Everyone has preferences when it comes to romance stories, right? When asked about my favorite genre, romance isn’t at the top of the list.  If romance is part of the story, that’s fine, but I won’t usually read a book if it’s only about the loooove.    Here’s what I look for when choosing a romance.

Strong main characters

I usually prefer books with female main characters, but they have to be strong.  A woman who wants the man to save her from every situation is bound to drive me nuts.  It’s a bonus if the romance takes the couple by surprise.   Characters like those in The Warrior Maiden and Sons of Blackbird Mountain — strong, selfless types — are my favorite.

Love letters

I love when letters become part of a story’s plot.  Sometimes the author creates a dual-timeline with this element, and it usually works well.  The letters don’t even have to be love letters!  Some of my favorites include The Curse of Misty Wayfair and Dear Mr. Knightley.

Not graphic

There was a time in my younger years of marriage that I liked steamy scenes in books.  Now, though, I look for non-graphic romance where the details are left to the imagination.  Clean romance (where there’s a mention of a bedroom but that’s about it) is more my style; if there is a descriptive scene, it usually gets skimmed.  I also prefer adult characters in a man-woman romance. The Marriage Pact and You Don’t Know Me fit the bill.

Happily Ever After

While I don’t want the story to be too sugary sweet, I do like a happy ending.  After all, the hope at the end is what makes reading a romance so worthwhile.  I like it when the author makes the characters work for that happiness.  Some of my favorite examples are Song of Silence and The Life List.

What do you look for in a romance novel?  

One reader will win a romance novel off my bookshelf. It’s a mystery to me, too, since I don’t know which one yet.

The giveaway is open to US readers ages 18+. Void where prohibited by law. Good luck!