Category Romance

There are three possible parts to a date, of which at least two must be offered: entertainment, food, and affection. It is customary to begin a series of dates with a great deal of entertainment, a moderate amount of food, and the merest suggestion of affection. As the amount of affection increases, the entertainment can be reduced proportionately. When the affection is the entertainment, we no longer call it dating. Under no circumstances can the food be omitted. ~ Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behaviour

I've been reading some catagory romance over the past few days. I copied down all the Rita finalists and found the ones my library system had, interested in what other RWA authors considered the best romanctic category fiction. I also picked up several others that sounded interesting (or that my DD handed to me -- she always likes to "help" at the library, and I typically pop whatever she gets into my bag. It's as good a system as any!) or authors whose blog I read and enjoy.

Mostly, aside from the inspirational stuff, the focus is on sex. I'm sure they consider it showing romantic attraction, but really -- let's call a spade a spade. It's sex.

One book that I read (well, mostly... I just couldn't finish it and tossed it aside about 2/3 through) had the hero rescuing the heroine at the very beginning (it's how they meet), and as he's dragging her to safety, electrical sexual attraction zings through his body.

In another, that has a decent enough plot and H/H for me to finish (I think... I'm only halfway through), the H/H are being hunted by the bad guys, and still have time to exchange sexual innuendos constantly.

It's not that I have an objection to sex or sexual attraction -- I LOVE Jennifer Crusie and Nora Roberts and they have sex (uh... in their books, not with each other as far as I know), but it's tied to emotions and that's where these category romances failed IMHO.

I think it's even possible to feel a "zing" when you're being pursued by the bad guys, but not every freakin' second.

I keep returning to category romances to see what they are publishing because in my brain, it seems that's where I've always wanted to see my name in print. To be honest, sometimes I find some category stuff that I really like. But it's tough sifting through the dross.

Still, I have a pile of books. I'm going to try to make it through them and see what I find.

Anyone know of some good category stuff they can recommend?

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