Understanding the Romance Genre by Marie Lavender (Plus a Giveaway!)

Understanding the Romance Genre 

by Marie Lavender

For our 300^th post on the blog, I want to talk about something that is dear to my heart: Romance. From the outside, it looks fairly simple, right? 

Boy meets girl, they fall hopelessly in love with each other, and they’re set for life…

NOT really…

It’s a lot more complicated than that.

  

Romance in books, just as in life, is filled with pitfalls, and it takes time to find the right person and finally get a happy ending. Sure, for it to be called ‘romance’ at all, publishers expect an HEA (Happily Ever After) or at least a ‘happy for now’ ending. But, the conflict in a romance tale as well as a character’s internal conflict, sometimes their long-held beliefs, can keep the hero or heroine from seeking or achieving happiness. We all have demons, skeletons in our closets, and romance characters are often riddled with them. But, that’s what makes a tale interesting, as well as the characters, however deep, quirky or fun-loving they are. Romance is a journey.

    

 

For aspiring romance writers, the industry can look pretty daunting. But actually, it’s very exciting! There is so much we can do these days with romance writing. 

In times past, there were only two main kinds of romance: historical and modern. And if the story included other elements, such as magic or time travel, well, it was pretty rare. Though Gothic romances were a big thing. Daring writers were sometimes rejected by agents or publishers because their books didn’t ‘fit’ in a certain category. 

Now there are so many subgenres that romance writers and readers don’t quite know where to look first. At the same time, it leaves the playing field open. The rules for fiction will always exist, but in the sense of romance, the sky is the limit. If you can dream it, you can do it! This is really an awesome, ground-breaking time for romance writers! We are constantly crossing genres and therefore, making new subgenres.

Take a gander at Amazon. 

 

Wow! Who knew there were so many?

And the list keeps going on, because some of these books fit into more than one category. 

I’ll just list as many subgenres here as I can think of, including brief descriptions and book examples from Writing in the Modern Age authors, as well as others in the industry. 

1.     Contemporary romance – Modern, a romance book set in the present time or as close to modern times as possible. 

  

2.     Historical romance – A novel set in the past, describing a different time period as well as its cultural aspects. The historical period can influence the romance directly (true historical events), or act as simply a backdrop. Any historical era works, but you generally see Viking, Medieval, Regency, Georgian, Native American, Civil War era books, Victorian, and anything a tad past the turn of the 20^th century. There are also a great deal of Highland/Scottish-based historical tales.

 

3.     Erotic romance – “Novels in which strong, often explicit, sexual interaction is an inherent part of the love story, character growth and relationship development and could not be removed without damaging the story line. These novels may contain elements of other romance subgenres (such as paranormal, historical, etc.)” (Romance Writers of America). 

 

4.     Paranormal romance – A romance book containing paranormal or supernatural elements, such as vampires, ghosts, psychics, witches, demons, shapeshifters, werewolves, and the list keeps going. It can be in an urban fantasy (world within our world) setting, but is not necessarily required.

  

5.     Fantasy romance – A romance book containing fantasy elements or set in a fantasy world.

 

6.     Science fiction romance – Some of these stories are futuristic, set on other worlds, while others simply include elements of science fiction, for example, beings from other planets. Such novels can be hard or soft science fiction.

 

7.     Time travel romance – In most cases, either the hero or heroine end up in a time that is not their own. “A successful time-travel romance must have the characters react logically to their experience and should investigate some of the differences, both physical and mental, between the world the character normally inhabits and the one where they landed.” (Wikipedia). 

 

8.     Multicultural or IR romance – “Multicultural romance [often] features a hero and/or heroine who is African-American, although some multicultural lines also include Asian or Hispanic heroes or heroines or interracial relationships” (Wikipedia).

9.     Inspirational romance – “Romance novels in which religious or spiritual beliefs…are an integral part of the plot” (Romance Writers of America).

 

10.  Romantic suspense - Romance novels containing heavy suspense or thriller aspects. There are also subcategories of romantic mysteries and romantic thrillers. 

 

11.  LGBT romance – Any lesbian romance (FF), gay romance (MM) or romance novel with bisexual/transsexual main characters.

 

12.  Military romance – These books have at least one character in the military, veteran or otherwise. Some are suspense, while others are dramas about a soldier overseas or coming home. Such romances often include alpha males.

 

13.  Clean romance – A romance without descriptions of a lot of sexual content. There is often a ‘closed door’ mentality, with at least kissing and maybe light petting. There is a difference between a sweet romance and a clean romance. Both are emotional, yet tender. Sweet romances are about the excitement of falling in love, while clean romances can have some darker themes.

 

14.  Young Adult romance – Romance books containing the life or characters who are young adult aged or teenagers. These stories can cross genres.

 

15.  New Adult romance – “New Adult is quickly gaining popularity. Like Young Adult, it targets a specific age range — 18 to 25 — and deals with themes like discovering one’s self, leaving home for the first time, finding a career, etc. It also incorporates things like overcoming that first heartbreak, committing to a serious relationship, starting a family, and other things that resonate with readers in that stage of life” (Kisawhipkey.com).

 

16.  Dark romance – Dark romances are emotionally compelling, usually containing violence or dark themes, which often cause the reader to question his or her own moral compass. Horror romance fits into this subcategory. 

 

17.  Western romance – A romance set in the Old West time period, though they are also terming modern cowboy romances as ‘Western romance’.

 

18.  Romantic comedy – “Any comedy focusing on love, marriage, courtship, and all that ooey gooey, sappy stuff can be called a literary romantic comedy” (Schmoop). 

 

19.  Curvy/Rubenesque/BBW romance – Usually contains a curvaceous or plus-sized heroine.

 

20.  Adventure romance – A true cross-genre experience, blending the romance genre and the adventure category of fiction. Obviously we’ve seen it in a lot of top-grossing movies. “The Lovers are placed in an exotic locale, often with a backdrop of a world in crisis. The Lovers have two goals: Adventure (Higher Cause) and Love, and they eventually need to achieve both. Their romance will be tested throughout, and so will the roles of man and woman when placed in a heroic adventure. The man will try to push the woman back and out of harm's way, and the woman will show her strength, patience and ingenuity to step up to the challenge. By journey's end, man and woman have to work together” (Writers Store). 

  

Still, the list goes on to ‘types’ of romance: biker romance, billionaire romance, sports romance, chick lit, cowboy romance, medical romance, vacation romance, holiday romance, second chance romance and first love.

  

This doesn’t begin to touch all that can be done, or has been done in the romance industry. Still, it’s a pretty good list to give you some exposure to the market and how it works.

So, how do you possibly pick a romance to read or focus enough to find out which subgenre you should write, if you like romance? 

As a multi-genre author, I say don’t limit yourself at all. For sure, write what you like, what you’re comfortable with. At the same time, don’t be afraid to dance outside the box either. You might surprise yourself, get deeper into a character than you imagined.

And if you’re a reader? Well, the choice is daunting, I agree. So, pick what you like, what compels you. There are some great books out there, and they are just waiting for you to open them up and fall into the fictional realm, to be absorbed into those worlds we so love to escape to. 

Why not try something new today? Lots of choices out there...

Thank you for reading my post on romance, and to commemorate our 300^th post on the Writing in the Modern Age blog, I’d like to offer some free books in a small giveaway. 

 
Only one ebook copy of each romance book will be given out. Please leave a comment on the post thread below with your romance book preferences (subgenres included) as well as a contact email and we’ll pick some random winners! 

Note: if you have trouble leaving a comment here, you can still enter the giveaway by contacting me. I will submit your entry personally. Email me at marieannlavender@gmail.com with your subgenre preferences.

Here are the prizes:

1. Kaleidoscope of Hopes by Devika Fernando

 

 

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Blurb:  

 WHAT READERS SAY

5 stars – “An absolutely lovely and must-read romance that I strongly recommend to everyone!” (Njkinny's World of Books & Stuff)

5 stars – “An insightful and sensual read! […] I should have savored the read, but I couldn’t resist and swallowed it in a couple of days.” (Anya W., Reader)

5 stars – “Nadia is the focal character of the work […] and a wonderfully complex heroine, someone really worth believing in and cheering for, especially in the face of so many challenges, heartbreaks, and difficulties.” (Eleanore T., Book Blogger)

5 stars – “I give this book a gentle, loving and tender, fuzzy, five stars. […] You will fall in love with all three of the main characters. I surely did.” (Liza O., Author)

5 stars – “I greatly enjoyed this book. I finished it in a single day, and I can’t wait to read more from this author.” (Azia, Reader)

BOOK DESCRIPTION

High hopes mean big disappointments. Nadia has learned that lesson the hard way. Single, struggling to make ends meet, and hurt by the past, the last thing she needs is another complication. When her new boss – a handsome, secretive widower with a child – moves in next door, their worlds collide. Sweet hopes bloom again, but both of them are burdened by tragic secrets. Should she give love a second chance?

 

2. Just for the Weekend by Susanne Matthews

 

 

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Blurb:  

 

It’s time to play with the grown-ups.
Kindergarten teacher Cleo James needs a change. Three years at her widowed dad’s beck and call are enough. A weekend in Vegas at a sci-fi convention with her best friend will do for now, and the hot guy who wants to spend time with her only adds to her excitement. After all - it’s just for the weekend. What can possibly go wrong?
Multimillionaire Sam Mason is sick of gold diggers. He’s looking for someone who’ll fall for him, not his wallet. When he meets a shy, green-skinned slave girl, she pushes all his buttons - the best part is she has no idea who he is and mistakenly believes he’s a Chippendale. Between the sexual attraction and too much alcohol, he wakes up married to his green-skinned beauty, but the bride has vanished. Finding her will be a lot harder than he thinks.

Sensuality Level: Sensual

 

3. Second Chance Heart by Marie Lavender

 

 

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Blurb:  

 
After a wild storm forces her to take shelter in a small town inn, Dana Nelson thinks that all she has to worry about is a brief stay before she heads back to the city. She gets far more than she bargained for…
The last thing she expects is to run into an old flame, and even worse, the man who broke her heart twelve years ago. She’s sure that the only thing remaining between them is a strong attraction for another.
She can’t be more wrong…
The more time she spends with Vince Reynolds, the more she begins to believe she can trust him again. But, can she put her faith in the one man who captivates her, body and soul, or are some wounds too deep to heal?

4. Maddie's Garden by Carole McKee

 

 

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Blurb:  

 Growing up in an unstable home, and then being tossed into the home of her estranged father and his new family, Maddie knows how it feels to be unwanted. All she longs for is a normal family where there is love, peace, and harmony. When she finds the twins hiding in her yard, her heart opens up and love spills all over them. They are running away because their widowed father is going to marry a woman they hate, and they claim she hates them, too. Maddie is taken in by the twins, and soon becomes good friends with their father. She steps in and helps out when he asks her, and she is glad to do it. When Adam has set a date for his wedding, he backs away from Maddie, hoping to give his future wife a chance to bond with his children. It is then that Maddie realizes she is in love with Adam, and her heart breaks. Maddie isn't the only one who is sad. The twins are devastated and resort to drastic measures to get Maddie back. In spite of their sad little faces, the wedding day arrives, and it is up to Adam to make it right.

 

5. Love Anew by K.C. Sprayberry

 

 

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Blurb:  

 A promise to wait forever shatters from doubt. Doubt in her fiancé and doubt in herself causes Treena Andrews to make a choice she comes to regret. Fifteen years later, can she make the broken pieces of her life whole?

 

6. Kisses from the Heart by Carole McKee

 

 

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Blurb:  

Mindi Adams is a feisty, fun-loving pretty young woman, who is quick witted and sharp tongued at times. After catching her boyfriend cheating, she packs his things and ousts him from her home. She is fine after he goes, realizing that although the relationship was comfortable, there were no fireworks. Her entire life changes the night of the storm, when a prison bus is forced into a swollen creek and overturns, releasing twelve prisoners. One of them is in Mindi's house! She is terrified at first, but soon realizes that he is not the monster she believed him to be. In fact, she believes he is innocent of the murder charge that convicted him, and she becomes determined to help him prove that innocence. She helps him devise a plan and in the process falls in love. Something goes wrong and he is captured and taken into custody. Now Dan has the proof he needs but it is ignored, until the entire city goes into an uproar. Eventually the real killer slips up because of the pressure and duress and Dan is freed. He does not go back for Mindi right away, because he wants to have something to offer her. She about gives up hope, but Dan arrives just in time, and they share kisses from the heart.

 

7. Last Chance by K.C. Sprayberry

 

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Blurb:  

 The tragic death of their child in a horrific fire scars Keri-Lynne and Jack Montrose in ways they never could have imagined, driving them apart for eighteen years. It is only when the truth of the fire comes out that they have one last chance to accept and embrace the love that they buried for so long.

 

8. Upon Your Return by Marie Lavender

 

 

Genre:  Historical Romance (Victorian)

Blurb:  

 
Fara Bellamont has been back in society for a year after leaving Cluny Abbey, where her uncle sent her long ago. When he chooses a suitor for her for marriage, she fears that she will be forced to marry a stranger and live a miserable life.
But, Fara finds herself thrust into an adventure of a lifetime when unforeseen circumstances cause her to place her trust in a strange man for protection. His intervention not only saves her, but puts her in an even more compromising position.
Grant Hill, a trading captain, is enchanted by the young heiress not only because of her beauty, but because she is hardly conventional. Underneath her ladylike exterior lies a tigress. Grant cannot help but offer his protection as she is in need and he is far from immune from her charms.
Fara just never bargained on the passion that she feels for Grant Hill. As events unfold, she must decide whether her desires and the dictates of her heart should trump the rules of society...

9. Second Nature by Marie Lavender

 

 

Genre:  Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

Blurb:  

 
She never expected it…
Desiree Edwards has a problem. She’s been attacked, kidnapped and forced to get along with a vampire of all things. It’s something right out of the story books she reads, or her worst nightmare. But, sometimes he’s not the monster he appears to be. He seems so humanlike that she can’t help it when her emotions betray her, when her body betrays her. To make matters worse, she finds out more about herself than she ever wanted to know.
She was unlike any other…
Alec has a problem. The animal in him wants Desiree. But, so does the man. The more he learns about her, the harder it is to deny what he wants. But, he’s a freak, and she’s just a human. The two species don’t mix that way. Then an old enemy surfaces and Alec is forced to make a choice. His life or hers.
Can Alec’s soul be saved by this unique human? Or will it be far too late?

10. Magick & Moonlight by Marie Lavender

 

 

Genre:  Fantasy Romance

Blurb:  

 
Messing with free will is always a bad idea…
Ethan Hamilton moves to a lazy little town in Oregon, hoping to escape his demons. But, instead he discovers a woman dancing nude in the moonlight. This woman who claims she is a witch dazzles him with her sensual presence. He thinks she’s crazy, but what if she’s not?
Jessie Anderson has been taught that her kind hides who they really are. And she has a problem on her hands. Someone knows her secret and she has to do all she can to protect herself. What other choice does she have? Jessie casts a love spell on a good man, a man with whom she can’t fight her attraction. The spell doesn’t work quite as planned – she ends up falling for Ethan.
To top it off, Ethan’s treatment of her, his “love”, is so addictive. Deep down, she knows the spell will wear off, and yet his feelings seem genuine. It’s just a spell…right?

11. Tattooed Hearts by Mika Jolie

 

 

Genre:  Multicultural Romance

Blurb:  

 
*All the books in the Martha’s Way series are standalone and can be read out of order.*

Being someone’s first love is unforgettable. Being their last is immeasurable.
Claire Peters should be on top of the world. She owns the radio waves and has a budding movie career. But her heart longs to be rooted. Ten years ago, she fled Martha's Vineyard to pursue her dream and to make something of herself. But there’s still a void. After a decade of running, she returns to the island hoping to find her happiness with the man she’s loved all her life.
When a tragic event shatters Dr. Forrest Desvareaux’ well-balanced world, the Vineyard’s hometown good guy discovers everything in his life is based on lies. Angry and betrayed, he turns to Claire - the one woman who has indelibly marked him.
Is it possible to run back to the person who broke you?
Forever linked, Forrest and Claire are an unending continuum. But she’s a wildflower and Forrest’s roots run deep on the Vineyard. Can they accept home is not a place but a feeling?

12. The Breadth of the Soul by Linda Lee Williams

 

 

Genre:  Inspirational Romance

Blurb:  

 She doesn't know who she is or why she's come to Colorado Springs. Dustin has no idea why he's met her. Kayla whispers that her name is Ruby--if he can believe the voice of a spirit in the night. Separate tragedies, years apart, form an invisible bond between Ruby and him. A chance encounter over the Holidays? Or a match made in Heaven? Only Kayla knows for sure...

 

13. In Plain Sight by Susanne Matthews

 

 

Genre:  Romantic Suspense

Blurb:  

 

In life, you pay a price for everything you do. Widowed, her dream of starring on Broadway in ashes at her feet, Misty Starr yearns for a happy, healthy, normal life for herself and her four-year-old daughter, Debbie. Settled in Pine Falls, New York, a sleepy little town filled with friendly people, she believes she’s found it and feels safe enough to sing in an amateur theater revival of Jesus Christ Superstar. She’ll do anything to keep this life even if it is built on lies, because revealing her secret is impossible. When Nick Anthony joins the cast as music director, Misty is attracted to the man who stirs up feelings she thought long dead, but can love grow on a bed of deceit?
A former concert pianist and secret CIA courier, Nick lives in darkness ever since the accident that killed his wife. The doctors say there’s nothing wrong with his vision, so why can’t he see? Hiding from his former life, he reluctantly agrees to help with the musical and is drawn to the young singer with the voice of an angel. When a mysterious fire destroys her home, Nick vows to keep her and her daughter safe. After one suspicious event leads to another, Nick is determined to protect them from an unknown assassin, but in order to do that, he needs to know her secrets. With his money and connections, he’ll do whatever it takes to save the woman he loves, but does she love him enough to reveal the truth?

Sensuality Level: Behind Closed Doors

 

14. Leather and Lace by Erica Sutherhome

 

 

Genre:  Romantic Suspense

Blurb:  

 
When Detective Dreyling sees Evangeline Lewis standing over a dead body, his whole life changes. Determined to not only find out what she knows about the crime but also to make her his, he will go to any lengths, even bribe her boss, to have more time with her.
Angie fights the overwhelming desire she feels for Patrick, but there are some things in this world you can’t fight. There are rare kinds of attraction. No matter how much she tries to keep her heart from him, she can’t help the feelings that strike her.
What makes it all harder is the secret she keeps from him, the reason she has put herself in some pretty bad situations. Can she come clean with him in time or will the lie destroy any chance they have at happiness?

 

15. Blues in the Night by Belinda Y. Hughes

 

 

Genre:  LGBT/Lesbian Romance

Blurb:  

 Jo is a 50-something Louisiana blues power vocalist and multi-instrumentalist working nights and weekends on her career comeback. What she does not need is a decades-younger redhead vegan amateur rubbing up against her, splashing her with pool water, feeding her black bean burgers and in general distracting her day and night.

Nita is a middle-aged vegan secretary who just joined the church band to sing. She never expected to fall into a red hot romance with an omnivore star of the blues scene or land the adventure of a lifetime. Unfortunately, adventure earned its name for a reason.

Will Jo and Nita survive church, family and mutual comebacks or will they be singin' Blues in the Night?

 

16. Blues 2: The Colonel by Belinda Y. Hughes

 

 

Genre:  Lesbian military historical romance

Blurb:  

 

Colonel Marty is back and under the gun. The church elder from Blues in the Night returns to rescue bullet-riddled lovers from the front lines in the Korean War and back home in Louisiana. Can the retired Army nurse and the women she loves make it through the gunfire to her wedding day?

 

17. Forever and Always by Susanne Matthews

Genre:  Clean Romance

Blurb:

 

Ballet is the only thing Brandi Alexandra Jameson has ever known. When an accident leaves her dance partner dead and herself unable to dance again, she tries to accept the situation, but some pain goes too deep to be set aside so easily. Lost, alone, frightened, all she wants to do is hide away, but her family has a different idea.
Jarrett Sullivan has been in love with Brandi from the first day he saw her and blackened a kid’s eye for calling her names. Shy, unsure of himself, he stayed in the background, looking out for her, but before he could make his move, she left Victoria for the stage in Toronto. Now that she’s back, he’ll do whatever it takes to win her heart. After badgering her sister, he earns the right to escort the woman he’s always wanted to the event of the year.
When Brandi discovers Jarrett paid an exorbitant amount for an Alexandra Jameson poster, she assumes he’s lied to her and is nothing but another crazed fan. Her heart broken, she flees Victoria and ends up in Geneva where she hopes to learn to cope with what’s happened to her.
Can Jarrett find her and explain what happened or will a spiteful woman’s half-truths keep them apart forever?

 

18. The Lie by K.C. Sprayberry

Genre:  YA Romance

Blurb:

 

For high school siblings, Amy and Bryce, the night began with a football game. Bryce was stuck at home with a cold, brought on by an uncaring coach. Amy was in the stands, playing with the band whose funding had been taken away and given to the football team.

Her best friend, Jane, brought the band together to play a prank on the team in protest.

The prank went wrong. Horribly, tragically wrong.

And the lie that started it all would not stop.

 

 

Remember: only one winner per book in this giveaway. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE provide a contact email where we can reach you about your prize, or we won't be able to find you. The contest will run for one week. Good luck!

Thanks for stopping by the blog! As always, happy reading! :)

 

 

Blogger Bio

 

Bestselling multi-genre author of UPON YOUR RETURN and 21 other books. DIRECTIONS OF THE HEART placed in the TOP 10 Books of 2017 on Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews blog. TOP 20 Authors of 2017 on Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews blog. Mystery Blogger Award for 2017. A to Z Blog Challenge Survivor in 2016. March 2016 Empress of the Universe title - winner of the "Broken Heart" themed contest and the "I Love You" themed contest on Poetry Universe. SECOND CHANCE HEART and A LITTLE MAGICK placed in the TOP 10 on the 2015 P&E Readers' Poll. Nominated in the TRR Readers' Choice Awards for Winter 2015. Poetry winner of the 2015 PnPAuthors Contest. The Versatile Blogger Award for 2015. Honorable Mention in the 2014 BTS Red Carpet Book Awards. Finalist and Runner-up in the 2014 MARSocial's Author of the Year Competition. Honorable mention in the January 2014 Reader's Choice Award. Liebster Blogger Award for 2013 and 2014. Top 10 Authors on AuthorsDB.com. Winner of the Great One Liners Contest on the Directory of Published Authors.

Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats. She has been writing for a little over twenty-five years. She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands. Since 2010, Marie has published 22 books in the genres of historical romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, fantasy, science fiction, mystery/thriller, dramatic fiction, literary fiction and poetry. She has also contributed to several multi-author anthologies. She is working on fully revising and re-releasing all the works from her backlist. Her current series are The Heiresses in Love Series, The Magick Series, The Blood at First Sight Series and The Code of Endhivar Series.

 

Links:

 

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Marie's Books: