Pretty Woman was the first movie I considered a “keeper”. Richard Gere
and Julia Roberts made that story pop, and I’ve watched it many times. When
Hannah, the heroine of A SINGLE KISS is feeling low and lonely, she recalls that
movie, and how it had often lifted her spirits at the end of a rough day.
I’ve read romance novels in quantity for more than forty years—sometimes one a
day—and I expect I’ll read them until death do us part, too. I’ve read them
through the miseries of high school, the loneliness and confusion of college,
the ups and downs of relationships, and the exhausting, bewildering years of
early unwed motherhood. Romance was there when I needed a break from studying
the law school texts, and handy when I had to wait for the prodigy’s soccer
practice to end.
When I started focusing professionally on child welfare law, my consumption of
romance went up again. Historical romance is my first love, but I’m a diehard JR
Ward fan, Carolyn Jewel’s paranormals are on my auto-buy list, and Julie James
is another author whose books will always find room on my shelves.
I’m not reading for the steam—contrary to my 90-year-old mother’s long-held
suspicions. I’m reading for the heart. Romance is built on the premise that love
gives us the courage to be the best people we can be, the guts to grow and to
change, to let go of old fears and step into hope and a shared happiness.
Love conquers all, as Virgil said two millennia ago, and thus, when I’m feeling
thoroughly conquered by the challenges of my day, I will turn to a love story.
Excellent prose will always please me, and interesting details of history or a
fictional world can distract me from the day’s woes and worries. If the book can
make me laugh or cry at the tribulations of fictional characters, then my own
situation gains perspective too.
What I’m really seeking in that romance novel, however, is validation that love
is what matters, and that we’re all worthy of being loved. The happily ever
after is a hug, from the universe to my heart, a pat on the back and a
reassurance that the big black moments can be endured, no matter how big, no
matter how black.
The keeper I’m indulging in this week is Loretta Chase’s NOT QUITE A
LADY, a Regency about an unwed mother, a handsome biologist who makes a very
bad first impression, and love conquering ALL.
What was the last keeper you read—or watched?
About A SINGLE KISS
Hannah Stark has set her sights on corporate law to assure her a career of
paperwork, predictability, and conservative suits. Contracts, finance, and the
art of the deal sing to her, while the mess and misery of the courtroom do not.
But her daughter needs to eat, so when Hannah is offered a temporary position in
a small town firm's domestic relations department, she reluctantly accepts.
Trent Knightley is mightily drawn to his newest associate, though Hannah is as
protective of her privacy as she is competent. When their friendship and
attraction heat up, Hannah's secrets put her heart and Trent's hopes in double
jeopardy.
About Grace Burrowes
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace
Burrowes' bestsellers include THE HEIR,
THE
SOLDIER, LADY MAGGIE'S SECRET SCANDAL, LADY SOPHIE'S
CHRISTMAS WISH and LADY EVE'S INDISCRETION. THE HEIR
was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2010, The Soldier was a PW Best Spring
Romance of 2011, LADY SOPHIE'S CHRISTMAS WISH won Best Historical Romance of
the Year in 2011 from RT Reviewers' Choice Awards, LADY LOUISA'S
CHRISTMAS KNIGHT was a Library Journal Best Book of 2012, and THE BRIDEGROOM
WORE PLAID was a PW Best Book of 2012. Her Regency romances have received
extensive praise, including starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist.
Grace is branching out into short stories and Scotland-set Victorian romance
with Sourcebooks. She is a practicing family law attorney and lives in rural
Maryland.
3 comments posted.
I'ts no wonder I adore your books :-) My favorite movie is Pretty Woman too! And
the authors on your keeper shelf are mine as well, lol. My favorite book, before
yours, was Highland Bride by Hannah Howell. All of her books are keepers but
Gillyanne was the rebel heroine that resonated with me. She doesn't wait for life
but goes out to get it going and is the BEST PROBLEM SOLVER with humor and
creativity! Other keepers are Bertrice Small (Skye O'Malley & Adora), Kate Pearce,
Shelley Laurenston/G A Aiken, Thea Harrison, Meljean Brook and Bec McMaster so name
a few. Thanks for the hours of delight!
(Lenna Hendershott 4:50pm January 8, 2015)