Category Archives: romance novels

Why Not Twentieth Century Historicals?

Posted on March 19, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Why are so few (print) romance novels set in the twentieth century? If you go to a bookstore and look at the section labelled “Romance,” certain things are there and certain things are not. With the exception of occasional outliers … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, historical fiction, romance novels | 20 Comments

Maintaining Sexual and Romantic Tension

Posted on March 5, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I think that all Romance plots ultimately involve deferring consummation of the relationship, whether the desired consummation is intercourse, marriage, a marriage proposal, or simple acknowledgement by the couple that they are in love. If a consummation happens at the … Continue reading →

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

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