Happy Valentine’s Day!

Even though here we read romance all year round, this Romance Journey Book Tag seemed like a fun and festive one to share for Valentine’s Day.

This tag was part of a collaboration between 10 booktube creators. I first saw it on Bree’s Channel, In Love & Words but Beccie from BecxReadz has a collab playlist for the tag if you’re interested in checking it out.

I’d love to see your answers to one or all of these questions in the comments!

The Romance Journey Book Tag

1. About how old were you when you started reading romance and do you remember the first romance you read? -Beccie

I was pretty young. Maybe 12. I picked up some of my mom’s romance books off a shelf one day and started reading.

Some of the first romances I remember reading were Sunset Embrace and Another Dawn by Sandra Brown. They’re a historical western/frontier duet and probably not the best starting place.

When my mom realized I was reading those, I remember her handing me Irish Thoroughbred by Nora Roberts. That one was loads tamer and also fit my childhood obsession with horses. ]

2. Did you deliberately seek out romance or did you stumble upon it? And how? -Crystal

From my introduction point on I deliberately read romance.

In the beginning, it was mostly historical. My grandma recommended Johanna Lindsey and I fell in love with the Malory Family series. I remember hunting my library’s carousel shelves of romance paperbacks for more from her.

When my reading life slowed down in college, I got away from reading romance for a number of years.

3. Did you start with traditionally published or indie and has it switched? -Kelsi

I started with traditionally published. If indie was a thing back then, I had no idea how to find it. I didn’t start reading indie romance until more recently when my love affair with Kindle Unlimited started. Over the past year it has switched. I read at least half indie romances now if not more.

4. What was a romance trope you were afraid to try but ended up loving? -Jess

I first heard about alien romance years ago on a podcast episode of Fated Mates where they discussed Ruby Dixon’s Ice Planet Barbarians series. At the time I remember thinking there was no way that was for me.

Now look at me! Last year I read both her Ice Planet Barbarians and Icehome series. I also enjoyed a couple of Victoria Aveline’s Clecanian series and can’t wait to continue Zoey Draven’s Horde Kings of Dakkar after giving the first book 6 stars!

A more recent trope I wasn’t sure about was serial killer romance. I think there are still some caveats for this trope to work for me but I loved reading S.T. Abby’s Mindf*ck Series (5 stars) last fall.

5. Is there a romance book you read early on in your journey that you would rate differently today? -Caitlin

I’m sure there are. There’s even some from the beginning of last year like the first two books in Sarah MacLean’s Rules of Scoundrels series. I would have rated these differently if I’d found them a couple months later.

Our reading tastes change and sometimes we outgrow authors or tropes. My reading experience is hugely subjective and unique to the season of life I’m in as well as my mood at that time. There’s also the phenomenon where discovering a favorite new author can cause your whole rating metic to recalibrate.

6. How has your taste in romance evolved over the years? -Bree

My tastes have changed from historical to mostly contemporary to now maybe even preferring sci-fi and paranormal worlds. I also went through a period of not reading romance after college but enjoying a romantic subplot in my women’s fiction.

My tastes have changed from reading exclusively traditionally published romances to loving indie. I’ve also gone through periods of wanting little spice to lots of spice and now really looking for the authors who can provide a balance of steam and story.

Another way my tastes have changed recently is intentionally seeking out diverse authors and romance stories.

7. What is the most powerful romance that you have read that left a lasting impact? -Kaylani

While I love the entire Malory series, Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey is probably the one I’ve reread the most. James and Georgina are the core couple uniting the families that make up that series. The humor, the adventure, and the butterflies are all on point!

Reading The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang years ago is what got me back into reading mostly romance. It was just the right combo of humor, growth, feelings, and spice to have me hunting for more! I was recently gifted a physical copy and I’m excited to reread it at some point this year.

8. What was the romance book that told you this is what I am looking for in my personal life and/or partner? -Jackie

I don’t think there’s been one romance book that has said all that. Instead there have been many books where I’ve thought that’s hot but not in real life. There have also been many that highlight the qualities that are not for me.

I am a sucker for second chance romance especially when it’s first love coming back around. Or a competent blue collar hero who can both love unconditionally and call the heroine on her bullshit. Probably because those aspects mirror my own love story ?

Rather than focusing on a checklist of qualities for a partner, I think there’s more to learn from romance about how to be a better partner yourself. How to communicate honestly and come at problems that arise knowing you’re on the same side.

9. Which romance book(s) would you recommend to a romance newbie and a seasoned romance reader? -Ava

For a romance newbie:

• The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker
• The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez
• The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams
• You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria
• Destiny’s Embrace by Beverly Jenkins

For a seasoned romance reader:

• Fool For Love by Beth Ciotta
• Wallbanger by Alice Clayton
• Captive of the Horde King by Zoey Draven
• Bait by Jade West
• A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole

10. In your eyes, what are 3 “perfect” romances? -Sam

I don’t like the term perfect, but here are three of my favorites that I could not put down. They gave me all the feels and bring a unique aspect to the table.

• The Kingmaker and The Rebel King by Kennedy Ryan (contemporary romance with a suspense element – the first book leaves off on a cliff hanger so you must read both!)
• Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night by Kresley Cole (paranormal romance – the third book in her Immortals After Dark series)
• Veronica’s Dragon by Ruby Dixon (alien romance – the second book in her spinoff series Icehome)

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I’d love to hear more about your romance journey! When did you start reading romance? Or share your answer to any of the questions above.