Let's Talk Romance:: Where It All Began + Linky

Let's Talk Romance is an original feature/meme hosted by yours truly {Mary @ The Sweet Bookshelf} and Jac @ For Love and Books. We love romance and wanted a place where we could discuss it freely each week! Come along each Thursday and you'll be able to participate in discussion questions, reviews, lists, and all things romance. When we have a Linky present you'll be able to post the topic on your blog as well. We hope to get to know other romance lovers as well as maybe have a few more give the genre a try. Let's Talk Romance!!

**********************************

When/Where did your love of romance begin?

When I was in junior high I used to sneak over to the romance section and grab a romance novel off the shelf and flip open to any page and start reading. Those were the old school romance novels with bodice rippers on the cover. I just needed a little taste of some romance before I went home.

I've always loved the romance aspect in books the most. I was reading all these YA books and loving all the romance in them. I literally couldn't get enough. If I read one that didn't have some romance I just wasn't as interested. No matter the genre, I just needed a love story. Something to hope for. Then I noticed that I wanted a book with characters that were in the same phase as life as I was. I am married and have a son. I'm not a teenager anymore! So my mother suggested I read an actual romance novel. I wasn't exactly excited about this. What would it be like? Was it too adult for my taste?

The first actual adult romance novel I picked up was 'Yours to Keep' by Shannon Stacey. I devoured it. Let my Mom borrow it and then went to find more Shannon Stacey books. I could not get enough! Once I read it I knew I had read some romance novels before but I didn't realize they were actually romance novels. I read 'The Gable Faces East' by Anita Stansfield almost 10 years ago {I re-read it this month} and it is still one of my favorites. AMAZING!!

I'm a loud and proud lover of romance novels now! Whenever I am in a reading funk I can always count on a romance novel to pull me out. Now, I can't get enough!

It's your turn now. Grab a banner and answer the question on your blog. Then add the link to the Linky below! Let's Talk Romance! I'll be posting the December topics this next week. Be on the lookout.

don't forget to head on over to For Love and Books! Tell her I sent you ;)