Comments on: A New Guilty Pleasure http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2005/02/26/a-new-guilty-pleasure/ What's hip, what's now, what's tomorrow in the romance genre world. Sat, 09 Jan 2010 20:26:04 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: LLB http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2005/02/26/a-new-guilty-pleasure/comment-page-1/#comment-704 LLB Mon, 28 Feb 2005 23:55:09 +0000 /?p=99#comment-704 I just started a <a href="http://laurielikesbooks.blog-city.com/read/1101810.htm" target="_blank">series of bloggings</a> at my blog about my HP experiences in more detail...today was the first HP I read a couple of weeks ago. I plan to talk about all those I've read over the next week or so. TTFN, LLB I just started a series of bloggings at my blog about my HP experiences in more detail…today was the first HP I read a couple of weeks ago. I plan to talk about all those I’ve read over the next week or so.

TTFN, LLB

]]> By: Nicki http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2005/02/26/a-new-guilty-pleasure/comment-page-1/#comment-696 Nicki Mon, 28 Feb 2005 14:22:13 +0000 /?p=99#comment-696 Oh I forgot to mention, Laurie if you come across Lucy Monroe's "The Billionaire's Pregnant Mistress" do pick it up. It is an amazingly good read. Also any Michelle Reid backlists you can find are well worth a look in as well. There are so many other authors I could recommend to you as well, including a few Australian Authors. Nicki Oh I forgot to mention, Laurie if you come across Lucy Monroe’s “The Billionaire’s Pregnant Mistress” do pick it up. It is an amazingly good read.

Also any Michelle Reid backlists you can find are well worth a look in as well.

There are so many other authors I could recommend to you as well, including a few Australian Authors.

Nicki

]]> By: Nicki http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2005/02/26/a-new-guilty-pleasure/comment-page-1/#comment-695 Nicki Mon, 28 Feb 2005 14:20:29 +0000 /?p=99#comment-695 My main read is the Harlequin Presents line. As someone previously said, in Australia they are categorised under the Sexy line. Harlequin Presents is a misunderstood line I think. They have changed so much over the years. The age difference between the hero and heroine isn't as much as the early days. Most of the heroines also have careers, they also stand up to the hero and stand up for their beliefs. Presents have kept up with the changes in the modern world. I absolutely adore the Alpha male. He is strong and sometimes immovable. But when he falls for his mate he falls hard but by no means does that weaken the man. We are just shown another side to him, the side he shows only for his mate. Romance is all I read. I read for enjoyment. There is enough bad news on the evening news to fill my quota of 'thinking' genre. LOL Nicki My main read is the Harlequin Presents line. As someone previously said, in Australia they are categorised under the Sexy line.

Harlequin Presents is a misunderstood line I think. They have changed so much over the years. The age difference between the hero and heroine isn’t as much as the early days. Most of the heroines also have careers, they also stand up to the hero and stand up for their beliefs. Presents have kept up with the changes in the modern world.

I absolutely adore the Alpha male. He is strong and sometimes immovable. But when he falls for his mate he falls hard but by no means does that weaken the man. We are just shown another side to him, the side he shows only for his mate.

Romance is all I read. I read for enjoyment. There is enough bad news on the evening news to fill my quota of ‘thinking’ genre. LOL

Nicki

]]> By: LLB http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2005/02/26/a-new-guilty-pleasure/comment-page-1/#comment-685 LLB Sun, 27 Feb 2005 18:52:53 +0000 /?p=99#comment-685 Candy - You're one of the few people to ever almost-mirror what I say about reading romance in general. I read certain books to think and romances to feel, or just to entertain. I really don't read them to think...I spend enough time on a daily basis doing that. I read romance just for fun. We're on a similar wavelength in another way, too. You're just about the first person to have loved Perfume! I gave it to my husband to read after I read it when it was first published and he thought it was sick. Yeah, it was, but it was really intriguing. TTFN, LLB Candy -

You’re one of the few people to ever almost-mirror what I say about reading romance in general. I read certain books to think and romances to feel, or just to entertain. I really don’t read them to think…I spend enough time on a daily basis doing that. I read romance just for fun.

We’re on a similar wavelength in another way, too. You’re just about the first person to have loved Perfume! I gave it to my husband to read after I read it when it was first published and he thought it was sick. Yeah, it was, but it was really intriguing.

TTFN, LLB

]]> By: Candy http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2005/02/26/a-new-guilty-pleasure/comment-page-1/#comment-684 Candy Sun, 27 Feb 2005 18:48:37 +0000 /?p=99#comment-684 I define a "guilty pleasure" as a book that uses a lot of features I like to snark about as being characteristic of "bad" books. Dara Joy is a definite guilty pleasure for me. Her books are so trashy, the names of her characters in the Matrix of Destiny series make me cringe in horrified delight, and they're just so much fun. Certain Lisa Kleypas books are also guilty pleasures, like <i>Lady Sophia's Lover</i>. I think it's a terrible book on a lot of levels, but I enjoyed it all the same. Michelle Reid, Carole Mortimer and Charlotte Lamb (I can't remember if they write for Harlequin Romance or Harlequin Presents or both) are also guilty pleasures. Man, all those dark, glowering Italian heroes who are so distant and manipulative that they border on being emotionally abusive can get a bit much. I normally hate those types of heroes, but several Michelle Reids are on my keeper shelf. I'm an unabashed book snob. I do think there's a difference between "quality" fiction and "trashy" fiction, but unlike much of the literati, I think the standards are pretty much completely subjective. To me, "quality" fiction makes me think and engages my senses and my emotions in a very distinct way. "Trashy" fiction helps me to NOT think. I don't read entirely for fun; books like Barry Unsworth's <i>A Sacred Hunger</i> or Patrick Susskind's <i>Perfume</i> aren't fun to read by a long shot, but I stayed up until all hours reading them, and I thought about them for days afterwards. On the other hand, I'm lucky if I can remember the titles of my guilty-pleasure books, even though I re-read the keepers occasionally. I think both types of books play equally important roles in my life. Hey, when I'm feeling depressed or life is hard, I'm not reaching for <i>Madame Bovary</i>, I'm grabbing a Dara Joy and reading about hot inter-species sex with ridiculously sexually-accomplished humanoid aliens. Just as when I'm feeling down, I don't make myself a four-course French meal from scratch; I grab the nearest bag of chocolate-covered pretzels and chomp down. I define a “guilty pleasure” as a book that uses a lot of features I like to snark about as being characteristic of “bad” books. Dara Joy is a definite guilty pleasure for me. Her books are so trashy, the names of her characters in the Matrix of Destiny series make me cringe in horrified delight, and they’re just so much fun. Certain Lisa Kleypas books are also guilty pleasures, like Lady Sophia’s Lover. I think it’s a terrible book on a lot of levels, but I enjoyed it all the same. Michelle Reid, Carole Mortimer and Charlotte Lamb (I can’t remember if they write for Harlequin Romance or Harlequin Presents or both) are also guilty pleasures. Man, all those dark, glowering Italian heroes who are so distant and manipulative that they border on being emotionally abusive can get a bit much. I normally hate those types of heroes, but several Michelle Reids are on my keeper shelf.

I’m an unabashed book snob. I do think there’s a difference between “quality” fiction and “trashy” fiction, but unlike much of the literati, I think the standards are pretty much completely subjective. To me, “quality” fiction makes me think and engages my senses and my emotions in a very distinct way. “Trashy” fiction helps me to NOT think. I don’t read entirely for fun; books like Barry Unsworth’s A Sacred Hunger or Patrick Susskind’s Perfume aren’t fun to read by a long shot, but I stayed up until all hours reading them, and I thought about them for days afterwards. On the other hand, I’m lucky if I can remember the titles of my guilty-pleasure books, even though I re-read the keepers occasionally.

I think both types of books play equally important roles in my life. Hey, when I’m feeling depressed or life is hard, I’m not reaching for Madame Bovary, I’m grabbing a Dara Joy and reading about hot inter-species sex with ridiculously sexually-accomplished humanoid aliens. Just as when I’m feeling down, I don’t make myself a four-course French meal from scratch; I grab the nearest bag of chocolate-covered pretzels and chomp down.

]]> By: Jill http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2005/02/26/a-new-guilty-pleasure/comment-page-1/#comment-678 Jill Sun, 27 Feb 2005 15:56:38 +0000 /?p=99#comment-678 Laurie, I'm so glad they put up your entry a day early. I read more Harlequin Romance than Harlequin Presents, but I enjoy both of them and can't wait to read the entry on your blog. I. I've only come "out of the closet" recently as romance reader/writer. Most of my romance books are finally on the shelf (I used to hide them under the bathroom sink). Now I just hide ones with the goofiest titles or covers. So I guess romance in general is still a semi-guilty pleasure. II. When I read Harlequin Presents, I think of it almost as sitting down to watch a soap opera. I know the characters and setting will be glamorous and the emotions and problems will be bigger than life. The reason I like them better than soap operas is that they have a happy ending. I hate those soap cliffhangers! Some authors I've enjoyed are Sandra Marton and Anne Mcallister. Mcallister's book even have a touch of humor in them, something you don't see often with HPs. III. Titles with the word "virgin" in them are my pet peeve. Like that is the sum of her whole personality! IV. I love marriage of convenience stories or relationship/engagement of convenience stories, even in contemporaries. I am willing to suspend my disbelief because I enjoy that storyline so much. There is something about the levels of attraction working on different levels that just really zings me. Just FYI from someone who reads both, Harlequin Romance is not quite as chaste as Silhouette Romance today. SR requires that couple be married to make love. In HRs, that is not the case, but the sensuality level is still pretty mild. There can be love scenes, but it doesn't get too anatomically detailed, if you catch my drift. I didn't want to get off topic, but I really love HRs and could go on about them forever. I hope you give some a try some day. Laurie,
I’m so glad they put up your entry a day early. I read more Harlequin Romance than Harlequin Presents, but I enjoy both of them and can’t wait to read the entry on your blog.
I. I’ve only come “out of the closet” recently as romance reader/writer. Most of my romance books are finally on the shelf (I used to hide them under the bathroom sink). Now I just hide ones with the goofiest titles or covers. So I guess romance in general is still a semi-guilty pleasure.
II. When I read Harlequin Presents, I think of it almost as sitting down to watch a soap opera. I know the characters and setting will be glamorous and the emotions and problems will be bigger than life. The reason I like them better than soap operas is that they have a happy ending. I hate those soap cliffhangers! Some authors I’ve enjoyed are Sandra Marton and Anne Mcallister. Mcallister’s book even have a touch of humor in them, something you don’t see often with HPs.
III. Titles with the word “virgin” in them are my pet peeve. Like that is the sum of her whole personality!
IV. I love marriage of convenience stories or relationship/engagement of convenience stories, even in contemporaries. I am willing to suspend my disbelief because I enjoy that storyline so much. There is something about the levels of attraction working on different levels that just really zings me.
Just FYI from someone who reads both, Harlequin Romance is not quite as chaste as Silhouette Romance today. SR requires that couple be married to make love. In HRs, that is not the case, but the sensuality level is still pretty mild. There can be love scenes, but it doesn’t get too anatomically detailed, if you catch my drift. I didn’t want to get off topic, but I really love HRs and could go on about them forever. I hope you give some a try some day.

]]> By: Jaci http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2005/02/26/a-new-guilty-pleasure/comment-page-1/#comment-670 Jaci Sun, 27 Feb 2005 14:07:05 +0000 /?p=99#comment-670 definitely the old 'bodice rippers' like Rosemary Rogers and Kathleen Woodiwiss. Even though they're over 20 years old, I'll still pick up "Sweet Savage Love" or "The Flame and the Flower" and read them again. And though they're not politically correct in this day and age, I still just love them to death. :smile: Jaci definitely the old ‘bodice rippers’ like Rosemary Rogers and Kathleen Woodiwiss. Even though they’re over 20 years old, I’ll still pick up “Sweet Savage Love” or “The Flame and the Flower” and read them again. And though they’re not politically correct in this day and age, I still just love them to death. :smile:

Jaci

]]> By: CindyS http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2005/02/26/a-new-guilty-pleasure/comment-page-1/#comment-668 CindyS Sun, 27 Feb 2005 04:34:55 +0000 /?p=99#comment-668 I understand what is meant by 'guilty pleasure'. It is used to explain why you might like something that others find poorly written, horribly unPC, no plot etc. I have said that Diana Palmer is a guilty pleasure for me because I enjoy many of the unPC moments. Also, the jerk hero who gets his AHA moment - I'm usually just sitting waiting for him to find out how wrong he is and then fix it. (I read a recent release by her that was PC'd up to the gills and it lost all it's drama but, her older ones rock!) I picked up a book by an author whose books I had tried and hated. Now I must eat crow because it became a keeper. Some of her other books are good but I can't read them back to back because I find that her characters can be too good to be true and stereotypical. I would now call her a guilty read. Not that I feel guilty reading any of these books. It's just a way to explain to others that yes, there are people who enjoy these authors. As for HP, I admit I read a few years ago (15) and haven't picked up any since. It would be nice to know how they have changed. I'll probably go to LLB's blog for that discussion :) CindyS I understand what is meant by ‘guilty pleasure’. It is used to explain why you might like something that others find poorly written, horribly unPC, no plot etc.

I have said that Diana Palmer is a guilty pleasure for me because I enjoy many of the unPC moments. Also, the jerk hero who gets his AHA moment – I’m usually just sitting waiting for him to find out how wrong he is and then fix it. (I read a recent release by her that was PC’d up to the gills and it lost all it’s drama but, her older ones rock!)

I picked up a book by an author whose books I had tried and hated. Now I must eat crow because it became a keeper. Some of her other books are good but I can’t read them back to back because I find that her characters can be too good to be true and stereotypical. I would now call her a guilty read.

Not that I feel guilty reading any of these books. It’s just a way to explain to others that yes, there are people who enjoy these authors.

As for HP, I admit I read a few years ago (15) and haven’t picked up any since. It would be nice to know how they have changed. I’ll probably go to LLB’s blog for that discussion :)

CindyS

]]> By: Kay http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2005/02/26/a-new-guilty-pleasure/comment-page-1/#comment-666 Kay Sun, 27 Feb 2005 02:01:34 +0000 /?p=99#comment-666 Harlequin Presents - in Australia they're called Sexy Romance - used to be my guilty pleasures. Like Linda I started out reading Mills and Boon when I got a box full of ancient ones (from a school fete) at age 11. They were extremely tame, but very fun. I was too much of a book snob to ever buy any more though, and it wasn't until a couple of years ago that I rediscovered them in the form of HP. Much hotter and a lot of fun. But truth be told I really can't get into those over the top alpha male types. Oh I still enjoy the books (mostly) but they just cause too much cringing. Now, however, I've discovered temptations and Blaze and I am in heaven. There are some alpha males but there are gamma males too. My only <i>really</i> guilty pleasure left is reading blogs when I should be stuyding. Speaking of which... Harlequin Presents – in Australia they’re called Sexy Romance – used to be my guilty pleasures.

Like Linda I started out reading Mills and Boon when I got a box full of ancient ones (from a school fete) at age 11. They were extremely tame, but very fun. I was too much of a book snob to ever buy any more though, and it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that I rediscovered them in the form of HP. Much hotter and a lot of fun. But truth be told I really can’t get into those over the top alpha male types. Oh I still enjoy the books (mostly) but they just cause too much cringing. Now, however, I’ve discovered temptations and Blaze and I am in heaven. There are some alpha males but there are gamma males too. My only really guilty pleasure left is reading blogs when I should be stuyding. Speaking of which…

]]> By: Danielle C. http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2005/02/26/a-new-guilty-pleasure/comment-page-1/#comment-664 Danielle C. Sat, 26 Feb 2005 23:56:37 +0000 /?p=99#comment-664 Hi Laurie, It was one of AAR’s polls that first made me start thinking about what a "guilty pleasure" really means. I came to the conclusion then that I don't think I have any guilty pleasures when it comes to reading - if I like it, why feel guilty? As I wrote somewhere else, against whose standard am I supposed to measure my right to take pleasure in a book? On the other hand, if something about reading the book makes me feel ashamed, I put it down because I cannot enjoy things that make me feel ashamed. As to Harlequin Presents, I fully agree with you. In fact, it was to a great deal due to an HP that I pulled out of a truly debilitating reading slump. I came across the book by accident, and as it was an Australian edition with an innocuous title and a non-sensual cover, and I had not read a category romance since I was in my teens, I had no idea what I was in for. The book was "Lazaro’s Revenge" by Jane Porter. Wow. Best author find for me of 2004. With that book I learnt to enjoy reading again. Great emotion, wonderfully exotic location, and compelling characters. Now I squeeze my eyes shut at the titles of Porter’s HPs because I know they are no reflection at all of the quality of the wonderful story between the covers :-) Danielle C. Hi Laurie,

It was one of AAR’s polls that first made me start thinking about what a “guilty pleasure” really means. I came to the conclusion then that I don’t think I have any guilty pleasures when it comes to reading – if I like it, why feel guilty? As I wrote somewhere else, against whose standard am I supposed to measure my right to take pleasure in a book? On the other hand, if something about reading the book makes me feel ashamed, I put it down because I cannot enjoy things that make me feel ashamed.

As to Harlequin Presents, I fully agree with you. In fact, it was to a great deal due to an HP that I pulled out of a truly debilitating reading slump. I came across the book by accident, and as it was an Australian edition with an innocuous title and a non-sensual cover, and I had not read a category romance since I was in my teens, I had no idea what I was in for. The book was “Lazaro’s Revenge” by Jane Porter. Wow. Best author find for me of 2004. With that book I learnt to enjoy reading again. Great emotion, wonderfully exotic location, and compelling characters. Now I squeeze my eyes shut at the titles of Porter’s HPs because I know they are no reflection at all of the quality of the wonderful story between the covers :-)

Danielle C.

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