Series Romance: The Harlequin American Reading Experience

By Marin Thomas

Ask the Senior Editor of Harlequin American Romance, Kathleen Scheibling, and she’ll say, “Two things that each and every American Romance has are a sense of family and community, and a sense of place. In American Romance we’re painting a picture of American life as it could be. Full of family, friends and happiness.”  

Ask any reader of the Harlequin American Romance line and they’ll say things like…fast-paced with heroines and heroes the reader can relate to. Fans of the line will tell you that no two books are the same so expect the unexpected when you pick up an American Romance.

American Romance strives to reflect the everyday life of men and women who are working, raising families and searching for the American dream. Americans can vary in tone but, whether the book is light-hearted, humorous or thought-provoking you’ll always get a fast-paced read and an uplifting reading experience.   

The heroes in American Romance come from all walks of life. Bad boys, businessmen, firefighters, policemen, military men, ranchers and a reader favorite—cowboys. Our readers just love a hero who wears Wranglers, boots, a Stetson and says, “yes, ma’am”.    

Secondary characters play a distinct role in American Romance. We use these characters to help advance the relationship between our hero and heroine. After reading an American Romance don’t be surprised if you not only remember the hero and heroine but also one of the quirky secondary characters.    

American Romance is unique in that our authors explore a variety of settings across the United States. Whether it’s a small town out West, a borough of New York City, or downtown Detroit—the details of the setting and the characters which live there will draw the reader more deeply into the story. The setting helps define our characters and usually plays a major role in their lives.  

Family plays an important part in American Romance. You’ll find babies, teenagers, small children and even extended family members in our books. Whether the hero is the boy-next-door, a hot-shot business executive or a down-on-his-luck rodeo cowboy, they’ll have a soft spot for babies, children and teens.

For those of you who love Cowboys—you’ll find plenty to pick from the line each month. This past June Harlequin American Romance launched its first-ever six-book miniseries. The Codys: First Family of Rodeo debuted with Rebecca Winters’ book, Walker: The Rodeo Legend. Book 2, DEXTER: HONORABLE COWBOY is out this month. The series runs from June through November. 

If you’re still craving more cowboys…the authors of The Codys: First Family of Rodeo post a new “cowboy blog” every Wednesday at  http://firstfamilyofrodeo.blogspot.com/ 

Are you a fan of cowboys—if so what do you find so addicting about cowboy heroes in romance novels?

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Please leave a comment or question for Marin to enter to win DEXTER: HONORABLE COWBOY. If you’re reading this blog through a feed at Facebook, Goodreads or another social network, please note that you need to leave your comment at www.museinterrupted.com to enter.

Marin’s latest book for Harlequin American Romance is out in stores this month. DEXTER: HONORABLE COWBOY (July 2010) received a 4.5 Star  Top Pick from Romantic Times magazine. You can learn more about Marin and her books at www.marinthomas.com. To read Marin’s bio and the back cover copy for DEXTER: HONORABLE COWBOY, please see yesterday’s post.

By Cindy

I'm irritated because my posts won't publish.

30 comments

  2. Our readers just love a hero who wears Wranglers, boots, a Stetson and says, “yes, ma’am”.

    Hmmm, I should ask my husband to play dress-up and do that. lol

    I love all sorts of heroes. For me, it depends on the writer and how she develops the character. I love good writing, and that’s my main requirement. An “honorable cowboy” sounds like a great hero.

  3. Hi Edie

    Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to let me know if your husbands plays dress-up for you, lol!

    I had to walk a fine line when writing Dexter’s character because he had to be honorable yet I didn’t want him to come across as being a man who didn’t go after what he wanted 🙂

  4. Good morning and welcome to Marin! It’s still early here on the west coast. Yawn.

    Marin, what would you say are the big no-no’s in American Romance? What’s sure to get a writer rejected?

  5. Good morning, Cindy!

    No, no’s in HAR books. Let’s see…if there’s no sense of community, meaning a lack of secondary characters

    If there’s no sense of place or location, if the story could take place anywhere then you’re not using the setting to your advantage–there’s a reason the story takes place where it does in American books.

    If you don’t have extended family in the story–our books are about families so the hero and heroine need to interact with family and community

    Characters that aren’t fllawed enough–Hero and heroine should be realistic which means they need faults but not too dark that they can’t redeem themselves

    And what every writer hears, don’t force your story to fit the American line if you didn’t target the line when you wrote it. The editors can tell.

  6. Hi Marin,
    Always fabulous to see you as learn of another new release. Congratulations on DEXTER: HONORABLE COWBOY receiving a 4.5 Star & Top Pick from Romantic Times magazine – that’s so fabulous! Take care and I wish you continued success! *Hugs*

  7. Diana
    Thanks for stopping by. For those who don’t know Diana Cosby, she writes Zebra Historical Romances. Her next book, His Conquest is out Nov 2010. If you’re looking for an author who writes great setting details and very conflicted characters 🙂 check out Diana’s books.

  8. Hi Marin,
    Great to start the morning with a you and Cindy. Can’t wait to get my hands on Dexter: Honorable Cowboy. Congratulations on the 4.5 Stars and Top Pick from RT Book Reviews! I know it’s well deserved having read all your books, every single one a wonderful read. Love your strong sexy heros and courageous heroines! Great information on Harlequin American books. Thanks! 🙂

    *Hugs*
    Jeanmarie

  9. Hi Jeanmarie

    Thanks foor stopping by. Jeanmarie is another historical writer, her latest book, Moonlight Desperado is a post civil war story published by Siren books. It’s a fun romp, I recommend you check it out!

  10. Hi, Marin! Also waving hi to Cindy!

    This is a perfect overview of Harlequin American Romance and really sums up why I love to write for this line. American Romance spans the full range when it comes to tone and emotional intensity and I know readers have come to expect it.

    And you’re so right about quirky secondary characters. Fun to write, and I love stories that have them. Sometimes they’re not even real people. The heroine in my July book drives her mother’s old hippie van (aka Vanna White) and by the time I finished writing that story, I loved that van as much I loved the other characters in the book.

    Congratulations on your RT Top Pick review, Marin! Readers are going to fall in love with Dexter, Wranglers and all!

    Lee
    Firefighter Daddy available now!
    The Writer Side of Life

  11. Hi Everyone!

    ~just thought I’d chime in with some thoughts about writing for the line…
    My best books for HAR have been when the editors let me really stretch as a writer. I’ve had heorines who’ve been homeless, divorced, or just really struggling. In my June book, Second Chance Hero, my heroine was a widow who still mourned her husband. Those books really let me tell an emotionally moving story about people from all walks of life.

    Of course, I happen to love those cowboy books, too. Next year, I’ll have three Cowboy books out! They’re lighter and fun. The first is tentively titled My Fair Cowboy. Think Gunsmoke meets My Fair Lady.

    So, I guess there’s a lot of room in the line, as long as the main characters are likeable and relateable.

  12. Great answers, Marin, and thanks to Lee and Shelley for popping in and giving us their perspectives on HAR.

  13. Hi Lee

    I had to laugh about your “hippie van” comment–but I guess it’s true 🙂 I think sometimes our settings take on a life of their own, too.

  14. Hi Shelley

    Thanks for stopping by and you know, I agree you’ve written some pretty emotional books for the line that really dig down deep into the characters psych. Glad to hear you’ve got some cowboy books coming out next year 🙂 Maybe we should rename the line American Cowboy Romance since these guys in chaps are so popular!

  15. Hi Marin,

    I happen to love cowboys and especially your cowboy stories. 🙂 There is something about a man who says, “Yes, ma’am.” And thinks about holding doors open for you. Strong and stubborn heros are the best, don’t you think?

    Cheers, Nance
    The Counterfeit Bride, out Fall 2011
    http://www.nancyjparra.com

  16. Hi Marin,

    Thanks giving us the inside scoop on Harlequin American! I think I love cowboys for that idea of a slow drawl that kind of wraps around you. They’re also rough and tumble, yet full of honor (love the title of your book, by the way). Oh…and those nice-fitting Wranglers don’t hurt, either.

  17. Hi Tina

    Thanks for stopping by! A slow drawl makes me sigh, too 🙂

    When the editors told me my hero was named Dexter, the first thing I thought of was the serial killer from the Show Time series Dexter and wondered if any readers would think the same thing 🙂

  18. Marin,
    I didn’t know about that show, and it’s just as well, since I mainly watch romantic comedies, so the name Dexter just says to me that he starts out life already with a heavy name to carry. But then, Dexter can be shortened to Dex, and that’s cool. Love the way you can drawl that name. 😉

  19. I watch DEXTER, so that’s the first thing I thought of when I read your title, Marin. 🙂 I happen to like Dexter, though, aside from his hobby, so it doesn’t bother me.

  20. Hi, Marin,
    Congratulations! Receiving a 4.5 Star & Top Pick from RT magazine really rocks!

    Loved your article and the insight into American Romance.

    I love cowboys and ranchers. In my mind the two are synonymous. The hero in my first story written for HAR is a rancher and he has custody of his underage son. The requested partial is with Kathleen now. Hoping for good things.

  21. Marin,

    What a great description of HARs and the kinds of stories readers will find within the covers! Kudos and congrats to the fab authors of The Cody miniseries for being a part of the very first HAR continuity. We’re all very proud. 🙂

  23. Hi Rox

    thanks for the congrats on the miniseries–we’re all hoping it does well with the readers so the line can do another one in the future and get more authors involved!

  25. Congratulations to Nancy Parra, who won the copy of DEXTER: HONORABLE COWBOY!.

    And thank you again to Marin for a great blogging day.

    My next guest is historical romance author Kris Kennedy, August 10th. Hope to see you then.

  27. Caroline

    Thanks for stopping by. I’m reading Out of the Blue and I love your book–Caroline Clemmons writes historical romance, her characters are so well written–I’m a big fan and recommend anything written by her.

  28. Hi Marin,
    Sorry I’m popping in so late but I did want to cograt you again on the 4 and a half star review – AWESOME!
    And I love cowboys because apart from being honorable, they seem to possess delightfully old fashioned manners and attitudes. They’re also capable with their hands!As for HAR’s I love the secondary characters. My fist novel featured a naught pig as the secondary character. She was so popular she’s returning for small (non-speaking) parts in the rest of The O’Malley men series! 🙂
    Hope to see you in Orlando?

  30. Thanks for stopping by, CC

    Pigs are great–I love pigs! I wrote a small press book about a female pig farmer 🙂 That’s what mnakes writing for HAR so much fun–quirky secondary characters.

    I won’t be in Orlando this year, but I hope you enjoy the conference!

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