OK,

I've been reading a few posts and I'm curious about some things.

I've figured out that "contemporary" means current day, like the books I can get new at a bookstore, YES?

So, does historical mean those books that have like the Lords and Ladies in them?

And what does Erotica mean?  What I mean by that is, I read a Silhouette Blaze book and thought that was a little racy for my taste...is that erotica?  Or would erotica actually make me pass out, LOL?

I saw another post where someone was asking about Gay romance, do they really make such a thing?  Should I admit to being shocked?  Hmmmm.....in all my years of combing book stores and buying books I've never heard of such a thing.

Also, what does "BUMP" mean....I've seen it in a post....instead of a reply it just says "BUMP"?

OK, when your done laughing at me (cause I know ya are) let me know!!!!

Melissa

Contemporary means romances set in contemporary (now / current) timeframes.

Historical can really mean any romance set in a historic timeframe.  USUALLY they are talking about Regency romances (with Lords and Ladies, etc. etc.) but any historical setting qualifies.  Could be Civil War, Elizabethan England, Ancient Roman, The Old West in America, etc..

There really is a difference between Erotica and Erotic Romance, but frequently when you see people talk about Erotica on this forum, they mean Erotic Romance.   Harlequin Blaze books are very racy, but not quite erotic romance (they do come close, though LOL).   In the 70's, what is now considered Erotic Romance would probably have been packaged in plain brown wrappers.  Here's a link to a Erotic Romance website so you can understand better:  http://www.justeroticromancereviews.com/home.html

Yes, there is such a genre as gay romance.   I don't know if you'll find it at most Barnes and Nobles stores, though.

As for BUMP.   The only way to top, or "bump" a thread to the top of the list in a forum is to add a new post.   Sometimes people don't really have anything to say, they just want to "bump" the thread to the top of the list - so they just type BUMP.

Historicals are great, you can get stories from just about every era of the past. Old west are my favorites! You can find lots of civil war, regency, scottish highlanders, Prairie days, depression era, roaring 20's, WW1 and WW2 eras, etc. It's sometimes very educational to read a good historical.

There is also time-travel, paranormal,vampire, shape-shifters,and futuristic subgenres.

I didn't even know about some of these subgenres in Romance books until i started joining in on this forum.

Erotica,,,,,well, check out the ellora's cave website : www.ellorascave.com  if you want to "sample" read what erotic romances are like. I have nothing against Erotica, but some of the words bug me.........the "P" word (another name for a cat) turns me off !!! lol

BLAZE books are NOT erotica.  So yes, I think true erotica would make you pass out.  <G>   ;-) 

Thanks everyone!

Tanya, if that is the normal type of language in the books....I'll pass...thank you very much!!!!

Kelly, I believe you with all my heart!!!!!

Melissa B.