Saturday Discussion: Comfort Reads

The past few weeks have seen a lot of things going on: family member went from sick to really sick to a day in the emergency room to a few days in the hospital to recovering at home and now back to business as usual. Which means lots of stuff to do, disrupted routines, lots of waiting, lots of nerves and not as much sleep as anybody would like. Though the crisis is now past, there's still dust to settle, but thankfully reading is always good medicine, and in the tough times, we still find time to read. It's not selfish, it's not frivolous, and I would argue it's downright necessary for rest and respite.

For a few minutes, hours, even days, we can step through a magic portal into a different world, live other lives, and come back feeling refreshed, restored and ready to tackle the next battle that life has thrown in our general direction. I don't use the term "escape" for such reading, because we do have to return to the issues at  hand when our reading breaks are over, but it is respite, a way to plug into hope and assurance and let our brains relax as the story takes us into another time and place.

Comfort reading is different from regular reading for some, if not most readers. When our minds and bodies are worn out from dealing with the increased stress, finding a new book to read may not always be the most pressing thing on our schedule. Rereads of favorite books or authors often fit the bill. Two of my surefire comfort reads are pictured below: Skye O'Malley, by Bertrice Small and Lovesong, by Valerie Sherwood.

Historicals are my go-to comfort read, books I read and loved many years ago. Not a lot of surprises, but there's a certain reassurance in knowing I'm travelling a road I've travelled many times before and will be sure to revisit again. Big, thick, sweeping romantic adventures in times past are exactly what I need when life gets to be too much.

For others, humor is what counts most, or a trip to an idyllic small town tucked far away from life's troubles. Still others want to visit a universe where the supernatural is the most natural thing in the world, or jump into the ongoing saga of long-running characters who are always going to be okay, despite insurmountable odds. I've even found comfort reading in the dystopian world of The Walking Dead graphic novels, because whatever is going wrong in my life can't possibly be as bad as a world where the undead walk the earth and consider me lunch.

So, dear readers, our question today is, what is a comfort read for you? Is it genre, author, a particular book?  Maybe it's a type of book, whether it's new to you or not. Can a book you've never read before be a comfort read, if it's of the right author, genre or setting? Settle into our virtual couch and sip your beverage of choice and share your favorite comfort reads, because we can all use a break.

I Would Read Anything For Love, But I Won't Read That: Dealbreakers in Romance

Dealbreakers. We all have them. With the HEA remaining as a given, can an author go too far with what lies between "once upon a time" and "they lived happily ever after?" Depending on the reader, yes, they can, and it's a very individual thing. For certain readers, there are particular settings, plot elements or character types that can turn an otherwise interesting read into a "no, thank you," and quite possibly into a "never read that author again" if the dealbreaker comes on too strong.

For me, any incident of animal cruelty is going to impact my enjoyment of the story, so if the hero's faithful steed breaks a leg and the neccessary thing must be done, it's going to take me a while to get past that. I can brace myself and get past it, because I love historicals and the past is a brutal place, but a real dealbreaker goes beyond that. It gets to "oh no, they didn't," and may end with the book making a high velocity trip to the other side of the room, or at the very least the UBS pile.

A real dealbreaker goes beyond distaste, into "nope, can't read, you can't make me read," the reader equivalent of a toddler clamping mouth shut and shaking their head at a spoonful of mushed turnips. Delicious to somebody else, to be sure, but that's the interesting thing about the wide umbrella about romance. One reader's meat really is another reader's poison. Virgin heroine in a contemporary? For some readers, that's a buzzkill, where other readers might object to a nonvirginal  heroine in a historical. Maybe those two readers are the same person. It could happen. Sometimes it does.

Maybe books in Historical Period X are off your list because, no matter how talented the author or compelling the story, the clothes are downright silly in your sight, and it hurts the brain to try and imagine birdcages worn on the head as at all attractive. Maybe it's because a certain reader knows too much about Period X and the commonly accepted details are wrong, wrong, wrong. Maybe non-noble protagonists aren't your thing because how can one have a true HEA when "can we make rent" is a viable concern.  Some issues in romance may strike too close to home for readers with personal experience of divorce, loss of a child, certain psychological issues or a myriad of other things.

We all have our absolute dealbreakers, and, sometimes, a great story can turn "oh no, I'd never read that" into "hm, maybe I'll reconsider." I used to avoid time travels for the longest time (pun intended) until I tried a few with settings I loved but didn't often see, and what do you know - they can be pretty good after all. Granted, I still strongly prefer the HEA to take place in the past, but if the author really really really sells it, I can make an exception.

What about you, dear readers? Do you have any dealbreakers in romance? Ever reversed your stance on one after reading an especially outstanding book?

Saturday Discussion: Alpha, Beta, Gamma: Who's Your Hero?

Anyone who's read more than one romance novel knows that heroes come in an endless array of varieties. Hot cops, rugged cowboys and soldiers from the ancient past to far future share shelf space with cultured aristocrats, suave billionaires, and brooding antiheroes, and that's only the introductory sampler pack. Sorting these gents can get tricky, but thankfully, we have a  pretty decent classification in place.

Alpha: Leaders of the pack, alpha males are in charge, and everybody knows it. Women want them, men want to be them. The alpha male favors action over words, is confident, maybe cocky, but never abusive or a jerk. He's well aware of his own appeal. He's used to getting what he wants, and when he gets the heroine of his choice in his sights, there's no stopping him until she feels the same way. If she leads him a merry chase, he's more than up to it, and she'll never doubt he's her man. Alphas are on the front lines of romance, and they (and we)  wouldn't have it any other way.

Beta: The beta male prefers brains over brawn. He's the nice guy, dependable, nurturing, but never wimpy or ineffective. He's solid, there for his heroine and patient enough to wait for her, no matter how long it takes. He probably doesn't think about  his own appearance much, as long as he doesn't scare small children and his heroine has no strong objections. The beta male is content to let the alphas take the first hit, and are always there to lend support however it's needed. Often found in friends to lovers stories, this guy may strike heroines and readers as nonthreatening, but don't be fooled, he's all man where and when it counts.

Gamma: The gamma male can be seen as the best of both worlds. Tough and tender by turns, this guy adapts to the needs of the moment. He may tote a weapon by day, and walk the floor with a sick baby by night. Whether the love of his life needs a strong defender or a listening ear, he's there for her, and expects the same treatment in return. He's a tricky one to pin down, strategic and clever, but able to charge into the fray when that's the most expedient thing to do. The lucky heroine who captures the gamma's heart will never be bored, always up for something new.

So, dear readers, which one of these fine fellows floats your reading boat? Introduce us to your favorite types and feel free to give examples. We can always use a few good fictional men to add to our TBR mountains.

Saturday Discussion: Second Chance at Love or Not a Chance in H*ll?

I was originally going to call this post, "Are They Experienced," but that's a whole other topic. This week, we're talking about reunited lovers, exes who aren't so ex after all, and other variations on the theme. Is romance lovelier the second time around for once-upon-a-time lovers, or is a chance at romance strictly a one shot deal? 

Let's take a look at the various permutations. Youthful lovers separated by disapproving parents, circumstance or historical events, is a theme popular long before the written word. All the thwarted passion of young love, torn apart by a cruel world or crueler parents, never fading through the intervening years. They've loved and lost, but, older and wiser, is this their time at last? Contemporary heroes or heroines returning to the small towns they once left behind, and the lovers they never forgot stand shoulder to shoulder here with their historical counterparts forced into dynastic marriages or second sons sent to war, the sea, or off to find their fortunes. The separation may not have been their idea, but the reconciliation? That's entirely within their grasp. 

On the other side of the coin, we have heroes or heroines who did want out the first time. Contemporary divorced couples, or estranged historical ones may not have been compatible in their first relationship, but some time and distance may give them the skills they need to turn a past love into a present one and secure their future. Such couples may have a child in common, a constant bond no matter how many miles apart they may have lived, and if the kids, whether child or adult, decide to play matchmaker, mom and dad may see past their differences and find love once again. 

In real life, there's often a reason exes are exes, but in romance, love conquers all. What are your favorite reunited lovers romance novels? 

Saturday Discussion: Is He Experienced?

What's with all the rakes? 

 In the early days of historical romance as we know it (post-1972's The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss) the experienced male with a long list of conquests and perhaps an existing mistress was often shorthand for cluing the reader in on what a virile man our hero was. This has been common, but is it strictly necessary? Virgin heroes, like Winter Makepeace in Elizabeth Hoyt's Thief of Shadows, have their own appeal, and it's entirely possible that a desirable man could choose to wait to begin that intimate part of his life. Fear of disease, moral and/or religious conviction, family or cultural tradition or expectation, lack of preferred partners, personal choice, a tight focus on another aspect of life...there are as many reasons as there are individuals, in any time, past, present or future. 

On the other hand, it's true that men of the upper classes were not, as a rule, expected to remain chaste (unlike their female counterparts, but that's another topic.) which begs another question. Does a hero need to have a long string of conquests to prove his virility, or does it come from some other source? Is a long term relationship with a wife or mistress enough to establish the hero in this aspect, or is it a different matter when the hero has several past amours? Does the nature, rather than the number, tell more about how our hero will treat our heroine? 

Perhaps it's not the facts but the fantasy that makes a rakish hero popular.  Does the idea of a heroine being "the one" to tame a notorious rake (and dibs on To Tame a Notorious Rake as a future title; it would sell, dangit.) contribute to the appeal of this trope? With historical romance heroines largely virginal, a first partner who knows what he's doing could be counted as a plus. Then again, there's something special about two people being the other's one and only, discovering the intimate side of love together, a scenario that need not be limited to sweet romance, either. 

So, dear readers, what's your pleasure? Is your ideal hero experienced, or about to discover a whole new world? Does it depend on the historical period, class, or subgenre, or does it hinge on the individual alone? 

Saturday Discussion: Slumpbusters; Breaking Reader's Block

We've all been there.  Novels, novels everywhere, and not a one to read. At some point, it happens to every reader, no matter how large their library or varied their tastes. There we are, happily turning pages or scrolling through our e-readers, not a care in the world, engulfed by a great romance novel, breathless with anticipation. Will our lovers beat the impossible odds? Well, of course, it's a romance, but still, the antagonist is a match for them, history may not be on their side, there's a war brewing, technology has run amok, there's an evil ex lurking in the wings or any one of a thousand other obstacles. Maybe the fate of an entire series rests in this one volume. Finally, finally, we get to the end, give a happy sigh or triumphant fistpump at the lovers reaching their HEA at last, but then it's time to pick a new book, and nothing seems right. 

There's no worse feeling for an avid reader than staring at an empty bookshelf, except a towering TBR of much-anticipated reads that now seem as appetizing as wet cardboard. Sure, we wanted these books when we bought, downloaded, or checked them out, and we still want to read them...someday. Not today, though, and there's the problem. It's an itch we can't scratch, that restless, edgy feeling.

This is different from merely not knowing what to read next, and sometimes, we're spoiled for choice. This is the restless pacing of a caged tiger, wanting to tear into another great book, only nothing appeals? Contemporary? Nah, live that every day. Historical? Too old-timey. Paranormal? Too outlandish. Category? Too short. Romantic suspense? Too scary. We sort through our keeper stacks, setting aside favorite after favorite with a resounding "meh." The dread creeps in. Have we lost that loving feeling? Is the love affair with romance gone for good? That wouldn't be good at all, so what's a reader to do?

Some readers turn to old favorites, knowing that will rekindle the flame. Sometimes, a reading slump means it's time to turn to magazines for a bit, focus perhaps on pictures rather than words. For some, a break from reading is in order.  Watch TV, go to the movies, take a walk, take some pictures, try a craft, play with kids or pets, spend time with significant other. The urge to read will come back as suddenly as it left, and there's no sense rushing it. For others, this challenge becomes personal. There is something interesting in that stack, and these determined readers are going to find it, no matter how long it takes. Some take to the Internet to get recommendations or accept readers' challenges. Others jump ship for a bit and happily devour another genre until the next tempting romance comes along. Some brave souls may even try to reboot their reading mojo by reading a book they know they'll hate, because after that, anything is going to look good. 

So, dear readers, here's your chance to share your slump stories. How did your slump come about, and how did you get out of it? Who knows, the comment you leave may be a lifeline to a reader in a slump of their own. 

Saturday Discussion: Sub-genre-ly Speakings

Historical romances are my first and greatest genre love, the genre I prefer to write, and they make up the bulk of the books I read for pleasure even after all the time I've been reading romance. Still, romance is a wide umbrella, and there are a lot of great books out there that are slightly off my regular route.

When I first started reading romance, as a tween and young teen, my choices were limited to what I could find in the local library or a weekly flea market. Without romance-reading friends, access to romance related magazines, in those dark days before the internet, it was catch as catch can, which gave me the opportunity to discover subgenres of romance I might not have found otherwise.

Traditional Regencies, once popular enough to command a section of their own in used bookstores, introduced me to authors like Mary Balogh and Barbara Hazard, and made me wish every era had those slender volumes rich in period detail. I found gothics, full of dangerous, brooding  heroes and the brave, clever heroines who were more than up to the task. I steered clear of time travels at first, not convinced I'd find enough historical story there, but curiosity and the use of some favorite but underused settings soon won out. Now that the subgenre is in a resting phase, I find myself craving more tales of love across the ages.

Category first caught my interest when Harlequin launched their first version of a historical line back in the late 80s, and I was more than happy to subscribe to that line by mail. When futuristic romance first came to the fore, I was intrigued - were these going to be like future historicals? For some of them, yes. Steampunk adds a speculative element to the good old Victorian age, and it seems like new subgenera are emerging every day. Only a few years ago, nobody had heard of New Adult, and now it's hot, hot, hot. What new sorts of stories are yet to come? I can't wait to find out.

What subgenrea do you like to read? Have you ever tried a sort of romance you thought wasn't your thing but ended up loving it? Leave a comment and let's talk.

Saturday Discussion: Under the Covers

We've all been told not to judge a book by its cover, and most of the time, we try not to, but how many times have we picked up a book merely because we liked the artwork? Or initially passed by a book that would, in time, become a favorite, because we didn't like the cover? Maybe you've mistaken one book for another because Current Cover Trend X is hot, hot, hot, and it seems like every book looks the same. Maybe you've missed the newest entry in a favorite author's ongoing series because the cover of the new book looks nothing like the covers of the previous books, or bought the same book twice because new cover art had to mean new book, right? How about snickering over books shelved in the wrong section because someone thought the cover looked "romancey" or "not romancey enough?" Apart from "romancey" not being a word, it's difficult to define what "a romance cover" should look like.

Should there be a couple on the front? Well, yes, sometimes. Other times, a solo gent or lady will do the job, sometimes we get a ship or castle, perhaps a single icon on solid background, perhaps something else entirely, depending on the tone of the book, the voice of the author and possibly those much talked about trends in cover art. Readers who have been in the genre for some time, or who prowl used bookstores and other sources for vintage books, can attest to the fact that cover design is a fluid thing.

Should a sassy contemporary have the same sort of cover as lush historical? A sweet Regency as a steamy erotica? How confusing would that be? Besides the different visual indicators across the subgenera, there's the ever changing standards of attractiveness. Remember covers with mustaches and mullets on historical as well as contemporary heroes? Hot stuff back in the day, but now, eh, not so much. Makes me wonder what romance fans are going to think of today's covers in twenty years' time, and what new frontiers romance covers will explore in that not-too-distant future.

Now, dear readers, I turn it over to you. What do you look for in a romance novel's cover? If you could design the perfect cover, what would that look like? Would it be different for different subgenra; paranormal, historical, contemporary, etc? Or would you be happy to have everything leatherbound, with the title and author's name stamped in gold foil? Okay, maybe that last one is a tad on the fanciful side, but I bet at least some of you are imagining exactly that. Is there a cover trend you'll be happy to see fade away, or one you'd like the industry to embrace? If you could make one rule for all cover artists to embrace for the next year, what would that be? Pull up a chair and let your voice be heard in our comment section.

Saturday Discussion: What's on Your Shelf?

When I was a baby, my father made two bookcases for my room. We were always a reading family, and books were frequently given as presents, which always suited me fine. While my dad did try his best to steer my reading in a more factual direction, I naturally gravitated to fairy tales, legends and myths. Even as a tender young sprout, if the story ended in "they lived happily ever after," it was going on those shelves.  As I grew, picture books and fairy tale collections gave way to what would now be termed young adult fiction, vintage comics and then my true love, historical romance. The pastel bookcases found their way down to the basement, but when it was time to close my dad's house, I knew I had to have those bookcases and I knew that they couldn't house merely any old books. 

Behind the "D" in the "dance," you'll see the very same copy of The Kadin by Bertrice Small, the book that started me on the amazing adventure that is historical romance, so it was only natural that my very first bookshelf would hold my very first book in my favorite genre, and the literally dozens of books written by the author who showed me how sumptous, exciting and educational the world of historical romance could be. It's one of the first things I see when I go into my office, and, no matter how long it's been since a reread of any of the books on that shelf, it's like waving hello to dear old friends, always there for me when I need them. 

Next to this shelf, there's a newer bookcase, this one store-bought, and filled with books of a different criteria. The top shelf has my most pressing TBR books, as my default summer reading plan is to clear off that shelf before acquiring too many more books. Yes, you may all pause now for knowing laughter. The existing books will be read, but I have to admit there are now three more books starting a second row of TBR books, and that will probably grow. Even so, I feel the same sense of welcome from the TBR bookcase as I do from my old favorites.  These stories, too, are waiting for me to open their covers and enter their worlds. 

If you're anything like me, bookshelf snooping is second nature, so let's do some cyber-peeking. Do you have special bookshelves dedicated to certain authors, series or genres? How do you organize them? Are your bookshelves on display for all to see, or reserved for private use only? Even for those who are digital only, do you peek at your friends' bookcases when you visit? Tell us everything. 

Saturday Discussion: How Do You Choose?

Welcome back, fellow romance lovers. Time to get comfy for the weekend, preferably with a good book or two. Or three. Or ten. If you're as buried under romance (and maybe some related genres as well) as I am, picking your next read can be a complicated process. 

Readers today have never had more options from which to choose. Books are widely available, from bookstores, libraries, supermarkets, newsstands, the internet, even our phones. The formats are seemingly endless; hardcover, mass market paperback, trade size paperback, audiobooks, ebooks, novels, novellas, anthologies, collections, new releases, reissues, continuities, series, single title, category, manga, graphic novels, etc. Even within our genre, romance, there's something for everyone, which means there are a lot of books out there. How's a reader to choose?

Saturday Discussion: Never Forget Your First Time

Hi everyone, welcome to a new event on Buried Under Romance - Saturday Discussion!

They say you never forget your first time. I was eleven when it happened, under the big brass bed in my parents' guest bedroom, during a thunderstorm. I’d known I was in for something I’d never experienced before, something unknown and thrilling, a grand adventure my parents would stop if they could. My father disapproved of the whole idea, and my mother had told me, in no uncertain terms, that I was too young for something this adult, and yet…and yet, the object of my desire called to me, a siren song I could not refuse.

Between those covers –the covers of my very first historical romance novel- I found what I wanted to read and write for the rest of my life. So far, so good. With book in one hand and flashlight in the other, I traveled back in time, to the misty Highlands of Scotland, took a sea journey to find myself plunged into the splendor and intrigue of the Ottoman Empire. Within those pages, I lived a life far removed from my suburban upbringing, and I learned that people who lived hundreds of years and thousands of miles away from me wanted the same things. Love, adventure, family, security, purpose and friendship are universal, not restricted to any one time or place, which means the possibilities for a great romance story are unlimited. That’s great, because we have a lot to discuss.

My name is Anna Bowling, and I'm a romance writer, romance blogger, romance reader, and most of all, romance lover. The only thing as fun as writing or reading a great romance novel is talking about them, and that's why I'm excited to be here with all of you for the first of our Saturday discussions. Every week, we'll have a new topic concerning the books and authors who contribute to the romance genre we all love, so get comfy and get ready to share your favorites. 

As this is our first time together, it’s only fitting that we examine how we got here. Though I’d always gravitated to fairy tales and myths about star-crossed lovers, my love affair with romance novels began when I stole a copy of The Kadin by Bertrice Small from my mother’s nightstand, and there was no turning back. I pilfered my mother's nightstand until she knew there was nothing that could keep me from reading my new favorite genre. I scoured the library, flea markets, bookstores both new and used, and, when the time came to begin writing my own stories, there was no doubt in my mind what genre was right for me. While historical romance is and always will be my favorite, I've read wonderful stories set in the past, present, and future, as well as in mystical worlds of the imagination. Romance novels open the door to countless lifetimes of love, and I can't think of a better way to spend my reading time. 

So, dear readers, how did you come to be buried under romance? Do you remember your first romance novel? How did you find it? What romance novel would you recommend to a reader who's new to the genre?  Tell us everything; we're dying to know.