There are a number of subgenres within the romance category, as authors continuously reinvent and tweak the basic premise to keep things fresh. Most fit into four main categories that are perennial favorites:

Historical
Historicals are romances that take place in the past. Favorite settings are England during the Regency and early Victorian periods, the Scottish Highlands during pretty much any time period, and the Medieval period in Europe. Customs and clothing of the time are well researched and used to create a believable sense of time and place.

Mary Balogh
Simply Unforgetable [Simply series]
Celeste Bradley
Desperately Seeking a Duke [Heiress Brides series]
Jane Feather
A Wicked Gentleman [Cavendish Square series]
Hostage Bride [Brides series]
Eloisa James
Desperate Duchesses [Desperate Duchesses series]
Lisa Kleypas
Secrets of a Summer Night [Wallflowers series]
Eloisa James
Desperate Duchesses [Desperate Duchesses series]
Stephanie Laurens
The Promise in a Kiss [The Cynsters series]
The Lady Chosen [The Bastion Club series]
Julia London
The Hazards of Hunting a Duke [Desperate Debutantes series]
Kat Martin
Heartless [The Heartless series]
Julia Quinn
The Duke and I [The Bridgertons series]
Virginia Henley
Infamous, Notorious, Insatiable
Amanda Quick
The River Knows, Lie By Moonlight

Contemporary
These stories are set in current times and include every type of setting from urban to rural. Their length allows for subplots, secondary characters, and more in-depth character development. Often very sensual, contemporaries may incorporate elements of other categories, like chick-lit or mystery.

Kate Angell
Squeeze Play [Richmond Rogues Baseball Team series]
Linda Francis Lee
Suddenly Sexy [Sexy series]
Lora Leigh
Dangerous Games [SEALS series]
Susan Mallery
Sweet Talk [Sweet... Trilogy]
Deirdre Martin
Body Check [NY Blades Hockey Team series]
Carly Phillips
Hot Stuff [Hot Zone Sports PR series]
Nora Roberts
Playing the Odds [The MacGregors]
Sea Swept [Chesapeake Bay series]
Susan Andersen
Cutting Loose, Head Over Heels
Jennifer Crusie
Agnes and the Hit Man, Don't Look Down
Elaine Fox
Guys and Dogs, Hello Doggy!
Rachel Gibson
Not Another Bad Date, Tangled Up in You
Kristan Higgins
Just One of the Guys, Too Good to be True

Romantic Suspense
These are the latest incarnation of the traditional Gothic novel, in which the heroine is threatened by some malevolent entity. Traditionally, the stories had mysterious or occult overtones. As Gothics evolved into the more modern “woman in jeopardy” style, the occult element was often replaced by very human “bad guys” that the hero had to take on in order to save the heroine. In modern romantic suspense, the heroine is often a competent professional woman who partners with the hero to defeat any type of evildoer from bank robbers to terrorists.

Cherry Adair
The Mercenary [T-FLAC series]
Catherine Coulter
The Cove [FBI series]
Heather Graham
Deadly Night [Flynn Brothers Trilogy]
Carla Neggers
The Widow [BPD-FBI series]
Brenda Novak
Dead Silence [Stillwater Trilogy]
Trust Me [Last Stand Trilogy]
Roxanne St. Clair
Kill Me Twice [Bullet Catchers series]
Sandra Brown
Smoke Screen, Play Dirty, Ricochet
Karen Robards
Guilty, Obsession, Vanished
Nora Roberts
High Noon, Angels Falls, Tribute
Shannon McKenna
Edge of Midnight, Ultimate Weapon

Paranormal
Another descendent of the Gothic novel, this type of romance always has a strong paranormal element as a key driver of the plot. The paranormal does not necessarily connote evil; for example the hero or heroine may have psychic abilities that they use to help the police solve crimes. As in romantic suspense, the heroine is far from helpless and often works as a team with the hero; there is usually a strong sensual element.

Christina Dodd
Scent of Darkness [Darkness Chosen series]
Christine Feehan
Shadow Game [Ghostwalkers series]
Dark Prince [The Dark series]
Emma Holly
Prince of Ice [Demon World series]
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Fantasy Lover [The Dark-Hunters series]
Jayne Ann Krentz
Second Sight [The Arcane Society series]
Noelle Mack
Wanton [The Pack of St. James series]
Lynsay Sands
A Quick Bite [The Argeneau Vampires series]
Maggie Shayne
Demon's Kiss, Lover's Bite, Immortal Desire

Vicki Lewis Thompson
Wild & Hexy, Over Hexed

Websites for Romance Lovers

http://vplpassionpostings.blogspot.com/
Passion Postings is a blog for romance readers maintained by the Voorheesville Public Library staff. Read about what’s new and recommended, request books through the online catalog, or review your favorites by submitting comments.

www.rwanational.org
Romance Writers of America official website. The RWA sponsors the RITA and Golden Heart Awards. Information for readers includes a list of author websites and new releases by month.

www.eharlequin.com
The online home of Harlequin, “the” name in romance publishing. Buy books, read about your favorite authors, and check out writer’s guidelines if you are an aspiring author.

www.romantictimes.com
Romantic Times Book Reviews magazine. The web version of the magazine offers message boards, video and podcasts in addition to the reviews and articles found in the print version. NOTE: The library subscribes to the print magazine; current issues can be read in the library and back issues can be checked out.

Remember to check out the newest paperback titles in the spin racks near the magazine section!