Romance is the most maligned genre of literature, despite being the highest grossing. How do publishers afford multi-million dollar contracts for first time literary fiction authors? On the backs of romance. We, romance readers, are the most loyal fans. We are powering through the recession, earning even more profits for Harlequin despite the buying downturn through the rest of the economy. Unfortunately, most people who criticize the genre as “bodice-rippers” and “crotch novels” have never read one. I’ll leave the eloquent arguments to Smart Bitches who Love Trashy Books and Dear Author. Check out the stats on romance readers from the Romance Writers of America to see that we’re a highly diverse, highly educated bunch. Escapist fantasies? What book, besides a textbook, isn’t an escapist fantasy? That’s what reading is. That’s what TV and movies are. ENTERTAINMENT.

Romance novels are delicious. Nom…nom…nomnomnomnomnom.

What I want to share with you now is the time honored wisdom: Don’t Knock it till You’ve Tried it

Here are 13 recommended books (all of which I’ve read and loved) in each subgenre of your reading persuasion. Go ahead, try one. I double-dog dare ya.

1. Contemporary: This Heart of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
2. Paranormal: Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione
3. Historical: It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas
4. Regency: The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne
   
5. Science-Fiction: Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair
6. Fantasy: The Moon Witch by Linda Winstead Jones
7. Suspense: Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard
8. Young Adult: Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith (sigh, or Twilight…but who’s left who hasn’t read it?)
9. Women’s Fiction: Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas
10. Erotica: Go Fetch! by Shelly Laurenston
11. Contemporary Category Romance: Marriage at the Millionaire’s Command by Anne Oliver
12. Paranormal Category Romance: Raintree Inferno by Linda Howard
13. Suspense Category Romance: Strangers in the Night by Kerry Connor

Title: Strangers in the Night
Author: Kerry Connor
Publication Info: Harlequin Intrigue 1067, June 2008
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3

I was having some book apathy, not finding anything that cought my attentions, reading a few pages and tossing them aside, when I picked up (er…opened up the ebook file) Strangers in the Night by new author Kerry Connor. From the first page I was hooked. Pulled directly into a riveting plot with engaging characters, I didn’t put it down until the last world entered my enchanted brain. Ms. Connor’s deft writing style whipped me along in a way none of the other books I’d tried was able to do – making me forget that I was reading and instead making me lose myself in the story. Best of all: I never saw that twist coming. I am delighted to be surprised!

Gideon Ross is a cynical, world-weary bounty hunter called out of retirement to catch the man who killed his mentor–the one that got away. After years of escaping the rap for murders and illegal dealings, business mogul Price Chatlain is finally on trial for a murder with evidence enough to stick. His right hand man–who killed Ross’s mentor–has skipped bail and fled. Ross tracks him to Chicago, only to find that Taylor is hunting someone of his own. Allie Freedman is on the run for her life. She’s learned the hard way she can’t trust anyone after anyone who tried to help her has ended up dead. When Ross catches her she knows he’s either in league with her pursuers or about to become expendable. Ross doesn’t know if the woman is in league with Chatlain or not, but he knows he can’t let her go and he can’t help her if she refuses to tell him the truth. He’s set on bringing her back to New York despite her constant escape attempts, and he’ll do everything in his power to bring her back alive despite the two hired killers on their tail.

Title: Taylor’s Temptation
Author: Suzanne Brockmann
Series: Tall, Dark and Dangerous, book 10
Publication Info: Silhouette Intimate Moments, July 2001
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

TAYLOR’S TEMPTATION is another fine, heart fluttering, mouth watering story from the queen of Military Romance. It’s packed with laughs and a lot of heart.This book didn’t have much in the way of suspense, but it was one of the hotter books in the series. Phone sex from Suzanne Brockmann? I am impressed! The hero and heroine are both people I’d want to be best friends with. The conflict was driven by the hero’s determination not to betray his best friend by banging his little sister, but there’s no extinguishing or ignoring an attraction this powerful.

Plot:

SEAL teammates Wes Skelly and Bobby Taylor have been inseparable since BUDS training. They move as one, think as one, work as a single organism to get the job done. Impressive to say the least. So the last thing Bobby wants to acknowledge is feelings of lust for Wes’s smart, headstrong and incredibly sexy little sister. When Wes asks Bobby to fly to Boston to check up on Colleen, Bobby knows withholding himself from temptation could just be the hardest assignment he’s ever had. He’s determined not to give in; Colleen deserves way better than what he can offer her.

Law student Colleen Skelly wishes her older brother would stop trying to run her life. She’s a grown woman and is determined to continue her pro-bono volunteer work whether he thinks it’s dangerous or not. When her brother sends his best friend to talk her out of a volunteer trip, she knows it’s the perfect chance to act on this crush she’s had for years. Seducing a hot-blooded male shouldn’t be so hard, especially when she can see in his eyes that he wants her too, but his code of honor not to touch his best-friend’s little sister is hard to break. Colleen never said no to a challenge.

Bobby doesn’t know what hit him. Wes is going to kill him, if his own guilt doesn’t kill him first. When military tensions escalate in the county Colleen plans to visit, he calls in Alpha Squad to provide security. When Wes finds out Bobby touched his little sister, the shit hits the fan. Can they protect Colleen and the other volunteers when their legendary team has been demolished?

Discussion:

The later books in the TAll, Dark and Dangerous series have a much more similar style and feel to the Troubleshooters series. The plot of TAYLOR’S TEMTATION is similar to the Izzy Zanella-Gilman subplot in the Troubleshooters book 13 INTO THE FIRE. In both books, a SEAL breaks the Bro Code by sleeping with his teammate’s little sister. The inherent conflict is more powerful in TAYLOR’S TEMPTATION, because Wes Skully has a positive and overprotective relationship with his little sister, unlike Gilman who basically abandons his little sister, while at the same time demanding his teammates stay away from her. Even though Wes must come to terms with his sister being an adult, his heart is in the right place. I liked how protective he was of his sister. Gilman, on the other hand, comes off as almost irredeemable. I’m quite curious as to how that triangle will play out, and am certain Suz will drag us through more highs and lows before we find solace in a happy ending for Izzy, Eden and Gilman (whose first name is escaping me at the moment!).

I’m really curious what happens to Colleen’s roommate Ashley. Does anyone know if Suz ever wrote her story?

Title: Get Lucky
Author: Suzanne Brockmann
Series: Tall, Dark and Dangerous, book 9
Publication Info: Silhouette Intimate Moments #991, March 2000
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

I’ve fallen in love with Suzanne Brockmann. Every one of her books has been a joy to read, but especially her two Navy SEAL series – “Tall, Dark and Dangerous” and “Troubleshooters.” I haven’t written any reviews, because I’ve been too busy devouring every book she’s ever written. But tonight I read what is hands-down my favorite and can’t help but gush about it: Get Lucky, about Navy SEAL Lucky O’Donolan, the gorgeous, never-serious member of Alpha Squad, who finally meets his match and falls hard.

Why do I love this book so much? I identify with the heroine big time. She’s a writer with a thick shell around her sensitive heart, and it takes every last inch of Lucky’s considerable charm and talent to convince her that he really does love her. I just about swooned when he popped the question:

“Marry me,” he said. “Live here with me, write your book, have my babies, make my life complete.”

That’s what Mr. Wonderful said to me! Awwwwwww!

Plot:

A serial rapist is terrorizing women in Coronado and San Felipe, and the police suspect he’s a Navy SEAL. Luke “Lucky” O’Donolan is put in charge of a task force to bring down the bastard. Unfortunately the only eye witness is also a local reporter, and she’s squirmed her way onto his team. Lucky figures he’ll use his legendary charm to get her where he wants her – on the sidelines – but it backfires. Sydney Jameson’s too smart and determined to be dazzled by a pretty face. The danger becomes personal when one of the wives of Alpha Squad is attacked.

To lure the badguy, Sydney poses as Lucky’s girlfriend. The kisses are hot, but they’re just pretend. Or are they? Make-believe never tasted this good, and Lucky’s lifetime commitment to no commitment is in for a reevaluation. Convincing skeptical Sydney that the never-serious party boy is no longer just pretending becomes Lucky’s biggest challenge yet.