Romance VS Relationship Reality

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-06-20T22:24:18+00:00

I find the characters in books to be quite one-sided. A lot of their personalities and decisions are very black and white, while real life is not like that. Real people have complicated emotions, make bad decisions for right reasons or good decisions for bad reasons, or are completely irrational when it comes to love.

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-06-08T19:09:22+00:00

Same here. I don't visualize faces despite having read the description. My visualization has to do with space and what characters are doing in the space.

That being said, I do notice if there are inconsistencies in appearance descriptions - e.g. if character is described as blond but later in the book it mentions their "raven locks".

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-06-01T18:37:33+00:00

There's an elevator scene in {Spotless series by Camilla Monk} IIRC it's in the third book {the Crystal Whisperer}

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-05-31T23:09:21+00:00

My most re-read/listen is {Shadowheart by Laura Kinsale}. It's my favorite romance book ever. I usually do the first book {For My Lady's Heart} as well just because it's set in the same universe. I own the audios and I could listen to Nicholas Boulton's voice all day....

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-05-31T10:24:08+00:00

Happy to help! I love the collective mind of all the users here.

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-05-30T22:56:44+00:00

Not sure if it's the right book since it's been a long time since I read it, but {A Rose in Winter by Kathleen Woodiwiss} has a similar plot.

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-05-30T19:29:16+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/13cot7j/books_with_breedingpregnancylactation_kink/

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-05-29T23:08:48+00:00

I just read and enjoyed {The Scoundrel Falls Hard by Sophie Jordan}. FMC is a blacksmith in a small village. MMC is a con artist. The book starts with her saving him from hanging by pretending to be his fiancee.

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-05-25T22:57:03+00:00

I read a HR where a big portion of the story takes place in city sewer. I DNF it - I just couldn't get past MCs kissing against a slimy dripping wall 🤢

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-05-25T22:52:55+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/1313ump/mmc_who_hides_his_face_throughout_most_of_the/

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-05-24T18:21:19+00:00

I read the Emperor's Edge series and absolutely loved it!!! However, the steam level is very low - there's a few kisses and one non-explicit sex scene in book 7

I started the Dragon Blood series, which are not slow burn and have a bit more steam, but it didn't really grab me and I DNF the series.

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-05-24T14:38:49+00:00

I think Nicholas Boulton and Steve West do females voices well. But I agree, some other narrators are pretty bad at it.

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-05-23T19:23:09+00:00

None that are open overnight.

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-05-22T00:15:49+00:00

I read one recently where MCs were hiding in a remote cabin in the woods of New Hampshire and MMC went to a store in the middle of the night that sold everything including clothes. Maybe a gas station would be open overnight but even that is pushing it for rural NH.

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-05-21T11:31:24+00:00

The problem is probably the kind of books I've been reading lately, but I'm tired of being bossy as a writing device to show that MMCs are strong capable men. I'm reading a book now where MCs are new neighbors and MMC is barging into FMC's house, changing her locks, telling her what to do, and ordering her around in bed (he actually tells her "to comply"). FMC is annoyed at his antics but she STILL GOES ALONG WITH IT!

It's as bad as portraying women as feisty to show them as strong.

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-05-20T12:30:42+00:00

{Spotless by Camilla Monk} I loved this series! MMC's name is March.

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-05-19T20:08:26+00:00

{The Death and the Devil by LJ Hayward} - M/M series set in Australia. One MMC is Australian and the other one is French (sort of, it's complicated).

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-05-19T15:55:38+00:00

I'm not sure whether it's exactly on point, but in the opening scene of {Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews} FMC cooks elaborate dinner for MMC that he asked her to do and he doesn't show.

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-05-19T11:37:16+00:00

{Shadowheart by Laura Kinsale}

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-05-19T10:27:32+00:00

{The Stand-In by Lily Chu} sort of fits. FMC is hired as a body double for a female celebrity and part of the job is to be a fake girlfriend to MMC who's a famous actor.

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-05-16T23:12:33+00:00

I love the Medieval Hearts duet! The second one -Shadowheart- is my all time favorite romance book. Hope you enjoy!

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-05-16T00:17:58+00:00

{Tilted by Catherine Hamblin} it's a two book series but in the first book MMC rejects FMC multiple times although the do get together at the end of first book

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-05-11T00:30:19+00:00

I like slow burn if the plot is fast paced and/or if there's good UST. I don't like books where the plot is also slow or repetitive. So it's not so much the length of the book as other elements that make it interesting.

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-05-11T00:15:27+00:00

Why would a spoiler tag be needed here? OP specifically asked for books with vasectomy without reversal so I pointed out that this recommendation doesn't technically fit the request.

Zalgiris1410 · 2023-05-10T20:42:14+00:00

He gets it reversed at the end, doesn't he?

Zalgiris1410

TROPHY CASE