[Note from Frolic: We’re so excited to welcome author Harper St. George to the site today. She’s sharing her love of historical romance with us. Take it away, Harper!]
My life-long love of romance novels started in the sixth grade. My best friend found her older sister’s secret stash of romances and borrowed one. She would read a chapter every night and tell me what happened the next day at school. I lived that book vicariously through her. In case you’re wondering, it was a historical western about a woman traveling west alone and the man she met along the way who was determined to make her turn back for her own good. Of course, he fails spectacularly because the heroine does exactly what she wants anyway and then makes him fall in love with her.
I couldn’t believe there were books like this in the world! I mean, a book about people falling in love? Not an adventure book where there’s also a little bit of romance, but a book all about a couple falling in love and how it happens. A book where a couple go on adventures together, overcome obstacles, and the woman gets to decide her happily ever after! It didn’t take me long to figure out that there were tons of books like this waiting for me to read them. Through the years I’ve enjoyed contemporary, paranormal, YA, and fantasy romance, but I always come back to historical romance. It’s my first love and my happy place.
In no particular order, here are five things that keep bringing me back to historical romance.
1. The romantic tension
My absolute favorite part of any romance is the tension between the protagonists. I live for the will they or won’t they friction, the delicious banter that erupts when they can’t admit what they really want, and the sizzling glances when words just won’t do.