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    Memorykid-9Kelly Faircloth
    4/11/16 2:20pm

    This is an awesome idea. A lot of women who read romance novels are absolutely insatiable. I remember a documentary my prof showed in Intro to Women’s Literature that profiled some enthusiasts who read more than three romance novels a week. There are even cruises for romance fans where they can meet and pose for pictures with those long-haired, square-jawed, brawny models who you see on the covers. In period attire, and with the appropriate backdrop, of course.

    https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11106654/1/A...

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      wafflesfriendsworkMemorykid-9
      4/11/16 2:25pm

      My mom is a public library director, and they have some seniors who come in on an almost daily basis—little old white haired ladies who check out MULTIPLE romance novels a week. Some stick to the fairly sizable Christian romance section my hometown’s library has (rural southern small town), but some of the ladies will read ANYTHING—Christian, racy, Amish, thriller, as long as it’s a romance, they’ll devour it tout suite

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      woohooMemorykid-9
      4/11/16 2:25pm

      Romance reader’s are the most insatiable of all the readers. As a librarian I’m always reading about the next thing that is going to make us “obsolete.” The “Netflix for books” has been the latest grim reaper. Since that time Oyster went out of business and Scribd had to get rid of romance novels because people were reading too many of them and the company couldn’t make a profit.

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    ThisIsAnExParrotKelly Faircloth
    4/11/16 2:10pm

    Can anyone recommend a good place to start w/reading this genre? I tend to stick to sci fi. Margaret Atwood is probably the closest I’ve gotten so far. I'm curious!

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      AnnieBodyThisIsAnExParrot
      4/11/16 2:17pm

      For really well-written sci-fi/fantasy (sort of magic combined with science) try Ilona Andrews. The Kate Davis series is amazing, just utterly fantastic and you’d be lucky because you could binge the whole series (the books come out only every year and a half so waiting is hard). It’s not super sexual sci-fi but it’s definitely got a romance element.

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      kafrometThisIsAnExParrot
      4/11/16 2:18pm

      I’m not sure if everyone would agree, but I think Outlander is a gateway between sci-fi/fantasty and romance novels.

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    DreamingInGreenKelly Faircloth
    4/11/16 2:17pm

    They are local to me in Los Angeles. I stumbled upon it during a walk and proceeded to lose my mind. It is a truly delightful place. Woman-centric, smart, welcoming, and focusing on community in addition to any and every form of romance or erotica, including teenage options. Book signings! Community book clubs! Comedy night! They juuuuust opened an online store today, for people who want to support the magic.

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      Octopit didn't choose the burrito life, the burrito life chose octopit.DreamingInGreen
      4/11/16 2:40pm

      Ugh, book clubs! I've always wanted to be a member of a book club.

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      nightvaleDreamingInGreen
      4/11/16 3:43pm

      She was a guest caller on NPRs Wait Wait... a couple of weeks ago. She sounded fun.

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    binxersKelly Faircloth
    4/11/16 2:58pm

    Yay so glad to see this! The Ripped Bodice actually carries perfume that I make (writer scents) and I just wanted to mention that they carry so much cool stuff by artisan makers (think Etsy and the like). We are talking book lockets, tote bags, prints, and jewelry. So if you’re in town definitely check it out, they have something for everyone there. Oh and they have a little kids coloring table with pictures of Eleanor Roosevelt for kiddies to color!! It’s seriously an awesome place!

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      Lizabethie: of the New Worldbinxers
      4/11/16 5:22pm

      Give them this link, they need Notorious RBG coloring pages too!

      http://www.sheknows.com/living/slidesh...

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      binxersLizabethie: of the New World
      4/11/16 5:42pm

      Yessssssssss!

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    TwiterTwoubleKelly Faircloth
    4/11/16 2:24pm

    I dedicated half of 2014 and all of 2015 to romance and finding a style in it that I could always go to for a good read.

    Out of the 170 books I read, very few I liked. I could go back and read the book Wallbanger (blanking on the author’s name) but mainly because I found it incredibly funny.

    So I need funny, grown up (not where the characters are in high school or college) romance book recommendations please. Bonus points if the sex doesnt always work and if a character has to get up to pee before going to sleep in the hero’s arms because GD uti’s.

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      KK4BamaTwiterTwouble
      4/11/16 2:33pm

      Wallbanger was hilarious!

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      Octopit didn't choose the burrito life, the burrito life chose octopit.TwiterTwouble
      4/11/16 2:44pm

      Alive Clayton! Yes! I loved wallbanger. Did you try Kristin Higgins? Her books always make me snort laugh at least a few times.

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    JRWKelly Faircloth
    4/11/16 2:18pm

    Sorry to break it to you, but there was an all-romance bookstore in downtown Washinton DC in the 70s. I remember the name was something like “Chadwicks’s Inn.” Any other Olds who remember their ads in the WaPo, please help.

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      Kelly FairclothJRW
      4/11/16 2:30pm

      If anybody digs up one of those ads, I’d be very interested to see it! (Being very interested in the history of romance.)

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      hoosierdukieJRW
      4/11/16 2:33pm

      Maybe try asking folks at “Smart Bitches, Trashy Books” (or PopVille)? Also, this is a general plug for Smart Bitches, Trashy Books as an amazing resource for romance novels, and also a great community of (mostly) ladies. They have a “Help a Bitch Out” series where you can describe half-remembered romance novels and crowd-source finding them.

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    fondue processKelly Faircloth
    4/11/16 2:07pm
    GIF
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      MangoMojitofondue process
      4/11/16 2:21pm

      Pretty much this. I wonder how big their paranormal romance section is.

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      DreamingInGreenMangoMojito
      4/11/16 3:34pm

      Reasonable! The physical store has pretty good coverage for all romance genres and there’s a whole paranormal section. The online store just opened today.

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    JujyMonkey: Clever tagline goes hereKelly Faircloth
    4/11/16 2:27pm

    Off topic, there were about 8,000 comic stores in the US when the market boomed in the early 90's. A statistic from 2013 said that there are now 2300 or so. Personal anecdote; my neighborhood used to have 5 solid comic stores in walking distance six years ago, Today it’s down to one. :-(

    Good luck to these ladies. Really good idea!

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      Octopit didn't choose the burrito life, the burrito life chose octopit.JujyMonkey: Clever tagline goes here
      4/11/16 2:41pm

      I've never been in a physical comic book shop and it makes me so sad. Seeing so many comic books in person is probably magical!

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      GiggloerOctopit didn't choose the burrito life, the burrito life chose octopit.
      4/11/16 3:02pm

      It is mostly just like another bookstore, until the other patrons/storeowner try to hit on you awkwardly. That last part is getting better, but when I gave another local store a chance earlier this year it was of the creepy-staring-owner variety, so doesn’t look like it’s changed that much.

      I now read indie comics, which I purchase online.

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    GrumpyEagleKelly Faircloth
    4/11/16 2:12pm

    Do they do Christian Amish Romance fiction?

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      Memorykid-9GrumpyEagle
      4/11/16 2:22pm

      My wife likes those on occasion.

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      sockerkakaGrumpyEagle
      4/11/16 2:24pm

      Probably? Although, going off Amazon reviews, a lot of Christian romance / Amish romance-readers are going to find a lot to object to in the other sections. Sometimes, I look up spiritual romances in the Kindle store just to read the reviews.

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    goddessoftransitoryKelly Faircloth
    4/11/16 2:05pm

    Damn straight. Romance is not inherently lesser then thrillers, suspense, mystery, horror, sci-fi, etc. And let’s face it, if you want to read a good sex scene that focuses on the woman? Romance is pretty much it. Julie Garwood’s Honour’s Splendor made me a woman, by God.

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      Colored Franciegoddessoftransitory
      4/11/16 4:38pm

      For me, it was The Bride!

      Jamie + Alec on his plaid 4eva

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      DarkTowerLateArrivalgoddessoftransitory
      4/11/16 6:01pm

      Julie Garwood does screwball comedy set in various time periods better than anyone. (The one on the ship where the heroine manages to destroy the sails, set fire to the ship, and give the crew food poisoning.)

      Also the use of disappointed as an understatement.

      Person trying not to weep, heroine says, “I knew you’d be disappointed.”

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