Love Story or Romance? What’s the difference? #amwriting #romance #LoveStory #supernatural #PNR #fiction #FuryFallsInn #UnderLockandKey

Many of you are aware that my first published novels were romances. The very first was Undying Love (original title: Traces), which ended up being the first of five in the Secrets of Roseville paranormal romance series. And by the way, it’s the perfect time of year to read that series since it features witches and ghosts. Now that it’s November and the American holiday of Thanksgiving is only weeks away, you might want to read The Touchstone of Raven Hollow which is set during the week leading up to Thanksgiving and a family dinner to boot. That series is definitely romance. So is the A More Perfect Union historical romance series.

But when I started to write the Fury Falls Inn supernatural historical fiction series, my intent was and is to combine the three genres I enjoy reading and writing: historical, supernatural, and romance. I am using the local history of 1821 Alabama to provide the ambiance and context for the characters and events in the series. There are ghosts and witches and magic and secrets, too, to supply the supernatural elements. However, I specifically decided that it would not be an actual romance, but would have romantic elements.

You may be asking what the difference is between the two. It can be a fine distinction or even confusing.

A romance focuses on the relationship between two people as they get to know each other and overcome seemingly impossible obstacles to finally fall in love. The ending of a romance has the couple together, usually in a loving relationship with either the intent of continuing it (an engagement or wedding—often called a happily-ever-after ending) or at least the hope they’ll stay together (a happy-for-now ending).

By contrast, a story with romantic elements may not end with the couple committed to each other or even to finding out if a relationship is in the cards by the end of the book. Think of the many TV series where there is a man and woman who have a definite spark but do not pursue a relationship for any of a number of reasons. One of my favorites was the series Castle, as an example. The love interest provides a kind of tension, sexual tension specifically, that keeps readers/viewers coming back to find out how they’ll work it out or more often if they will.

So, in the first book in the Fury Falls Inn series, The Haunting of Fury Falls Inn, you meet Cassandra Fairhope. She’s a young woman, turning 18 years old in the course of the tale, who is so desperate to break away from her overbearing mother that she plots marriage to the only male she’s permitted to see, the interim innkeeper in her father’s absence. However, her mother objects to her flirting with Flint Hamilton and makes no bones about that fact. The relationship between Cassie and Flint has its ups and downs throughout the first book and indeed the entire series (as I’ve planned it so far…) and we’ll see where they end up in the last story.

The second story, Under Lock and Key (see below for more about the story), released last month. I’m working on the third story, Desperate Reflections, and it’s interesting to see how Cassie and Flint are changing and growing. I’m enjoying getting to know each of the characters better with every book, truth be told. I thought I knew them pretty well before I even started writing, but they keep whispering their hopes and dreams and secrets to me… I’ll stop there. After all, I don’t want to spoil the fun of finding out for yourself who they are and what they really want out of life! You’ll want to read the books to learn more about that.

I hope you had a fun and safe Halloween and are looking forward to the other holidays right around the corner. Like I offered last holiday season, if you purchase a print copy of any of my books to give to the readers in your life, I’ll be happy to send you a free signed book plate dedicated to the gift recipient for you to place inside the front cover. If it’s for a birthday or other special occasion, let me know that and I’ll personalize it even more for the lucky recipient! Just shoot an email to betty@bettybolte.com and we’ll work out the details.

That’s all I have for today. I wish you Happy Holidays and Happy Reading!

Betty

P.S. If you haven’t already, please consider signing up for my newsletter, which I send out most every month, including news like new covers, new releases, and upcoming appearances where I love to meet my readers, along with recipes and writing progress. Thanks and happy reading!

Visit www.bettybolte.com for more on my books and upcoming events.

Giles Fairhope reluctantly journeys to the Fury Falls Inn for one reason: his beloved sister Cassie needs him after their mother was murdered. His father and three brothers are far away, so she’s alone, without any family, in the wilderness of 1821 northern Alabama. He plans to find his mother’s killers, ensure Cassie’s safety, and then go home. Cassie begs him to stay until their father returns, but Giles has absolutely no desire to see him. When Cassie tells him their mother’s ghost haunts the inn, he suddenly faces his dead mother amidst shocking memories from his past and unexpected changes in himself.

His mother’s ghost insists he find not only the killers but a stolen set of keys. Keys which unlock more than an attic door but also surprising and dangerous family secrets. The revelations change everything he thought he knew about his family and threaten his sister’s safety and perhaps even her life…

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