HAPPILY EVER AFTER discussion

If you have some queries regarding the writing style, language, story content, intimate descriptions, main characters, overall ambience, etc ...of a certain book that you are planning to read then please feel free to ask here :-) Thanks...!

Those of you who respond, please be sure to use the spoiler feature* if your comments contain anything that might reveal important facts about the story. Thanks...!

*spoiler feature: < spoiler>...< /spoiler>

There wouldn't be a space after the two front brackets, but I have put them there so that the formula shows up. 

Hi, I recently managed to find and buy Be Mine, which is Book 2 in the Love and Trust Trilogy by Shannon Guymon. Now I was wondering if this book could be enjoyed as a standalone or would it be preferable if I make an effort to find and read Book 1 first. Advice from those who have read this book would be highly appreciated, thanks! :-)

Edited, 5th February, 2016

Just wanted to mention that I decided to take a risk and read Be Mine without reading the first book in the trilogy. Discovered that not only can this book be easily read as a standalone but that it is quite an enjoyable read as well :-) 

I want to ask questions related to moth smoke novel ......about this theme

Hello everyone, the book Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie has been recommended for our August, 2016 group read:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

...and some confusion has arisen about whether it is closest to the sub-genre "Contemporary Romance", "Romantic Comedy" or "Chick-Lit"? 

It would be highly appreciated if those of you who have read this book can offer some opinions on this topic, thanks! :-)

What's the difference between contemporary romance and romantic comedy? Can't a contemporary romance be funny? I don't mean to sound flippant. I'm honestly confused.

Great question, Abigail, this has often been a source of much confusion to me as well!

Yes, it's true that both Contemporary Romance as well as Romantic Comedy books can be cute, witty and have happy endings ...but it's my understanding that this is only always necessary in a Romantic Comedy.

Moreover, from what I have gathered, another important difference between the two sub-genres is that while the main focus in a Contemporary Romance usually has to be on the relationship development and the romantic growth between the main couple,

for example: Kissing the Maid of Honor, Just the Sexiest Man Alive, Fiance by Fate, My One and Only, Her Backup Boyfriend, Paradise, Perfect etc 

...but in a Romantic Comedy, the romance can be equally balanced with, or can even take a back seat to, other aspects like, personal matters, career issues, family complications etc.

Example: Confessions of a Shopaholic

However, there can often be a very thin line between a 'witty Contemporary Romance' and a 'Romantic Comedy' and there are certain books that I have actually labelled both since I just couldn't decide which of the two categories to put them in, even after re-reading them several times!

Example: Can You Keep a Secret?

Hope this helps, but please remember that all this reflects only my humble understanding of this topic and I would really appreciate it if more experienced readers would provide their feedback as well, thanks! :-)

IMHO, all romances have to have happy endings (I go by what the Romance Writers of America tells me). If not, Nicholas Sparks would be considered romance. Romantic, yes, but not romance. (I would be VERY upset if I read what I thought was romance and someone DIED AT THE END.) Also, the romance has to be integral to the story.

So, Confessions of a Shopaholic would be romantic comedy/chic lit but not contemporary romance in that case, right? I haven't read Can You Keep a Secret, but Sophie Kinsella is a chic-lit writer, not romance, as far as I know. I always thought Jennifer Crusie wrote romance.

But you know what? As long as you enjoy the book, who cares what the genre is? :)

Abigail wrote: "But you know what? As long as you enjoy the book, who cares what the genre is? :)"

True, I agree! :-) It's just that as a group moderator I have to be careful about labelling each book with an accurate sub-genre so that the group's bookshelf remains organized :-)

And meanwhile, I've always sucked at organization. ;)

Hi,
Has anyone here read Kathy Ivan? How was your experience? Two of her Romantic Suspense books—Desperate Choices and Saving Sarah—are currently free on Amazon, and I'd really appreciate some feedback so I could decide whether I should read them.

I especially wish to know whether the Romance and the Mystery/Suspense parts in her books are well blended.

Thank you :-)

Ramla Zareen wrote: "Hi,
Has anyone here read Kathy Ivan? How was your experience? Two of her Romantic Suspense books—Desperate Choices and Saving Sarah—are currently free on Amazon, and I'd really appreciate some feed..."

I haven't read any of her books. I have Deadly Justice and Connor's Gamble on my kindle, but I haven't gotten to them yet.

Thanks Pam :-)

Hi all,
Hope you're doing well :-)

I'm interested in trying out the Detective Amanda Steele Series by Carolyn Arnold. It seems interesting plus the first book is available for free on Amazon. However, I got the impression the Romantic subplot has a love triangle trope? Or is it a third wheel trope?

I enjoy a third wheel trope when it's done well. Like if someone is obsessed with the hero or heroine and tries to cause trouble between them. Or if someone has unreciprocated feelings for the hero or heroine but accepts they're meant for each other and goes on to fall in love and get a HEA with someone else.

However, I'm not a fan of love triangles. I don't enjoy it when the protagonist remains conflicted between two potential love interests for a long period of time. Or when the protagonist commits to one person but still has lingering romantic feelings for the other person.

I've written more about it here:

What are your least liked themes in Romance books?

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Can anyone please tell me what trope is there in the Detective Amanda Steele Series—third wheel or love triangle? Or does it have neither?

If there is a love triangle then has it been satisfactorily resolved by now or is it still ongoing?

Thanks :-)

Ramla Zareen wrote: "Hi all,
Hope you're doing well :-)

I'm interested in trying out the Detective Amanda Steele Series by Carolyn Arnold. It seems interesting plus the first book is available for free on Amazon. Howe..."

Hi. I've read several of the Detective Amanda Steele books by Carolyn Arnold and enjoyed them. There is a bit of a love triangle in it. I don't remember which one it began in, but it seems the 10th one resolves it at the very end. I'll be reading the 11th one in the series soon (The Wildfire Girl) and will hopefully know for sure after I finish that one.

As far as the least liked themes in Romance Books, the two I like the least are:

Amnesia
Bully turned Nice Guy

PamG wrote: "Hi. I've read several of the Detective Amanda Steele books by Carolyn Arnold and enjoyed them. There is a bit of a love triangle in it. I don't remember which one it began in, but it seems the 10th one resolves it at the very end. I'll be reading the 11th one in the series soon (The Wildfire Girl) and will hopefully know for sure after I finish that one."

Thank you, Pam, you've been most helpful. It's good to know you enjoyed the books. Your feedback means a lot to me. I've discovered some wonderful authors because of your recommendations. I'm glad the love triangle seems to be resolved. Could you please let me know for sure once you've read the 11th book? I'd really appreciate it. I'll keep the series in my TBR list till then.

Thanks again :-)

PamG wrote: "As far as the least liked themes in Romance Books, the two I like the least are:

Amnesia
Bully turned Nice Guy"

Thanks for sharing :-)

Ramla Zareen wrote: "PamG wrote: "Hi. I've read several of the Detective Amanda Steele books by Carolyn Arnold and enjoyed them. There is a bit of a love triangle in it. I don't remember which one it began in, but it s..."

You're welcome. I will let you know when I finish book 11. I've discovered some great books from you as well. Happy Reading.

Thanks :-)

PamG wrote: "Ramla Zareen wrote: "PamG wrote: "Hi. I've read several of the Detective Amanda Steele books by Carolyn Arnold and enjoyed them. There is a bit of a love triangle in it. I don't remember which one ..."

Unfortunately, the love triangle isn't fully resolved in book 11. It's closer to a resolution, though.

PamG wrote: "Unfortunately, the love triangle isn't fully resolved in book 11. It's closer to a resolution, though."

Oh too bad. I guess I'll wait then. I don't want to invest my time rooting for a guy only to find out several books later that the heroine chose the other one instead. Lol. That's one of the reasons I avoid prolonged love triangles. If I don't like the guy the heroine ends up with it leaves me frustrated. If I like both guys, I feel so bad for the one who gets rejected—especially if I was rooting for him—I can't be wholeheartedly happy for the guy she does choose. Lol. I usually avoid Romance novels with a love triangle trope. I can handle it as a Romantic subplot in a Mystery series if it gets resolved within a few books. I'm interested in reading this series but waiting till the love triangle is resolved makes more sense for me. At least it's close to a resolution. Thank you for letting me know :-)

Ramla Zareen wrote: "PamG wrote: "Unfortunately, the love triangle isn't fully resolved in book 11. It's closer to a resolution, though."

Oh too bad. I guess I'll wait then. I don't want to invest my time rooting for ..."

You're welcome. The next book in the series will likely be out early next year or late this year. I'll let you know if the situation changes in it.

PamG wrote: "You're welcome. The next book in the series will likely be out early next year or late this year. I'll let you know if the situation changes in it."

Thank you, Pam, that will be very helpful :-)