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Originally Posted by treadlightly
I really enjoy Urban Fantasy and it is the genre that I have read the most in. I have a pet peeve though when UF with romantic elements (which I feel applies to Kate Daniels) written by a woman (and I know Kate is a husband-wife team) is often labelled "romance". The Dresden Files also has romantic elements (really, there is little fiction that doesn't) but because it is written by a man it doesn't get the label "romance". I'm referring to the "Genres" listed at the side of the book's listing on Goodreads. I can check any of my favourite UF series and this pattern holds.
Ilona Andrews also writes a fantastic Paranormal Romance series called the Edge. My opinion is that to be labelled "romance" a book or series has to feature a H/h that get together by the end of the book, and in a series each book has to also follow this rule. Therefore neither Kate Daniels, Harry Dresden nor Cat and Bones would be officially "romance". I'm interested in what all of you long-term romance readers think.
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Well, both Kate Daniels and Cat & Bones are a series with a good romance, then.
I don't really care, as long as it fulfills my romance requirements. I haven't read Harry Dresden.
But, if you are requiring the H/h to get together by the end of each book, what about all the new serials with cliffhangers coming out? They are labelled romance, aren't they? And what would be the difference between those and Cat & Bones, say, whose really strong relationship (including some hot love scenes) develops over the course of a number of books. Just musing here, I don't have a problem with your definition, it's just more rigid than mine.
The thing that defines a romance for me is that it has an HEA at the end of the day and a fairly strong romance between the H/h amongst the other plots. I realize there are some UF series that do not, so no, they aren't romances. Maybe we should call Kate Daniels et al crossover books, or label them UF AND romance.
I have seen a few New Adults called "romances" that apparently do NOT have an HEA, and I find that disturbing. They aren't romances, either. I'd have to throw the book against the wall if I inadvertently read one ending like that. Okay, you got my 2 cents.