What is romantic?

Dr. Libby Weaver poses a fascinating question in her latest bestseller, "The Rushing Woman's Syndrome". She asks what women think of as romantic. Chances are, many women would say it's romantic if the husband looks after the children so that the wife has an hour to herself, or if the husband takes out the garbage unasked.

Really? Babysitting and taking out the garbage romantic? Whatever happened to an impromptu holiday in Greece, red roses and little I LOVE YOU notes tucked into your coat pocket?

And so, sufficiently chastened, I've come up with my own list of romantic:

• French champagne
• bubble bath for two
• a luxury cruise
• a holiday in a resort
• reading a book out loud to one another in bed
• a morning cup of coffee shared on the terrace
• cocktails
• sleeping in the spoon position
• the guy really going out of his way to please you...
• and really listening to you...
• preferably somewhere on a magical island where there is no work and no chores.

E-Reader From Red Rose

You know how there are all those competitions online: win a book, a bottle of champagne, a trip to Hawaii? And you know how you always enter and hope and never win?

Well, you didn't win this one, either, I did. Still can't believe it. I never ever win things. I don't even buy Lotto tickets. And still, here I am, dancing on the ceiling because I won an e-reader from Red Rose Publishing. WOO-HOO!!!!!

What is it about romance novels?

"Romance novels are feminist documents. They're written almost exclusively by women, for women, and are concerned with women: their relations in family, love and marriage, their place in society and the world, and their dreams for the future." more

Romance Writers Conference 2012

The Romance Writers of New Zealand Annual Conference will take place 24-26 August 2012 in Auckland. Some of the novelists attending will include Eloisa James, Randy IngerMason and Eve Summers.

Click here for more details.

Valentine's Day Pick

DANGER, WORD GAMES! by Eve Summers is a Valentine's Day story with a difference. Here's the blurb:


She is disillusioned with love, romance and men who are Mr Almost-Right. She loves words, true words that shine. All she gets from men are clichés straight from Mills and Boon, cheap words meant to loosen her morals or her purse strings. She is disillusioned with love, until a younger man says to her....

Six Geese A-Laying

As a firm Sophie Kinsella fan (the Shopaholic series), I was tickled pink to discover a free Kindle mini-story by her. Six Geese A-Laying is a Christmas story, but hey, it's still a Kinsella, right? Get your free copy here.