Fresh Fiction Blog | Kelley York | What Type of Romantic Are You?

If the amount of romance in your books tells something about how romantic you are, then I think I'm in trouble.

It isn't that I don't like romance, because I do! I love it in books. In fact, I often feel something is lacking if there isn't a little bit of lovey dovey stuff. There characters don't even have to get together (or stay together), but I love that kind of strong emotional connection. I can think of several books where the romantic aspects either made or broke the story for me.

My plots are never romance-propelled. I always write stories about something else with a bit of romance weaved in. HUSHED isn't a romance. It's a thriller that happens to have a weird twist of love in it. Sometimes, this makes me sad, because I know so many readers love the romance in books and I don't feel like I can deliver these epic love stories. All I can do is write what I write and hope people enjoy it, romantic or no.

I like slow-burn romance. (Evan and Archer are very much that way.) The instant love-at-first-sight stuff very, very rarely works for me. I like tension building, slow realization, and hesitation. I recently finished SAVING JUNE and thought the romance in that was well done. Then we can take a book like IMAGINARY GIRLS, which doesn't really have romance in it. Just a little, and it isn't the center of the book, but it creates its own quiet subplot which lends to the overall plot and makes the book that much more amazing.

I love a couple who will honestly make me think "will they, won't they?" And sometimes, I like to be surprised when it turns out they don't work out after all. A mixture really is what I love to see in books.

All this is, of course, a personal preference. I have friends who love romance-centric books where the relationship pushes the rest of the story and there's nothing wrong with that. I hope there are plenty of others out there who like the romances that I'm capable of delivering.

What say you, readers? What kind of romances are you pining for? One commenter will win an e-copy of HUSHED. Ends December 5th

Comments

I guess I'd call myself a "Hopeless Romantic", cuz Hopeless romantics believe in love and fairy tales!
(Jack Davis 6:04pm December 4, 2011)

I'm a hopeless romantic that wants a happily ever after :)
(Ashley Applebee 6:36pm December 4, 2011)

Depends on my mood - LOL - even though I enjoy stories with romance as a secondary part of the story, I have to confess, though, that for the most part, I, too, am a hopeless, happily-ever-after romantic -
(Felicia Ciaudelli 7:15pm December 4, 2011)

HI KELLEY! I'M A SENTIMENTAL ROMANTIC, CAN REMEMBER
EVERYTHING MY HUSBAND AND I DID, SONGS WE LOVED, THINGS WE
DID AND THE HORRORS OF OUR WEDDING DAY DOWN TO OUR NO
HONEYMOON!
(Linda Bass 7:30pm December 4, 2011)

I'm a hopeless, happily-ever-after person. Your book sounds great. Thanks for giving me a chance to win it.
(Linda Hall 7:38pm December 4, 2011)

I think some of my favorites are friends to happily ever after love(rs).
(Lisa Kendall 11:30pm December 4, 2011)

Although I've been reading romances for decades, the books I read don't have to have romance in them. I'll read straight history, straight contemporary commentary, astronomy, etc. Mostly, there's little romance in those. I can like attraction at first site, but that doesn't equate to love. For me, love grows, sometimes quickly and sometimes not. I've stopped reading some romance authors because the romance is all you read about. If all I'm going to read is sex scenes, forget me. Give me an exciting story--or even a not-so-exciting story--with it every time. I'd rather it last a few weeks that just a day for the characters to get to know each other before revealing the "happy ending."
(Sigrun Schulz 2:27am December 5, 2011)

I love romances where the hero and heroine are both independent, but being
with each other makes them that much stronger. This leads them to have a
happily ever after.
Thank you for this opportunity! :)
(Hyunjin Jeon 4:59am December 5, 2011)

I like romances where the couple slowly get together and you can see and understand the attraction and the bond...

Your book sounds terrific!
(May Pau 10:08am December 5, 2011)

I like romance and mystery mixed together.
(Sue Farrell 10:18am December 5, 2011)

If there is romance in a book, I prefer the old-fashioned kind. You can tell a story without explatives, and it can be a wonderful book, and leave you wanting more at the end. My tastes for books go all over the map, from romance to mystery, etc., depending on my mood and the amount of time I have to read. Unfortunately I'm in a knitting group and am a caretaker of the property where I live with my Husband, so my spare time is limited. I'm disappointed that this is an e-book, because I don't own an e-reader. I would have loved to have read this book.
(Peggy Roberson 12:31pm December 5, 2011)

I love reading stories about people that relate to the real world.
(Marilyn Legault 1:50pm December 5, 2011)

I love romances with a good story. I'm a sentimental and happily-ever-after romantic. If I love a good story from one book an author writes, then I will read all that particular authors books--because I've found if one is good, they all are. I don't own an e-reader and prefer to read paperback books. I wish authors would consider offering both options to blog winners. Thanks!
(Linda Luinstra 3:12pm December 5, 2011)

I am a long term romantic, 22 years to be exact : ) That's how
long I have been happily married. However with that said, one
must never take eachother or the relationship for granted and
variety really is the spice of life!
(Guylaine Meeks 3:51pm December 5, 2011)

My books have to have romance in it... some romantic element... as to how much I like in my reading... all depends on my mood at the time.
(Colleen Conklin 3:56pm December 5, 2011)

I guess I'm a pragmatist. I accept each book I read for what it is. If it is well
written and the story is worthwhile the I settle in give it my time. If it is poorly
written or I can't relate to it then I get rid of it quick. I refuse to give whatever
time I have to something I can't enjoy.
(Sandra Spilecki 4:51pm December 5, 2011)

I love the hea. I also like when the couple is together against a common evil more than the book pitting them against each other most of the time.
(Patti Paonessa 9:29pm December 5, 2011)

I prefer stories where the romance is a part of the story but not what is
necessarily what drives the plot. I like intrigue and more going on. Straight
relationship stories with not much else going on other than sex are not at all
interesting to me.
Most of all, it must be well written, have interesting characters, and an
intriguing plot.
(Patricia Barraclough 10:00pm December 5, 2011)

I love romance in a story. I feel it should be part of the story but not be the main plot. I like the mystery and more going on. I love the heat between the couple but I think the couple should work together against the villian/villians and solve the case. If they become a permanet couple at the end of the story, it makes me happy. I love it when the couples are very strong characters, daring, disagree at times and can be hot headed or fall right into each others arms. I am a hopeless romantic.
(Joanne Altieri 11:12pm December 5, 2011)

I love romance in a story. The steamier the better. I love to watch sparks fly between the couple as they dance all around the attraction they feel for each other.
(Angelina Daniels-Shaw 11:22pm December 5, 2011)

I am a true romantic and pretty easy to please. If my husband holds my hand in public, picks up the house or does laundry I'm happy! lol I do get the occasional card and flowers for no reason and LOVE it!
(Susan Stevens 12:18pm December 6, 2011)

I want the story to end with the hero and heroine happy. Sometimes that means
they stay together and love triumphs. However, sometimes they realize that true
and lasting love between them is just not meant to be. That's OK too. Both
situations are growing experiences that we all must face.
(Connie Fischer 2:07pm December 6, 2011)

I like to think of myself as an avdenterous romantic. Not just candle light and soft music but out of the box stuff too. Life is just too short for the same ol' menu..........
(Marcelle Cole 2:18pm December 6, 2011)

I'm all about the romance. I want the relationship discussion and angst to be the main line of the story. Plot, schmlot!
(Lisa Elwood 2:56pm December 6, 2011)

I'm a sucker for happily ever after, but I don't like the lovey dovey stuff to stall the plot... I like them to get together and face the badness, learning to trust each other as they go...

I also love a good horror/thriller novel, so Hushed is already in my Kindle! LOL

Lisa :)
(Lisa Kessler 7:03pm December 6, 2011)

I love any romance story. Can't wait to read your book.
(Mary Smith 6:04am December 7, 2011)

I am a slow to love type of romantic. Don't like to jump into sex, I start to analyze it too much. (Question the amount in one night...etc...) I like fun, disagreements, build up to the excitement and a little bit of frustration. Any type of paranormal or mystery or horror or thriller will do.
(Shonda Abercrombie 7:05pm December 7, 2011)

I pine for the best type of romance, the one where you fall deep and fast for the grin covering the face and the sense of humor accompanying it.
(Alyson Widen 8:51pm December 7, 2011)

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