Words Jackie LaPlante
Yes, it is February and everything is about love. Does it seem that everyone, these days, is reading romance novels? Why the sudden popularity in this genre? From spicy hockey romance to sweet love to “romantasy,” everyone, from the young romantic to the slick executive, is embracing the cute, colourful covers and diverse story set-ups.
The key to a satisfying romance is that the reader always knows the basics of what to expect. There will be two people, a growing attraction between them, and a difficulty to overcome. However, the practised reader knows that no matter what trials and tribulations prevail, there will be a happy-ever-after ending. There is comfort in that. And a good dollop of fun.
Katherine Center’s novels are of the “closed-door” variety, and her storylines are kind and funny. The Love Haters ticks all the boxes of a satisfying romance novel in the sweetest of ways. Katie’s romantic life is in tatters and she is poised to lose her job, but an offer to interview Hutch, a celebrated Coast Guard rescue swimmer (who happens to be her colleague’s estranged brother – and extremely handsome) may save her career. But wait! The job requires swimming ability and Katie can’t swim! Oh well!
The “meet-cute” is an anticipated moment of the genre, so when Katie takes a tumble and needs to have splinter removed – from her bottom – we know exactly who will execute the task.
Lest this sound too corny, the seasoned romance fan knows there will be an obstacle to overcome before love triumphs, and Center grounds her characters with well-rounded back stories that touch on relatable themes. A sad moment in Hutch’s past has given him the reputation of being a “love-hater.” Katie’s previous relationship left her emotionally scarred, with battered self-esteem. In order to be saved by love, each character must move beyond their fears and open themselves to romance.
To read a romance is to give oneself the gift of a stress-free, optimistic and delightfully predictable chunk of leisure time. A good romance requires only the reader’s willingness to have fun. The story will leave you with a smile on your face, reassured that the world remains a good place and anyone can be changed by love. We can all use a bit of that joy now and again.
There is a romance for every reader preference, from the classic historical “bodice-ripper,” to cultural romance to the truly red-hot.
1. Remember Love by Mary Balogh
2. Much Ado About Nada by Uzma Jalaluddin
3. The Deal by Elle Kennedy
