What matters to you in a romance novel?

Manoj,

I took the survey. The survey included a question about 1) realism in fictional romance. In a HR, most of us readers don't
want modern words or phrases. If the author wants modern words/ phrases, she/ he should write a CR instead. Also be era
appropriate. IE I read a post WW2 romance where a character wore pantyhose: not invented yet!!! Also if the author creates
a certain reality, why change in midstream or at the end? IE the hero chases the antagonist the whole story, and then at the
end lets him leave for France, Why? Especially if the baddie killed someone! When the magistrate needed to rule on what the
baddie did. 


2) the length of a romance. Some authors numb the readers with endless repetition, which makes the novel seem too long.
One HR mentioned > a dozen times the hero was v. handsome. Enough already! Authors: please respect the intelligence of
your readers ! 

3) title length. Some HR titles are sooo long, the reader feels like giving up  finding it on GR or Amazon or this site. Which
results in lost sales for the author. 

4) sex in romance. Some romances are all sex and no story. Many of us readers want real deal emotions shared by the couple.  

5) Lastly my thoughts on safe sex. Romance writers should promote this. If so inclined please read my GR reviews under "HR-ML"  
under the CR heading. Some of these MCs are facing STDs & HIV down the road: not sexy, not smart. Especially the MD "hero" in
CR who should know better. 

I can't take your survey right now because the website is blocked where I work. I'll try it from home.

In the meantime, I'll weigh in. If this sounds angry/preachy, sorry. These are sore points for many of us.

I agree with everything said by mlover and Banana Boat, and add/emphasize a few of my own.

1) not only must it have an HEA (no cliffies) that HEA CANNOT be messed up in future books. A set of serial books is OK, as long as it is clear before I purchase that this is part 1 of N, and you stick to that promise within a reasonable time frame. I won't read or buy any of a serial set until they are all available.

2) keep the misunderstandings to a minimum, both number and length. Normal, intelligent people talk to each other and work things out.

3) do your research. If you're going to set it in a particular time frame, or include special knowledge like medical or horse training, etc., make it accurate.

4) I don't mean to insult your intelligence but the value of thorough editing/proof reading cannot be overstated.

5) my thoughts on the intimate scenes. I have no problem with explicitly described intimacy, prefer it in fact. HOWEVER, it must be appropriately placed in the story, with a real connection to the plot. It must also be portrayed with real feeling, be emotional and steamy. No cold, clinical descriptions please.

SRJ---

Good points especially about editing and placement of sex scenes. Please don't depict the couple having sex while being chased or 
the H or h having to cope with a recent wound. One HR, post-French Rev. had a suspected of sedition h have sex w/ the H at
night in a graveyard! 

The problem with cliffhangers for me is that if I'm real invested in the couple/story I end up having to wait months or even a year for the next book. I hate that. I like series, for instance JD Robb's In Death series. 40+ books out but each book finishes a story and gives me my HEA. SRJ, Thanks for mentioning misunderstandings. I don't mind intelligent misunderstandings that are resolved but one after another, no. Keep it to a minimum.

BB-----

Excellent point about waiting for book #2. Once I bought 4 books in a series. I liked 1 , 2 were so so & the 4th I never read.
One guy changed personalities for the worse from book #1 to 'his story."  Never again will I buy a complete series together
like I did.  

To me a character-based story line is very important. I don't like drama, especially if it's pointless and petty.

HEA is a must, that's pretty much the whole point of reading romance for me.

I don't mind sex, even a lot of it, in my romance, as long as it's interesting and varied, not just the same thing over and over again, and as long as it's not used to replace character development or talking. If the couple has sex every time they had a fight, instead of talking about it, it annoys me.

I like covers that are a bit unusual. Those half-clad upper body shots are pretty boring, as are the two faces badly photo shopped together with some other stuff kind. Draw covers are usually nice, or covers with just objects on them.

Realism depends very much on the book. Usually I prefer realistic, believable stories and characters, but sometimes I like very fairy tale, insta-love, super sugary books too. But it's either or, not a mixture. Introducing insta-love into a mostly realistic story just feels lazy and off, for example.

For the most part I will rather buy books around 200-400 pages. I really like longer books, but I need to be sold on it a lot more if it's long. I'm not as inclined to try a new authors >600 book as I would be with a <200 book. The premises and review would have to be really great.

AGReads---
Thanks for author's name. 


Sakuko---
I agree, character driven stories are the best. I believe people may fall in love at 1st sight. But so many romances have the hero
resist love and fidelity. If he's wishy-washy, who wants him? Almost like the right heroine holds the key. If he passes up a gem 
of a woman, this is his loss. 

Some folks in life as in fiction, confuse physical attraction for love. Not the same. 

I like stories where the rake is tired of being a rake and wants more substance in his life. One CR I reviewed on this site had a
former 'player' w/ the ladies  become his team's main QB. The H did not play childish games w/ the h. And he made clear he
cherished her.