Sol Barrera Watters - Web Developer, Language Expert, Artist and more...

Of the past 16 years I have spent 15 reading Romantic fiction.  My favorite branch for those 15 years has been Historical Romance, anything Scottish or English or Civil War era, but the last year has had me in an intense search to satiate my hunger for Paranormal Romance books.

It is not like it is a new ‘genre’ in the romantic fiction neighborhood, after all there have been amazing futuristic novels like “Keeper of the Heart” by Johanna Lindsay and time travel sagas like the “Outlander” books by Diana Gabaldon.  Amanda Quick and Julie Garwood have used legends and myths in their storylines to add to the mystique. 

The great thing about paranormal romance is that all bets are off.  Any type of creature, belief, mysticism, lore, legend or myth is allowed. Werewolves mixed in with Vampires, Pixies, Demons, Shape-shifters, witches, warlords, wizards, it’s a mixture of the best of the best.  Ah and don’t forget the supernatural, psychic abilities, telekinesis, mind control, ah I can go on all day.

The second great thing about paranormal romance is the “Destiny” factor.  The usual thing to see was couples that found each other and had to surmount great odds to be together.  Paranormal romance adds this great new ingredient to the mix.  Christine Feehan’s Carpathian males know they have found their “one and only love” because after centuries  of not seeing color and not being able to have feelings, those things come flooding back to them once they meet the woman they are meant to be with.  Her ghostwalkers (men and women with psychic abilities) can work as a handler to calm and focus the power of one another.  Jackelyn Frank’s Nighwalkers have a “sexual imprinting” and they cannot be away from their mate for long.  The Lycanthrope queen in “Elijah” has a collar that can “only” be removed or placed back into her neck by her one true love.

This of course is a great gift for us romance readers.  We want to know there is only ONE love for us,  One that is meant to be undeniably ours. Paranormal romance gives us that, which is why I personally crave it.

Add to both those reasons, the fact that the rules are no longer what they used to be (J.R. Ward’s vampires can be outside in the light BEFORE their transition period at their mid twenties where they become full fledged, blood drinking vampires).  Christina Dodd’s Varinskis can shapeshift at will (no need to wait for the full moon).

My only concern so far is not being able to enjoy historical romances anymore, as I have a large collection of favorites  in my library.  Apart from that, the lure of this genre is strong and getting stronger by the minute.