What you are describing in regards to the heroes is called the alpha male syndrome, and I've seen romance sites talk about whether the men have to be Alpha male or not. I think Alpha-male is more predominant in the more overtly porn trashy novels.
IMO, Johanna Lindsey is one of the better of the girl-porn writers, but that isn't saying much. I could only stand Lindsey's males because her heroines (usually) give as good as they get. The "A'tall" stuff is in her Georgian/regency period books - her version of witty conversation, I think. But probably more than that, I hadn't really found any better writers when I was reading her stuff, and she's not a really bad writer - at least compared to some of the writers out there. I'm absolutely sure that Harlequin pays it's writer to be deliberately bad.
If you prefer Amanda Quick, you would probably prefer the regency sub-genre. This is about the only romance sub-genre I read anymore - there's a lot of fascinating cultural changes going on, and most of the good writers are interested in those changes and how they affect the people who lived then. I've noted at least one university professor of English literature and one professor of history among the regency authors. Also, I find that the Regency authors are more likely to make their hero and heroine intelligent and witty, instead of good looking.
In the regency group, you can usually go by publisher to tell which books are more likely to be good. Harlequin is c&*%, and Sihlouette isn't much better. Zebra is a gamble - they get some really bad authors and some really good ones. Signet is the best by far - they usually steal proven authors from other publishers.
Of authors, my favorites are Mary Jo Putney, Jo Beverly, Barbara Metzger and Carla Kelly. Barbara Metzger is just a fun writer, she's not so much on the cultural details but her wordplay is great. The others are good authors and do their research.
BTW, I do NOT like Mary Balogh. Her plotting is great, but she has a weirdly impersonal writing style that grates on my nerves. I do recommend that you read one of her stories, and see if you can tell what I mean.
And don't ever read Catherine Coulter. She has a rape fetish.
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branchandroot
Because this has been rattling around in my brain.
Date: 2008-05-22 10:58 pm (UTC)IMO, Johanna Lindsey is one of the better of the girl-porn writers, but that isn't saying much. I could only stand Lindsey's males because her heroines (usually) give as good as they get. The "A'tall" stuff is in her Georgian/regency period books - her version of witty conversation, I think. But probably more than that, I hadn't really found any better writers when I was reading her stuff, and she's not a really bad writer - at least compared to some of the writers out there. I'm absolutely sure that Harlequin pays it's writer to be deliberately bad.
If you prefer Amanda Quick, you would probably prefer the regency sub-genre. This is about the only romance sub-genre I read anymore - there's a lot of fascinating cultural changes going on, and most of the good writers are interested in those changes and how they affect the people who lived then. I've noted at least one university professor of English literature and one professor of history among the regency authors. Also, I find that the Regency authors are more likely to make their hero and heroine intelligent and witty, instead of good looking.
In the regency group, you can usually go by publisher to tell which books are more likely to be good. Harlequin is c&*%, and Sihlouette isn't much better. Zebra is a gamble - they get some really bad authors and some really good ones. Signet is the best by far - they usually steal proven authors from other publishers.
Of authors, my favorites are Mary Jo Putney, Jo Beverly, Barbara Metzger and Carla Kelly. Barbara Metzger is just a fun writer, she's not so much on the cultural details but her wordplay is great. The others are good authors and do their research.
BTW, I do NOT like Mary Balogh. Her plotting is great, but she has a weirdly impersonal writing style that grates on my nerves. I do recommend that you read one of her stories, and see if you can tell what I mean.
And don't ever read Catherine Coulter. She has a rape fetish.