| It was actually my grandma who first got me | | | | Well, at least not usually. |
| hooked on romance novels one summer just before | | | | If the past isn't your scene then you might want to |
| the start of high school. I kept watching her night | | | | try a futuristic romance. The sky is the limit with |
| after night go through this entire routine which began | | | | these novels and you really have no idea where the |
| with her getting out her favorite afghan, making a | | | | writer might take you which is what makes them so |
| cup of tea, and then turning on the Tiffany lamp | | | | fun to read. But, true to the romance novel format, |
| (reproduction of course!) that sat on the table next | | | | there is that classic love story propelling the plot so |
| to the couch. | | | | the genre remains true to its roots. |
| Each night I kept wondering to myself how she could | | | | One of the most interesting genres that I have |
| read those books day in and day out when they | | | | come across so far in my twenty years of reading |
| were all pretty much the same story-you know, the | | | | romance novels is the paranormal genre. Basically, |
| pair of star-crossed lovers find each other after a | | | | these are like the X-Files set to a romantic novel |
| lifetime of suffering and somehow manage to live | | | | format. The primary male and female characters are |
| happily ever after. Now this was the summer that | | | | usually trying to figure out some strange event that |
| Frank B. (for legal reasons, let's just let the last name | | | | they somehow get caught up in. You really just |
| be a mystery!) dumped me for the blonde sitting | | | | never know what to expect from a paranormal |
| behind him in English class so I was pretty much fed | | | | romance which is definitely what makes them so |
| up with the whole romance idea so I decided to ask | | | | interesting to read. |
| her why she insisted on reading those boring and | | | | On the other end of the spectrum is the western |
| sappy romance novels all the time. | | | | romance novel. Although they are not for everyone, |
| Now maybe I was not quite as smart as I would | | | | they are a popular choice with a lot of baby boomers |
| have liked to believe at the ripe old age of 14 | | | | who grew up with westerns on television. The male |
| because grams sat me down on the couch and | | | | and female main characters generally start the book |
| proceeded to tell me that there was bound to be a | | | | out at odds with one another and through the course |
| romance novel out there for all of us. I was actually | | | | of the book (and several adventures!) they find out |
| very surprised to learn just how many different | | | | that they are madly in love with one another and |
| genres there were in romance novels. She then went | | | | decide to buy a ranch in Wyoming or something. |
| upstairs into her closet and brought out "The | | | | They are not really my cup of tea but a lot of |
| Romance Novel" for me to read. Maybe she knew I | | | | readers love this genre which explains its enduring |
| liked those psychological thrillers or perhaps she just | | | | quality. |
| got lucky but she ended up bringing down a | | | | Of course, there are many other genres to choose |
| Romantic Suspense novel that she had read a few | | | | from like: contemporary, fantasy, inspirational, time |
| years back. Within the first five pages I was hooked, | | | | travel, and of course, the romantic suspense. It really |
| and now, I have my own reading ritual every night! | | | | doesn't matter what you happen to be interested in |
| Funny how things work out, isn't it? | | | | because there is bound to be a romance out there |
| The romantic suspense genre is a favorite of a lot of | | | | that you will find interesting. Like me, you may need |
| readers (and yours truly!) but it is by no means the | | | | grams to sit you down and explain to you how there |
| only game in town. History buffs will love the | | | | is a lot more to the romance novel than meets the |
| Historical genre as novels of this type are set back in | | | | eye. Then, you too can curl up with your favorite |
| time and the characters are usually confronting old | | | | blanket and lose yourself in a world where anything is |
| stereotypes and prejudices kind of like those faced | | | | possible and there is always a "Happily Ever After" |
| by Romeo and his fair Juliet-luckily, they don't have | | | | awaiting you at the end of the journey-well, usually! |
| "thy" or "thee" mussing up the flow of the book. | | | | |