Romantic Wednesdays: Staff Picks

For the past two years we have been highlighting the robust and diverse romance genre on Wednesdays. Despite its staggering popularity, the romance genre doesn’t always get respect or recognition from mainstream press and book awards. It’s been our goal with this column to give romance the love it deserves (pun intended) and acknowledge its massive readership, which includes many librarians at The Seattle Public Library. As we prepare to take a hiatus from this regular column, we asked these librarians to give a shout out to some of their favorite books and authors. Feel free to share some of your favorites in the comments, and happy (ever after) reading!

Romantic Wednesdays: Love for Friends

Valentine’s Day is just a few days away! In order to shake things up a bit though I thought I would offer some books that focus on the bonds of friendship rather than romantic relationships. After all, friends are the ones who are there for you before, during and, if it doesn’t work out, after a relationship. You’ll find yourself in some good company with the following books.

Romantic Wednesdays: Beyond Fifty Shades

Posted by Eric G.

There is much more to erotic fiction than Fifty Shades of Grey. If you are waiting for the upcoming film (and even if you’re not), there are numerous notable erotic fiction titles to explore in the meantime.

Bound by Lorelei James

Lorelei James’ stories should come with an extreme heat warning! From cowboys to martial arts instructors, James’ intense lead characters are guaranteed to push their love interests (and very often, readers) out of their comfort zones. This sizzler is the first entry in her Mastered series.

 

 

Romantic Wednesdays: Catching Up with Romantic Suspense

Posted by Eric G.

Authors and publishers have wasted no time releasing new romance titles for 2015, and dozens of savvy library patrons are already on the request lists! While waiting for the new ones, this is a great time to read the previous titles from top romantic suspense authors.

Local author Jayne Ann Krentz never keeps her fans waiting long for another smart, sexy and suspenseful tale, and she released Trust No One just after the New Year. Naturally, there are at least 100 people already waiting for this one! Her previous book, 2014’s River Road, bends and twists like its title, and you have a much better chance of picking it up today!

Romantic Wednesdays: Just Like Starting Over

By Jessica W.

Every year, January comes around and we make resolutions. Find love, learn a new language, go to the gym, we try to give ourselves a new start, a fresh page with the beginning of a new year. Some of us go farther than others when we want a new start—we don’t just start a new habit, we try to start a new life. In these romances, that new life comes with a new love. One of the things I also love about the starting over trope is that the hero or heroine also has to forge platonic relationships, giving the novels a big cast of characters to get to know in addition to the hero and heroine.