Romance Novels: Rediscovered

As a sophomore in High School I got so tired of everything we were reading having a sad ending. So I decided to read romance novels because of the guaranteed happy ending. One example: My senior year summer reading was Withering Heights just because it was the closest to a happy ending my teacher could think of from the selection that had a happy ending! It very much doesn't!

My favorites back then were set in the 1800s in either the American West or England. They remained my favorites until I was pregnant with Zach. We needed the shelf space and I knew I wouldn't have time to read so in a box they went to the garage.

But a few weeks ago I found myself reading the backs of the Blaze romance novels in Target. Josh and Zach were walking around on their own. I found one that I just couldn't put back. It's about an NHL coach and a high school friend who never got over her crush on him. It's called Time Out by Jill Shalvis. As you know we follow 5 teams and Zach is named after Zach Parise, the captain of the New Jersey Devils hockey team. I have read it several times and still love it!!! Josh even read it and loves it too! Yes, now I now get turned on by watching hockey games. I can't think of one particular favorite scene but here's one: Mark on the bus. There is so much I love about this book!

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Time-Harlequin-Blaze-Jill-Shalvis/dp/0373796730/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1332253585&sr=1-1

Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/time-out-jill-shalvis/1105681134?ean=9780373796731&itm=1&usri=time+out

http://www.jillshalvis.com

Here's Zach Parise's Info for the curious:
http://devils.nhl.com/club/player.htm?id=8470610


That's not the only recent romance novel. Karen Kendall has a series about Groomsmen and I stumbled on the second book in that series (out of three) called Blame It On The Bachelor. It's about a former local rock star in Miami who now owns a club he's turning into a bar and restaurant and the woman from the bank suddenly handling his account. Unfortunately, they find that out AFTER she uses him at a wedding to get over a horrible ex-fiance. A favorite scene of mine is in the fridge at the bar. I emailed Karen and she responded quickly with a very nice and personal response. I had included a link to this blog in my email and she clearly read some of it. I'm flattered by that. There is so much I loved about this book as well. Like Time Out I have read this a few times already and Josh is in the process of reading it. He says he's enjoying it.

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Blame-It-Bachelor-Harlequin-Blaze/dp/0373796773/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1332254313&sr=1-1

Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blame-it-on-the-bachelor-karen-kendall/1105681135?ean=9780373796779&itm=1&usri=blame+it+on+the+bachelor

http://www.karenkendal.com

It's important to make time for the adult things you enjoy. Now that Josh and Zach take daddy time sometimes at night during the week too, I can read then. But that's not why in February I found myself reading until 1am on a Saturday night. As I've mentioned, I sit on chairs outside with my wine if it's nice out: 51 - 100 degrees (limits based on rain, wind and humidity). Josh likes that time inside with me outside to himself but he visits a few times. By February, it had been a long time of every night the two of us together. The TV is next to the computer so it was impossible NOT to see some of the things he was looking at online (mostly facebook). We love each other but that personal time at night really does wonders for our relationship. We had that back when I started reading these books sometimes. I've been outside most nights recently but it's great to have a plan for next winter too. Don't get me wrong we spend a reasonable amount of time together and enjoy every minute but it's important to miss eachother too.

In some ways these books fit the stereotype of "written porn". We both have learned a few things (no details but it's a great way to keep sex from becoming too robotic to enjoy). I love the story part of these books too. They talk about the connections being made and falling in love as well as the emotions that go along with that. These stories have depth to them that porn doesn't. I highly recommend them.