Romance Novels

[Ladybug]

I thought the characters were really well developed, which is what I need in a romance novel. (I was so pleased to find a romance set in a college library (!) but the characters were one-dimensional and it never sold me on the romance.) The couple in Kiss Quotient are both going through their own stuff when they find each other, they grow as people separately and as a couple and I thought their stories were very well written and relatable. That's something that draws me in. And I loved the inclusion of a person with a neurological difference like Stella and seeing the world through her eyes. Turns out when the author was researching for the book, she was diagnosed with AS herself. And Michael is from a big, traditional Vietnamese family and you get a lot of family scenes and descriptions of Vietnamese food, which I also really loved.

There is one scene in the book that I felt was very predictable and not that well written, but the rest of the book is so good it made up for it.

SPOILER: Click to show

When they go to the charity gala and Michael runs into his former client. I was surprised that she was the mother of the jerk pursuing/harassing Stella. I also thought their break up would be a little more dramatic.

The other romance series from 2018 that I really loved was Kate Clayborn's Chance of a Lifetime series. Again, all the characters have their own stuff to work out before they can find happiness with each other.

[chonies]

Jan 2, 2019 11:18:25 GMT -4 Ladybug said:

I thought the characters were really well developed, which is what I need in a romance novel. (I was so pleased to find a romance set in a college library (!) but the characters were one-dimensional and it never sold me on the romance.) The couple in Kiss Quotient are both going through their own stuff when they find each other, they grow as people separately and as a couple and I thought their stories were very well written and relatable. That's something that draws me in. And I loved the inclusion of a person with a neurological difference like Stella and seeing the world through her eyes. Turns out when the author was researching for the book, she was diagnosed with AS herself. And Michael is from a big, traditional Vietnamese family and you get a lot of family scenes and descriptions of Vietnamese food, which I also really loved.

There is one scene in the book that I felt was very predictable and not that well written, but the rest of the book is so good it made up for it.

SPOILER: Click to show

When they go to the charity gala and Michael runs into his former client. I was surprised that she was the mother of the jerk pursuing/harassing Stella. I also thought their break up would be a little more dramatic.

The other romance series from 2018 that I really loved was Kate Clayborn's Chance of a Lifetime series. Again, all the characters have their own stuff to work out before they can find happiness with each other.

Ok, thanks for the insight! I'll give it a whirl.

Which was the college library romance? I've read a few, and some were just not...good. Like, so distractingly wrong with library details that I barely remember the rest of stories.

[Ladybug]

Nov 19, 2005 15:13:53 GMT -4 chonies said:

Which was the college library romance? I've read a few, and some were just not...good. Like, so distractingly wrong with library details that I barely remember the rest of stories.

The Undateable by Sarah Title. I thought she did a decent job with the workplace stuff, but there was no depth to the characters.

[chonies]

Jan 2, 2019 12:02:19 GMT -4 Ladybug said:

Nov 19, 2005 15:13:53 GMT -4 chonies said:

Which was the college library romance? I've read a few, and some were just not...good. Like, so distractingly wrong with library details that I barely remember the rest of stories.

The Undateable by Sarah Title. I thought she did a decent job with the workplace stuff, but there was no depth to the characters.

I agree! I read it specifically because it was an academic library setting and while that was pretty solid, the characters seemed wooden so I think I gave her more credit than it deserved. I liked Falling For Trouble a bit more in its character development. She had a third book about a legal librarian, which was also sort of underwhelming. I also liked the premise of The Undateable and thought it was a bit refreshing for a MeetCute.

[Gigiree]

I stumbled across a series called "Winston Brothers" by a new-to-me author, Penny Reid, when I was offered a free copy of her e-book Beauty and the Mustache, which is actually part of another series about ladies in a knitting club and their romantic trials. The female protagonist of BatM is the sister to the heroes of the "Winston Brothers" series. Each book can be read as a stand-alone, but I love knowing the backstories of all the characters.

Thus far, I have read the first two books of the series--Truth or Beard and Grin and Beard It. Despite the lameness of the titles, they are very lovely reads with good character development and plots that while predictable (all get their HOA), the conflict and complications are interesting, plausible, and really touch upon topics that are current and relevant.

Ms. Reid has an extensive back catalog, so I may have found a new author to quench my thirst for well-written romance.

[roseland]

I like both series. I recently discovered Ilona Andrews, who is a husband and wife team. They’re great. I am really in love with the Innkeepers series. Such an original premise.

[chonies]

I don't read a lot of Regency romances, but I recently discovered Nicola Davidson, and I'm a big fan. I don't know if this is a common trope in Regency, but most of her characters are like, "ugghh... the ton is so tedious" and aristocracy is something to avoid, not aspire to. Also, whenever the characters come in from the countryside, they mention how badly London smells, which charms me for its realism. Related, at least one novel mentioned the existence of chamber pots, and implied their purpose (paraphrased: "So and so desired to lay abed all day but the chamber pot beckoned"). It was amazing. I love when authors clearly put a crapload of effort into research and also make an effort to paint a realistic picture. ALSO, there is both mention of and acceptance for non-heterosexual love. It might be a bit overly modern, but as a non-historian, I thought it was treated in a completely reasonable and positive, supportive way.

On the flip side, I just read a novella where the romantic arc was like a slalom through a hillside of red flags.

[Ladybug]

I've read At His Lady's Command by Nicola Davidson, but I don't remember much about it. Maybe I'll give it another read.

I recently finished The Duke and I by Julia Quinn, which I enjoyed but wasn't bowled over by. It's the first in a series about the Bridgerton family. And Shonda Rimes is producing a show based on the books with diverse casting, which I'm looking forward to!

chonies, have you ever read Tessa Dare?

[chonies]

Dec 18, 2019 10:54:11 GMT -4 Ladybug said:

I've read At His Lady's Command by Nicola Davidson, but I don't remember much about it. Maybe I'll give it another read.

I recently finished The Duke and I by Julia Quinn, which I enjoyed but wasn't bowled over by. It's the first in a series about the Bridgerton family. And Shonda Rimes is producing a show based on the books with diverse casting, which I'm looking forward to!

chonies, have you ever read Tessa Dare?

I haven't but her name keeps coming up--is there a good title to start with?

The two I've read by Nicola Davidson were Duke in Darkness and a novella called Joy to the Earl, which is the one I found through browsing GoodReads tags.

[Deleted]

Feb 4, 2019 21:41:09 GMT -4 Gigiree said:

I stumbled across a series called "Winston Brothers" by a new-to-me author, Penny Reid, when I was offered a free copy of her e-book Beauty and the Mustache, which is actually part of another series about ladies in a knitting club and their romantic trials. The female protagonist of BatM is the sister to the heroes of the "Winston Brothers" series. Each book can be read as a stand-alone, but I love knowing the backstories of all the characters.

Thus far, I have read the first two books of the series--Truth or Beard and Grin and Beard It. Despite the lameness of the titles, they are very lovely reads with good character development and plots that while predictable (all get their HOA), the conflict and complications are interesting, plausible, and really touch upon topics that are current and relevant.

Ms. Reid has an extensive back catalog, so I may have found a new author to quench my thirst for well-written romance.

I find Reid to be hit or miss. Sometimes her stories are not all that grounded in reality but I loved Friends Without Benefits and it is a repeat read for me. I think what bothered me is about her Winston brothers series is that she clearly has never been to Tennessee and her Tennessee bears little resemblance to my home state. So I had a hard time with that series. The Ninja duo books from Knitting in the City is also a fave.