Beginnings

I've been thinking a bit about beginnings lately, not least because I'm starting a new work in progress. And so, for my Breathless blog this month, I thought I'd take the opportunity to explore a few of my beginnings, and ask you to share a few of yours (in the comments below!)

My beginning as a romance author: Forget-me-not, a 5000 word short that won the inaugural Romance Writers of Australia Spicy Bites contest. The beginning of this was something that actually sprung from a little snippet of fanfic I wrote (Sea Patrol fanfic for those who remember that show!) and played off a contrast between a prim and proper FMC and her rougher 'round the edges MMC. This short isn't currently available but keep your eyes peeled and hopefully it'll be available before the end of the year, in a collection some of my other short stories.

My beginning as a romance reader: The Chesapeake Bay Saga by Nora Roberts. I read these back in the day, before e-readers were a thing, and carried them with me on travels through the US (back when we travelled to the US... won't be doing that for a while now!). These books were HEAVY, but the read was worth lugging them about. I still go back to them every so often when I need a little reminder of how good romance can be.

My beginning as a 'shipper:' This goes way back in the day, to the 1990s when I insisted my mother had to buy a video recorder (bless her, our first VCR was on one of those rent-to-buy arrangements!) so that I could record Days of our Lives every day while I was at school. Jack & Jennifer were my first loves... and I had to know what angst they were suffering that week! From that time I was easily convinced to ship who didn't also love Brenda & Dylan; Mulder & Scully; Superman & Lois (it's a shame Dean Cain turned out a little cooked); Monica & Chandler; Buffy & Angel & Spike; Booth & Bones; and (my latest obsession) Benson & Stabler (and I could go on).

My beginning fangirl experience with Christina & Lauren of Christina Lauren. This was taken at the Sydney Reader Event in 2016 and I stood in a queue for a while before I got a chance to meet them. I also remember poor Christina was so sick that day (she ended up having to cut her trip short) but she was SO LOVELY to everyone who stepped up to the table to meet them. Class acts... I got to meet them both again in 2024 at the RWA Conference (but no pic on that occasion!)

And last, but not least, my beginning in writing groups: the Love Sabre girls. We met at the RWA Conference in 2015 and we've been each others' cheer squad ever since. For writing things, but also for life things. I don't think this is our first conference elevator selfie, but it is one of the first and we try to recreate one every year (at least with everyone who can make it to conference, Life does get in the way sometimes!)

 

Kristine Charles writes sexy tales where coffee (and red wine) is abundant, designer shoes and handbags are cheap, chocolate has no calories and men always put the toilet set down. Find her at www.wordsbykristinecharles.com or on Facebook, Instagram or Bluesky.

You can preorder Kristine's latest novella in the Save the Date anthology here. Available 18 June 2025.

I love to love: this month, I remain obsessed with Benson & Stabler from Law & Order: SVU/Organised Crime. Sue me, I'm a glutton for exceptional unresolved sexual tension and these two have it!

I love to laugh: What do you call a fish wearing a bow-tie? Sofishticated!

I love to learn: I'm attending InkersCon online in June and I can't wait! 

Romantic Settings

 Romantic Settings

by Sharon Bryant

Magical romantic moments can take place anywhere, but sometimes a special place or type of setting strikes us as being particularly romantic.

When I think of romantic settings, beautiful sunny beaches with breaking waves creating their own rainbows, snow covered cottages with warm log fires,  and beautiful old cities like Rome and Kotor come to mind. I also think of the majestic fjords of Norway, the beauty of Cradle Mountain in Tasmania and the lush tropical islands in the South Pacific.

The Role of Settings in Romance Novels

Of course, great romance novels can be set anywhere, but the places where your characters meet, interact and fall in love should enhance their experiences and the vicarious experiences of your readers. For example, in Jane Eyre, Thornfield Hall's gloominess is used to magnify the reader's understanding of the extent of Mr Rochester's depression before he met Jane. It is also used to heighten Jane's shock and sense of betrayal when she finds out that Mr Rochester is already married. The house provides a sense of menace that heightens the reader's experience.

The atmosphere created by a place or item can change depending on the time of day and the emotions your characters are experiencing. For example, in "The Scoundrel's Daughter", Anne Gracie uses a beautiful kidskin bible with a mother-of-pearl cover to heighten our understanding of Alice's past marriage. She was devastated when she discovered her husband's infidelity. and now, many years later, she is gradually moving on from this. Older, wiser, penniless and widowed, Alice feels comfortable regifting the barely touched bible to her new goddaughter, Lucy. "Now it seemed a perfect gift, releasing her from the unhappy memories it evoked and entering a new beginning with a new owner."

Sometimes, setting is used to stop your characters reaching their goals such as when forced proximity is used to keep the hero and heroine together. In Michelle Douglas' "Secret Fling with the Billionaire",  Cleo dives into a canal boat to escape the press and has little choice but to accept Jude Blackwood's offer of refuge. She finds her growing feelings for him much harder to keep to herself. At other times the setting symbolises what is about to happen such as when Mr Rochester first proposes to Jane in a rising thunderstorm.

Settings and the Psychology of Love

Settings and how we react to them influence our life experiences. Psychologists talk of a "psychology of love setting" as a specific environment conducive to the development of romantic feelings. Physical intimacy, novelty, deep conversations, shared experiences and positive feelings all play a part. Each of these features in great romantic novels.

Valentine's Day has just passed. I hope you had a lovely day. Did you go somewhere special and romantic with a partner, friend or family? If yes, where did you go?

What is your favourite romantic setting - your special place where you experience romance?

I love to love: My husband and I still celebrate Valentine's Day.

I love to laugh: Romantic comedy is one of my favourite genres.

I love to learn: More about the world and the people in it.

Miranda's Christmas Musings!

 Tra la la la la, la la la la...! 

Dearest readers (I've got this mad impulse to say 'Dearest gentle readers', imitating you know who - Lady W I'm looking at you), it's been a while! So here I am to spread a bit of Christmas cheer. 

Somehow or other Life seems to have gotten in the way of my reading this last month, which is when I start glomming everything with words in the title like Christmas, season, holiday, merry, mistletoe, sugar plum, holiday, etc. So - le sigh - I haven't read as much as I normally have. But never fear! I have suggestions on top of suggestions for you, and I suspect I'm going to be reading Christmas books all January... Oh the bliss.

First up in my Christmas suggestions is One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery. This is gorgeous. The story of widowed mum Julie whose adult children decide to skip Christmas at the family holiday house - and Julie's thrilled. Because unbeknown to said children, she's got a much younger boyfriend she's planning on getting to know away from family eyes. But best laid plans and all that, suddenly everyone decides that they will get together. So what will become of Julie and Heath, still feeling their way? So much Christmas gorgeousness in this one, and some very relatable funny family moments.

Picture credit: amazon.com

The Christmas Cottage by Sarah Morgan (or in the US, The Holiday Cottage) is a charming book about fairly uptight, work-focused, affection-starved Imogen having a bombshell dropped at her feet. A literal gasp-worthy bombshell. Trust me, it's a lot. But, you know, it's Christmas, and the warm fuzzies of the season plus a very handsome vet (and a dog) do help defrost her. So heart-warming, I loved this book.

Picture credit: amazon.com.au

Anne Gracie previously published her novella Wish Upon A Christmas Candle as The Virtuous Widow, but she's revamped it so beautifully I think you need to read it all over again. A lovely story about a widow and her child, and the stranger that changes their lives. Miracles truly happen at Christmas. And just look at that gorgeous cover.

Picture credit: amazon.com

I always read Debbie Macomber's annual Christmas book, and A Christmas Duet played out beautifully. (See what I did there?) Such a tender story about a woman working out her dream. Delightfully, her sister also has her own romance. Bonus! There's music, hot chocolate, hot guys, and lots of Christmas cosiness here. 

Picture credit: amazon.com

All I Want For Christmas by Karen Swan was the first I've read by this author. It was actually an impulse borrow from the Christmas display in my local library. Don't know about you, but I adore my local library! Happy to report it won't be my last by Karen Swan. A fab book set in Copenhagen (which is what caught my interest in the first place), with a mystery about a newly discovered painting and a will-they, won't-they romance. And just wow, the stunning cover is what initially caught my eye. So glad it did.

Picture credit: amazon.com

The Merry Matchmaker by Sheila Roberts takes a leaf out of Jane Austen's Emma. Widowed Frankie can't stop trying to matchmake everyone around her - with, cough, wildly varied results. So many merry mishaps and mistakes! And my goodness, who's waiting patiently for her, right under her nose? A book with a huge heart.

Picture credit: amazon.com

I know we're all time poor at Christmas, what with extravaganzas to attend, shopping, things to bake, decorations to put up and such. So why not grab an anthology, so you can read a slightly shorter story and still keep that Christmas vibe happening? 

I recommend:

12 Tropes of Christmas is an absolute treasure trove of Aussie authors married with 12 popular romance tropes for your delectation, such as friends to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, jilted bride. You name it, this anthology has got it, plus Christmas. It's just so much fun. I can't pick a favourite, it was fantastic to happily submerse myself - then discover a brand new fave trope I didn't even know I loved with each new story. And, you're welcome. You're going to love these festive romcoms.

Picture credit: amazon.com

Mistletoe Season has another three short stories to get you into the Christmas spirit. Look, you deserve a break from all your busy-ness. Sit down, grab your beverage (which might well be a iced something for Aussies, or a hot something for the northern hemisphere, or something with a kick in it, um, just because), and have a bliss bomb pick-me-up with this book. The stories are wonderful.

Picture credit: amazon.com

For those that enjoy an inspirational Christmas romance, Finding Love At Christmas is perfect. 12 Christmas novellas with faith at their hearts, including fan favourite authors Toni Shiloh and Jan Thompson. So very lovely. 

Picture credit: amazon.com

Last but definitely not least, the Aussie anthology A Country Farm Christmas is just endless delight. Beloved Australian authors Lily Malone, Penelope Janu, Stella Quinn and Pamela Cook have teamed up to bring us Christmas stories from Australian country farms. And if you missed last year's A Country Vet Christmas with the same fab four authors plus Alissa Callen, simply choose both books to discover your new Aussie favourite. Win, win, win, win, win - win, win, win, win...

Picture credit: amazon.com

What a swoon-worthy line-up of festive fare to keep you going over the holidays. I could go on, I've got - counting - approximately 25 other books to come, including the much-anticipated Must Love Mistletoe by Kelly Hunter. I'm settling down now in my happy place to read, with Christmas lights twinkling in the background, tinsel everywhere, and Christmas cards on display. Quite frankly, I can't think of anything nicer. 

Picture credit: amazon.com

Happy reading, lovely readers. I wish you a merry Christmas and a safe and wonderful new year filled with books, books, and more books. And chocolate, of course. Be kind to each other and hug your precious ones. See you next year!

With much love from Miranda xxx

Love to Love:

Believe it or not, I love reading cosy crime as well as romance at Christmas. I can happily suggest for your enjoyment: Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret by Benjamin Stevenson, Murder Under the Mistletoe by the Rev. Richard Coles, and The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose.

Love to Laugh:

At little videos of cats climbing the Christmas tree...and the trees 'fainting'. I used to find Christmas tree branches down and baubles all over the house when I had my beloved puss. 

Love to Learn:

What you're reading, especially if it's a festive romance! Please report back!