Comfort zone. Do you have one? I’d say we all do. Have you ever read outside your comfort zone with good results? Bad results? In romance novels, where do you have no desire to go or fear to tread?
So far this year, the one book that comes to mind that so fits the criteria of ‘out of my comfort zone’ is TEMPTING EDEN by Margaret Rowe. For me, it was one of those books that both shocked and drew me at the same time. The subject matter (as I state in my review) is disturbing to the extreme. It dealt with something so taboo, my immediate reaction was to shrink away from it and say, “I just can’t”. But I did. And I must say the experience of reading TEMPTING EDEN really toughened my sensibilities. At the time I was reading TEMPTING EDEN, I was still terribly squeamish about reading medievals despite the wonderful experience I’d had with Margaret Mallory’s KNIGHT OF DESIRE. You see Margaret Mallory’s book must have been an anomaly. Boy did I ever read my next medieval with a thicker skin. Physical torture, being pursued by evil men out to kill my hero and heroine somehow didn’t disturb me the way it used to after reading TEMPTING EDEN.
All in all, I’m glad I read Margaret Rowe’s book. At the end of the day it was a love story that moved me, opening my eyes and giving me a deeper understanding of the heroine and someone–anyone in her same plight. Would I read something in that vein again? Not readily, but I will never say never because the right story can always pull me in. Right now, Margaret’s alter ego Maggie Robinson’s books are much more my style.
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I waited a while before trying urban fantasy because I thought it wouldn’t suit my tastes, but I actually like my first urban fantasy and will definitely be reading more of them.
I’m comfy reading Historical Romance and also started reading Erotic Romance (Historical and Contemporary). I still haven’t liked the space/alien romance trend so I’m holding off reading them as of the moment.
I would say romance is my comfort zone and I will read mysteries, suspense and women’s fiction but they don’t always have a HEA which I don’t like.
Historical Romances are my comfort zone, almost like an addiction – my guilty pleasure I like to call them. I will read just about anything, Stephen King for the fear/suspense factor. I had a some books given to me a while ago one was a same sex (boardered on erotic) romance, that was way outside my comfort zone. I read Erotic Romances (some books are milder than some written scenes in regular romances) as well but I prefer not to read M/M action.
My comfort zone is romance novels because I like feel good stories. I usually don’t mind which sub-genre I read but I try to stay away from sci-fi and fantasy. Recently, I’ve read an erotic book that pushed me beyond my comfort zone. I don’t know if it was a good or bad thing but it definitely left me thinking.
I’m not sure I so much go “out of my comfort zone” as push it’s boundries. 🙂
My comfy zone is historical or paranormal romance with maybe a mystery-romance. I love stories with alot of heart, alot of passion and a happy ending.
I do force myself to read outside of my “comfort level”. I think that we have to push our boundaries as readers in order to grow. I used to only read “cozy” murder type mystery books and then added the Kathy Reich books which were grittier and had less of a happy ending and that pushed my border there. Then I finally gave into the pushing and pulling of my younger sister and started to read paranormal books and fell in love. I had avoided the romance genre in general because of all of the Barbara Cartland books that I had read as a teen but my sister again nagged me until I started to read romance books again and now I’m back in love with romance. Needless to say historical romance has been the last subgenre to tackle but I’m glad that I have. I have one of Maggie Robinson’s books to read on my Kindle and will have to look at the Margaret Rowe book again to see if I’m in the buying mood:)
I just started reading Megan Hart and she is definitely an author that have pushed my reading boundaries. She is a very good writer and the words flow so that makes it easier to just read on even if the topics and themes aren’t my usual fare. It’s good to push boundaries.
Bev, thanks for the sensitive post (and plug!). Writing Tempting Eden was outside my comfort zone, LOL. But I just had to, and I’m glad I did, for it got me my agent and first sale. I find it funny to be a writer of erotic romance, since I don’t read the genre much at all (maybe I should!).
I can’t read literary fiction at all anymore. Too…unhappy, unresolved endings. Too much like life!
I’ll read just about anything…push the ‘comfort zone’ all the time. BUT I reserve the right to DNF any title that disturbs me in any way. There are too many books out there that I will enjoy to spend time on one that really, really bothers me.
Maggie, I can totally relate to you on the literary fiction stuff. I NEED my HEAs. Life itself has too many unhappy endings so when I want to escape, my books better have one.
As for Tempting Eden, you did such a great job making Eden humanly fallible to me while not making her think of herself as the victim (even though, IMO, she was).
I totally have a comfort zone…..Historical romance. It took me forever to break out and try other genres. It’s still the bulk of what I read but now there is some Contemps, UF, and Paranormals sprinkled throughout my shelves.
I don’t have a comfort zone and am comfortable reading darker stories.
My comfort zone changes depending on my mood (contemporary or historical) but I don’t read certain subgenres. My reading time is too precious to force myself to read something I’d rather not.
I tend to stick to my comfort zone, so I don’t read the more explicit genres.
love that cover!! It is absolutely awesome!!! My comfort zone is HUGE, I read a lot of different genres, so I’m not too super picky about what I do and don’t read!
Historical romances and historical fiction/non-fiction in general always will be my comfort zone; there’s a certain romance of the romance of bygone eras. But then I can just as easily love a good dark, gritty crime mystery, or a pretentious literary work with a pretentiously unhappy ending too; it’s entirely relative to my state of mind! I do wish there wasn’t such a distance between popular fiction and literary fiction though, it harks back to the distinctions between high art and popular culture, and those have blurred significantly.
My comfort zone is historical romance. I don’t like sci-fi, futuristic or fantasy stuff. Don’t read it and don’t care to.
Beverly, I have Margaret Rowe’s ‘Tempting Eden’ on my BTB list but have hesitated buying it for the reasons you stated in your blog today. I am not entirely sold on erotic books. The last one I read, published by Avon Red, I didn’t finish (title & author shall remain unnamed) . I felt I was reading porn. IMO, there was no redeeming story line and nothing to fill out the characters except they had a lot of sex! Personally, I read because I enjoy the story.
You mentioned in your review that you almost wished Eden had been raped. I don’t know how old she was at the beginning, but I would have to say that because of her probable age at the onset of the seduction, even though she was in agreement, she was actually raped. And of course, like anything else that is hard to read and/or look at, we tend to treat it like a train wreck….we want to look away, but we can’t. I’m still on the fence about this book. I’ll have to think about it some more. Her books written as Maggie Robinson are more to my liking. In fact, I have a signed copy of Maggie’s ‘Mistress by Mistake’ on my TBR shelves with her name on my future BTB list.
@ Margaret Rowe/Maggie Robinson…Please understand that I mean no disrespect here and don’t want you to think I am bashing you and your work.
I’d say I really don’t have a comfort zone. I read from a lot of different genres.Erotic,UF,contemporary,Paranormal Romance etc. If I get into a reading rut I just switch to a different genre.
I have a hard time going out of my comfort zone. I’m a habitual reader so I tend to stick to what I know I like which is historical and paranormal romances with a sprinkling of urban fantasy, YA novel or historical fiction.
I’ve read a few contemporary books and although I’ve enjoyed them, I find that I have a harder time getting into the story. I’ve never tried reading erotic or particularly dark stories, but I think I would give it a try if I was in the mood to venture off the beaten path. The only genres that really do not grab me or call my attention are suspense/mystery/thrillers.
Historicals always, but open to most others
My comfort zone would be historical romances. I have went outside my comfort zone, with good results, but always go back to my favorite. 🙂
This book is definitely out of my comfort zone. I rarely step out of that zone because I don’t like wasting my time on something that I won’t enjoy.
I prefer historical romance, but I often venture out into other genres just to give myself a break. On the subject of Tempting Eden, I haven’t read it, but I feel that some stories are improved if the action is more realistic, especially if it is true to the time—and the medieval era seems to have been a harsh time for all classes.
I read all subgenres of romance and a variety of heat levels. I can’t really define a comfort zone other than I want an HEA and any of the spicier reads have to show a clear connection between the characters (other than hot sex).
I can honestly say that I have my comfort reads or should I say authors. They are the ones I know I can pick up and enjoy… Nora Roberts is at the top of the list. As far as going outside of my comfort zone, yes I have ventured quite far from it. I told myself that I couldn’t possibly enjoy an erotic romance/erotica. Boy did Beth Kery prove that to be a falsehood. My most recent venture out of the comfort zone would be to read a m/m romance. I didn’t not like it at all, I guess I just can’t wrap my mind around that sort of thing and lets face it that is definitely not my reality and I can not apply what I am reading to my imagination and make myself the heroine.
My comfort zone would include contemporary, suspense and historical romance. I have tried some erotic romance and they tend to be out of my comfort zone. I have enjoyed Beatrice Small’s Pleasure Series though. So I guess its good to step out of our comfort zones!
Interesting analysis. I read any story. Doesn’t seem to bother me since the storyline is what is important. Outside my comfort zone is reading the really descriptive book that takes 50 pages to describe the sex in the story. Been there, done that and don’t need to take a long time to read about it. For me it is reading about the chase and not the capture.
My favorite genre to read is historical romance. I don’t really care for sci-fi or futuristic. But if the story line interests me, I am willing to try it. Usually when I try something new it is because of the author.
I have a huge comfort zone, but for the most part I like sticking with Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. There are a couple of Historicals I always come back to, but for the most part, I like my men to have a supernatural element to them. 😀
My comfort zone is wide. 🙂 I do steer clear of M/M and BDSM though.
I started with historical romance and so it took me a while to switch gears and when i did i went slowly to contemporary romance. I also wanted nothing to do with vampires until a friend suggested JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series, so I bought the first book and took it on vacation with me and didn’t read it. But when I did, 5 months later, I couldn’t stop. So now I’m hooked on sexed up, leather wearing, hardcore vampires.
Another author that really took me out of my comfort zone was Lilli Feisty. I started Bound to Please and didn’t think I was going to finish it. It involves BDSM and I wasn’t to comfortable with it but I pushed through and really enjoyed it that I went and got the next in the series. I wasn’t just about that BDSM but it had romance and a story and of course HEA.
So I’ll try just about everything… I even just read a book about faeries, but I don’t think I could read the sci-fi ones.
I’ve read the review and TEMPTING EDEN will push me against my comfort level. I think I would have to be in the right frame of mind to read it. Overall, it still sounds good and is one I’ll read.
The review was even uncomfortale for me to read. Getting this book to a HEA was an achievement. Good luck with it.
I have to admit i rarely stray outside my comfort zone, but i do do it from time to time. My comfort zone is really anything that is not high in eroticism. I get kinda of squirmy reading anything highly erotic. Makes me feel like i’m committing a grave sin by reading it. I have read it sometimes though. I love Vicki Lewis Thompson and a lot of her sex scenes are one stop away from hitting the erotic score.
In terms of genre’s i tend to favor historicals, paranormal, and fantasy. I’ll read contemporaries sometimes. I have a thing that they kind of make me depressed since i can’t find a guy. So in a matter of saying they feel like being a third wheel sometimes and that can be a bit uncomfortable.
I have a pile of literary fiction beside my bed–The Lovely Bones is in there, so is The Kite Runner and several by Jodi Piccoult. (So far all unread!) Because I am always fascinated by the differences between literary fiction and romance. But I can’t read those kinds of books before bedtime–they are often disturbing and sad. So I am always torn between reading what I feel I should read because everyone is talking about it vs. reading something where people change and grow because they love other people–people who love them despite their faults. And in my world the latter usually wins!
I don’t normally read erotic romances. But after everything I was hearing about ADDICTED by Charlotte Featherstone, I decided to read the book. I’m so glad I did! The sex scenes are much spicier in this Victorian-era story than I’m used to reading, but I wasn’t turned off by them and I discovered a new author who writes wonderful, sexy love stories set in a very interesting time period.
I have a pretty eclectic comfort zone but I don’t like books where the hero is abusive or there is a lot of physical violence. That won’t change.
But, in terms of genres, it is rather funny. Took me forever to get hooked on historicals, regency romances, Vikings, you name it. Up until then it was just westerns. But my friends wore me down!
My confort zoon is historical books.I have tried to read paranormal books but i just could not get into the book.
Well, there’s comfort zone and there’s comfort zone. I’m with Jennifer H. Steele about not reading physical violence and abused heroines. I read for pleasure, and I don’t find such books pleasurable. I see no reason to change.
While I would never tell anyone else what to read, I don’t care for romances where the heroine is abused. I read the review for this book. I certainly don’t want to read about a poor, victimized teenager who the world blames for her downfall. She was eager at the beginning because she was young and didn’t know. And then, she was powerless to get out. A sad story, to say the least. I prefer comedy.
I don’t mind expanding beyond my typical comfort zone, but it usually requires someone giving me a book and telling me to try it…otherwise I don’t have the confidence to seek one out! I will hit the library up once in a while for a new adventure, but even then it usually requires some REALLY good reviews before I go beyond the norm. That being said, I have pretty broad tastes to start out with 🙂
The only paranormal books I have read are the Twilight series. I really enjoyed the books, but I haven’t read any more paranormals. Maybe I will try again soon.
My comfort zone is Historical romance, Scottish highlanders. I have very eclectic tastes and read just about everything except Horror.
Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com
i read all kinds of genres and sub-genres, so i really haven’t found my boundaries yet. my comfort zone would have to be genres that i read more of (urban fantasy, romance, mysteries), but i go out of them all the time. that being said, in romance novels, i’ve noticed that there are some time periods or themes that i just don’t have as much of an interest in, but if the story’s good or i’ve heard really raving reviews, i’ll give it a chance!
I’ve read a wide range of books. I started with medieval romance. I have a Scottish heritage and it can be quite brutal. It is hard to read at first, but I think it just strengthens the character and their plight as a hero/heroine when it is said and done. I absolutely do not like reading anything that is cruel to children or animals.
I’m pretty comfortable reading a wide variety of genres, including erotic romance. However, I did ecounter a book last year, Sin by Sharon Page, that challenged me. Most of the novel takes place at an orgy and some of the attendees participate in homosexual sex. The hero and heroine are straight but they do witness some of this action, so they are described. The hero also has a particular desire that blew my mind and the heroine is the recipient of some female attentions during the orgy. Until I read that, all of the erotic romance that I had read involved heterosexual relations. I surprised myself by not putting it down, mostly because I was enthralled with the romance between the main characters.
Anything paranormal is my comfort zone, the darker the better. I’m not much of an f/f fan. I don’t mind m/m sometimes though.
Valerie
valb0302@yahoo.com
in Germany
I’m pretty finicky about what I read… but on the rare occasions I leave my comfort zone, I always have the choice to close the book if its not for me. So many good books out there… if I can’t get into a story or I find it to be something I’m forcing myself to finish, then I’ll just stop and grab something else from my shelves. I have so many books on my TBR shelf… I’m never left without something in my preferred reading realm. 🙂
My comfort zones are historical/regency and some paranormal and some contemporary. Waaay outside the comfort zone: anything that involves babies as part of the plot. Especially secret babies.
My comfort zone is any kind of romance with a happy ending. I especially love Historicals because they are in a bygone era. I also like mysteries as long as there is romance and a happy ending.
I don’t like horror stories, sci-fi, and futuristic books. They are totally out of my comfort zone and I steer clear of them.
I think that for most of my life I’ve had to live out of my comfort zone. I ended up leaving home in New York to go to college in Arizona (working full-time and going to school nights) to live the life I wanted and not what my family expected. I think I view what I read a lot like I view life. Sometimes the uncomfortable situations we have to confront make us a stronger more self-reliant person who can endure and love during difficult times. I still feel uneasy sometimes when I read certain things but it also helps me to put life in perspective. Especially in todays economy I think it helps me to see more of the goods things that are happening in my life and that the other things will just make me a stronger better person.
I would say that normally I stay in my comfort level. I’ll venture out it of it every now and then but mostly I stick with historicals and paranormals. I will say one book that sat on my TBR forever because I just had no interest in it was Kresley Cole’s A Hunger Like No Other. I had bought the first three in this series on a whim because I kept seeing them everywhere but I never really had no interest. Boy was I wrong. I devoured all three within two days! I’m so glad that I finally ran out of books and picked them up because they were sensasional.
the cover of this one is beautiful. i am always intrigued by reviews liek this one that say things about “out of my comfort zone” and “taboo.” so many people have different views of what this may or may not mean and it makes me want to read the book to find out if i agree.
My comfort zone for reading is definitely romance of any kind but I’m not okay with cheating hero or raping of heroin by the hero.
Tempting Eden is my can’t put it down book right now! Heavy and beautiful. My #1 favorite genre: historical romances but now and then I go outside my comfort zone and read a paranormal romance or a contemporary romance.
I think I have a pretty wide comfort zone, which basically means I’ll try anything once–it’s led to some interesting results! However, forced sexual intercourse is a big red flag for me.
I enjoy going outside my comfort zone and getting to experience new things and ideas. With books, the different storylines keep me excited about reading and away from that horrible thing called reading slump. It keeps me excited to pick up a book everyday.
My comfort zone is my family, pets & home. Outside my comfort zone are crowds, reading or watching anything about abuse of any kind, (I think I could become a vigilante if I wasn’t such a chicken). I don’t like blood & guts movies.
I really loved Knight of Pleasure but then it’s a genre I’ve always enjoyed. Recently I’ve fallen in love with paranormals which was fairly new to me. Two genres I’ve shied away from are inspirationals and erotica and although I have tried both I haven’t found one yet that I really liked.
my comfort zones when it comes to reading my romances are paranormal, contemporary, and historical, mostly regency. i generally don’t like reading romances that take place during medieval times or in the old west.
I love to move out of my comfort zone. I am willing to read anything, *especially* if someone recommends it to me. I have found dozens of authors that I now very much enjoy by taking a friend’s recommendation for a book in a genre or subgenre that I wouldn’t normally read. Generally, on my own, I read historical romance and fantasy/sci-fi, but I have favorites in paranormal, contemporary, mystery, and thriller because I have listened to recommendations from friends and read some very good books!
I rarely go outside my comfort zone which means that I missed alot.
lorettaC
lbcanton@verizon.net
I’m OK with lots of different kinds of books and stories, as long as there’s an HEA–that’s one thing I won’t leave my comfort zone for! Aside from that, I’ll read widely, crossing genres. There are topics I prefer to avoid (some characters’ painful backgrounds or experiences aren’t ones I tend to seek out) but on the other hand, I’ve often found some memorable and lovely reads by being willing to try stories that I might have otherwise overlooked.
I read a book that I wouldn’t usually read about a guy who was in prison for 10 years (wrongly committed).
Before I read it I knew it wasn’t my kind of book, but I gave the book a go and it ended up being a really great book! It was called “The Mistake She Made” by Linda Style.
Some books I’ve yet to try are very gory thrillers. My sister loves them and recommends many of them to me, but so far I just can’t bring myself to read any. I’d much rather read happier, feel good romances.
No thanks! I read for enjoyment and I don’t want anything that will make me cringe!
I don’t venture out of my comfort zone to often. I especially don’t like books that have crazy murderers and scare the living daylights out of me….avoid those types of movies too…Hehehe.
My comfort zone is historical romance. I have ventured into contemporary, but I found I don’t enjoy the voice too much, and I’ve tried skimming paranormal romance as well, but those also tend to come in contemporary. I haven’t ventured out of my comfort zone for a while now.
The thing I like about romances is that there’s always a HEA. If there isn’t, I won’t read it. If I want depressing reads, I’d stick to certain YA books and regular fiction. As to specific genres in romances, I’m not particular although I’m sort of tired of vampires.
I really haven’t found a book yet that I would consider out of my comfort zone. There have been a couple of books that surprised me in that I was not expecting such graphic scenes, but the details did not really detract from my enjoying the book. I will pretty much read anything and everything.
*chills* wow, sounds like an intense read! I look forward to checking it out : ) (its officially on my to read list hehe) I love the medieval romances. Thanks to margaret moore and julie garwood mainly and then thanks to a handful of other great authors i’ve found too! (no wonder my closets are half books half clothing lol)
I will read books that someone recommends out of my comfort zone occasionally. I also like to change things up. I’ll read probably 10 historicals to every one contemporary and one “harder to chew” book. The one area that has never caught my interest is non-fiction. Sorry, I just have no interest.
I have a comfort zone. When I push the envelope I the story always stays with me because of how uncomfortable I felt reading it. I always learn something about myself and what I’m willing to forgive or feel about certain taboo topics.
I love sci-fi, fantasy, and romance. I have a hard time with poetry, non-fiction, and mysteries.
I’ve challenged my reading comfort level a few times with subject matter that I didn’t know if I would like, and I have to say that every single time I’ve come away with a favorite new author to follow. I thinks it’s because they dare to try something different and step outside of the comfort zone. One of my favorite reads this year was by Charlotte Featherstone, Addicted. When I first heard about the book I decided it wasn’t for me because it dealt with addiction, and I thought it wasn’t the type of romance I like to read. But after a year, I finally broke down and got it, and I am so glad that I did. It is easily one of the best historical romances I read this year, and yes, it did deal with opium addiction but the heroes addiction to it and to his heroine is what made the story that much more emotional and compelling.
I’ve been wanting to read Tempting Eden since I first heard about it, and especially after reading your review. It’s definitely going to be a must for me.
One of the first books I ever won on line was a double story book by two different authors. It was all bondage and domination. Definitely NOT my style. I read it, don’t get the appeal, and won’t read another one anytime soon. I have read stories where this behavior has been part of the plot, but that is a much different thing. I have no problem with someone writing for that audience, I am just not part of it.
I have been reading historical fiction and histories for a long time. There is a lot in man’s history that is not very nice to say the least. It hasn’t made me immune to the torture, killing, etc, but I know that is the way it really was. So if it shows up in historical romance, it is no surprise and is just another authentic part of the history.
I don’t think I have trouble going out of my comfort zone, but generally my comfort zone shifts from time to time. I’ve read everything from classics, to mysteries, to cop stories, romance, historical fiction, to supernatural/horror.
I will say that the hardest thing to get my out of is reading serials. I find it almost impossible to step away from them. Even the books that are out of my comfort zone (at the moment historical romance) are still series books (Agent Pendergast Series, Amelia Peabody series, Temperance Brennen series, Linda Farstein’s series etc)