Question for those who love romance novels?

Okay, what is your idea of the perfect romance novel, it can be present day or historical, and long answers are okay, give me everything, what would you want the main man to be like? the main woman, favorite plots, how dark of a story is to dark? where should limits be on violence? do you like your heroines weepy? or strong but weepy when needed, etc. just wondering what the readers are wanting out there, because lately..they all seem the same to me.Question for those who love romance novels?
Yes, romance novels are all the same, just like football games are. That's because romance novels have rules just like football games do. Certain things must happen during a romance novel/football game while other things are "illegal."



With all that structure and predictability, many people wonder how there can be any entertainment value in reading a romance novel or watching a football game. But the fans don't wonder. The fans love reading/watching because they know that within certain parameters, ANYTHING might happen--and that can be very exciting. You see, the thrills don't come from seeing the final score, but from watching each play unfold. (And oh, goodness, I really DID NOT intend to make that pun about scoring!)



If you're tired of reading romance, it's not the fault of the authors and publishers. Romance has not changed, but it sounds like your personal tastes have. Maybe trying some romance subgenres that you've never read before will bring the thrill back.
I like heroines strong but "real"... neither weepy nor ball-buster (a la Anita Blake) nor TSTL (too stupid to live) nor so stubborn that the reader may find herself wishing the heroine to die a slow and painful death. One perfect example of the latter is Tempest, from Christine Feehan's "Dark Fire". She also fell into the TSTL category ... I just wanted her to friggin' DIE ... DIEEEE ;) However, the hero was too delicious of an alpha to just dump the book... meaning, the only reason why I kept reading the book was because of the hero. How sad is that?



I have few "red buttons". Among those: infidelity (in the case of committed couples in exclusive relationships), rape, incest.



One example of how I like my heroes: "Dangerous Lover" by Lisa Marie Rice or "Pursuit" by Elizabeth Jennings (her non-erotic romance pen name). I want them alpha males, but not outright jerks towards the heroine. In historical romances, I would say Lisa Kleypas' Derek Craven in "Dreaming of You" or Sebastian St. Vincent in "The Devil in Winter" are perfect examples.



Truth is that kick-butt heroines seem to have been prevalent as of late in romance, but that does not mean all romance readers necessarily like them. I don't particularly "fancy" them, with a few exceptions.Question for those who love romance novels?
My favorite novels are when there is a woman who meets a guy who is completely on his own, and doesnt think he needs anyone. He hates the girl and she hates him, but somehow they become attracted to one another. The girl takes off, the guy realizes he needs her and does some off-the-wall romantic thing that he would never have done before just to get her back. I dont like the ones where any of the main characters die, but I dont mind if a wife or husband dies and their significant other still gets a happy ending. I dont like the ones that end on a bad note, I like feeling relieved at the end of a book that I have spent hours reading. I do like suspense and a little bit of action, but a romance novel shouldnt have that much action, because it will take away from the story. I am a born romantic, so these are just my opinions :) Hope this answers your questions :)
That's because they ARE all the same. Sorry, I don't like romance novels, but I have read a couple (Sherrilyn Kenyon, Suzanne Brockman) and they were the worst trash I have ever read! I would rather have my eyes cut out than ever read a Kenyon again!



Anyway, the writers are encouraged to write the same book over and over again because the readers of romances ar etreated as morons (I know they aren't but the publishers haven't seemed to be able to grasp that) who will feel weird and uncomfortable at any change in the rigid formula.Question for those who love romance novels?
I agree with you. They are all the same. I can't remember what was the last romance novel I liked...

must've been ages ago.