Concerning romances...

So, I've been a reader of romances since my mom let me read Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Devereaux a thousand years ago. Before that, I was into the RL Stine, Christopher Pike, etc. But once I got a taste of romance, I was toast.

I cut my teeth on Mary Higgins Clark's Fem-Jep bad boys and Nora Roberts (Still a fave btw). One of my favorite tropes will always be Enemies-to-Lovers. Not in the gross Draco/Hermione way, but others.

For example, the latest season of Bridgerton.

I'll start off by saying I have not read the books by Julia Quinn. From everything I've heard, they are right up my alley. I really want to read them, but I've become so damn obsessed with the show that I don't dare. Not yet anyway.

In this second season of this adorably updated Regency Era romance, we meet Kate Sharma who becomes the bane of our dear Anthony Bridgerton's existence. We watch for eight episodes as these two try everything to resist the gravity between them. Actors Simone Ashley and Jonathan Bailey hold the entire season in the palm of their hands, making us as obsessed with them as they are with one another.

I have watched the season twice already, and I've got the first episode on in the background right now.

I couldn't put my finger on what it was that was killing me about this season of the show, until last night.

Its the Enemies to Lovers pulled off so damn well.

As a child of fanfiction, I've seen some incredibly toxic romance tropes. Its enough to turn you off of the whole thing. The writers and directors of Bridgerton made the couple seem obsessive and drawn together without making them utterly bad for one another. They both try to hold to their honor, no matter what their hearts are saying. But when the time comes, they manage to finally put aside their animosity to speak truly of their hearts.

Alright, my post here today is not really about Bridgerton. Well, not anymore than the rest of my life is concerned.

I've often asked myself of late why I haven't written a romance novel since I so dearly love them. I especially love the genre of urban fantasy romances. I do know and understand that, while I've been writing for almost thirty years (most of that in fanfiction, no shame in that game) I've always steered a bit away from romances as a genre.

I do know that romance writers can have a sort of bland reputation in the literary world, that they use a formula instead of original ideas, yada, yada, yada. It might not be as intensely mentioned lately as it used to be, but I can't help the thought of being 'just a romance writer'.

I'm pretty sure I want to shrug that off. I haven't had any success with any of my other writings, why not try a new genre, especially one I enjoy so much?

Most of my novels, stories, and fanfictions already have at least a romance subplot.

I'm thinking of romance tropes besides my love of Enemies to Lovers that I really love. I am enjoying remembering what I enjoy about romances.

Currently, I am reading From Blood and Ash, which is, truly, a great book. Suffering from a book hangover is the worst, especially when combined with a killer writer's block. Still, I am going to give this week a real go. Here I am, already blogging. That's something, I suppose, isn't it?

Alright, time to get to work. I'm SO late updating A Dark Attachment, so lets see what I can do in the next hour or so.

Hope everyone is well!

-C.A.