10 Kudos About Romance Novels

Dear Readers,

This isn't as easy as the 10 Gripes, but I'm going to give it a shot. Here are the 10 (or so) things that I enjoy reading in romance novels.

1. Character development. The very best romances are those that show (without overdoing it) how a character is growing as a person or overcoming an obstacle in his/her life.
2. Humor. One of the best examples of lighthearted, breezy fun romance was by an author that I don't otherwise enjoy (Lisa Cach). She wrote "George and the Virgin." I've never laughed so much in a book in my life. Although I have read and enjoyed some of the darker romances, I most consistently return to authors that know how to use humor effectively throughout their books. BTW, Katie MacAlister ("Noble Intentions") is every bit as funny.
3. Relationship development. This is a tough one to do correctly and often becomes one of my biggest gripes as opposed to one of the factors I most enjoy. I hate histrionics and too often authors use histrionic thinking with their heroines. But when they use rational thinking processes and show a more natural relationship development, I can be extremely touched by it. (Good ex: Catherine Anderson's "Coulter Series").
4. Lively dialogue. Oh, how I wish I could see more of this. But I have to say, I recently came across a book by one of my favorite authors that exemplified this to a "T." There was no huge plot, but the story revolved around a week-long wedding and two of the guests there. The witty dialogue between these two characters had me rolling on the floor. There was no "he loves me, he loves me not" type inner dialogue (which is extremely tedious in most romances), but a steadily progressing relationship while the wedding party around them is going to h*ll. A must read for those wanting a more grounded romance that is extremely fun (Kasey Michael's book "Everything's coming up Rosie.").
5. Common folk. Unfortunately, most romance writers seem to think that romance was limited to England amongst the nobles. But when they veer off this overworked venue and dare to create romance amongst the common folk, oh, how I enjoy the story. Unfortunately, not satisfied with mere mortals, these authors typically take guttersnipes that have somehow become incredibly weathy (Example: Bow Street Runner's series by Lisa Kleypas - very good series, BTW). Once in a blue moon I might come across average folk with average incomes having a romance, but it seems most "normal" folk are doomed to romance-less matches -- at least that's how it seems. (This sounds more like a gripe, doesn't it? Whoops.)
6. Average looking. It does happen. Maybe it's rare, but I have come across books that allow average looking women and average looking men (even rarer) to get together. In the Bedwyn series by Mary Balogh, Freyja is ugly at first glance but she grows on people. And Sydham Butler (in the Simply series) was deformed by torture during a war, and his heroine is a mere school teacher. That particular story ("Simply Love") managed to combine the best of these first six factors into one book.
7. Where love is distinguished from sex, and sex doesn't make make everything okay. Most romance authors today don't seem to make a distinction between lust and love and in this screwed up world of ours, it seems a real shame. Occasionally, books do make such a distinction. These books I enjoy because the fantasy of "happily ever after" seem more real than those where the hero and heroine are bickering and fighting throughout the book, then they have sex and supposedly all is well. They get married and I'm supposed to buy-into the idea of happily ever after. Sorry, can't do it.
8. Intelligent, fiesty females. I like strong female leads. Where a woman can be intelligent and strong without being unnecessarily argumentative or combative (Lisa Kleypas does well in this area, also). Unfortunately, that distinction also seems to be lost by many authors. A fiesty female is too often an unpleasant, argumentative one that screams and throws things to be heard. Geesh. That sounds more like a witch than what I consider fiesty.
9. Average males that are required by circumstances to be or do more than they are. This one, I have to admit, is not one I've come across but I would dearly love to see. Instead of the omnipresent body-builder, wide-shouldered, he-men of most romance novels, I'd like to see a normal man that achieves great things because he is forced by circumstances to do so. That, in my opinion, is what makes a REAL man.
10. Men that fail. Wow. This one is hard. I read one book (can't remember who wrote it), where the man had become a drunkard after being saddled with his dead brother's nasty lying-through-her teeth ("I'm pregnant") witch of a betrothed. He was at sea most of the time. Found the love of his life, but she wouldn't be his mistress and she wouldn't be his wife (even if it were possible) because he was a "wastrel." So he had to choose between his alcohol and the woman he loved. It was a very powerful story.

Well, that's my list. I know it had a lot more gripes than it should have, but I couldn't seem to get my fingers to cooperate with my intentions.

Oooo, I forgot one (seems that history is about to repeat itself).

11. Where women, forced by circumstances to become the dredges of society (prostitutes, thieves, etc.) are given a second chance in life. I've read several of these and I LOVE these stories. A couple examples include several by Mary Balogh: The Secret Pearl, No Man's Mistress, and a secondary storyline in Slightly Tempted. Julia Justiss' also has one, entitled The Courtesan.