It wasn’t that long ago that if you’d approached me and asked what I was reading, you would’ve received my pat ‘romance’ answer. I didn’t read any other genre. Romance was it. I found everything I needed within that blanket heading.
Nowadays, not so much.
I still write romance (among other things). Quite enjoy it in fact. My first Blaze, OFF LIMITS, released on Mar. 1st. You really didn’t think that I was going to miss an opportunity to plug my book, did you? 
Now where was I? Oh, that’s right, I was discussing my reading habits. *g*
Romance hasn’t changed. Actually, I take that back. Romance has changed, but I think for the better since it’s expanded to include so much. Unfortunately, romance hasn’t changed as much as ‘I’ have. I still love my HEA endings and my HFN endings, unless I’m reading horror. With horror, I simply hope that the person I’m pulling for survives. (Dean Koontz, you rock at this.:) But my tastes overall have morphed particularly within the last year and a half. I want worlds that are richer, characters that are darker and stories that take me in unexpected directions. Unfortunately, I haven’t been finding them in romance. I have, however, been finding these things in YA fantasy, Graphic Novels/Manga and Urban Fantasy. The worlds in these books are rich and the characters have questionable behavior. Behavior that isn’t readily acceptable in a romance. Before you say anything, I know that there are exceptions to this rule (ie Lynn Viehl, Lara Adrian, J.R. Ward, Jeaniene Frost, Nalini Singh and Shiloh Walker to name just a few). There always are exceptions in literature. And before you ask, yes, I have written the type of book that I want to read in the romance section. It’s called, RED (after Little Red Riding Hood) and comes out in November 08. Wow, two plugs in one entry. I must be feeling saucy today. (wg)
Part of me feels a little sad for this reading change, like I’ve lost some of my innocence. (No snickers from the peanut gallery over my use of the word innocence.) While the other half is excited about being introduced to worlds that I didn’t know existed. It’s true because I never ventured out of the romance sections in the stores.
I’m still trying to reconcile my feelings about the whole thing. I’ve been with the romance community for such a lengthy period of time. I feel like I’m cheating on a long-term love. (And yes, I still do love romances, so don’t even go there.) I know that it’s possible to enjoy the best of both worlds. After all, many people do it. But more and more, I go to the bookstores and find myself skimming the romance section, then heading straight for the sci-fi/fantasy/horror realm. It calls to me, tempting me away from the familiar.
Am I the only one? For those who’ve ventured to other parts of the stores for your reading enjoyment, have you returned to romance? If so, what brought you back?
I was reading romances at an inappropriately young age because I was a voracious reader and that’s what was in the house. By my early 20s, I was at the point where I could read the back cover and predict with creepy accuracy everything that happened in the book because I was so familiar with the construct. I gave up romance entirely for almost 10 years, dumped it for horror, mystery, thrillers, KIDS’ books.
Then I inherited a box of mysteries that contained one cheesy-covered, horribly titled romance. I snickered and rolled my eyes and flipped through it to verify my predictions. My jaw dropped. My eyes bulged. My pulse quickened. What was with all this supernatural stuff? I didn’t know you could DO that in a romance.
It. Was. Freakin’. Awesome.
Paranormal brought me back to romance. I’ve since moseyed back into romantic suspense, which became a lot darker during my absence. Still haven’t regained a fondness for straight contemporary or historicals, though. I need that extra twist of “something else.”
by Kerry Allen March 4th, 2008 at 8:34 amMy entire life, I’ve read all over the spectrum—I was one of Those Kids, who read the World Book for fun, who, every day, without fail, read the newspaper, front to back, who, when there was nothing else available, read the cereal boxes. I read stuff that was probably inappropriate, given the ages I read it at—I cringe at the thought of my ten year-old daughter reading John Jakes’ Kent Family Chronicles, but that’s when I started reading the series.
I got into romance because my next door neighbor bought all of the Harlequin Romances and Harl Presents (and the other lines as they came along), religiously every month. And I’d read right along with her.
So basically, my patterns were set from a very young age and I basically don’t veer too far from them in that I read anything that interests me, regardless of genre. There are genres that simply don’t interest me as much, like sci-fi or horror, but for me, if a book sounds interesting, I’ll read it. I guess that’s why the scorn between genres and the arguments about literary vs. genre tend to leave me shaking my head and going
I just don’t get it. However, I will say that romance, in some form, has always been a constant.
by Barbara Caridad Ferrer March 4th, 2008 at 8:52 amA year ago, I was very skeptical about the Fantasy genre. I’d been burned out by too many Tolkien rip-offs. Then, Linnea Sinclair suggested I read MAGIC LOST, TROUBLE FOUND by debut author Lisa Shearin. I loved it! And I’ve been spotting little gems in the Fantasy genre ever since.
I’ve always read across all genres, except Horror and Erotica, and except for my decade strike against the Romance genre, of course.
But, that’s a different story. 
Suffice it to say, I’m baaack.
by Kimber An March 4th, 2008 at 9:09 amI read two genres, romance and business.
Business books are, of course, quite realistic about human nature, the good, the bad, and how to use both to increase profits.
Romance novels are my offset, when the “real” world is too gritty, too raw for any hope to survive.
So I flip between the two. It gives me a nice balance.
by Kimber Chin March 4th, 2008 at 9:14 amJordan,
I completely understand what you’re saying. I grew up reading sci/fi, from an early age, I was reading Heinlein, Asimov and Butler when most kids were reading Dr. Seuss.
I then started reading romance and was hooked. I particularly liked those naughty ones, the ones that pushed the limits on what was appropriate sexually. My all time fav was Linda Howard, as Ms. Howard was writing it hot waaay back in the day. Loved it.
Then I discovered women’s fiction and fell in love with authors like Terry McMillan and Mary B Morrison and Mary Monroe. I particularly loved Mary Monroe, her storytelling was unlike anything I’d read. It was rich, real, dynamic and at times raw. I could “see” her characters, something that I hadn’t been able to truly do before.
These days, I haven’t had much time to do a lot of reading, much to my sadness, but when I do, I have a tendency to go to women’s fiction…with sex. Lots of hot, hard, crazy, “hand me a coochie fan, it’s getting hot in here,” sex.
I love reading stories that have believable characters who don’t always do the right thing, don’t always say the right words, some are arrogant, some are irritating, some are loveable, some I even want to pimp slap repeatedly until my hand grows weak and useless until they see how badly they’re screwing up. But, they are real to me.
Fortunately, there are some romances where I can get this same “realness”. The heroines aren’t barbie doll perfect, the heroes aren’t all eight feet tall with really big weenies. Although, really, in this, I admittedly like the big eight foot tall hero with the matching weenie size. teehee…
I write and read romance because I still have a great love and respect for the genre. It is a genre that, for the most part, is written by women, for women. There are so many different “flavors” of romance that I don’t have a hard time picking my favorite flavor.
So, although my taste have evolved, I will always have a great fondness and respect for the genre. And the heroes with the inappropriately long weenies.
by Kimberly Kaye Terry March 4th, 2008 at 9:23 amI feel like I’m cheating on a long-term love. (And yes, I still do love romances, so don’t even go there.)
Don’t think of it as cheating. Think of it as polyamory.
by Teresa Noelle Roberts March 4th, 2008 at 9:28 amLOL,
I got tired of historicals, and paranormals mixed it up for me. Now paranormals are feeling a little predictable, so I’m moving on to SF romance. I need more adventure that has nothing to do with “magical destined soulmates.” I want some intergalactic war.
I love YA fantasy. I really like the dark grit and visual style of graphic novels. But I can’t help longing for the books where it’s all good in the end.
I’ll always love romance.
by Chessie March 4th, 2008 at 10:15 amIt took me a couple of years to go from the ABC’s to reading fluently because of my dyslexia (I love spell check!) , but once I got the hang of it, I was the girl that read everything I could get my hands on, so I’ve never really been a one genre reader.
Once I found romance I’ve never really left it, I just read all other genres too. I read romance, but also mysteries, sci-fi and fantasy. I’ve never really liked horror. Romance is easy reading for me and usually read when I’m busy with other things in my life. When I have a bit more time and want a richer world I pick up a fantasy or sci-fi book, and mysteries are for rainy days when a bit of darkness feels right.
by elianara March 4th, 2008 at 10:16 amHa! I wrote my upcoming RTB column about ditching TBR guilt and reading what I want instead of what I USED to want. I’ve always read all genres and read fantasy and SF long before romance. I’m addicted to Ranma 1/2, Bleach, Kelley Armstrong, Kim Harrison, Dean Koontz, Stephen King. I’ve realized that I have a lot of romance to be read, and I just don’t feel like reading it. Maybe in a few months that’ll cycle around and I’ll go on a romance binge.
by Charlene Teglia March 4th, 2008 at 10:40 amI don’t read much at all anymore, but I’m beginning to prefer a meatier story. All romance is starting to read the same to me. All the characters have been burned by love and are seeking to avoid it. If one main character has same-sex siblings, the other one will have friends (with the stage set for a friend to hook up with one of the siblings, and for all of the siblings to have their own story with all the subtleness of the Las Vegas Strip). And all that lip-licking admiration of women’s curves and men’s muscles. Throw in a few meddling relatives, unyielding stubbornness on the part of one of the prinicipals, and voila! A book that’s like a hundred others.
Women’s fiction provides an opportunity for a more multi-facted story that can (and often does) include romance but gives more depth to the characters and is generally more broad. My favorite read of last year actually defies categorization, but I’ll take a stab at it and say it was a mystery (Casanegra by Underwood/Due/Barnes).
by Bettye Griffin March 4th, 2008 at 11:02 amChessie said, “I need more adventure that has nothing to do with “magical destined soulmates.” I want some intergalactic war.”
Preach it, Sister!
by Kimber An March 4th, 2008 at 11:12 amI’m with you Jordan. To be honest the first section I head to is the scifi-fantasy-horror section. I dont’ browse the romance section anymore. If I go to the section its because I already have a list of books to buy. And it always consists of paranormal romance because that’s all I read.
And lately I havent’ found much in that category to read. I usually pick one or both of the Nocturnes, and that’s it. I think the last true paranormal romance I’ve read was Driven by Eve Kenin, and even then its a futuristic. Which I wish there were more of. I do have Gena Showalter’s Darkest Knight on my night table waiting for me to read, which I’m really excited about. Gena is about one of a very few romance authors I read consistently.
I’ve been captured by urban fantasy and that is usually what I read, toss a horror in once in a while. Authors like Lilith Saintcrow, Patricia Briggs, Kim Harrison, Kelley Armstrong, Simon Green, Rob Thurman, Mark Del Franco, TA Pratt, Jeaniene Frost, Vicki Pettersson, Rachel Vincent, Jennifer Armintrout, Rachel Caine.
And I have too been reading some YA. Holly Black, Melissa Marr, Rachel Caine, Gena Showalter, and a few others.
I’m not sure quite why either but I think its because I don’t want to be certain of the outcome. I want to be surprised at the end. And I don’t need that HEA with a specific person. I like it real and raw.
by Vivi Anna March 4th, 2008 at 11:38 amKerry, That’s interesting that you took such a long break. It’s also interesting that you were surprised by the changes in the genre. I think that’s why a lot of people who don’t read romance snicker these days–because they haven’t read one of the books in YEARS. I’m glad to hear you were brought back by the expansion. I have no doubt that I’ll swing back around at some point.
by Jordan March 4th, 2008 at 12:38 pmBarbara, That’s terrific. I really wasn’t one of those kids. I mean I read the Little House on the Prairie books and The Hobbit. I also read Poe and a lot of mythology stories when I was young. I was fascinated by the latter. I started reading romances at a fairly young age, thanks to garage sales. I loved them, particularly those meaty historicals. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, I had a horse and he always received more attention than any book. *g*
by Jordan March 4th, 2008 at 12:51 pmMy reading tastes have changed throughout the years. In the early days, I was a huge fan of historical romances - you know, those “bodice rippers.”
And while I dabble with reading mystery/suspense/thriller, I tend to go for women’s fiction with romantic elements.
by Kathy Holmes March 4th, 2008 at 2:37 pmKimber An, Good point about books filling certain emotional needs at certain times. I do believe that’s the case.
by Jordan March 4th, 2008 at 3:22 pmKimber Chin, That is a good balance. I know a lot of readers who flip between non-fiction and fiction.
by Jordan March 4th, 2008 at 3:22 pmKimberly Kaye, LOL! You crack me up. *g* It’s funny, even though I started out professionally writing the steamier books, I rarely read them these days. I have several in my TBR pile that I haven’t touched. Just haven’t been in the ‘mood’ for them, I guess. And that includes some of my favorite authors in the genre. That said, I always like the endings to the books that I read to be upbeat.
by Jordan March 4th, 2008 at 3:27 pmTeresa, Polyamory
Snort! I’m so not good at sharing. *ggg* 
by Jordan March 4th, 2008 at 3:35 pmChessie, That’s why I’m really careful what I pick up in the YA and the UF sections. I think it helps that my expectations for these types of books are different than the ones I have for romance.
by Jordan March 4th, 2008 at 3:37 pmElianara, I think my problem is that I stopped being an all around reader when I found romance. I didn’t want to read anything else. Now I need more variety in my reading and I have it. The problem is that once I got hooked on UF, it was hard to pick up other genres.
by Jordan March 4th, 2008 at 3:39 pmCharli, The guilt is something that I deal with too. I hope you have some good tips for getting over it.
by Jordan March 4th, 2008 at 3:40 pmBettye, I haven’t read much women’s fiction. A lot of it has to do with their endings. I do think that at the moment I’m craving darker stories with more grit. That said, I don’t want them to be depressing stories. I still want a hopeful ending.
by Jordan March 4th, 2008 at 3:43 pmVivi, You brought up a good point about wanting to be surprised at the end. One thing that YA fantasy, UF and graphic novels/Manga do well is surprise you. You really don’t know how they’re going to end, which keeps you on the edge of your seat.
by Jordan March 4th, 2008 at 3:46 pmKathy, Yep, I started out with those historicals. Couldn’t get enough of them. Several sit on my keeper shelf. I don’t tend to buy a lot of historicals these days other than Lisa Kleypas, Julia Templeton, Stephanie Laurens and Sylvia Day. I think it’s only natural for reading tastes to change and return in cycles.
by Jordan March 4th, 2008 at 3:49 pmI’m another one who has read all over the place. I love mysteries, thrillers, romance, literary, young adult, you name it — if it’s written well, I’ll read it.
I do, however, have a preference for thrillers. And one of the reasons I often gravitate toward romantic thrillers is because the characters seem to have more life to them, more emotion. And as far as I’m concerned, a story is about emotion more than anything else. The greatest plot device in the world will not save a cold, emotionless story.
by Robert Gregory Browne March 4th, 2008 at 4:34 pmRobert, You’re absolutely correct. I think that’s why I believe every story worth its salt has some kind of love element running beneath the surface. It may not be a typical h/h love (could be boy and car, girl and freedom, etc.), but love has to exist in some fashion to make a fiction story good, IMO.
by Jordan March 4th, 2008 at 4:39 pmI never feel guilty reading different genres, because different books suit my mood at different times. Plus it all helps to expand my writing and plotting ability. (See how I nicely tied that into Dee’s post?
)
If I’ve had a difficult day or week, something light or completely removed from my own life helps. I love dark and deep if I’m feeling particularly secure or happy. I have a safe place from which to venture emotionally.
And I go through phases - must read every Jennifer Crusie I can find, then move on to - Wallace Stegner? Eureka - read more of his works. Then - oh yeah, love Agatha Christie - reread Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. And, what’s this? New writer? Devour his/her works. And so it goes.
Basically, it comes down to any well-written book can get my attention. I just love to read.
by Kristin Lawrence March 4th, 2008 at 5:37 pmKristin, I’m still working on the guilt.
But I agree that reading different genres definitely helps with writing. 
by Jordan March 4th, 2008 at 8:01 pmJordan,
I look at the selections at a bookstore like a restaurant menu. The salmon doesn’t get jealous if I crave a burger one day. And the salmon is always there waiting for me when I go back. So nice of it to wait.
Of course, maybe it’s more like a marriage - am I cheating on romance? Hopefully it won’t dump me for another, more faithful reader.
Hmm, never thought of it that way. Now I have something new to ponder…
by Kristin Lawrence March 4th, 2008 at 8:47 pmI read a lot of romance 10-12 years ago, then sporadically for awhile, and now I don’t read much at all, mainly because I write it and I feel like I’ll go into romance overload if I’m reading *and* writing it. I do read a few favorite authors, but generally I read across the board… historical mainstream is my favorite, but I like mysteries, thrillers, and pretty much anything if the story and characters grab me.
Kate
by KateHewitt March 4th, 2008 at 9:20 pmWhat I read changes with my mood. I jump from historical non-fiction to romance and regular fiction. Right now I’m reading a little chick lit.
by Georgie Lee March 5th, 2008 at 12:39 amKristin, Good analogy. I’ll have to think of it more along those lines, while you give it more thought.
by Jordan March 5th, 2008 at 12:48 amKate, I’ve heard that from a lot of romance authors. At some point they seem to all take a break from reading for a while.
by Jordan March 5th, 2008 at 12:49 amGeorgie, I’m trying to get to where I jump around more. Right now I’m pretty focused on urban fantasy.
by Jordan March 5th, 2008 at 12:50 amLately I’ve been reading a lot of urban fantasy books too. It’s not like I don’t like paranormal romance, but I’m seeking more into the plot than just the romance.
by Tempest Knight March 5th, 2008 at 9:44 amTempest, You’re the third person I believe to mention wanting more in of a plot or should I say the focus of the plot to be based on more than just the romance. Most romances do this, but my guess is it’s the percentage that differs. On a side note, did you get my email? If not, write me privately.
by Jordan March 5th, 2008 at 12:25 pm