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A comprehensive guide that defines the literature and the outlines the best-selling genre of all time: romance fiction.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments Preface to the Second Edition Introduction Purpose and Scope Organization Bibliographies Authors Included Titles Included Years Covered Entries and Annotations Cross-Indexing Suggestions for Use PART I: INTRODUCTION TO ROMANCE FICTION Chapter 1—Definition and Brief History of Romance Fiction Definition A Brief History of the Romance Novel Early Influences Beginnings The Nineteenth Century The Twentieth Century The 1960s—The Gothic Touch The 1970s—The Hot Historical Explosion The 1980s—The Romance Boom The 1990s—A Decade of Diversity and Change A Brand New Century Chapter 2—The Appeal of Romance Fiction The General Appeal of the Romance The Specific Appeal of the Romance Chapter 3—Advising the Reader Know the Literature Know the Reader Connecting the Reader and the Romance Selected Issues Chapter 4—Building the Collection Collection Building Selection and Acquisition Reviews Collection Development Policy—Selected Issues Collection Control and Display Cataloging Processing, Displaying, and Shelving Collection Maintenance Basic Resources Research Collections PART II: THE LITERATURE Chapter 5—Contemporary Romance Definition Traditional Contemporary Romance Category, or Numbered Series, Romance Women's Romantic Fiction Chick Lit Soap Opera Medical Romance Contemporary Americana Romance Appeal Advising the Reader Brief History Traditional Contemporary Romance Early Classic Contemporary Romance Writers Selected Traditional Contemporary Romance Bibliography Contemporary Category Romance Selected Category Romance Series Women's Romantic Fiction Selected Women's Romantic Fiction Bibliography Chick Lit/Mom Lit and the Like Selected Chick Lit/Mom Lit Bibliography Chapter 6—Romantic Mysteries Definition Appeal Advising the Reader Brief History Romantic Suspense Classic Romantic Suspense Authors Selected Romantic Suspense Bibliography Gothic Romance Early Gothic Prototypes Modern Gothic Prototypes Modern Classic Gothic Romance Authors Selected Gothic Romance Bibliography Chapter 7—Historical Romances Definition Appeal Advising the Reader Brief History Historical Novel Selected Bibliography of Classic Nineteenth-Century Historical Novels Selected Bibliography of Twentieth- and Twenty-First-Century Historical Novels Romantic Historicals Selected Bibliography of Romantic Historical Prototypes Selected Romantic Historical Bibliography Period Romance Brief Historical Descriptions Medieval Period Sixteenth Century Seventeenth Century Georgian Period (1714–1830) Regency Period (1811–1820) Victorian Period (1837–1901) Edwardian Period (1901–1910) Modern Historical Era (1911–1945) Selected Classic Period Romance Authors Selected Period Romance Bibliography Western Period Romance and Selected Bibliography Native American or "Indian" Romance Period Americana Romance and Selected Bibliography Chapter 8—Traditional Regency Romance Definition The Evolving Regency The Regency Period Appeal Advising the Reader Origins and Brief History of the Regency Romance Early Regency Prototypes Modern Regency Classics Selected Traditional Regency Romance Bibliography Selected Anthologies Chapter 9—Alternative Reality Romance Definition Appeal Advising the Reader Brief History Selected Modern Classics Fantasy Romance Selected Fantasy Romance Bibliography Futuristic Romance Selected Futuristic Romance Bibliography Paranormal Romance Selected Paranormal Romance Bibliography Time Travel Romance Selected Time Travel Romance Bibliography Urban Fantasy Romance Selected Urban Fantasy Romance Bibliography Chapter 10—Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Romance Definition Appeal Advising the Reader Selected Reference Sources Publishers Brief History Classic Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Romances Selected Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Romance Bibliography Chapter 11—Inspirational Romance Definition Appeal Advising the Reader Publishers Brief History Classic Inspirational Romance Writers Selected Inspirational Romance Bibliography Chapter 12—Ethnic/Multicultural Romance Definition Appeal Advising the Reader Brief History Publishers Classic Ethnic and Multicultural Romance Writers Selected Ethnic and Multicultural Romance Bibliography African American Asian and Asian American Anthologies Latino Native American Other Multicultural Romances Chapter 13—Linked Romances Definition Linked Romances versus Publishers' Series Appeal Advising the Reader Brief History Classic Linked Romances Selected Linked Romances Bibliography Multiauthored Series Chapter 14—Erotic Romance Definition Appeal Advising the Reader Brief History Publishers Selected Erotic Romance Bibliography PART III: RESEARCH AIDS Chapter 15—History and Criticism General Guides to the Literature History, Surveys, and Criticism Classic Overviews Classic Gothic Overviews British Perspectives Research Articles, Studies, and Books Governesses and Ladies' Maids Dissertations and Theses Trade and Library Publication Articles Popular Press Articles Chapter 16—Author Biography and Bibliography Author Biographical Sources Biographies, Autobiographies, and Other Single Author Sources Bibliographies The Internet Chapter 17—Periodicals and Review Sources Periodicals Book Review Sources Indexes/Databases Academic Search Premier Book Review Digest Book Review Index Expanded Academic ASAP Lexis/Nexis Proquest Newspapers Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature (Book Review Section) Review Columns "Fiction: Romance" in Booklist "Romance" in Library Journal Internet Sites Chapter 18—Miscellaneous Romance Reference Sources Romance Authorship Aids Historical Background Sources Word Books, Recipe Books, Spell Books, and Other Miscellany Websites Chapter 19—Societies and Organizations Writers' Organizations Readers' Organizations, Lists, and Websites Academic and Scholarly Organizations, Lists, Blogs, and Websites Chapter 20—Awards Affaire de Coeur Reader/Writer Poll Awards Romance Writers of America Awards Golden Heart Awards Rita Awards RWA Service Awards RWA Emma Merritt National Service Award Lifetime Achievement Award Hall of Fame Award Favorite Book of the Year Janet Dailey Award Veritas Award Librarian of the Year Steffie Walker Bookseller of the Year Vivian Stephens Industry Award ARTemis Awards RWA Research Grant Program RWA Special Interest Chapter Awards Royal Ascot Award Prism Award Daphne Du Maurier Award RT Book Reviews Magazine Awards Reviewers' Choice Awards Career Achievement Awards Sapphire Awards Quill Book Awards Borders/Walden Bestselling Romance Awards Romance Readers Anonymous LISTSERV (RRA-L) Awards Romantic Novelists' Association (RNA) Awards RoNA (Romantic Novel) Awards RoNA Rose Award Romantic Novel of the Year Award Member Awards Katie Fforde Bursary Joan Hessayon New Writers' Scheme Award Elizabeth Goudge Trophy Georgette Heyer Prize Betty Trask Prize and Awards Chapter 21—Collections Reading Collections Research Collections Boston University Bowling Green State University Brown University California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) Michigan State University Stanford University University of Virginia Library of Congress (LC) New York Public Library (NYPL) Chapter 22—Publishers Alyson Publications Avalon Books Avon Books Baker Publishing Group Ballantine Publishing Group Bantam Dell Publishing Group Barbour Publishing Bella Books Belle Books The Berkley Publishing Group Bold Strokes Books Blush Cedar Fort Cerridwen Press Cleis Press Dorchester Publishing Ellora's Cave Publishing FaithWords Firebrand Books Five Star Publishing Grand Central Publishing Robert Hale Harlequin Enterprises Harlequin Series Silhouette Series Mira Books HQN Kimani Press Luna Red Dress Ink Spice Love Inspired (Formerly Steeple Hill) HarperCollins Harvest House Publisher Hodder & Stoughton ImaJinn Books Intaglio Publications Kensington Publishing Corporation Liquid Silver Medallion Press William Morrow Multnomah Publishers Naiad Press, Inc. Thomas Nelson Publishers New American Library (NAL) New Victoria Random House Publishing Group Red Sage Publishing Running Press St. Martin's Press Samhain Publishing Seal Press Simon & Schuster Siren Publishing Spinsters Ink Thorndike Press Tor/Forge Torquere Press Tyndale House Publishers Virgin Books Warner Books Waterbrook Multnomah Zondervan Publishing House Appendix—Sample Core Collection Literary and Early Romance Classics Modern Romance Classics Current Romances Contemporary Series Single Title Women's Romantic Fiction Chick Lit Historical Romantic Mysteries Romantic Suspense Gothic Alternative Reality Fantasy Futuristic Paranormal Time Travel Urban Fantasy Regencies Inspirational Ethnic/Multicultural African American Asian Latino Native American (sometimes called "Indian" in the trade) Sagas Linked Romance Gay/Lesbian Erotic Romance Author/Title Index Subject Index

About the Author

Kristin Ramsdell is librarian emerita at California State University, East Bay, Hayward, CA. Her published works include Happily Ever After: A Guide to Reading Interests in Romance Fiction and Romance Fiction: A Guide to the Genre.

Reviews

Librarians have waited a long time for the updated edition of one of their most popular and heavily used readers'-advisory tools, and they are now well rewarded for their patience. Noted romance expert Ramsdell delivers a comprehensive second edition to update the first, which appeared in 1999. . . . This long-awaited revision of a classic readers' advisory resource is an essential purchase for public and academic library readers' services collections.
*Booklist, Starred Review*

Essential for public librarians overseeing fiction collections, especially when they are without subscriptions to fiction-advisory sources. The go-to book for guidance. Previous editions should be retained. Highly recommended.
*Library Journal*