But. When I read romance – whether it’s contemporary, hsitorical, paranormal, futuristic or fantasy (and any other sub-genres I’ve left out) – then I expect an HEA. When I buy a romance, that is what I believe I have been promised. By the author, the publisher – that it is a romance that will end happily, no question. The journey might be harrowing, but the outcome is guaranteed.

I borrowed Nicholas Sparks’ Message in a Bottle (I think that was the title) from the library on the understanding that it was a romance. No. I’ve never borrowed any of his books since nor will I try him again.

I don’t don’t class the LKH books as romance. Paranormal fiction with romantic elements in the first half of the series; paranormal fiction with muy sex in the latter half of the series; but not a romance. Doesn’t mean I don’t read it, or enjoy it, I just have it in my head what type of book I’m reading and everything’s ok. My expectations are met.

So (the purpose of this rambling post is that) labelling correctly is important (or perhaps, that labelling incorrectly is very bad). I don’t *mind* a book not having an HEA if I know it’s not a romance. Because I’m not expecting it. You might hope for it, but it’s not, necessarily, necessary.
In a romance though it’s, for me, one of the things that can’t be left out if a book wants to be seen as a romance (rather than romantic/ tragic etc.) My 2p anyway.

I too will read other genres, but when I want a romance, I want a romance, and when I want a HEA, I’m going to read a romance. And if a book labeled a romance doesn’t end with a hea I am going to be pissed.

As Kimber An said, I will just rely on word of mouth to get the skinny (and even then with a jaundiced eye. I got a lot of positive feedback on LA Banks’ VHS from “romance” readers, so bought it on the strength of that alone and was sorely disappointed. Not only is it not a romance, but it doesn’t stand alone. I could have forgiven the latter however, had the book been a romance. When Lori Foster’s new urban fantasy series came out, I almost went out and made the same mistake again, except this time I asked around extensively until I was told it was not a romance but had romantic elements in it with the “possibility” of a romance. That wasn’t enough for me so why set myself up for a fall going in? I’d rather just stick to her other books that I know are romance. And again, the new series doesn’t really stand alone (which is another gripe and another issue outside of the is-it-a-romance-or-isn’t-it issue better left for another blog ;)

The marketing ploy of “mislabeling” may work for the first book (in a series or by a first-time author), but if a reader isn’t happy with the first book, she is not going to go out and buy the second, romance or not. At least I won’t and Jane, I have to say you were more than patient to continue reading the series. But then you had the promise that you would get your HEA.

Over time I wandered away from Romance, and focuse more on SF/F/H (which is mostly what I read now) and as I have read most of LKH’s work, I feel that I can comment. LKH is Urban Fantasy. There is no mistaking her books for anything other than that. They are not romance, and they are not really horror. For years they were shelved in the horror section only, and IMHO, that was because they contained paranormal creatures & elements, that up until then only (really) existed in horror… vampires, werewolves, zombies. All classic horror stuff. There is a romantic vein to her earlier Anita books, but it is in no way satisfying the way a good romance is.

As for Juno Books, I have to say that I would not classify most of what I have seen from them as Romance either. Urban Fantasy some of it, Chick Lit: all of it. There’s a trend lately for strong heroines who “don’t need a man to stand on their feet”. While this is great and liberating and all that, I for one get a little tired of alpha everything and dominance games all the time. And using an excuse that these books reflect modern life as opposed to ‘romance’, which is dated, is missing the point altogether. Women read romance to escape, for whatever reason: they’re lonely, they are in a bad relationship, they can’t get enough sex, they don’t like the sex they get, or maybe they just want to forget about real life for a little while and live in a world where everything works out OK. Chick Lit does not (very often) fulfill this need. Chick Lit can be empowering, but it’s not usually comforting.

As for why SF/F/H authors/publishers want to avoid the ‘romance’ tag/stigma? I think it’s because the stereotype says that Romance is strong on relationships & character building, but weak on action, suspense and plot. I don’t think this is true for the most part, but there’s nothing you can do to change some peoples’ minds.

As to why more books are showing up as Romances that truly are not? That is simple economics… Romance has the largest market share when it comes to readers. And romance readers read A LOT and OFTEN and buy LOTS and LOTS of books. These other publishers/authors are trying to get into that game. The problem is they don’t really know what they’re getting into. And rather than sit down and do some research and get some educated opinions, they are going to end up putting their foot in it.

While some of these stories are excellent, none of them resembles what I’ve previously read as “paranormal romance”. Some are romantic; very few are paranormal. I’d call the collection a cross-secti……

I would be happy to send a free copy of the book to folks willing to give it a read. I have about 5 on hand. Just send me an email with your address. If you don’t like it, feel free to throw it across the room. :)

A lot of series are coming out now, labeled “romance" but the characters don’t get their HEA until the end of several books. In other words, the series as a whole is a romance, but not each individual book. For those who think the HEA is a necessary condition for the label of “romance," would that be okay?

Collen Gleason’s new series, beginning with The Rest Falls Away, is an example of what you’re talking about. She has indicated clearly that the series itself with have a HEA, even if the books don’t make that resolution individually. I regard her books as mainstream Romance with paranormal elements, and it is marketed as such.

I also think that JD Robb/Nora Roberts’ In Death series is about as mainstream Romance as you can get in a series that has a strong suspense/mystery element. I cannot imagine a universe in which Roberts brought Eve and Roarke to an unhappy end, nor do I think any of her Romance readers feel differently. And I think we’re right to trust this, especially given the small closures we get at the end of every book (although I paid only peripheral attention to the latest one).

Romance readers who want a HEA (and I say this as one who DOESN’T require a HEA) aren’t the equivalent of drug addicts looking for a fix. They’re not inherently inflexible or incapable of forethought or delayed gratification. I don’t think your question was intended to suggest any of those things, but I do think there’s a tendency to equate genre expectations with simplistic reading preferences, and I think such an association is mistaken. The issue, IMO, is one of how a genre reader’s expectations are treated by a publisher, not one of genre readers being too narrow-minded.

All of that stated to set the mood, let me say that I write BOTH romance and non-romance genres, one of which is DARK ROMANCE. Dark Romance is a term that originated back in the 60s and 70s to describe the sort of classic love story, tragic love, and other non-romance genre expectation books that would be romance but for a few small changes.

As an author, I make it plain on my site. IOW, I have my own rating system that lets readers see which books have a HEA and which don’t. It allows them to avoid breaking a PDA in anger, if they choose to use it.

As an author, I am APPALLED when I see dark romance offerings without a HEA touted as romance. The expectations of romance genre as set forth by the industry of today give ASSURANCE of a certain experience from a romance genre book. Calling something that doesn’t conform to that expectation “romance” is bait and switch. It’s not fair to the reading public.

Further, I am APPALLED when book stores choose to shelve dark romance OR straight genre written by authors who ALSO write romance in the romance section. Anyone who’s seen the fiasco with Luna books knows what I mean.

That doesn’t mean I have anything AGAINST dark romance, tragic endings or even atypical HEA (where someone dies but it’s a good ending for that character). I write it and read it. I will write and read standard romance, as well. It DOES mean that I expect those putting it out there to be HONEST in what their product IS and what it is NOT.

Brenna Lyons

I suppose it’s the idea of the “optimistic” ending – it’s heading toward an HEA.

But…as far as genre definitions go, I don’t know if it’s a good label. Would the reader know from the start that the book is the beginning of a series? Moning’s latest is being pushed online as a series, but if I’d just picked it up in the store, would I know?

A lot of series are coming out now, labeled “romance” but the characters don’t get their HEA until the end of several books. In other words, the series as a whole is a romance, but not each individual book. For those who think the HEA is a necessary condition for the label of “romance,” would that be okay? Or just the last book in the series? Or label it as fiction until the last book comes out and then re-release an omnibus labeled romance? I’m honestly curious because it seems like a genuinely sticky situation. Romance readers would love the series, would not be “betrayed” by the very HEA ending of the whole, but for the first year or two, there is no HEA b/c it hasn’t been published yet.

What would be the ideal solution to a case like this?

That’s not a deal breaker for me, either. If the author has shown that the hero and heroine love each other, and that they each know the other loves them, I don’t necessarily need for them to say the words.

I’m still trying to figure out why visiting the Romance section of a bookstore is so abhorrent, but apparently no one can actually answer this

-LOL.

It doesn’t matter if he ever wants her again. Because she will have had that one night to hold forever and evah.

*snortlaugh*

Either denial, like sybil said, or it’s dread fear of the horrible romance cooties. Highly contagious and you can’t tell who’s got them until they’ve gone beyond the point of no return and start to dress Barbara Cartland and talk like one of her heroines. The brain was washed away in the flood of purple prose years ago, poor thing.

I’ll go get my bell and frilly pink cloak. *Ding.* “Unclean…(but virginal)!” *Ding.* “Unclean…(but virginal)!”

And yet they want to be there… I have decided they just don’t think they are good enough for us.

You know sort of like that harlequin heroine who really wants the hero but oh he is too swell for her. She knows someone as fabulous and goodlooking as he is could never want her. So she is bitchy and insulting. She tosses her raven locks and stomps her feet saying I hate you!

When really… deep down.. in that secret part of her woman’s heart that only beats for him… she knows she lurves him. And if he will give her one night.

Just one chance…

It doesn’t matter if he ever wants her again. Because she will have had that one night to hold forever and evah.

::sniff:: doesn’t it bring a tear to your eye?