Welcome to my website! My name is Elizabeth Benway and I am an avid romance reader. This website is devoted to romance books so if you do not have this interest please go no further than this point. This site is for authors and readers that appreciate the romance industry. Having said that...I love certain book themes more than others so I have created pages for each of my favorite themes. Such as Vampire, Native American, Cajun, Medieval, Paranormal, and Series Romance, just to name a few. There are many more pages to see as well.
Like most readers, I have favorite authors and I have created special pages for them. Their pages are showcased from my fave author page. I am very proud of each page!
All the pages can be found in the link table below, so just click wherever you wish to go. I hope you have a great time here and please come again.
My website is extensive so there are a lot of links and such. If you encounter any problems while visiting my website then please email me. Thanks for your time and happy reading!!
Exploring the Intricacies of the Romance Genre
People used to think of a romance novel as a small paperback with a busty heroine in the arms of a muscled, bare-chested, handsome stud. But now the romance genre has much more to offer readers.
Romance books cover almost all genres of the market, in hardcover, paperback, and eBooks. The one central theme linking all these genres into romance is the core plot of love; falling in love, staying in love, and living happily ever after, referred to in the industry as an HEA.
Catherine Lanigan, author of Writing the Great American Romance Novel, says on page one of her book, “The umbrella of romantic fiction today encompasses nearly every existing novel genre.” Here are some examples:
Romantic Suspense
This is any novel that involves edge of your seat action. Romantic suspense can include medical thrillers, mystery, or any other kind of suspenseful plot. Allison Brennan’s Killing Fear is a New York Times bestseller.
Historical Romance
This can cover any time period prior to 1945 in any setting. Monica McCarty’s books are set in the Scottish Highlands of the past. Highlander Unchained, Highlander Unmasked, and Highlander Untamed are three of her titles. Pirate romance is quite popular.
Time Travel Romance
This was first introduced to masses of readers by Diana Gabaldon with her Outlander series. The story of Jamie and Claire struck a chord in people’s hearts around the world because of sweetness, and has sold millions of copies.
Paranormal Romance
This is the darkest of the romantic genres. It can have vampires, werewolves, ghouls, and any number of things that go bump in the night. A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole is the 2006 Rita Award Winner in this category.
Contemporary Romance
This deals with modern situations a man and woman today would confront in their lives and relationships. Susan Elizabeth Phillips, author of Breathing Room, is a bestselling contemporary romance author. Adios to My Old Life, by Caridad Ferrer, is a Rita Award winner in contemporary romance.
Chick Lit
This is lighthearted and humorous and is usually told from the heroine’s point of view. Meg Cabot, author of The Princess Diaries, is a blockbuster chick lit author. Jane Austen is considered by many to be the founder of chick lit.
Young Adult Romance
YA Romance is geared toward the teen crowd. Kelly Parra, author of Graffiti Girl, writes books for this market.
Inspirational Romance
This is the genre that appeals to the more conservative readers. These readers look for stories of heroines with strong faith and strong morals. An award-winning example is Revealed, by Tamara Alexander.
Erotic Romance
This is sexier and more explicit than any of the other romance lines. Ellora’s Cave is a leading publisher of erotic romance.
Category Romance
This is the biggest seller of all, with 40% of the romance market share, according to the Romance Writers of America. These formulaic books are published on a regular schedule, usually monthly. The stories are shorter, around 50,000-60,000 words.
The readers of category romance know exactly what kind of story they want to read, and they faithfully buy and read many books each year. Harlequin sells several category romance lines that include westerns, home-town stories, suspense, worldwide intrigue, and any number of other plot lines.
The romance genre today has something for everyone, even those who aren't romantics at heart. And for the traditionalists, there are still a few bodice rippers to be found.
|
