Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten things I like in Romances

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly theme hosted by The Broke & the Bookish. Feel free to join in.

Welcome to this week's top ten. Yes I know I missed last week. I really didn't have time to figure out what I wanted to include in the topic for last week, so I skipped it.

This week, love is in the air. Valentine's Day is on Saturday and so this Top Ten is about romance. What I like or don't like or a combination of both.

So here is my list of the things I like in a romance novel. In no order whatsoever. 

1. A Swoon-worthy Hero - You know, those heroes that just cause us girls to swoon.

2. A "fluffiness" factor. - That's something means it's typically not going to make me think while I read the book.

3. A plot - A lot of romances don't have a specific plot. But I like mine to have plots. I'm ok even with the plot taking over the story and the romance taking the backseat.

4. The hero to be a gentleman - I don't mean a gentleman like the actual English gentlemen, but rather I mean a hero who has manners (opens doors for a lady, etc).

5. A strong heroine. - I like the heroines to have strength. A strength of character. A showing that she has survived and can make it on her own if need be.

6. Time period - I'm not too picky on this one, though my personal preference is historical. But I've read some pretty good contemporaries.

7. The relationship being built over time. - I'm not a fan of the love-at-first sight romances, unless they are fairy tales. But I like to read the ones where the relationships take some time to develop.

8. Clean - Yes I do read some secular romances. There is a BIG difference though in the secular romances that are clean and those that aren't. I do try to avoid the ones that aren't. 

9. A appealing cover - The cover of the book will capture my attention long before I pick it up to read the back cover copy. 

10. The characters are flawed, but redeemable. - I don't like too perfect heroes/heroines. I want to get a sense that they are real people, with real struggles and flaws. 


I'm sure if I thought of it more, I could actually come up with a few books that fit each category. But I'm not going to think that far today.




4 comments:

  1. This is a wonderful list! I agreed with all your picks from 1 to 10! It's important for me, as well, that the romance is clean and pure, and I, too, like a strong heroine and a swoon-worthy hero! Btw, I'm often drawn to beautiful book covers, too! :)

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    1. Thanks for stopping by. My big thing with romances (and I read a lot of secular romances) is that sometimes there isn't a balance between the love scenes and the story. Or there is no story if you remove those scenes. Even the clean ones sometimes come across as prudish.

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  2. Good list. I agree on all points, but especially number 7. That's the fun thing about romances. Watching them develop over time.

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  3. *happy sign* A swoon-worthy hero? Yes, please!

    Also, an appealing cover is a big thing! I confess to being drawn to them often. Makes for a good "attraction" and we hope the inside is as nice. :)

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