Category Archives: romance novels

Pondering the Mail-Order Bride

Posted on March 1, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I had another thought about Western romances. Does the reason the “mail-order bride” plot is so popular in Western romances have anything to do with the idea that marriage is linked to civilization? In that case, marriage could be civilization, … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, romance novels, western | 4 Comments

Explicit, Implicit, or Somewhere in Between? – Janet Mullany Guest Post

Posted on February 26, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Please welcome my guest, Janet Mullany! # Explicit, Implicit, or Somewhere in Between? Now and again (oh, I lie. I Google myself all the time) I come across a reference to my first Regency chicklit, The Rules of Gentility (HarperCollins, … Continue reading →

Posted in erotica, guest, romance novels, writing craft | 5 Comments

Basics of the Western

Posted on February 25, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

So, Westerns. What are the basic elements of a Western? There are the two plots: 1) a stranger comes to town and 2) someone leaves town, heading for a new place. A subsidiary plot involves surviving in the wilderness, whether … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, reading, romance novels, western | 7 Comments

For Further Reading

Posted on January 14, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

This is a Post of Pimping. I really enjoy these blogs, to the point that I’m excited when there’s a new post, and think some of you might like them, too.Racy Romance Reviews. Great thoughtful reviews, and some wonderful discussions … Continue reading →

Posted in links, romance novels | Comments Off on For Further Reading

Insta-Love

Posted on December 17, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

What are your feelings on Love At First Sight? Usually, I can’t believe in it. If it happens in a story, usually I don’t want to read any more. If the characters already know what they want, before I’ve seen … Continue reading →

Posted in erotica, reading, romance novels | 8 Comments

The Romance Formula Myth

Posted on December 9, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Romance readers know there’s no formula for romance novels, but a lot of other people seem to think there is, something like, “First kiss on page three, problem arises pages fifteen, first kiss with tongue page eighteen, hero falls in … Continue reading →

Posted in category, romance novels, writing | 10 Comments

Regencies and Amish Romance

Posted on December 4, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

What about the Regency Romance appeals, in the past and now? Here are some thoughts. I’m not sure I entirely agree with myself on every point, if that makes sense…but I’m going to ramble on anyway, going one way and … Continue reading →

Posted in category, historical fiction, romance novels | 1 Comment

Three Takes on the Marriage of Convenience

Posted on November 23, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

I recently read, in succession, three new books by Mary Balogh, a perennial favorite of mine in historical romance. The three books about three sisters each featured a Marriage of Convenience plot, and each one approached that basic plot from … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, reading, romance novels | 4 Comments

My Top 16 Romance Novels

Posted on November 16, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

I’m exactly one month late posting my sixteen favorite romance novels, but, well…here they are anyway, in random order. And it was really hard and made me very sad, but I did it for you. I limited myself to books … Continue reading →

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

Georgette Heyer Recommendations

Posted on November 10, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Is anyone out there a Heyer Virgin? I suspect many of you aren’t, but just in case you’ve always been told you need to read some Georgette Heyer, but had no idea where to start, here’s a quick list to … Continue reading →

Posted in heyer, reading, recommendations, romance novels | 13 Comments