I think Blaze is a very romantic line. It’s Harlequin, after all.

But your blog made me see that romance/romantic is something that floats above, or is the foundation for, the rest of the elements that categorize our fiction — so thinking a book won’t be romantic because it has sexual content is the same as thinking a book won’t be romantic because it has religious content — not saying you think this way, just illustrating — both statements are untrue. What’s romantic about a book goes deeper than that, IMO.

Sam

In truth, it was this book that got me thinking about romantic as opposed to romance in novels.

She hit the mark dead on on both counts.

It’s been awhile since that’s happened for me.

At first, I thought what comes off as romantic in books might depend on lines or genres — so what’s romantic in a Blaze might be different than what’s considered romantic in a sweet or inspirational. Then I thought I agreed that it’s the larger than life or fantasy aspect, because I definitely find that romantic.

But then I reconsidered… I’m not sure it matters if it’s sweet or spicy, fantasy or more down home, what’s romantic is when two people become completely open to each other. I think that’s the thing we all want and relate to, that deep connection, and how it’s portrayed in the details is just a matter of preference.

I remember Deb Dixon talking about the difference between a good book and a great book at her workshop, and she mentioned the epi to one of her books, where she had the HEA, but then did an epi where the hero has children attached to just about every limb, and his wife is on the phone with child services, and she asks him if they can adopt another child, and he extends one arm out and says something along the line of having room for one more — a collective sigh went up from the entire room when she described that.

Which makes me think of Jeanie London’s prescription, that every book should end on a sigh — and I think they should have several sighs throughout, actually. Along with some palpitations and a few “Oh my’s”…

So I think what conveys romance can be broad, but it’s all about those emotionally touching moments that we can only experience as readers and writers when we find a character’s heart has truly opened and they find that connection….

Sam

Maybe that’s why war and battles can be romanticized. Especially old wars and past battles.