Links to the Library
Related LibGuides
Other LibGuides we've created that you might be interested in.
- All Things Were
Werewolves are one of the classic movie monsters. They've been scaring us on film since The Wolf Man, and there have been legends of werewolves since medieval times. On this guide you'll find stories, myths and legends about those who howl at the full moon and other shapeshifters. - Author Readalikes Finished you favorite author but still looking for more to read? Try this guide.
- Fantasy Reads Guides the readers to sub-genres of fantasy, well-known authors, fantasy awards and classic tales.
- Just Add Readers -- Book Club Kits 10 copies of a book and a binder that includes biographical information on the author, reviews and/or criticism of the book, suggestions for further reading, a list of major characters, original discussion questions, and tips for book club discussions.
- Mystery Reads Guide to the Mystery genre.
- Romance Reads Looking for love? This resource will guide readers to some of the sub-genres of Romance and big-name authors. Information about suggested titles includes whether the title is sweet or sexy.
- What Do I Read Now? Want some help in picking your next great read? This guide offers some tips on picking your next book.
Search Our Databases
- NoveList
Readalikes? Check. Lists of recommended reads? Check. Ability to search by subject, writing tone, pace, storyline and so much more? Check.
With reviews and annotations for over 135,000 titles appropriate for beginning readers to lifelong readers, NoveList offers a wealth of reading information.
Web Sites of Interest
- All About Romance
*The* place to visit online for reviews of romances. - Romantic Times Book Reviews The magazine for Romance fans. Read news about Romance authors and their series, including sneak peaks of some titles.
- Smart Bitches, Trashy Books To put it mildly, these folks are plainspoken, but they are often laugh-out-loud funny in their opinions and don't pull any punches in their book reviews (if they like it, they like it and if they don't you'll darn well know why by the end of the review).
- Romancing the Blog Features a slew of blog columnists and an impressive array of links to reader, author, and publishing industry blogs. The reviews, opinions, and even the rants are all thoughtful and almost always worth a gander.
- Affaire de Coeur Primarily a print magazine, only five-star reviews and a small selection of recent articles are available online.
- Dear Author Reviews with attitude! These reviews are in the form of letters to the Author. The Archives break the reviews down by grade (and the grading scale is cheerfully explained in the site's FAQ).
Awards
- The RITA Awards Presented annually for best first novel, best contemporary, best historical, best paranormal, best inspirational, and many *many* more!
- Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award Best romantic suspense, best contemporary & paranormal, best erotic and erotica, and best mainstream and chick lit fiction are some of the annual awards.
Welcome to Romance. . .
Every romance novel has two basic elements:
- A Central Love Story: The main plot centers around two individuals falling in love and struggling to make the relationship work. A writer can include as many subplots as he/she wants as long as the love story is the main focus of the novel.
- An Emotionally-Satisfying and Optimistic Ending: Usually the story ends with the lovers living "happily ever after". The reader is left with the belief that whatever else happens the two lovers will remain together and happy with their relationship. (So while Romeo & Juliet may be romantic it's not a Romance.)
Romance novels may have any tone or style, be set in any place or time, and have varying levels of sensuality—ranging from sweet to extremely hot.
Sweet or Sexy?
Do you prefer a chaste love story, with nothing more explicit than holding hands? Or do you prefer something more sensual, even erotic? Or perhaps you prefer something in-between depending on your mood.
Most readers have a definite preference regarding the explicitness and development of the physical relationship in a Romance. So, sensuality ratings for suggested titles are provided on this guide. The rating system is based heavily on the system created by a website called All About Romance.
Below is a complete explanation of each level of rating from All About Romance:
| Kisses | Kisses only. Many of these books are quite simply "sweet." | Most traditional Regencies fit this category, as well Harlequin Romance and Silhouette Romance titles. Authors who tend to write "Kisses" romances include Betty Neels, Nicole Burnham, Lisa Wingate, and Donna Simpson. |
| Subtle | No explicit sensuality. Kissing and touching, but physical romance is described in general terms or implied. The emphasis is on how lovemaking made the characters feel emotionally, and not on graphic description, although this does not equate to the use of euphemism or only "petting." Rather, if lovemaking occurs, it is alluded to rather than described, so that the reader's imagination becomes paramount. | Many Harlequin American Romances are written with "Subtle" sensuality. Authors who write at this level of sensuality include Pamela Morsi, LaVyrle Spencer, Debbie Macomber, and Deborah Smith. Traditional Regency authors who tend to write books with "Subtle" sensuality include Patricia Oliver and Karen Harbaugh. |
| Warm | Moderately explicit sensuality. While our lovers do make love, and the reader is there with them, physical details are described, but are not graphically depicted. Much is left to the reader's imagination and/or possibly the use of euphemistic "code words." But what's most important are feelings and emotions, not body parts. While there is sexual tension, there may not be more than one or two love scenes in the whole book. The vast majority of single title romances feature "Warm" sensuality. | Series lines that are generally "Warm" include Harlequin American Romance and Silhouette Special Edition. The vast majority of single title romances fall in either the "Warm" or "Hot" category. Authors who often write at this level of sensuality include Nora Roberts, Susan Wiggs, Rebecca York, Judith Arnold, Mary Balogh (trads and single titles), Edith Layton, and Candace Camp. |
| Hot | Very explicit sensuality. There is an expanded focus throughout the book on sexual feelings and desires. The love scenes are longer, and there are at least two or three of them. The characters often think about their sexual feelings and desires, and making love is graphically depicted, and there may be strong use of euphemistic "code words." Both the emotions of the hero and heroine and the physical feelings of both are important during love scenes. | Most Harlequin Temptations and Blazes, as well as a good number of Silhouette Desires, are "Hot." Authors who tend to write "Hot" romances include J.D. Robb, Leanne Banks, Stephanie Laurens, Gaelen Foley, Karen Marie Moning, Linda Howard, Lisa Kleypas, Susan Andersen, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and pre-romantic supense Julie Garwood |
| Burning | Extremely explicit sensuality - these books are often considered "romantica," a hybrid between erotica and romance.. Sexual feelings and desires are strongly focused on and some books in this category have sex as the primary focus. The details are thoroughly graphic, and may include what some readers might consider kinky. | Many Harlequin Blaze titles are "Burning," as are many of Kensington's Brava line. Authors who are writing Burning romance include "old-line" authors such as Susan Johnson, Thea Devine, and Bertrice Small (who never met a manroot she didn't love), and newer authors to romantica such as Alison Kent, Emma Holly, Cheryl Holt, and Angela Knight |
Sub-genres of Genre
Lords and Ladies, Sheiks and shapechangers, Witches and Warriors, Romance offers a little for everyone no matter what time or place interests you.
Ancient Scotland, Regency England, modern-day Colorado, and Victorian Egypt offer the settings for our lovers. The challenges to True Love? Feuding clans, corporate spies, demons, and each other!
- Historical
- Humorous
- Paranormal
- Regency
- Romantic Fantasy
- Scottish
- Werewolves and other shapechangers
Genre Giants
So many authors, so little time! Here's just a sampling of popular authors to get you started:
- Suzanne Brockmann
- Christina Dodd
- Christine Feehan
- Georgette Heyer
- Sherrilyn Kenyon
- Debbie Macomber
- Julia Quinn
- Nora Roberts
Perennial Favorites
With so many options, choosing a romance novel can quickly get overwhelming. Here are several titles that are perennial favorites of Romance Readers:
- The Raven Prince - by Elizabeth Hoyt
*HOT* (1760s [Georgian] England) A classic romance; the characters are not new to us: A nobleman with a heart-hardening past and a country widow as poor as a churchmouse. But while the roles may be classics, Hoyt has created very vivid and real personalities in Edward and Anna. The Raven Prince was Hoyt’s debut novel and she infused it with emotion, sensuality and wit.
Edward de Raaf, Earl of Swartingham has a foul temper which drives away countless secretaries until widow Anna Wren talks his steward into offering her the role. (Even though secretaries are always male.) To Edward's surprise, Anna refuses to cower beneath his bellows and bluster. Edward can’t believe Anna would be attracted to a man scarred by a childhood bout of smallpox. Besides, he needs an heir and Anna is barren. But neither can Edward forget his all too female secretary . . - Born in Fire - by Nora Roberts
Call Number: FICTION ROBERTS*WARM* Nora Roberts remains a benchmark in Romance having written Contemporary, Paranormal and Futuristic Police Procedurals.
Irish Born contains all the three of the Born In trilogy. Glass-blowing, the international art world, and a wild Irish setting form the backdrop for the first Born in fire.
Margaret Mary Concannon is a brilliant and tormented glass-blowing artist who hides from her past in her work. - Bet me - by Jennifer Crusie
Call Number: FICTION CRUSIE*WARM* (Contemporary) Readers respond to Crusie's interesting characters and use of humor and witty dialogue.
Minerva Dobbs thought David Fisk might be "The One", until he dumps her three weeks before her sister's wedding because she won't sleep with him. Min realizes just *how* lucky she is to be rid of David when she overhears him at her favorite bar betting a handsome stranger, Calvin Morrisey, that Cal couldn't bed Min in a month.
Min debates giving them both a piece of her mind, but then she remembers she still needs a date for the wedding. Why not use the all-too charming Cal just like he was going to use her, and then dump him? Of course, Min never expected that Cal might turn out to be "The One". - The unsung hero - by Suzanne Brockmann
*HOT* (Contemporary) First in a series. Lt. Tom Paoletti of the US Navy SEALs returns to his hometown of Baldwin's Bridge, Massachusetts while on forced 30-day leave after suffering a severe head injury while on a rescue mission. He suffers from debilitating headaches, dizzyness, and possible paranoia. No wonder his commanding officer doesn't believe him when Tom reports seeing one of the most-wanted international terrorists in Boston's Logan airport, and again in the local hardware store. Why would the man known as The Merchant be interested in a small town like Baldwin's Bridge?
Dr. Kelly Ashton is also returning home; but she's here to nurse her father, Charles Ashton, who has cancer and only has 3 months to live. Reunited with her one-time friend and would-be lover after 16 years, Kelly is determined that this time she'll go after who she really wants.
Subject Guide |
 Cristine Mitchamore Contact Info: Central Library -- Reference 600 Soledad St 210-207-2500 Links: Profile & Guides |
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Subject Guide |
 Tricia Masterson Links: Profile & Guides |
Romance on Audio
- Running hot [sound recording] - by Jayne Ann Krentz
*WARM* (Contemporary) Psychic Romance. Although Running hot is number 5 in the Arcane Society series, the story works well without knowledge of the rest of the series. Clever dialogue, strong and somewhat unusual main characters, a robust mystery and the supernatural in the form of psychic abilities mark Krentz’s story.
The story opens with Grace Renquist killing her insane boss by using her psychic powers in order to save her own life. She goes into hiding in Eclipse Bay, trying to avoid her former boss's criminal associates while working under an assumed name as a librarian for the Arcane Society, a secret paranormal organization. Grace is asked to spot a psychic killer in Maui since she is an aura profiler who knows when people have committed any crimes. Luther Malone is hired to be her bodyguard.
Romantic Movies
- Pride and prejudice
Starring Colin Firth & Jennifer Ehle this 1995 BBC version is a popular adaptation of Austen's classic novel. Faithful to Austen’s story, nothing is cut from the book and scenes that Austen only hints at are included without altering the nature of the story.
Upcoming Book Groups
Currently the library does not sponsor any Romance Book Groups.
We do offer Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction and even Nonfiction!
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