What Makes A Romance Story

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With so many different genres within the romance world a lot of people start to wonder what really makes the story a romance. The answer to that isn't as simple as most people like to think it is. For many people a romance is just a sexy story about two people meeting up and hooking up/getting married (depending on the genre). Oh how I wish it was so simple. While that type of story does have it's place within the writing and reading world romance novels are so much more.

Conflict - Like any other genre a good romance novel has to have some type of conflict. Many of the sub-genres in romance will say there has to be more inner conflict between the characters than there is outer conflict. Inner conflict is a conflict a character or characters have within themselves, for example the hero wondering if he really is the best person for the heroin.Outer conflict is a conflict outside of the main characters; i.e. a bad guy trying to take over the world or kill one, if not both of, the main characters. Many sub-genres of romance enjoy equal parts of inner and outer conflict.

Happily Ever After - For a long time people thought that a romance novel must have a happily ever after (HEA) for the main characters. While this is still the norm you do often see the happy for now (HFN) endings. These types of endings normally lead into a series of stories about one or more characters in the world that the author created.

The Love Story - At the heart of a romance novel is of course the love story. The love story should be entangled with the plot of the story. If you can take away the love story and still have a good book then chances are it isn't a true romance, but just has heavy romance influence. Which is fine, because a good book is a good book.

There are many different elements thrown in throughout the sub-genres that can label a novel a romance. In my view as long as the love story is strong, the plot is good and it makes me not want to put it down, then it's a romance novel worth reading.

So what do you think makes a romance novel a romance?

Musing Wolves

Remember this peeping wolf? If you follow my Hunter or Hunted Facebook page I'm sure you might. You may have even seen my Peek a Boo post here. For me this image inspired a big chunk of my soon to be published novel, Fox Hunt.

Fox Hunt was accepted for publication by Cobblestone Press at the end of March and is moving head first into the editing process this month. It is the second book in what I hope will be a three book set centered around a supernatural world that I created originally for Witch Hunt. In this world witches and werewolves are hunted by a Federal Government agency, known as Witch Hunters or the burners. While Witch Hunt dealt with both a witch and a werewolf, Fox Hunt revolves around werewolves and their struggle in the alternate America.

When I saw the picture above my main character, Mike, came to mind and I would often look at the image when I was having issues developing Mike past some catch in his personality. With the upcoming book I'm happy that Mike along with his counterpart, Dilly, will be enjoyed by others.

With any luck I'll have a cover to reveal by late May and a set release date for all of those interested in finding out more about peek a boo wolves.

Happy reading and as always good dreams.

Anne Rice Announces New Book!

Did you grow up reading "Interview With The Vampire" and "The Vampire Lestat" along with every other Anne Rice book you could get your hands on? I did too. That's why the latest news about "Prince Lestat" excites me so much. Anne Rice announced that another book in The Vampire Chronicles will be released in October 2014 and I can't wait. You can check out what she said to the Los Angeles Times and share in my excitement.




Happy reading and lets all go ahead and dust off those books because I know I'm going to have to reread the whole set before lining up for "Prince Lestat".

Review of Dark Wolf Rising by Rhyannon Byrd

Review of 

Dark Wolf Rising  By Rhyannon Byrd

I was scrolling through the books in the Google Marketplace and found this gem. I knew nothing about the Bloodrunners series when I decided to download this book and give it a try. I was very pleasantly surprised that it is a great standalone read and it has me interested in the rest of the series.

Here is the blurb to give everyone a quick glance:

“Eric Drake, a powerful Dark Wolf, has never trusted himself around human females-preferring to mate only within his pack. That is, until he encounters Chelsea Smart snooping around Silvercrest pack land in search of her missing sister. Secretly, Chelsea thinks Eric is the sexiest man she's ever seen, though she is wary of his potent Alpha energy. Then it's discovered that Chelsea's sister is being held by a pack of vicious Lycans, and Eric heroically leaps into action. Now, Chelsea will risk everything-her body and soul-to surrender to the passion that will mark her as Eric's woman for all eternity...if they survive.”

The story starts out with Eric Drake arriving on the scene to help scoot someone off of pack land. Two young mixed blood wolfs are having real trouble with a lady parked in a van. Chelsea, the lady in the van, isn’t going to leave no matter what. Not only can she not afford to stay in a hotel but she’s on a mission to find her sister. I couldn’t help but enjoy the feeling of awe and pride when she lifts a hand cannon and points it at the hero, Eric. I mean it I loved seeing a strong woman take a stand and stand up to a big macho guy. It was refreshing.

Considering that Eric and Chelsea had to get close real quick it was a really nice read that had me turning pages all night. It is packed with action and really shows what Eric is willing to do to keep his pack safe and protect Chelsea. Eric has issues with his own past and doesn’t know if he is really the right person for Chelsea at first. 

The book flowed wonderfully. I found myself at the end before I knew, and wanted to go back and reread part of it right away. I plan on checking out the other books in this series to see a full picture of the pack and the wolves that Rhyannon Byrd has created for us.

(Read for the 2014 Shifter Challenge hosted by Parajunkee)

RomanceBookWorm Review of Witch Hunt

Great news! The romance review blog RomanceBookWorm released a review of Witch Hunt. It's a great review and I send my thanks to the reviewers, Tomme and Victoria, and to the blog owner, Brandy, for the great review. If you're interested in reading the Witch Hunt review you can check it out here, and while you're there you should take a look at the other great romance books they've reviewed.

Here's a little clip of what one of the review's said:

"I read this book in one sitting because I just couldn’t put it down.  The story flows effortlessly and has you anticipating what is on the next page.  The author has written just the right mix of action, suspense and romance to make the book interesting for a wide range of readers."  ~ Tomme

New Moon Madness

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I've been hard at work revising my latest novel. Revising is a long process for me. Not as long as writing, but it seems that time just drags by while revising. I'm a few chapters away from this last read through, but when I'm not working on this piece another piece is peeking through already, and it seems this crazy new moon is only helping increase my interest in the story.

I love writing paranormal, fantasy and science fiction pieces. I fell in love with the thrill that creating the worlds gives me. Over the last few years paranormal fiction has taken over and I focused on werewolves and witches more than anything. In Witch Hunt Rei is a powerful Earth Witch who runs into a pack of werewolves in Montana. I have a healer in this latest story which is tied to the Witch Hunt world, and a third story idea centered around just the witch culture of the same world.

It may have been the idea of these witches that started to inspire a short story idea for me. A world were werewolves, vampires and other supernatural beasties are not as common in the story line. This story is based around two historically powerful families. Each family passes along their magical power to the next head of the family, and of course the families don't get along so well.

I'm not sure yet where this story is heading but this new moon tonight is pulling me towards starting some sort of outline for the story. If I do get an outline done I'm going to set it aside until I've finished those last few chapters of revision.

Enjoy this Super New Moon!

Legend of the Highland Dragon by Isabel Cooper

For my first book in the 2014 Shifter Challenge hosted by Parajunkee I read Legend of the Highland Dragon by Isabel Cooper. When I found this book I was excited because I love dragons and the idea of a shifter being able to transform into a dragon is awesome.

Taking place in the late 18th century, the story revolves around Mina, a young independent woman working as a secretary in London, and Stephen, a centuries old shape shifter. The two are thrown together when an old enemy surfaces. Mina is working for a scholar in is older years when Stephen first meets her. Stephen begins to call her Cerberus due to her fierce manner in following her employer's orders.

Soon Mina is drug into the occult underground while trying to protect her employer. This leads to Stephen's secret being relieved and the need to keep Mina close at hand. Stephen offers to employ Mina himself to keep her safe from the evil magician that is looking for Stephen's secret.

My thoughts on the book:

The story is well written and drifts more towards a detective style apposed to the romantic style most romance readers are used to. The romance adds a little extra flavor to the story and makes you want to cheer for Mina. Stephen has an air of mystery around him that I don't think is explained very well. Mina finds the answers to these secrets pretty easy and kind of left me wanting to know more about the detective side of the story.

As Stephen searches for the magician he is taken into the back rooms and dark roads of London. He takes Mina with him from time to time when he cannot do something alone. I was really drawn in by the clue hunting and smoky backrooms that created this mystery.

With all that being said, I have to add that this really isn't a book that can be judged by it's cover. Instead of a robust, sword wielding Scottish dragon, I found a gentleman who is by far more capable within the realm of magic. I'm sure Stephen can wield a sword, but I would have loved to have seen it. All in all Legend of the Highland Dragon is a great read for anyone interested in detective stories set in late 18th century London that has a flare of paranormal fun.