This post was written in response to the Insecure Writer’s Support Group monthly (first Wednesday of every month) blog hop to where writers express thoughts, doubts and concerns about our profession. By the way, all writers are invited to join in!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world! Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG
The awesome co-hosts for the March 3 posting of the IWSG are Sarah – The Faux Fountain Pen Jacqui Murray, Chemist Ken, Victoria Marie Lees, Natalie Aguirre, and JQ Rose!
March 3 question – Everyone has a favorite genre or genres to write. But what about your reading preferences? Do you read widely or only within the genre(s) you create stories for? What motivates your reading choice?
I love reading, and although I make sure to widen my scope by reading outside my comfort zone, I have a favourite genre: romance.
I’m an incurable romantic, so novels that include an exciting, breathtaking, convoluted or epic love story with a reasonably happy or optimistic ending will give me great joy.
Some examples of classic romances I reread regularly for pleasure and inspiration are: Persuasion, Jane Eyre, Great Expectations, Gone with the Wind, and the Thorn Birds.
Now for more contemporary examples of novels which include romance and have moved and inspired me recently and I’ve reviewed on my blog:
Recursion a techno thriller by Blake Crouch including a recurring love story which defies time.
The Kiss quotient a fun and moving romance including a heroine with Asperger’s and a complex hero.
Kissing my Killer by Helena Newbury an enemies to lovers mafia romance.
The Last Necromancer by C J Archer a steam punk fantasy romance (this one is part of a series)
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris a historical romance set in a concentration camp
The Book of Two Ways a contemporary romance by Jodi Picoult involving a woman who loved two men at different times and is faced with heart wrenching choices when they come together.
Cold Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas a Victorian Romance set in London
Sustained, A contemporary romance between the guardian of six nephews and nieces and a high-powered lawyer who prefers one-night stands.
Captured a vampire romance by Erica Stevens (this is part of a series)
![Captured (The Captive Series Book 1) by [Erica Stevens, Leslie Mitchell G2 Freelance Editing]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41N9JuivaAL.jpg)
The Baron by Joanna Schupe, about a fake medium and a railway baron, set in New York’s Gilded Age.
Missing You a crime thriller by Harlan Coben about a man who will never forget the woman he loved, even when she died, but is she really dead?
Holy Island by LJ Ross is the first novel is a series featuring DCI Ryan, who is the lead detective in the series. He meets his love interest in book one and she will appear in 17 of the 18 novels in the series. Crime fiction.
![Holy Island: A DCI Ryan Mystery (The DCI Ryan Mysteries Book 1) by [LJ Ross]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41OsaH4Js8L.jpg)
I don’t care about the genre as long as there’s a moving love story in the narrative. I’m not referring to a typical romance of boy meets girl and they fall in love, I want novels to include other themes and plots, too. A love story which focusses on two characters obsessively is not enough to keep me reading.
What kind of romance novels do you enjoy reading?
Rereading Jane Eyre 
Hi,
I do enjoy reading a good historical romance as well as contemporary romance. In fact, I am open to reading any well-written romance book.
Have a lovely month of March.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
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I agree. A well written romance with twists and turns or as a sub genre of historical, or fantasy novels etc. keeps the reader rooting for the characters and interested in the final outcome. Have a lovely weekend:)
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Did you know that Scarlett O’Hare’s name was originally Pansy? I’m not usually one for being grateful an editor talked a writer into a change… but in this case? Yeah, that’s an improvement.
I love reading a wide variety of genres. I posted for IWSG day today. My post includes a new book by a friend, a note about a free book next week, a tweet about a query contest (LGBTQ romance this round), and a quick message about April Blogging from A to Z Challenge.
J Lenni Dorner~ Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge, Debut Author Interviewer, Reference& Speculative Fiction Author
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I’m not big on romance, but many of the books you have listed also contain fantasy, which I love.
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I used the term romance widely, I don’t think all of them could be called romance novels, but there’s an element of romance which pushes the plot forward. For example in Harlan Coben’s fast paced thrillers there is no romance in the traditional sense of boy meets girl etc. but his main characters are often searching for or fighting for someone they love, and that keeps the narrative going and leads to a happy ending! (usually)
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Romances come in all genres so that really opens it up for you.
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I always enjoy at least some romance or any type of loving and caring relationships in the novels I read, whatever genre. I don’t enjoy novels, especially some thrillers, in which most of the characters are unlikeable and scheming and nobody cares about anyone except themselves. Thanks for dropping by and commenting, Alex:)
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