Exploring Category Romance

Posted on September 25, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Please welcome my guest, the incredible SuperWendy! # When Victoria asked me if I’d be interested in doing a guest blog post for her, I immediately said yes, for no other reason than we both adore category romance. Yep, we’re … Continue reading →

Posted in category, guest, reading, romance novels | 8 Comments

Vampire Books I Like – Science Fiction

Posted on September 9, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

I am not a huge fan of vampire romance, so my favorite vampire books are mostly from the science fiction and fantasy genres. Here are my top three science fiction choices. My all-time favorite vampire book is The Vampire Tapestry … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, recommendations, vampires | 4 Comments

My Favorite Girls Dressed as Boys – Romance Edition

Posted on September 4, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

One of my favorite tropes in genre fiction is “girl/woman dressed as a boy.” I love it for several reasons. First, it’s just fun; there’s a long-established literary tradition of cross-dressing. Second, I love that it’s an opportunity to play … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, reading, recommendations, romance novels | 8 Comments

Book Collection Blues

Posted on August 20, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

I’m determined to cull my books. The problem is, many of the books I would likely cull are in boxes, stored away to make room for newer books on the shelves and in the, er, more accessible boxes. And the … Continue reading →

Posted in reading | 6 Comments

My Favorite Westerns – Books, Movies, Television

Posted on August 19, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Wendy the Super Librarian and Kristie of Ramblings on Romance are posting about Westerns this week, so I thought I’d list a few of my favorites. Song: Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond Of Each Other, covered here by Willie Nelson. … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, reading, recommendations, western | 15 Comments

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Ultra-Brother!

Posted on July 27, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Why does the coolest brother in the romance series usually turn out to be such a dud? I began to make a list of all the series of historical novels featuring brothers as heroes, but then realized that would be … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, reading, romance novels | 2 Comments

Confessions of a Luddite

Posted on July 20, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

I have a confession to make. I don’t really like reading e-books. I spend all day in front of a computer at my day job. On the weekends, I spend at least half of each day in front of my … Continue reading →

Posted in reading | 3 Comments

Why I Love the Marriage of Convenience Plot

Posted on July 6, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

The “marriage of convenience” plot in historical romance might focus on an arranged marriage, but more typically, shenanigans are involved; the couple marries to save the heroine from ruin at the hands of a dastardly plotter, or to ensure the … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, historical fiction, reading, romance novels | 3 Comments

Normative Heterosexuality and the Alpha Male Fantasy

Posted on June 29, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Normative(Adjective): of or establishing a norm or standard. Romance novels feature vast numbers of heroes who are so-called “alpha” males – usually taken to mean men who are better-looking and stronger than other men, with more dominant personalities, and usually … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, reading, romance novels | 13 Comments