Category Archives: romance novels

On Getting Away with Cliché

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Victoria Janssen

After a small hiatus from the genre, I started reading romance novels again in December, and I have some new thoughts. The reason for my burnout: the constraints of the genre had palled. Instead of soothing through familiarity, they scraped … Continue reading →

Posted in romance novels, writing craft | Tagged , | 7 Comments

McDaniel Conference Linkage

Posted on December 2, 2011 by Victoria Janssen

I wasn’t able to attend the McDaniel Conference on Popular Romance, but here are some reports on the proceedings. Amy Burge reports on Reflections on (Re)Reading Romance: A ‘Hands-On’ Harlequin Workshop at the recent conference held at McDaniel College. Not … Continue reading →

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SF Does Austen: A Civil Campaign

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Victoria Janssen

I recently re-read Lois McMaster Bujold’s A Civil Campaign, which is dedicated to “Charlotte, Jane, Georgette, and Dorothy,” who are of course Charlotte Brontë, Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, and Dorothy Dunnett. There are elements of all those authors in the … Continue reading →

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History and Diction

Posted on April 27, 2011 by Victoria Janssen

I’ve been reading through a lot of Regencies in my TBR lately, and one thing I notice frequently is the diction. I go back and forth a lot on the issue of historical diction. To me, diction is the base … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, reading, romance novels, writing craft | 2 Comments

“Romance Novels” Linkgasm

Posted on April 22, 2011 by Victoria Janssen

I’ve got a new post up at Heroes and Heartbreakers: Just a Gigolo…Romance Hero? # Out of curiosity, I recently did a search on the phrase “romance novels.” This was prompted by a conversation I had with Magdalen of Promantica, … Continue reading →

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The Regency TBR – Help me!

Posted on April 20, 2011 by Victoria Janssen

I have a pile of Regency romances (of the Signet Regency variety) in my TBR. I need help in prioritizing. Many of these were recommended by Twitter friends and bloggers whom I read. Which five would you recommend I move … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, recommendations, romance novels | Tagged | 10 Comments

Mary Balogh’s TANGLED

Posted on April 14, 2011 by Victoria Janssen

At Heroes and Heartbreakers, I analyzed Mary Balogh’s Tangled as an erotic romance. I focused on the first two sections of the novel, and how the marriage of the two main characters develops and changes through their sexual relationship.

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Saddle Shoes

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Victoria Janssen

If you missed it Friday evening, I posted on “Undressing the Hero: Judith Ivory’s Untie My Heart” for Heroes and Heartbreakers. # For my birthday this year, I decided to get myself a pair of shoes. My first choice was … Continue reading →

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Academic Heroines

Posted on March 25, 2011 by Victoria Janssen

I wrote a post, “Undressing the Hero: Judith Ivory’s Untie My Heart” for Heroes and Heartbreakers that went live today. Now on to today’s topic. I don’t intend to make “unusual heroines” a weekly thing, but I do want to … Continue reading →

Posted in contemporary, genre, romance novels, women | 2 Comments

Sporty Women in Romance

Posted on March 11, 2011 by Victoria Janssen

Where are all the sporty women in romance? The female professional athletes, or the ones who played basketball in college? Is there no Title IX for romance heroines? For a romance with male athletes, I know to look up Susan … Continue reading →

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