User Profile

I've been reading romance since I was about 12--I can remember that first novel, hidden under my bed and snagged from the free pile at the library. No clue who the author was, but it was about a woman captured by Seminoles who falls in love and runs away with the Indians. I think I stayed up all night reading that book, on a school day no less. For someone who had already read entire sections of the local library, discovering romance was like the first time I saw Grease--I was hooked. Even took a class on romance novels in college.

Went to grad school. Didn't read a single thing that wasn't boring and Japanese. Managed to churn out a thesis. Swore never to look at the printed word again, I was so burnt out on reading.

Gradually, after a year at least in which I read nothing more than newspapers and magazines, I started reading non-fiction again. Still, no fiction, no romance. Major TV junkie.

Fast forward several years and meeting E, who loves books, and introduced me to an entire genre I had never even considered before--mystery novels. Buffy goes off the air. Am completely bereft. Still major TV junkie.

Fast forward: Discover urban fantasy, which replaces Buffy. Become major junkie. Still watch way too much TV.

Fast forward another couple of years: two things happened simultaneously: I made a concerted effort to kick my terrible TV habit and I started a job that required almost a one hour commute each way by train. Gradually slid back into romance as I searched for more urban fantasy. Remembered why I loved romance so much, and haven't looked back since.

Currently, E can't get me to even watch the TIVO'd programs with him. I've lost my ability to sit through a TV program, especially when I know I will be completely disappointed half the time. Frankly, I'd rather read. (E is beginning to show concern, as reading is starting to become like TV was several years ago--an obsession.)

It doesn't help that I'm a profligate reader, always have been. I have always been an exceptionally fast reader, and I'm not sure why--but I can finish a 300 page romance novel in about two and a half hours. That's why there are so many reviews posted; I really do read that many books. (In fact, I don't post even a quarter of what I read; I re-read constantly and almost feel embarassed for people to find out just how many books I read in a week.)

I post reviews because I'm tired of wasting time reading stuff that's not worth it; and because I'm an opinionated pain in the ass.

What I am not, however, is an aspiring romance novelist. I wrote a book for Nanowrimo. For fun. I am participating in Pledge2Publish to edit the novel FOR FUN and to take up the time until the 2007 Nanowrimo. I have a well-paying job and no urge to go back to poverty, thank you very much. (Though it would be nice to have a more exciting, well-paying job.)

My favorite types of romance, as I've said before, are ones where the hero falls in love before the heroine does, especially if he is either 1.)very shy around women or 2.)super Alpha Male. I love post-war frontier type romances, especially in the vein of Jodi Thomas. I love Alpha Male Scots, although I'm starting to get sick of them. I hate pirates, Indians, Egypt/Eastern Europe/Russia, and Princes and Princesses. I like some English/American Historical type romances, especially Mary Balogh. And of course, I'm a big fan of the paranormal romance. I do tend to lean toward erotic novels or romance novels with a lot of sex, something that's definitely changed over time--ten years ago I preferred cleaner novels. I think the world needs more M/M romance, and if you haven't read any, you're missing out, seriously.

But no matter what, don't let anyone tell you that romance novels are a joke. The DaVinci Code is a joke. The Horse Whisperer is a joke. Nick Sparks is a joke. A good romance novel is better than any of these things any day.

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