I LOVE ROMANCE
I love romance. I love it in everything. I just, in fact, had a dream where Anthony DiNozzo from NCIS, was falling for his partner (NOT Ziva). The tension was terrific (yes, I know, my dream). This is a guy who doesn’t go looking for love, and watching him fall was so much fun.
I love the build of the romance, I love the tension, I love the balance a writer has to find—don’t pay it off too soon, don’t pay it off too late. (In the book I’m listening to, I’m afraid it’s dragged on too long. It’s an older historical, though, so it makes sense in the context of the time, but still….)
All the shows I watch, except Supernatural, have romance in them. In fact, to get me to watch a show, just mention the romance subplot and I’m there.
I’m judging a contest, and got the single title category. The first two entries I read didn’t introduce the hero. They were great stories, well written, but no hero. The third entry not only introduced both the hero and the heroine, it gave them a past. I was so hooked.
Whether I’m reading or writing it, the story flows best when the hero and heroine are on the same page, interacting in whatever manner. The first romance I read as an adult separated the hero and heroine for pages and YEARS. And then there was DRAGONFLY IN AMBER, remember that? How long were Clair and Jamie apart? 20 years? My heart broke for the time they lost.
I made some of the same mistakes in earlier versions of HOT SHOT. I sent Gabe out on heroic deeds and left my heroine back in camp, anxious to write about it secondhand. Oh, no, no, no. That did not work. I revised so that Peyton, my heroine, witnessed Gabe’s actions firsthand. This helped her understand him better, helped her understand the very heroism she’s writing about. Separating them from the rest of the crew was an even better chance for their romance, for their sexual attraction, to blossom. The more time they spend on the page, the more I believed in their love. I knew they would get their happily-ever-after because they worked for it on almost every page.
What brings you back to romance novels? The happily-ever-after? The journey? Do you have to have romance in the books you read and the shows you watch?
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To read MJ’s bio and the back cover copy of HOT SHOT, please see yesterday’s post.
To learn more about MJ and her books, please visit her website.
I will only read books with happily ever after. When people try to critized my choice of reading romance books, I always tell them that real life has too much bad going on I want someone to have that hea and that is why I read romances.
Exactly how I feel, Chris! Plus, there’s a security in knowing all the bad stuff the characters face in the book will be okay, because you know they’re going to live HEA!
I love NCIS and Anthony DiNozzo is one of my favorite characters. Reading romance is my escape so it doesn’t matter the content as long as I’m hooked by the first page or so. I prefer happy endings to the stories I read but I haven’t read a book without a happy ending yet.
I can take tension, angst, tears..anything as long as there is a HEA at the end! There has to be a happy ending, even if its not the one you were expecting.
hugs
molli
MJ, what a wonderful blog.
Love NCIS. Abby is my fav.
I am so bad when someone ask why I read what I do. I tell them I need “fairy tales and fantasy in my life.”
I remember reading a book before I started writing where the ending WASN’T happy, for me, anyway. I rewrote the ending to please myself. Sad, huh?
Deb, what a great quote!
Molli, the endings you aren’t expecting are great! Someday I’ll pull one off 🙂
If not Ziva, which partner was DiNozzo falling for? McGee? 😈
I watch it in reruns and didn’t know there’s another female partner in the show.
I don’t need to a romance in the books I read, though most do. But I do want a happy ending. In movies, too.
In my dream, he was falling for a character from another show, but she was his partner instead of Ziva.
I watch WAY too much TV 🙂
I totally agree with Chris! It has to have a HEA. I hear ya, all the books I read have some sort of romance in them, has to or I’m not interested…lol!
MJ you watch T.V too much and I read too much, it’s all goooood…lol.
Hot Shot sounds like a good read, I’ll have to check it out!
Cindy thanks for the invite!
Hi everyone,
I have to pop out to walk the dog and go to an eye appt, but wanted to stop in to welcome MJ to the blog! I don’t watch CSI or Supernatural. I’ve heard very good things about the latter, though, and my son watches it, but I don’t need to add more TV watching to my evenings, LOL. The shows I do watch always contain relationships, although they don’t have to be romantic. My favourite show right now is Big Love, and ER is still high on the list, although that’s leaving soon. Brothers and Sisters, Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy round off my TV watching week. So, lots of relationships and romance.
In my reading, I don’t necessarily need a romance. In fact, over my life, I’ve probably read more non-romance novels than romance novels. Until I was in my late twenties, I didn’t read or write romance. I came to the genre late, and then discovered how sastisfying it is to write – and read.
My reading tastes really vary, though. Right now I’m on a literary novel and memoir-reading binge, although I’m getting the hankering for a good mystery romance or light contemporary.
MJ, congratulations on the print release of HOT SHOT!
Hmmm, my WordPress does not seem to have adjusted to Daylight Savings Time. Must correct that when I get home.
I don’t HAVE to have a romance in what I read and watch, but I find that my favorite movies and books always do have a romantic element in them. I need that hea, otherwise I might as well read Oprah books and watch the news. 🙂
I’m not someone who needs a HEA in a book… but if it has romance on the spine, the author certainly had better deliver one!
For me, the best romances are the ones where the author has built up tons of sexual tension but has put a believable conflict between the H&H to keep them from acting on that tension… so that when they finally do, I’m completely with them for the ride.
Kate was Tony’s other partner, in case anyone is interested. *g* And I don’t watch much TV, but my sweetheart is an NCIS addict (retired navy) so it’s inevitable I’ll see bits and pieces.
I read for the HEA unless I’m reading for research–which is quite often. Immersion is my preferred style and one must know SCADS for that to happen. Research tomes, while informative, are usually a downer though, so I always have the antidote close at hand–my current HEA promise.
Hubby and I watch WAY too much tv…and way too many movies! lol
We love Supernatural, NCIS, CSI (we will watch all of them). AND we have just gotten into Leverage and Fringe.
MJ this book sounds fantastic!
If I KNOW ahead of time the ending won’t be happy, I can deal. But there has to be something pretty compelling to make me invest my time.
And yes, the sexual tension has to be there. I’m reading a book right now, halfway through, all the impediments to the relationship are gone, and the couple has already had terrific sex. Why am I still reading????
Natasha, I LOVE Leverage! Terrific writing. Fringe is growing on me, but it will sit on the Tivo for days before I watch.
One that got me, based on romance, was Legend of the Seeker. I’m not usually into fantasy, but the romance in the show is compelling. I’m going to read the books this summer.
Hi, MJ, I do love a HEA and I do like the hero and heroine to be together (a lot). But they don’t have to be together every step of the journey, I think the ST can be just as hot if they are separated by a force keeping them apart where the reader thinks, wow, how are they ever going to be reunited. I love Law and Order SVU and Elliot and Oliva’s story. The conflict is undeniable and I tune in even for the reruns.
I’ve not seen Law and Order SVU (shocking, I know!), but I agree…as long as the tension is there and the time lost isn’t TOO long, the hero and heroine do need to find their way.
Mary, I love a good, emotional read that really draws me in, but I don’t necessarily want the payoff to be the protagonists dying of cancer, a la Nicholas Freaking Sparks. So I come back to romance for the emotional oomph AND the HEA! I don’t HAVE to have romance in the shows I watch, but it is the fastest way to hook me in (i.e. I was skeptical about Buffy the Vampire Slayer early on, until I saw Angel’s first major episode. Mmmmm. Angel).
I’m so with you on the tension. I just read a book that had me so frustrated. The couple were about to get married bought a house together when his child (he didn’t know about) show up asking him to help her mom. He runs out the door (no questions asked) The heroin is hurt and leaves. No cell phone no letter nothing then 10 years later he wants her back! WHY? Give me a good fight at least.
I love the twisted tortured hero and the heroine who is will to fight for him. I have to have that happy ending but I want conflict, surprises, struggles and growth.
The Magic Safeway Grocery Bag declares Deb the winner! Congratulations! Deb, please check your email for a note from me and email me your mailing address so MJ can get the book off to you. Enjoy!
Thank you to MJ for a wonderful day on the blog. Wishing you many happy sales. Your book sounds great!
Guest Blogger March Madness continues this coming Monday, March 16th, when I’ll host Resplendence Publishing author Jan Scarbrough. Please by drop by again. I’m also posting tomorrow (Wednesday) about guest blogging in general and thoughts for next year’s Guest Blogger March Madness, so if you’d like to weigh in, please drop by Wednesday and tell me your thoughts.
Cindy
I love romantic interaction in every genre so there doesn’t need to be any kind of formula as to when the hero has to show up or anything like that. But I agree that if it is a “romance,” then the payoff shouldn’t drag on too long. I loved,loved,loved “Bet Me” but if I had to say anything negative about it, it was that the tension went on way too long. I had to take breaks reading it. It made sense in the book but it went on for too long for me.
Hi Kathy,
It’s been awhile since I read BET ME, but I do remember totally loving that book. I’d love to see another Jennifer Crusie. I enjoy reading her collaborations, but gimme some pure JC!