Top 10 Must Haves in a Great Romance

I was reading through some old posts I've done when I came across one about my pet peeves with romance, and what I'm looking for in a great book. It resonates with me still, because lately I've been jumping outside of my comfort zone and trying new writers--as a reader. Lo and behold, I've found some amazing books! But what makes them so entertaining?

Here’s my top ten list of what constitutes a great romance, in no particular order. I think many of you will agree with me. Mind you, this is coming from a writer who likes her books on the spicy side.

1. Likeable characters   The hero and heroine (or hero and hero, whatever floats your boat) don’t have to be the nicest people on the planet, but at some point they have to be likeable, and not ten pages from the end. There’s nothing worse than trying to read a book about people that are either whiny, annoying, or TSTL (too stupid to live) for 350 pages.
2. Sexual tension   I write erotic romance and mainstream, spicy contemporary romance. I like to read it too. But when the characters hop into bed on page 3, it kind of takes away my enjoyment to see them struggle for it. A few authors have made this work by throwing in the requisite plot problems and angst, but by and large the easy hookup doesn’t appeal to me.
3. No gratuitous sex   The flip side of the coin. For so many years I read stories where the characters could barely hold hands before the author cut to a new scene. As a reader, I like to know what goes on behind that "closed door." Romantic relationships typically involve sex. But sex for sex’s sake shows. When the physical builds the emotional, it works. You can tell when it doesn’t.
4. The right angst    I am drawn to tortured heroes and heroines. I think we all are. It’s normal to want to see people build themselves back up after being brought down a peg or two. But when the characters suffer page after page, it takes away from the joy to be had in the story. And rape as a plot device does nothing for me. I don’t like reading about it, but if it's integral to the character, a reference will do. Period. With that said, the victim had better be in major therapy and had a lot of time to process what happened before getting all frisky with her hero.
5. Character growth   I find it common anymore to read a book where one of the two characters grows but the other remains stagnant. It’s like the author puts so much into making the heroine a strong woman, she forgets that the hero is more than a foil for the heroine, but an actual part of the story. Let him grow too, damn it!
6. Humor   Just because a book is dark doesn’t mean it can’t have funny moments. Fiction mirrors reality, right? Well, people do laugh at funerals. Life isn’t all one shade, but a rainbow of emotion.
7. Believable conflict    There’s nothing worse than reading a story where the hero and heroine don’t get along because of a simple misunderstanding. One short conversation between the pair would eliminate all problems and make the whole story crumble. That’s not believable conflict. Layer stuff in there, make us, the readers, want to see how they solve their problems. 
8. Chemistry    The main characters have to have it or the story won’t work. Just because an author creates the pair (or threesome or group) involved doesn’t mean they fit. I’ve read romances where the hero seems better suited to a secondary character and the heroine should be lesbian. It’s like the author doesn’t know her characters.
9. If everyone’s special, no one’s special     One author I used to love and now can’t read anymore gives all her characters major powers. They all end up becoming immortal, so where’s the scare factor? Why should the characters worry when they can snap their fingers and have an HEA whenever they want?
10. Don’t break your own rules     Authors create worlds and a set of rules that go with them. So when I read about a hero who can’t do X, then thirty pages in does X, it annoys me, especially if there’s no explanation as to why he can do X. It’s like the author has forgotten her own rules. Sure there are exceptions, but if there are too many, why have the rules in the first place?

What are some of your must-haves in a great romance book?


Marie
marieharte.com

coming June 7th

10 Reasons Why Books Are Better Than Your Ex’s Mother

I doubt any of us here need a list of why books are better than anything. If you're hanging out here at Here Be Magic, you're likely to believe (like me) that there aren't a whole lot of things in life that are better than books. Even sex and chocolate need to watch their backs, because books are a pretty big deal.

Still, here's a ridiculous list based partially on experience and partially on things I've observed. I hope with all my heart that none of you can relate to every single one.

I won't tell you which parts are from my own experience, but at least half of them left me feeling a little bitter and "anti-nostalgic." Is that a word? It totally should be a word. I bet there's a word in German for it. They have a word for everything.

1. Books think you’re plenty good enough for them, their sequels, and the books sitting next to them on the bookshelf. 
2. Books never interrupt you when you have something to say – nor do they give a fig about your tone when you say it. 
3. Books are there when you need them, but never butt in when you already know what you’re doing. 
4. Books won’t tell you to “toughen up” when you get emotional. 
5. Books won’t judge you for staying in your pajamas all day, eating in bed, or gaining some weight. 
6. Books don’t show up unannounced, then comment about how dirty your house is. 
7. Books don’t care if you have children or not, and they don’t care how your raise them. 
8. Books are straightforward in their dealings – never passive-aggressive in any way. 
9. Books won’t tell you the same story over and over unless you enjoyed that story and want to hear it again. 
10. Books will never compare you to the last person who read them.

If any of these rang true, I hope none of it happens to you again. If all of it rang true, send me an email and tell me your story. I'll send you a digital copy of one of my books to cheer you up. Because books are always better than anything else.

Rachel writes stories that drop average people into magical situations filled with heart and quirky humor.

She believes in pixie dust, the power of love, good cheese, lucky socks and putting things off until the last minute. Her home is Disneyland, despite her current location in Kansas. Rachel has one husband, two grown kids and a crazy-catlady starter kit.

Sign up for her newsletter for news, extras, and exclusive stuff: Newsletter
Hang out with her here: Website Blog Facebook Twitter
Buy her books here:  Amazon B&N Carina Press

Top Ten Reasons Mt. Olympus Is As Much Fun As Monster Haven

So, yesterday something crazy, terrifying, and wonderful happened. I finished the first book of my brand new Mt. Olympus Employment Agency series. People have been so positive about my Monster Haven series, beginning something new has been really intimidating. Throughout the writing of Unfinished Muse, I’ve waffled back and forth between “THIS IS AWESOME!” and “OMG, everybody’s going to hate me because this isn’t Monster Haven and that’s all I know how to write.”

Honestly, I just handed it off to my editor. No one but me has read this thing, and I sure can’t be trusted to tell if it’s any good or not.

So, here’s what we’re going to do. In an effort to convince you to give it a try when it comes out in July, and in an effort to convince myself that I should trust myself a little more about not sucking, I give you this:

Top Ten Reasons the Mt. Olympus Employment Agency is as much fun as Monster Haven

1. A talking plant named Phyllis who sings pirate shanties and the theme song from “Fresh Prince” in the voice of someone’s beloved grandmother. 
2. A mom who can’t remember if she slept with a firefighter, a traveling Bible salesman, or a Greek god before she got pregnant. 
3. A gorgon receptionist with an attitude and a stylish updo. 
4. A super hot guy from the Dreams and Nightmares department who keeps showing up dressed as a cowboy, Roman gladiator, or vampire. 
5. The ability to be invisible and snoop through the hot neighbor’s apartment looking for clues. 
6. Transmutational Thought Transference Bubbles and Beastie Discombobulator Dust. 
7. Clubbing in the Mt. Olympus Euphoria District. 
8. The threat of being transferred to Hades to scoop the poop of the three-headed dog, Cerberus. 
9. Secrets, lies, paranoia, and sabotage. 
10. The fate of the world is someone else’s problem. She’s just trying not to get demoted to hell. 

So, there you go. If I did my job right, the new series will be loads of fun. But if I didn’t do my job right, my editor will be more than happy to let me know and make me fix it. Either way, it’s going to be fun in the end.

Keep an eye on this space or any of the many places you can find me out in the virtual world to find out when Unfinished Muse goes on sale. Better yet, add yourself to my newsletter and find out before anyone else!

Now I’m off to work on book two, Unamused Muse. I’ve already got the cover, so I should probably get back to work.

Rachel writes stories that drop average people into magical situations filled with heart and quirky humor.

She believes in pixie dust, the power of love, good cheese, lucky socks and putting things off until the last minute. Her home is Disneyland, despite her current location in Kansas. Rachel has one husband, two grown kids and a crazy-catlady starter kit.



Sign up for her newsletter for news, extras, and exclusive stuff: Newsletter
Hang out with her here: Website Blog Facebook Twitter
Buy her books here:  Amazon B&N Carina Press