Modern romance novels tell a young woman that she can be successful, useful, and valuable on her own; that there are men who will respect her and treat her well; and that such men are worth waiting for.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I try to write about a woman finding her self-respect, valuing herself, and liking herself again. But what one desperately wants now is to write a proper novel.
Romance novels satisfy a very specific fantasy of romantic love that seems to be a powerful part of the female psyche.
I've always said men should study romance novels to find out how women think and what they want, both during the courtship phase and in a lifelong partner.
A romantic novel is an adult fairy story, repeating the recurring symbols and images which can explain life to a woman and satisfy a powerful need within her. The need to love and be loved is vital to all human beings, but especially to women.
Romance is the glamour which turns the dust of everyday life into a golden haze.
Romance writers and readers have one thing in common: We love men.
Every book should have a romance.
There is perhaps no more rewarding romance heroine than she who is not expected to find love. The archetype comes in many disguises - the wallflower, the spinster, the governess, the single mom - but always with one sad claim: Love is not in her cards.
In many joyfully-admired recent novels, love appears as little more than sex-manual instruction.
Women want love to be a novel, men a short story.