I guess it's time I lived up to our header and discussed some Romance, or at least tried to discuss it. And since I'm writing this at 3:00 a.m. my time, let's see if I can put down some ideas without sounding drunk.
I don't know if it's age (old), a different cycle of life (post, post, post menopause), or just being cantankerous, but it's difficult to find romances that catch my interest anymore. I buy books on sale that sound right up my alley as far as tropes and characters and I buy books not on sale that sound even better. The samples downloaded and then deleted without a sale are legion. And I end up rereading old favorites: anything Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs or Anne Bishop, anything Katie Ruggle writes. Oh, and S K Dunstall. Very little contemporary there, now that I look closely. Yet still I buy.
I find I'm tired of all the explicit sex. My vagina gave up the ghost long ago and I don't give a shit how many thrusts are involved in a sex scene. I want the warmth of character as written by the authors listed above and I don't care how much precum he can produce or how much liquid bedews her well conditioned thighs.
I've always had difficulty distinguishing between some romances and erotica. Seems to me many books listed under romance are really erotica. And the unrest is spreading; I read hardly any historical romance these days and since the one blog I do check out seems to be promoting gay romance that is not K J Charles, it doesn't interest me.
So now I mostly read mystery with romantic elements and I find it mostly satisfying. Don't read as much as I used to though. Now mostly I sleep (or try to, lol).
So this is a pretty choppy post, but not bad for 3 a.m., yes? I need practice. :-)
You didn't sound drunk at all :)
ReplyDeleteI have to agree that a lot of 'romance' these days is more erotic than romantical. We can blame 50 Shades for that, although I don't know why - it was shite. It came out and everyone was going on about Mummy Porn and now, every book that comes out seems to be of a similar theme.
I actually made a comment the other day bout the Book Bub email I get every day. It seems to be the same stories but with a different author every day. The shapeshifter/vampire/werewolf ones, the billionaire and the virgin, the girl in love with her brother's bff... I tend to not even open the email now. Maybe it would be better to unsubscribe. Sure, the books are free or 99c but I do have some taste lol
Like you, I tend to stick to my favourites, although I really am trying to expand. I'm supposed to be reading The Fiery Cross, in anticipation of Outlander season 5 but I got sidetracked with the first book in the Witcher series and I'm not sure I want to get into something so heavy now.
I'll keep an eye out for something romance only, along with some good mysteries etc. I take note of the ones you and Lori mention and I try to get to them, to expand my reading genre list, but well, best laid plans and all that lol.
Now, back to bed young lady! Sleep well xx