What I've Been Reading: Romance

Love is in the air ... or at least in the cloud where my e-books are stored. There's nothing I like better than a book with an intricate plot and characters so richly drawn I feel like I know them, but sometimes, especially when there's a lot on my mind, I want to read something lighter--something that doesn't make me think too hard. That desire often leads to short romance novels. Reading them is like eating M&M's: they come in many different colors, but the flavor is basically the same; they're delicious if not nutritious; and even after you've had a whole handful, you still crave more.

When I find an author who's a good storyteller, I do go back for more, downloading several at a time so I'll always know there's a good story waiting for me to read it. I know in advance what's going to happen: the troubled heroine will meet the equally troubled hero, they'll be deeply attracted but disinclined to pursue a relationship until they're thrown together in a situation where passion overcomes them. At this point there'll be a sex scene, which is my cue to skip ahead several pages. It's important to the plot to know that they "did it," but I'm too old to care about the details. Not too many chapters later they'll come to their senses and realize that they were meant to be together, and that's pretty much the end of the story. We don't usually get to know how it all worked out for them.

These stories are similar enough that if I read several in a row, it's hard to remember which title goes with which book. It's helpful if the title contains the name of a person or a place. But don't misunderstand me: every one of these stories was a good one--one that kept me hooked. The similarities didn't bother me, because these skilled authors use a basic plot the way a good cook prepares chicken: it's a chicken recipe on Wednesday and another chicken dish on Saturday, but there's so much variety in the other ingredients that the two meals seem entirely different--and quite appetizing. 

Dunaway's Crossing

by Nancy Brandon:

Wait for Me

by Elisabeth Naughton

Don't Say a Word

by Barbara Freethy

On a Night Like This

by Barbara Freethy

So This Is Love

by Barbara Freethy

Breaking the Rules

by Barbara Samuel

Dancing Moon

by Barbara Samuel

Jezebel's Blues

by Barbara Samuel

Light of Day

by Barbara Samuel

Summer's Freedom
by Barbara Samuel

The Black Angel
by Barbara Samuel

The Last Chance Ranch

by Barbara Samuel

To read a description and reviews of any of these books,

click on its image above.