About Us

This is a tough one to define. In simple terms, it's a snapshot of a relationship whether it's a new relationship or an established relationship. The journey in a romance book is about self growth, often overcoming obstacles to be together.

The moment in "Pride and Prejudice" when Darcy writes a bitter letter of explanation that leads Elizabeth to see she had judged him too harshly. The agony when they're both beginning to work towards an understanding and Elizabeth's family is ruined by the thoughtless conduct of her sister, Lydia. But my favorite scene (other than the first proposal scene, which is brilliant) is when Elizabeth is confronted by Darcy's aunt. In that scene, all the growth the heroine has been through is evidenced in her attitude toward Darcy. As a romance book, it's a fabulous formula that works well.

Personally, I'm a stickler for a happy ending. But even that has a different meaning for different people. For my mom, a happy ending would be marriage. For me, a happy ending means a relationship. For someone else, a happy ending may mean freedom. Who knows?

It amazes me, some of the names on that list. Zilpha Keatley Snyder's The Egypt Game, which I devoured as a kid. (I've also bought about five copies--one for my sister, for my oldest son, and copies for me which have been loaned, borrowed and 'borrowed' by others.) John Bellairs, who still scares the crap out of me, and his books are for tweens. Roald Dahl is on there twice, once for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!

As a fantasy reader/writer, I need to point out how many of those books are argued about for encouraging belief in 'magic'. Because, yknow, believing in something otherworldly is a really stupid thing to do. (I'm behaving and not pointing out the underlying base of most religions. Really, I'm not.)

I have to say I love that the creator of this site includes links-to-buy for each of these books...but that may just be my morbid sense of things...(which I blame on reading books banned for their 'morbid themes'...at least three on that list ;) )