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Falling for Romance

Jun 1st 2007Claudia Dain
Claudia DainGoddess Classics

I know you remember the moment when you first discovered romance novels and fell for them in a big way. I know I do.

I found my first romance novel in the grocery store. I was out of college, suffering through my first “real” job, not enjoying it much, living alone in an apartment in North Hollywood and commuting to downtown Los Angeles every day. I never saw my apartment in daylight from Monday through Friday. It was that kind of job and that kind of drive.

So, feeling alone and tired and disillusioned, I took a second look at the books for sale next to the register. The covers looked pretty good. I picked one up. This was the first time that I ever touched a romance novel. This was the first time I remember ever *seeing* a romance novel.

Zing went the strings of my heart.

Right then and there, I spent money I really didn’t have–I was living on one meal a day and $5 for a book was almost a meal–and bought my very first romance. I rushed home, snuggled up on the couch, and dove in.

I was hooked. I loved it. I loved the style of the writing, I loved where the story took me, I loved the characters, I loved it all. I even remember the title of that novel (I must have read it 4 times in a row)–Red Adam’s Lady. I still remember some of the scenes! It was a great read.

I was hooked, completely hooked. I’m still hooked.

So, do you remember when and where, how and why you first fell for romances? And do you remember which one flew you to the moon?

70 Comments »

70 Responses to “Falling for Romance”

  1. SuzyQ on 01 Jun 2007 at 8:10 am #

    Yes, I remember my first romance novel. I was sitting at home with my cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk because I had just had all four wisdom teeth out. I was not a happy camper. There weren’t even that many cable stations back then. So, being bored out of my mind I grabbed one of my Mom’s books - “Rich Radiant Love” by Valerie Sherwood. I was totally hooked. This book was the last in the series, so of course I had to go out and get the first three books. I’ve been reading romances ever since . . .

  2. Aimee on 01 Jun 2007 at 8:13 am #

    my mom used to read them as far back as I could remember so when I learned to read I used to try to read them as she did snuggled up in the bed with her of course she was a faster reader so I only got a couple paragraphs before she flipped the page if that maybe a couple sentences when I turned 12 she gave me my first and I have been hooked ever since now I get my husband to buy them for me as presents and he tries to act like he isn’t glancing at them as I read them. My five year old calls them mommy’s sexy books but I am sure like me she will learn the same way to love them.

  3. Claudia Dain on 01 Jun 2007 at 8:34 am #

    SuzyQ, I’m so glad I’m not the only one who remembers that first, wild plunge! I love that you remember the title.

    And Aimee, what a great way your mom used to build up your reading speed! Such a great reward system. LOL

  4. Cail on 01 Jun 2007 at 8:38 am #

    A Pirates Love- Johanna Lindsay, gift on my 17th birthday, purchased as a joke with a few other novels as a result of my life long adoration of all things Pirate. I’ve been hooked ever since.

  5. Karen Hawkins on 01 Jun 2007 at 8:39 am #

    I was on my way to visit my grandmother and we stopped at a TINY library (only four rooms) and there, on the bottom shelf, I found her … Georgette Heyer’s ARABELLA. I looooved it.

    To this day, I still re-read that book when I get down. She’s awesome and set the standard for me for romances from that day on.

  6. Claudia Dain on 01 Jun 2007 at 8:54 am #

    Oh, Karen, I’m so glad to hear that about Arabella. When I was in London I bought my very first Heyer book–Arabella. I haven’t read it yet, it will be my FIRST Heyer read.

    I know, it’s almost blasphemy, but I came late to the romance party.

    And Cail? Johanna Lindsay, the master. I’ve read every book she’s ever written.

  7. darkshire007 on 01 Jun 2007 at 9:27 am #

    I was fourteen when I read my first romance novel. (I don’t remember the title as that was more than 25 years ago!) I was staying at my grandmothers house and all she would read were Harlequin novels. So I picked one up, the cover was interesting, and settled in to read. I have never looked back. Today I include biographies and mysteries to my love of reading but romance novels are always at the top.
    Claudia, as long as you came over to the dark side (aren’t most of the men tall/dark/handsome?) then is is not blasphemy and never too late!

  8. amy1242 on 01 Jun 2007 at 9:33 am #

    Unfortunately, I don’t remember the title, but it was set in Alaska and it made me want to move there. Cold be damned! What’s a little chilly weather with all those hunky, protective guy’s there?! Although, it took me almost losing my uterus in a 10k run to finally sit down and read on a regular basis. Now it’s my favorite “me” thing to do.

  9. Jessie on 01 Jun 2007 at 9:48 am #

    My mom and my grandma and my aunt read romance novels, but I wasn’t allowed to until I turned 15. I picked up my mom’s copy of Honor’s Splendor by Julie Garwood and could not put it down. I stayed up until 6 in the morning reading it. My dad got up to go to work at 5, and was so surprised (and a little disconcerted) when he discovered I was still up. Then I proceeded to read every JG book I could get my hand on. Then I graduated to Nora Roberts, and then branched out into non-JG historicals. I haven’t been the same since.

  10. Jessie on 01 Jun 2007 at 9:49 am #

    PS- I haven’t been able to comment on this site for whatever reason in weeks, and finally, FINALLY I’m able to. YAY! Thanks so much! Especially to Karen H. for replying to my cry-for-help email.

  11. Claudia Dain on 01 Jun 2007 at 9:51 am #

    Okay, Amy1242, the phrase “almost losing my uterus” is more information than I can manage. Yikes. Ouch.

    I can say with some pride that I’ve never pushed my body to the point that body parts were tempted to start falling off. LOL I’m just a sit and read kind of woman, always have been. I’m glad you’ve crossed to the Sedentary Side!

    DarkShire, I am SO relieved not to be guilty of blasphemy!

  12. RachelG on 01 Jun 2007 at 10:00 am #

    Shirley Busbee’s The Spanish Rose was the first romance book I read. I think that was waaaaay back in 1985. I’ve been reading romance every since.

    rachelg

  13. ericaleigh on 01 Jun 2007 at 10:26 am #

    I’m almost ashamed to admit that I never actually read my first romance all the way through. Sheesh! I was 13 and my neighbor had given my mom some books for a garage sale. The book was Years by LaVryle Spencer and the cover was VERY interesting. I snuck the book out of the sale and started reading. My attention span must have been much smaller then because I jumped to the last 150 pages or so and read from there. To this day I have re-read the same pages half a dozen times or so, but never the book cover to cover. My first romance I stayed up all night to read (and is now my comfort read), Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey - just something about that book for me! Claudia - great topic!!!!

  14. zambonigirl on 01 Jun 2007 at 10:38 am #

    Everyone has great answers!

    I found my first actual romance novel after I started working for law enforcement. Someone had an obsession for reading in the bathroom, and there was a veritable library in every stall. I still don’t want to know why. One of the books-Shanna by Woodiwiss-looked well loved and was actually kind of falling apart, so I took it into my office for repairs and reading.

    It was awful. I kept looking up and saying, “What the…what? What?” It was like a trainwreck, I couldn’t look away no matter how much I wanted to. I decided that there had to be better books on the same subject out there, so I went on a quest to find them, and I have. My favorite so far has to be “No True Gentleman” by Liz Carlyle.

    And LOL at Alaska being full of hunky guys. Now *that’s* fantasy. Unless you’re at Ft. Wainright…

  15. Suzanne Enoch on 01 Jun 2007 at 11:15 am #

    I used to read everything I could get my hands on, but mostly fantasy and adventure. During the summers we used to go to the library every two weeks, and I’d come back with a two-foot stack of books. I ran out once, right before library day, so my sister handed over one of her books — “Devil’s Cub” by Georgette Heyer.

    That’s why I started out writing traditional Regencies. They were my first love affair.

  16. amy1242 on 01 Jun 2007 at 11:24 am #

    Oh, zambonigirl, you’re bursting my Alaska bubble. You mean to tell me there are NO hunky, protective guy’s there? I’ve carried that mental picture with me for years! Dang, I feel robbed! Guess I’ll have to start fantasizing about other places. Anyone know anything about the guy’s in Montana? I met a guy in Edinburgh 2 years ago that is still the hottest guy I’ve ever met. He was from Inverness and I still dream about him! Sorry to get so far off subject.

  17. anneriailin on 01 Jun 2007 at 11:25 am #

    I had tried some romances back in the late 1970’s and guess I had gotten a hold of some bad books, because I just didn’t enjoy them. When I lived in Northern Maine I read alot of Harlequin romances. Then years later a colleague of mine said that I just HAD to read Julie Garwood’s THE BRIDE. I loved it and have been hooked ever since!! Now the books are running me out of house and home. I really need to get a bookcase or two or three.

    –dorothy

  18. Claudia Dain on 01 Jun 2007 at 12:05 pm #

    Zambonigirl, Liz Carlyle is a friend of mine! I’ll be sure to pass on your praise to her. You might want to drop her a line at her website–she loves to talk to readers.

    Don’t get me started on Johanna Llndsay; that woman has cost me more hours of sleep. LOL I ALWAYS read her books in one sitting.

  19. Judy F on 01 Jun 2007 at 12:06 pm #

    My mom started me on romance books. One of the first ones I remember is Kathleen Woodiwiss’s Shanna. Loved that book

  20. zambonigirl on 01 Jun 2007 at 12:08 pm #

    Oh, the guys in Scotland are totally hot. And kilted! When I was staying just outside of Elie, there was a pubtender called Adam who tended pub whilst wearing a rather “braugh” kilt. And he was pretty darn protective! Some English idiots were staying in the same resort, and they started saying uncomplimentary things about Americans (I think they were under the impression that we were there to golf at St. Andrews), so Adam brought me and my friends some free drinks and proclaimed loudly that Americans tip better than any other nationality, especially better than the skinflint English Blighters. It was way awesome. We got all kinds of pictures with him. Hot, hot, hot.

    Alaska is a fun state to visit, and the men *do* outnumber the women 10-to-1. They are also pretty brawny. You kind of have to be out there. They’re just…well…without a lot of women, they’re kind of socially inept. Mabe you should go and school them, Amy…for the good of mankind.

  21. Cail on 01 Jun 2007 at 12:47 pm #

    Johanna Lindsey has cost me many hours of sleep. So has Stephanie Laurens and Nora Roberts. Not to mention the Goddesses (Sabrina, if i’m not mistaken, The Pirate Lord was also part of the present I got on that fateful birthday…there was a definite pirate theme that day)!

    If Alaska residents are as cute as Chris on Northern Exposure, I’m so there!

  22. Sabrina Jeffries on 01 Jun 2007 at 12:59 pm #

    I’m not sure what to say, because I don’t remember my first romance. I read SO many books from age 7 onward that I just sort of naturally segued into romances. I THINK it was probably a Grace Livingston Hill novel (she wrote Christian romances, so that’s why Mom let me read them). Either that or Emilie Loring. I read those from 9 to 13, when I started reading Barbara Cartland. Read reams and REAMS of those, every one I could lay my hands on (which was no small feat in Bangkok). I discovered Woodiwiss and Rosemary Rogers in college, but truly got hooked when I decided to write one after grad school. That’s when I learned they had become books with heroes I didn’t cringe to read. Then I really fell in love–Johanna Lindsey being a HUGE favorite for me, along with Judith McNaught, Amanda Quick, Meagan McKinney … notice a pattern here? They were all pretty much English Regency historicals, except for the Shirley Busbees I read and loved (and even some of those were Regency historicals).

  23. Sabrina Jeffries on 01 Jun 2007 at 1:00 pm #

    Oh, and I LOVE Liz Carlyle’s NO TRUE GENTLEMAN. Ah, Max.

  24. Jami Alden on 01 Jun 2007 at 1:27 pm #

    I remember vividly: summer of 1986, I was 13 years old, and I got a copy of THE FLAME AND THE FLOWER by Kathleen Woodwiss and read it in like a day. by the end of the summer, I’d read all of her books and was totally hooked on the genre.

    oh and Amy and Zambobnigirl– there are definitely smart, hunky men to be found in Alaska - I married one! of course, we met in college in California (where we still live), but his Alaska roots run very deep.

  25. zambonigirl on 01 Jun 2007 at 1:30 pm #

    Cail-have you bought the first two seasons of Northern Exposure? They come in little yellow and orange hunting vests! Totally adorable!

    And think Holling, not Chris.

    I thought I had some pictures from my first trip to Alaska online, but I don’t, so maybe I’ll think of posting them over the weekend. I know I got some local color at the Turtle Club in Fox, Alaska, but here’s a picture I captured on my last trip of a Moose Mum and her little calf: http://pics.livejournal.com/zambonigirl/pic/0000606w/g1

    Apparently, you can’t hunt on the grounds of Ft. Wainright, so there are a lot of moose hanging around. They can actually turn pretty nasty, but these two were sweet.

    Sabrina-yes, Max is awesome. Dang. Yeah.

    I’m definitely going to google Liz Carlyle and leave her a note. She is a great author.

  26. Tal on 01 Jun 2007 at 1:44 pm #

    The first book was some Nora Roberts, then I discovered Historical, the first a was Keeper of the Dream by Penelope Williamson,,,LOV>LOVE>LOVED that book!! Raine is still my favorite all time hero!!! Still waiting for the sequel..
    Max was one of the first books, I read also, my my he does leave an impression!! Can’t wait for Liz’s new one, I love her too.. she writes fast!!!

  27. amy1242 on 01 Jun 2007 at 1:45 pm #

    Jami and Z-girl…Glad to hear there are smart, hunky men in Alaska! I wasn’t looking forward to going there to school the men on proper etiquette involving women. I have enough stress in my life dealing with ONE guy’s schooling. Although he’s not perfect, he IS coming around some, but it’s a lot of work, to be sure!

  28. Cail on 01 Jun 2007 at 1:48 pm #

    Zamboni, my roommate and I netflix them all, I think we’re on season 5 right now. I did see them in the store though, amazing packaging!

    I don’t think I’ve ever read a Liz Carlyle, which should I start with?

  29. Karen on 01 Jun 2007 at 1:53 pm #

    I met a girlfriend online and we talked about books and I mentioned how I missed reading b/c my girls took up so much of my time. She recommended KEW’s THE FLAME AND THE FLOWER and other authors. This was about 10+ years ago (we are still online buds) and the rest is history. I was a ‘virgin’ to romance novels and I ain’t anymore!!!! So many books, so little time!

  30. MJ on 01 Jun 2007 at 2:26 pm #

    Georgette Heyer. My Mom had all her books in hardcover. I can’t remember when I read the first one…or even which one I read first, for sure…. not one of my favourites, I don’t think. I was quite young, though, as I had to climb to get at them and they’re only on the fifth shelf…. I know them almost by heart now.

    I didn’t get introduced to the rest of the genre until last August…. I’d picked up a romance in Edinburgh airport…and read it when I got home, while severely jetlagged. Hooked! Instantly! Been reading romance almost exclusively and voraciously ever since and there’s no end in sight. Keep writing. (-;

  31. zambonigirl on 01 Jun 2007 at 2:27 pm #

    Cail-A Woman Of Virtue introduces you to Max and the people in his life, particularly Cecilia and Lord Delacourt who feature pretty prominently in No True Gentleman. Beauty Like The Night introduces you to the Rutledges (Bentley Rutledge is also in AWOV). You don’t have to read those to read No True Gentleman. I didn’t, and I wasn’t cursing Liz for not explaining who these other people were, so if you don’t want to read them, you don’t have to, but when I finally got around to them, I had an “Aaaah” moment as things were explained a little better. And then to finish it, there’s The Devil You Know, which shows what happens with Bentley, and A Deal With The Devil, if you really want to know how Lord Walrafen ends up. And if you’ve already read the first two “Devil” books, you might as well finish off with “The Devil To Pay”, because you don’t want to leave anything unfinished now, do you?

    *crickets chirp*

    Okay, I’ll shut up now.

  32. Kasey on 01 Jun 2007 at 2:28 pm #

    My mom, grandma and even my aunt all read romance novels. I always wanted to read them but my mom said I needed to wait until I was older. I was about 13 when I said I was tired of waiting and grabbed LaVyrle Spencer’s The Gamble at the library and brought it home wihtout telling my mom. She saw it in my bookbag after I read it and finally gave in and told me I could read them if I wanted to. I have been reading them ever since.

  33. Claudia Dain on 01 Jun 2007 at 2:48 pm #

    You know, along with G. Heyer, I’ve also yet to read LaVyrle Spencer. I almost hate to jump into the LaVyrle pond since I know she’s been retired for some time. No new books! What if I develop an addiction to her? Same with Heyer…when you get to the end of their backlist, that’s it!

    Another author who is no longer producing (since she’s deceased) but who I loved is Arnette Lamb. She liked Scottish settings and Scottish heroes. But who doesn’t?

  34. Liz Carlyle on 01 Jun 2007 at 3:12 pm #

    Dearest Claudia, my BFF, has outed me, and asked me to come over here and make my most gracious cyber-curtsey to zambonigirl et al, which I am so very honored and happy to do. Yes, I live to answer my reader mail, and am ever glad to disentangle anyone caught in the confusing coil which is my backlist. Alas, some people just don’t know when to quit, and I, it would appear, am one of the worst.

    Now, to answer Dear Claudia’s question, it was the summer before I turned twelve, and I found THE GRAND SOPHY in my very small public library. Before school had started, I had managed to read GH’s entire backlist. When she died in ‘74 (before many, many of you young lovelies were born) I wore deepest mourning for a year. I have not quite got over it yet — and as Dear Claudia can attest, still wear nothing but black.

  35. colinfirthfan on 01 Jun 2007 at 3:22 pm #

    I was 16 and I was visitng my sister. Went to the library and picked up Johanna Lindsey’s Secret Fire and I’ve never looked back since.
    I have read Secret Fire at least 7 or 8 times. Latest being 4 months ago.

    Immediately after Secret Fire I read Julie Garwoods The Bride and then the Mallory novels.

    I used to exclusively read only Lindseys and Garwoods (amonglst the romance novel genre) for the next 10 years.
    :-)

  36. colinfirthfan on 01 Jun 2007 at 3:24 pm #

    Also used to read Georgette Heyers - but I consider those in the fiction category rather than the romance category.
    I loooove GH books.

  37. Claudia Dain on 01 Jun 2007 at 3:28 pm #

    Listen, don’t let Liz Carlyle fool you; she wears black because it’s uber elegant and makes her snowy white skin glow like costly pearls.

    I’m sorry, Liz, but unless your name is Victoria, nobody mourns for 30+ years.

  38. Kasey on 01 Jun 2007 at 3:30 pm #

    Claudia - I can understand your hesitation about reading LaVyrle Spencer’s novels. I was disappointed too, when she quit writing, but I still love her books and reread them from time to time. I would definately recommend her and she does have a good size list of books to read, so it should keep you busy for a little while at least. :)

  39. Claudia Dain on 01 Jun 2007 at 3:34 pm #

    Okay, Kasey, I’ll take the plunge! She has to be great because the libraries still carry her books, millions of them. I’ve never heard anything but praise for her. It’s amazing that she retired at the peak of her popularity.

  40. zambonigirl on 01 Jun 2007 at 4:08 pm #

    Dearest Claudia, my BFF, has outed me, and asked me to come over here and make my most gracious cyber-curtsey to zambonigirl et al, which I am so very honored and happy to do.

    Does anybody have lavender water in their reticule? I do believe I shall faint…

    In all seriousness, it’s so awesome to be around here with the lovely Goddesses, seeing the inimitable Liz Carlyle is more than I could imagine! Thanks so much for telling us what your “first” was like!

  41. DebMarlowe on 01 Jun 2007 at 4:11 pm #

    Ah, Brandon Birmingham. The Flame and the Flower. My first historical romance. I owe you, Kathleen Woodiwiss, for many years of pleasure.

    I love romances. All kinds. KW was my first, but so many have touched me. I started as a young teen too and have been thankful many times that these books taught me about strong women and the men who value them.

    Hey romances even helped me on my SAT. Libation was a word on my verbals, and I knew that Brandon had poured Heather many an evening libation! :-)

  42. DebMarlowe on 01 Jun 2007 at 4:27 pm #

    zambonigirl, don’t let Claudia fool you, Liz wears black because she doesn’t want to have to worry about anything matching–now she’s put together no matter what she pulls out of her closet! The startling contrast of her opalescent skin is just a happy by-product. :-)

    BTW, if anybody gets confused about all of Liz’s interconnected books, she has family trees on her website!

  43. Kasey on 01 Jun 2007 at 4:39 pm #

    Claudia - you wont regret it!

  44. zambonigirl on 01 Jun 2007 at 4:57 pm #

    Hey, wearing all black has worked for some pretty awesome people, Johnny Cash among them! His was more of a socio-political statement, sure, but he’s the OG. (Original Goth.)

  45. Julia London on 01 Jun 2007 at 5:00 pm #

    I read Kathleen Woodiwiss when I was a teenager. But I didn’t really read romance until years later, when I was into reading historical novels. I picked up an old Iris Johanson novel — don’t remember the title, but it had a stepback that sent me over the moon and started off in a Most Provocative Manner. I was hooked. I read dozens of them. And then I got the bright idea to write them. :-)

  46. Stacy S on 01 Jun 2007 at 5:10 pm #

    The first one I read was a Julie Garwood. Remember if it was The Gift or The Secret. Iwas in my teens then, been reading them since.

  47. MizMacgyver on 01 Jun 2007 at 5:22 pm #

    I started reading Harlequins at the age of 12, didn’t zero in on the historicals until the Flame and the Flower, that did it for me. I have always loved romance but I lean toward historicals now. Stephanie Laurens got me hooked on “series” historicals.
    Somebody asked about what to start with on Liz Carlyle books, kind of brain dead right now but I loved her Lies and Secrets series. One Little Sin, Two Little Lies, Three Little Secrets.

  48. Karen Rose on 01 Jun 2007 at 6:56 pm #

    My first romance was LaVyrle Spencer’s YEARS. I still love this book! I read everything of LaVyrles that I could get my hands on.

    Then I read this book called MONTANA SKY by Nora Roberts. I hadn’t heard of her before. (Like, on what planet had I been living?) I said, Wow, suspense and hot sex - I wonder if she’s written anything else. Chuckle. Needless to say, my keeper shelves sag from the weight of my Nora collection.

  49. lisapbailey on 01 Jun 2007 at 7:08 pm #

    As with many of you I’ve been a reader well since I learned to read some ummm 35+ years ago. I didn’t start romance novels until after college age and can remember getting hooked on the genre with Jane Ann Krentz and then Nora Roberts. My first, best and favorite biggie is Outlander by Diana Gabaldon–I don’t think it’s classified as romance but oh my, it is!

  50. darkshire007 on 01 Jun 2007 at 7:22 pm #

    Actually there are a lot of hot guys in Alaska. My husband was born/raised in Fairbanks; he’s a cop and most of his friends are cops or agents of some sort. I think it’s more a case of where to look. A lot of the guys I know that work the North Slope have the whole rugged thing going for them *sigh* , the cops have the nice bods and handcuff/handgun thing going. Glenn Brady is a friend of my husband and he owns the Silver Gulch brewery which has the distinction of being the northern most brewery in North America. He has the tall, dark and quiet thing going. Makes me think of a chemistry major! LOL! And of course there are all the military guys at Ft. Wainwright and Eielson. They just having going all over!

  51. Claudia Dain on 01 Jun 2007 at 7:24 pm #

    Basically, we all seem to have glommed onto the same authors somewhere on our romance journey. No wonder they’re all big names! They do it right, tell the story we want to hear.

    I wish I knew how Nora does it!

  52. dbrown3400 on 01 Jun 2007 at 7:35 pm #

    Like Sabrina, I had read books for years without remembering any as a special romance. My big jump into the world of romance today came on an airplane trip to California with my girlfriend in 1991. I had finished my book and she handed me a copy of Teresa Medeiros’ Shadows and Lace. I was hooked. I now own thousands of books. some collector’s items, and I continue to find treasures whenever I go to storage to bring over some to read or reread.

    I know mine is an OCD. For example, I couldn’t resist the reissue of Suzanne’s Lady Rogue — I will buy reissues of books I own if the cover is appealing. I have the original and latest issues of the Malory series. The originals have mostly Fabio covers. I guess that’s what I worked all those years for — my books and my music.

    Donna

  53. Claudia Dain on 01 Jun 2007 at 8:21 pm #

    Dbrown, you’re not alone in your OCD on books. I do the same thing. If I find a better copy, hardcover or just cleaner and fresher of what I already own, I find it hard not to buy it. Favorite books are precious—I want to have back-up copies!

  54. Julia London on 01 Jun 2007 at 8:43 pm #

    So Claudia, are you a re-reader? I have only done that with a handful of books. Julie Garwood, Judith McNaught….I have books that I loved, but its hard for me to go back and re-read.

  55. Claudia Dain on 01 Jun 2007 at 9:05 pm #

    I used to be more of a re-reader than I am now. I don’t know what’s changed, but it’s changed. I wish I could go back to the Old Me, the one that read a novel 10 times and always found it fresh and engaging, but the Old Me has been replaced by the Really Old Me. Actually, the Old Me was the Young Me, the one who could eat anything!

    I really miss that chick. LOL

    Actually, in the spirit of full disclosure, the books that I tend to buy in multiples are non-fiction research books. If they’re great resource books, I want one practically in every room! You just never know when you want to check that one pesky factoid, to see if you remembered it right.

  56. krystal on 01 Jun 2007 at 11:21 pm #

    Ever since I have started reading, I have been a fan of the happily ever after stories, especially if there was some kind of romantic aspect. When I was around 8, I read Robin McKinley’s Beauty: A Retelling Story of Beauty and the Beast. I absolutely loved it and still reread it from time to time, even though I have since grown up.

    A few years later, I read Jude Deveraux’s The Duchess and then became hooked on all romances in general. I’ve come to the conclusion that I really like the historical ones, although modern ones are still fun.

  57. Judy on 02 Jun 2007 at 3:12 am #

    I was 17 and me and the fam went to K-Mart, they were having a really big sale because the were closing, everyone was browsing and I just so happen to find my way to the book section, I skimming the novels and I came upon Perfect by Judith McNaught, now before this I have read a few romance novels but nothing quite so earth shattering, at least not until Perfect my soul definitely started singing the planets alined the heavens were…well you get the picture. I was hooked, I was moved and I became real romance reader, I was not in it for the sexy scenes or the sexy heroes or seemingly perfect heroine, I was in it because of the emotional rollercoster these character went through, the emotional connection I recived by living their lives through their eyes. not to mention the fuzzy feeling of the happy ending, I live for those happy endings on a crappy day. And btw thank you to you authors that write these beautiful books of the road to love. It is awe-inspiring really.

  58. Caren Crane Helms on 03 Jun 2007 at 7:54 pm #

    I loved Barbara Cartland first. Of course, they were all essentially the same story, so who knows which came first? But the first ones I owned were a few my mother brought home from Ingram’s when she worked there and gave me for Christmas. After those first ones, I moved myself on to Harlequin Presents. Charlotte Lamb was one of my favorite Presents authors in the late 70s and early 80s, when I was a teenager. I miss her!

  59. TheNightPoet on 03 Jun 2007 at 10:15 pm #

    I don’t remember what my first romance was or when I actually started reading them. I do know that I started reading romance novels by Nora Roberts though. Then I started branching out to other authors. :)

    Andrea

  60. Kathleen on 04 Jun 2007 at 9:06 pm #

    Oh yeah, Nora Roberts’ Montana Sky. That was the first one I read and I’ve been hooked on the genre ever since.

  61. TheNightPoet on 04 Jun 2007 at 11:49 pm #

    Kathleen, I loved Montana Sky! That wasn’t my first book by her, but it was a great book! Did you see the movie for it on Lifetime? It was good, but since it was on tv, I know they couldn’t show everything that Nora described and wrote about in the actual book.

    Andrea

  62. MizMacgyver on 05 Jun 2007 at 7:53 pm #

    Andrea, did you watch all of them? Carolina Moon really got me, the book and the movie! Like I said in the other blog, I am a wimp when it comes to that scary stuff anyway and I had the heeby jeebies for days after reading the book and then watching the movie. I think that one came real close to the book myself.

  63. Dorothy on 06 Jun 2007 at 3:50 pm #

    Great discussion ladies!

    I love romance novels.
    I really recommend Margaret Way’s Outback stories.
    I’ve been to Australia a couple of times, and I really feel she really captured the landscape perfectly.

    Like most of you, I go through these books like water, and I used to spend my money like water, too. haha! Luckily, I’ve been able to save some money, and I want to pass it on: My friend told me about this great website: BookSwim. It’s an online book rental club. I just started a membership about a week ago, I’m on the 7 books at a time plan.

    They mail the books right to my door, shipping on them. It’s amazing!

    -Dorothy Lang

  64. TheNightPoet on 07 Jun 2007 at 1:07 am #

    Miz, I didn’t get to see Carolina Moon. I had to either work or something was going on with school, so I didn’t get to see it. I did get to watch Blue Smoke though. And actually I have yet to read Carolina Moon. I need to read it sometime. I bet it did come real close to the book. I thought Montana Sky was pretty close to the book too, but like I said, it didn’t have everything that was described in the book. It was still good though.

    Andrea

  65. MizMacgyver on 07 Jun 2007 at 6:12 am #

    I didn’t get to see Blue Smoke and the ladies at work told me it wasn’t as close to the book as the other ones. Blue Smoke kept me up a few nights I have to say, that guy was weird! You need to read Carolina Moon, I think you would like it. They showed it again a couple of weeks ago.

  66. TheNightPoet on 08 Jun 2007 at 12:23 am #

    I’ll have to definitely read Carolina Moon sometime soon. I actually haven’t read Blue Smoke, but from what I saw in the movie for it, that guy was weird. I’ll have to keep an eye out for Carolina Moon. Hopefully I’ll have read the book by the time I get to watch it. :P

    Andrea

  67. MarthaH on 14 Jun 2007 at 12:52 pm #

    I got hooked on historical romance novels in 2004. My mother was in the hospital and I went to the gift shop looking for a magazine to read while she went to surgery - I noticed a book by Nicole Jordan entitled the Master of Temptation. And that, as the saying goes, was it for me.

  68. pri.r. on 08 Jul 2007 at 9:13 pm #

    ooohh…. my first memorable romance book??… i think it must have been … Irresistible– by Susan Mallery, that was my first memorable CONTEMPORARY ….oh that and Rachel Gibson’s Daisy’s Back in Town.
    Historical wise, my favourite was OMG…. “what price love?” by stephanie laurens…. the hours ms.laurens has kept me up… honestly, i love following the Cynesters series…what i wouldn’t do to live in Regency England.
    *sigh* i love susan mallery, stephanie laurens-i’ve almost got ever book in her series,johanna lindsey,sabrina jefferies,suzanne enoch,rachel gibson…and MANY MANY others..
    ps: does rachel ever blog?
    pps: ..i have 56 romance novels :D this is an achievement for me, and i constantly re-read, coz they can never get old.

  69. Malady on 16 Dec 2007 at 10:29 am #

    Oh well it seems appropriate for me to comment here. whe i was 14 my next door neighbour was moveing her upstairs furniture for no apparent reason and she found a box of books. we laughed at the covers and she went back to cleaning, i grabbed some and made my escape. i loathe cleaning. so i sat down with these books i had scorned for years, and i started to read. i was sucked in away from goverment housing and into adventure, where life might have sucked but the good guys(and gals) won. first there was white rose, then treasures of the heart(madeline baker), and then Zinnia(jayne castle/ann krentz) and then the rose of blacksword(recsann becnal). i was hooked i found a op shop who sold old romances for 10cents, and i went a little mad. it was this reawaked passion for reading that lead me to my current phase- librarian in training. my tastes have changed, i love regency, and westerns, though westerns are rarer now. the goddesses are my fave Authoresses.

  70. Malady on 16 Dec 2007 at 10:31 am #

    funny thing is i still have these books of hers. she doesnt remember and she did give permission to “borrow”. but i have had them for soo long that they are MINE.