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I must admit the world class jewels got me too but then I have this weakness for shinny things…
I think stories about royalty gives us a sense of closeness to the character because in reality we can only speculate what is going on in their lives. In a romance novel, we get to know their perspective and logic or lack of logic behind their thoughts and action which personally intrigues me.
However, I don’t like the spoilt princesses or princes in a story though, makes me wanna strangle them! Self sacrificing ones… sometimes *winks*

I was GLUED to the TV for that wedding.  It was very fairy tale-like; unfortunately, it wasn’t happily ever after.

I think all romance novels have an element of fairy tale regardless of the story.  That’s why we read them.  So bring on the princes and princesses!

I think, as Americans we are facinated by the thought that royalty gets their wealth, etc.. by no act of their own. You don’t ‘earn’ the title, etc.. you are born to it. As an American, that thought is pretty hard to wrap around. Here (more or less..) you work hard, you can become rich, powerful etc..we had issue w/the whole royalty thing!
I lived in the UK for 3 years, and believe me, the queen was highly thought of, esp. among the 40+ crowd. The royal family is/was an obsession..
BYW, most of those jewels are state property (in the UK, at least) so they go w/the title (the queen’s not hurtin’ , tho!)..
Sad to see the pix, I think, of Di and Chuck.. what an event that was..

Most Canadians adore all things royal.  And most romance readers are in it for the fairy tale.  So bring on the princes & princesses I can’t wait to read this one!

I love it!  And I think the majority of people out there do, too.  Otherwise, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty would have long since been forgotten and we wouldn’t have these wonderful, popular movies like “The Princess Diaries”, “Ever After”, “The Cinderella Story”, “Ella Enchanted”, etc.  (I know there are a lot of older movies that I can’t think of right now.)

I love the “fairy tale aspect” of royalty stories!  I agree with Susie Q2 that it really hits a primal note in us.  I mean--look how wildly popular the Disney line of “princess” products has been!  We all dream of being more than what we are and I think royalty symbolizes that longing very nicely. 

SHREK is one my favorite “new” fairy tales along with EVER AFTER!

Why would that reader tell you that in the first place?  And while it’s certianly okay to have that opinion, why would it be necessary to let YOU know it?--you who spent months and months writing a story you hoped your readers would love? 

I’m sorry but sometimes people like to tell themselves they are only being “honest” when in fact they are trying to justify a mean streak. 

And no, I don’t think a princess story is too childish and fairytale.  I want the escape, I want that book, and I’m gettin’ it today.

I’m all for princes and princesses, fairy tales, and HEA.  If stories about them are childish then why is romance one of the best selling generes among us grown-ups? 

And on just a tad of a tangent…
Fairy tales inspire our imaginations.  If using that imagination is childish, what about all those wonderful scientists and inventors?  If they didn’t dream and imagine I shudder to think of the amount of wonderful things we would not have today.

Example:  The Bachelor in Rome - real prince and the women are loving it.  I personally don’t watch but the ads I saw had the women saying things like:
“Who wouldn’t want a Prince”
“He is a real Prince, omg”
“I am going to be his Princess”

so, I don’t think the fairy tale is obsolete.

I read to escape everyday life and be transported to different places and situations.  And I love a good romance.

At 45, I still believe in Happily Ever After.

I remember getting up so early to watch that wedding, all 5 - 6- 7 hours of it.  A real life fairy tale.  I was so sad about the ending.  I think we need fairy tales in romance novels.  I don’t want a steady diet of prince and princesses but I don’t think they are silly.  It seems to me that there is a lot of self sacrifice when you are a royal and that is a very romantic notion.  If the characters are truly noble then bring on the royalty.  I’m with Pam I don’t want to read about a bunch of spoiled royals.

Teresa,

Have you heard the makers of Shrek I & II have a new movie coming out called Happily NEVER After???

I love fiction. I suspend my desire for reality (with the utmost pleasure) and delve into all sorts of unreal things---faeries, vampires, handsome, experienced men with the largest equipment in the world who fall for the plain shy virtuous girls...royalty is nothing!

I admit at first I was a bit uncertain about princes and princesses, especially if they came from an exotic made-up country, but a good story is a good story. I don’t let the royal aspect stop me. I’ve really enjoyed all three of the Lost Princesses books---what does it say about me that I loved when Amy tied up her guy?

I too got up early with one of my little girls to watch Charles and Diana. Jessie wasn’t feeling well. When I turned on the TV she instantly said “Queen” when she saw the bride, so even at her tender age she was enthralled with the spectacle.

We’re all looking for our Prince Charming in fact and fiction, although Charles certainly does not qualify!

Code:changes29...into what?
I love these random things.

childish or not… it is entertaining, and I

looooooooooooooove a fairytale.

and all of those huge emotions… some dark and dangerous, even more compelling than an average couple… because of those restrictions…

hmmm ... childish?

I think not. 

that aside… I think someone else might find the prince/princess thing childish… but when someone talented writes the story.. forget it.. it is not simply just a fairytale anymore… it’s a great romance…

Its funny, because a lot of people chide me about how much I love romantic things--I’m every fairy tale’s number one fan! Its always “You’re too old for this” and “This doesn’t happen in real life”.  But that’s exactly it. It may or may not happen (I for one, think that everything is possible), but we all need a HEA to tell us that everything’s going to be okay at the end. We’re bombarded with the “real world” (which isn’t all that pretty) so I’m glad for the escape.
I don’t think it really matters if its a ‘princess’ story or not. If its good, its good!  So...keep those childish fairytale princess stories coming!

I love the fairy tale; Ever After replaced The Princess Bride as my favorite movie when it came out.  I think I like seeing the conflicts between self and country, the opulance (of course), and the tug of duty vs. love.  Or love in spite of duty.  I think that’s part of why I love all historicals: the idea that you marry for love is really a modern concept, and I like seeing love grow from seemingly nothing.  I enjoy seeing these couples develop a relationship that I can have faith in when the book is over.  I also enjoy contemporaries, but I rarely finish one and realistically believe that that relationship is going to work out in the long run (it can happen, it’s just rare).

Anyway, royalty fiction can really be the best of the best.  Tortured hero/heroine? Check.  Arranged marriage? Check.  Needing to put the greater good above self and relationship?  Check.  Love conquering all despite above.  Ohhh yeah.  Check.  Bring it on.

I have always loved fairy tales, royalty, the Lord/Lady/Your Grace thing and HEA.  Life isn’t always HEA (Chuck and Di), but my books have to be.  I want to finish each book with a contented sigh, a little sniffle and an overly “lovely” feeling.  I certainly get that from my Squawkers.

I consider myself a royalist.  I’ve always been fascinated by royalty, especially the British royal family.  My own roots are from Spain, but for some reason I’ve never followed the Spanish royal family.  My husband is from England and his late mother and grandmother were real royalists.  His family heirlooms have been shipped over and there’s a ton of royal memorabilia, dating back to a coin from Queen Victoria.  I was euphoric going through it. HM the Queen got a bit dowdy as she aged, but she was quite a dish as a young girl/woman.  I think she was way prettier than her sister Margaret.  And for some reason, I identified with Diana although I never met her and she was a couple of years younger with me.  Must be that princess happily-ever-after thing.

Ever After is one of my favorite movies.  I’ve seen it over and over and over again.  Also the Prince & Me with Julia Stiles.

I’m Queen of my own home now.  LOL

code....north13.  Nope, it’s NorthI-95!

I’m a VERY eclectic reader (romance, fantasy, mysteries, thrillers, horror...) so I have to say it really depends on my mood as to whether or not I would read a fairy tale type book. Three years ago, I was more interested in military type romance. Now it’s the paranormal stuff, but I have admit that even this genre is starting to wane with me at the moment.

One of the things I like about many of the authors here is that they are capable of writing multiple type genres – contemporary, historical, paranormal, suspense, etc. - and don’t just stick to the same old thing book after book.

You’re not going to please everyone, so I say, just go wherever your muses (or characters) lead you in your writing

You betcha I watched Charles and Diana’s wedding! I am a closet royal watcher. But not so much in the closet about it…

Anyway, why would anyone write an author a letter like that?  That’s rude and tacky.  It takes all kinds I guess.  You keep going, Christina!  You ROCK!

"what does it say about me that I loved when Amy tied up her guy?”

Well, Maggie, it says to me you’ll enter my monthly contest when I give away the rubber shackles as a prize. 

Teresa’s right. I just got back from DisneyWorld, and they have the Bibbidy-Bobbidy-Boo Shop where the girls can pick out the princess dresses and shoes that they want, and the fairies who work there (no smirking!) turn them into princesses. That was the coolest part of Disney, watching the little girls go prancing past in their princess costumes.

I, of course, am too mature to want to do anything like that.

At least, that’s what my family told me as they dragged me away crying and pouting.

Bar har har!  Happily NEVER After, Susan?  That’s great!

Ana Maria~!

That is fascinating… doesn’t it mean your husband is some kind of royalty? or doesn’t it go down that far? What a neat family history! I would have felt the same seeing all of those things.. The coin is really neat… I mean… You can hold the SAME coin Quenn Victoria did!! yay! anyway, thanks for sharing all of that I really enjoyed it~! It’s all so Fascinating..

I love Julia Stiles, and I have no idea how I have gotten by without seeing that movie yet!

my code is police55....................

Time to watch Miami Vice maybe? lol. no no… The Prince and Me!

canadacole said, “oyalty fiction can really be the best of the best.  Tortured hero/heroine? Check.  Arranged marriage? Check.  Needing to put the greater good above self and relationship?  Check.  Love conquering all despite above.”

That’s brilliant! I wish I’d put it together as succintly.

Maggie Robinson said, “I admit at first I was a bit uncertain about princes and princesses, especially if they came from an exotic made-up country”

I admit, that was the part that worried me at first, too, but the first royalty books I did were actually set in the fake countries and RUNAWAY PRINCESS is one of my top sellers. I always hoped that with the Lost Princesses, having the princesses in the British Isles would put a more familiar spin on the stories.

Maybe we should do a survey about what you read—only historicals, only contemporaries, only paranormals, or anything, as long as the story works for you. What do you think?

Might as well blog---since I can’t get my hands on the danged book yet.  BTW, the Crusie novella was great.  The rest of anthology was so-so.

I adore fictional royalty.  I even adore historical royalty partially fictionalized (thinking Phillippa Gregory).  But I have zero patience for 20th/21st Century royals....even though, like the rest, they simply reflect their culture.

What’s great about fictional royalty is that they bring a built-in set of constraints to the formula of HEA; meaning you get to structure the conflict around the stuff that’s original in the plot AND the stuff that is assumed about royalty.  One thing I love about genre fiction is that it MUST work within a formula or canon.  I think that’s part of the artistry--creating something new out of something easily recognized.  (It also enables you to create a world in fewer than 500 pages.)

Speaking of this, since The Seducer is on your TBR pile, Hunter has a great feel for the differences between the world of the “titled” and the world of the emerging industrial middle/upper class.  You’ll enjoy that aspect.  And, while the heros are NOT as tortured, the first four of the series:  The Seducer, The Saint (RITA Nom), The Charmer and The Sinner are, frankly, amazing.  I so WANT you to love them as I do.

Sherry (Who, on her drive home today will attempt several bookstores off of 95 in Massachusetts and Connecticut.  SOMEONE has to have PFP and TPKAB!)

Christina!

Let’s do a survey.. that’s a great idea!

"Teresa Medeiros said…
Bar har har!  Happily NEVER After, Susan?  That’s great! “

Yup, here’s the link to go view the trailer…
It stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr., Andy Dick, George Carlin, Wallace Shawn, Patrick Warburton, and Sigourney Weaver.

http://happilyneverafterthefilm.com/

Susan

Oh, I love fairy tales.  I love castles.  I love anything to do with the British Isles, esp the Royal Family and the history behind it. 

Yes, I got up at some ungodly hour to watch ALL of Charles and Diana’s wedding.  I think there is a little princess in each and everyone of us.  We all want to meet our prince or knight in shining armor, whether he’s a real prince or not. 

I read to escape.  I get enough reality on a daily basis and some of it isn’t all that great.  So, when I read a book, I want to escape and go into a world where I know there will be a happily ever after.  Like someone said earlier, I finish the book with a little sigh, a sniffle and a lovely feeling. 

Now, if I could only find my own prince or knight in shining armor, that would be just great!!  LOL

my code is day64.....day 64 of what??  or day 64 from today?  lol

AnneriAilin said

my code is day64.....day 64 of what??  or day 64 from today?  lol
****
That would take you to about.. Jan 13st…

you should def play the lotto that day :O).

My theory everyone gets their own prince in one way or the other. It’s just the way it is. And he always comes along whenever a) no one wants him b) completely out of nowhere and c)at the absolute wrong timing.

haha.

I read to escape, too, and the pure entertainment of it. There are real HEA’s in real life too, darnit, and I will always believe that.

Sherry, if you stop at Barnes and Noble, make sure you check the new paperbacks and not just the romance section.  That’s where I found my copies.

I’ll read everything but horror - but historical romance is definitely my favorite.

Speaking of which, I’m supposed to be getting work done and I keep sneaking in a few minutes of reading TPKAB, which keeps turning into a half hour.  It’s great!  And Rangier is the perfect tortured hero!

What I love about royal romances is that unlike real life, our fictional heroes and heroines get to have it all. Also, they embody the best attributes of royalty. When I think of what it means to be king or queen, I think of the fact that the British royal family remained in England during the blitz. There’s a famous photo of the Queen Mum practicing her target shooting with a .45!

Mary

I watched the ENTIRE Charles and Di wedding. Cried myself sick at Di’s funeral! Loathe Camila Parker-Bowles just for Di’s sake.

Xtina, I was in Seattle all of last week and it rained the whole time I was there. Left on Saturday before the snow started and it was bright and sunshiney. I couldn’t believe I left warm, sunny California for that!!
No however, Northern Cal is sunny, clear and freezing COLD. It was 27 last night but it isn’t raining at least.

I like fairytale retellings, but I don’t think that’s quite the same as a “fairy tale romance” (which I also like once in a while).  And the fairytale retellings I love tend to be a bit dark and don’t always end with a HEA. 

“Happily Never After” - is is based on a (fantasy/romance) book with the same title?

Well I love your Princess series, that is what got me started with reading your books! So please don’t stop writing in this particular genre - I believe in every girl there is a Princess just wanting to break free *grin*
I so watched the royal wedding who didn’t?! Actually we were given the day off from school to watch it and got glued to the TV to watch everything and then promptly ensured that my hair was cut in her same style.  Oh yes I did! I now hope to meet my Prince but he can leave his white stead behind and just get here ... *LOL*

I LOVE FAIRYTALES!! That’s why I read romance, more specifically, historical romance. No contemporaries...I read to escape and the modern world is just not romantic enough imo. And might I add that I have all of the Disney Princess movies and songs? Plus Anastasia and The Swan Princess. Ever After, of course, is a fave!

Christina, the reason why I fell in love with TPKAB is BECAUSE there were scenes at the castle and they resumed their royal duties. The power, oh the power! Needless to say, crown jewels are always a plus! I think because there were scenes back in Beaumontagne, I liked it the best out of the entire series. I have absolutely no problem with made-up countries, I actually think it makes the story better because you can make up the country’s history and don’t really have to base the personalities of any characters on “real history”.

Whoever said that is entitled to their own opinion, but: If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all. No one asked. I just don’t see the point.

I definitely buy into the fairy tale, whether it involves royalty or not. (It’s probably why I now read so many romances And I definitely think it happens in real life - that each person’s ‘prince’ is out there. However, mine obviously has a lousy sense of direction...or maybe I do?

I remember Prince Charles and Lady Diana’s wedding - I think I still have 2 commerative mugs. I also saw, while I was living in the UK, Prince Charles marry Camila Parker-Bowles. And I have to say I was very happy for them!

orannia

PS Christine, I forgot to say yesterday - Ritter and Lizzie are gorgeous! BTW, what is the first book in the Princess series please? (I’ll have to hunt them down Oh, and your new paranormal series! They sounds GOOOOOOD

Oh btw, what exactly is the correct pronounciation of Rainger’s name? I wasn’t sure if there were any silent letters in there. Is it just Rainger as in Walker: Texas Ranger?

I love all this Royal Reading.  Our authors give us the behind-closed-door scenes, which gives us a look at their personal lives, their desires, hopes, dreams, and even heartaches. Makes them real.  Princes and Princesses will never go out of style.

Case in point: My beautiful, and brilliant daughter of 17 (4.2 gpa, has her pick of colleges) when asked what she wants to be will tell you with all seriousness that she wants to create the position of pirate-princess.  She said it sounded like a lot of fun with some glamour thrown in.  Hopefully she’ll choose her major soon.

Ah, EVER AFTER, my favorite scene when the prince looks at the evil stepsister and says, “...I don’t believe you’ve met...my wife!”.  Gotta love it!

Hi Christina,

I’ll admit it - I’m a total sucker for the fairy tale romance/prince-princess stories. I don’t see them as childish. You’ve got the responsibility of ruling a country plus usually an arranged marriage plus all the usual complications surrounding relationships. It’s a lot to handle, and I love when it ends HEA.

And if someone thinks it’s a bit childish to have fairytale romance - well they should get in touch with their inner child a bit more. Inner children are generally optimistic and fun, so we should all listen to them a bit more Can you tell I’m increadibly biased towards fairytales? I spent two summers working at Disneyland (in Fantasyland no less) so I’m already geared towards romantic/royal/magical HEAs.

Kat

In real life, it is highly doubtful I will ever wear a tiara with millions of dollars worth of jewels.

In real life, it is highly doubtful the top designers will beg, plead and bribe me to wear their one of a kind outfits

In real life, I doubt I will ever have the opportunity to quit my job, travel the world, and help women and children in poor nations.

In real life, I doubt I will ever have someone else do my personal shopping (including food, clothing, cars, etc).

In real life, I doubt I will ever have someone do my hair ever day and look perfect even when I’m shoveling dirt on “newly broken and donated” land.

Novels provide me with the opportunity to do all that and more.  I can be rich, poor, a student, an athlete, a great Dame, Asian, East Indian, African, tall, look like Angelina Jolie and have a men who looks like Matthew McConnaghey, with sex drives like Colin Farrell chasing after me.  Without hopping on a plane, I have been everywhere, even into deep space.  I’ve even traveled into the past and to the future. 

Most of us grew up with fairy tales and as we have gotten older, they have changed to suit our adult status (most of them).  These wonderful tales take us away from the trials and tribulations of real life and allow us to taste “the other side”. 

Fairy tales are the nectar of our life and I want more fruit.

Deb

Deb said, “Fairy tales are the nectar of our life and I want more fruit.”

Nice!

And Prue, if your daughter manages to become a pirate-princess, let me know so I can apply.

Heck, I buy into it. LOL Sure, I know that the idea of being a princess is farfetched for most of the world out there, but hey, we all want our prince charming, don’t we?

Lois

Don’t like romances about royalty, however I do like your writing Chrstina, so I have read your past two Princess books in this series, and was at the store on 11/28 to buy your latest.  I must admit though that when I pick up a book and read the back cover, if I see the words princess or prince...i put it back.  For me it is all about the author!  So what I am saying is that I will pretty much read anything you write.

I definitely think that it is one of those situations where there is a fine line between a fairy tail romance being believeable or childish. It all comes down to good writing.

If it’s a case that someone just doesn’t like that genre, that’s one thing, but to not even give a book a try because someone THINKS they have an idea what the book is about and they THINK they might not like it, well I think that’s a lame excuse. Try it out, if they end up not liking it, well then they’re vindicated. But who knows, they may love it!

Anyway, I think that romances are not meant to be totally realistic. There has to be that level of belivablility, but at the same time, readers look for that bit of fantasy. If all romance novels were exact portrayals of real life, no one would read them. Tis the truth!

well, IMO at least.

“Anyway, I think that romances are not meant to be totally realistic. There has to be that level of belivablility, but at the same time, readers look for that bit of fantasy. If all romance novels were exact portrayals of real life, no one would read them.”

I think what makes a story believable is whether or not the emotions ring true (which IMO ties into good writing - same with how “real life” is portrayed, because I think people would read less fairytale-like stories as well, even in the romance genre). For the most part, I don’t really think vampires, fairies, dragons, frogs that turn into princes, etc. exist, but as long as the world the author creates (even if it’s set in the “real” one without any otherwordly creatures or magic) is consistent within itself and the characters are relatable, well-drawn and complex, suspending disbelief gets easier (IMO, one of the great things about fantasy is the potential for using metaphor to magnify human qualities).  I overlook or completely miss some plot holes or continuity errors and take in utterly outlandish plots if I’m drawn to the characters and believe in what they do, think and feel… if it all seems authentic to the story.