First Published Book by Robyn Braemer, The Heart Key
The Heart Key is the first book I published.
Romance novels have a defined formula. There should be a cute meet, the two lovers must meet within x amount of pages at the start of the book, there has to be a conflict making it difficult for them to have a simple time falling into each other's arms and enjoying their new found attraction for each other, and there has to be a happy ending. Simple, right?
But who wants to stick to formulas? Well, the thing is, there is a reason the formula exists. Traditional publishers learned long ago that the typical romance novel reader wants those formulas. Some rules can be tweaked and altered slightly but it isn't a romance without the basic formula.
The Heart Key started out as formula romance with a science fiction theme, a response to a need from a traditional publisher for trending books at the time. The modern romance reader wants to expand their reading worlds. There are always trends. Back in the 80s it was the bodice ripper romances.
They called them bodice ripper because the "hero" was a man who knew what he wanted and took it while the heroine was powerless to resist the "charms" of the man who would not take no for an answer. Heck, he did not bother to ask. Hence, bodice ripper is romantic lingo for... well, you get the idea. Most of the time the couple were married, whether through trickery or because aristocratic women were often sold into marriage, historically. Bodice rippers normally took place in some significant historical time frame.
Well, that went away. I am sure there are a lot of bodice ripper books floating around basements, garage sales, and thrift stores. But the idea of reading romances where the heroine is constantly forced into sex with the hero and loves him anyway or sometimes doesn't even love him but they are destined to be together so it's all right for him to rip her clothes off sort of faded into the past.
Now, the trend is strong, smart, independent women for main characters along with a more modern take on setting. We've got aliens, alien worlds, supernatural, and the list goes on. And the hero doesn't have to resort to ripping off her clothes. He has to earn her desire to rip her own clothes off. That's a better trend.
The Heart Key (on Amazon) doesn't quite match the formula for a standard romance. It comes close. My main focus was on Tabitha's reaction to stepping into another dimension. Finding her soul mate while on this adventure was not what she expected.
It's sort of like having a bad hair day on the same day you realize you forgot the clothes in the washer the night before and have to scrounge in the closet for something to wear that won't completely humiliate you in public and you were in such a hurry that you didn't notice you put on mismatching shoes until after lunch. Oh, and look, the best looking guy you've ever seen who also makes your heart beat in a funny way is coming your way. Right now. Right after you just spilled spaghetti sauce on your right boob, right on the nipple. That's how Tabitha is feeling when she meets Agent Ellis.
The Heart Key can also be found on Kobo and Barnes and Noble as well as in many stores for your other favorite ereaders.
Romance novels have a defined formula. There should be a cute meet, the two lovers must meet within x amount of pages at the start of the book, there has to be a conflict making it difficult for them to have a simple time falling into each other's arms and enjoying their new found attraction for each other, and there has to be a happy ending. Simple, right?
But who wants to stick to formulas? Well, the thing is, there is a reason the formula exists. Traditional publishers learned long ago that the typical romance novel reader wants those formulas. Some rules can be tweaked and altered slightly but it isn't a romance without the basic formula.
The Heart Key started out as formula romance with a science fiction theme, a response to a need from a traditional publisher for trending books at the time. The modern romance reader wants to expand their reading worlds. There are always trends. Back in the 80s it was the bodice ripper romances.
They called them bodice ripper because the "hero" was a man who knew what he wanted and took it while the heroine was powerless to resist the "charms" of the man who would not take no for an answer. Heck, he did not bother to ask. Hence, bodice ripper is romantic lingo for... well, you get the idea. Most of the time the couple were married, whether through trickery or because aristocratic women were often sold into marriage, historically. Bodice rippers normally took place in some significant historical time frame.
Well, that went away. I am sure there are a lot of bodice ripper books floating around basements, garage sales, and thrift stores. But the idea of reading romances where the heroine is constantly forced into sex with the hero and loves him anyway or sometimes doesn't even love him but they are destined to be together so it's all right for him to rip her clothes off sort of faded into the past.
Now, the trend is strong, smart, independent women for main characters along with a more modern take on setting. We've got aliens, alien worlds, supernatural, and the list goes on. And the hero doesn't have to resort to ripping off her clothes. He has to earn her desire to rip her own clothes off. That's a better trend.
The Heart Key (on Amazon) doesn't quite match the formula for a standard romance. It comes close. My main focus was on Tabitha's reaction to stepping into another dimension. Finding her soul mate while on this adventure was not what she expected.
It's sort of like having a bad hair day on the same day you realize you forgot the clothes in the washer the night before and have to scrounge in the closet for something to wear that won't completely humiliate you in public and you were in such a hurry that you didn't notice you put on mismatching shoes until after lunch. Oh, and look, the best looking guy you've ever seen who also makes your heart beat in a funny way is coming your way. Right now. Right after you just spilled spaghetti sauce on your right boob, right on the nipple. That's how Tabitha is feeling when she meets Agent Ellis.
The Heart Key can also be found on Kobo and Barnes and Noble as well as in many stores for your other favorite ereaders.
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