Confession: I am a recovering romance novel dependent.

Last night before turning off my computer and to get some sleep, I clicked on my YM to see if my Mom was online. Here my high school friend who is now a prolific romance novel writer was online and I could not resist the urge to say hi. Like a true fan, I asked where I could buy her novels and get her to sign her books for me. She was amazingly very welcoming and we chatted quite a bit about our babies, her work in progress and how she got published. She said her books sold out and was thinking of having them reprinted so that she can give a few away. What a great opportunity for me to hobknob with the soon to be greatest romance novel writer in the Philippines, if not of the world. She was as approachable like she was in high school. That was probably the reason for the success of her novels. Her personality translated in her novels that most people find a real connection to the stories she wrote.

After a few minutes on YM, my phone rang, she called me all the way from the Philippines. I was definitely surprised. Now, I felt bad that I did not buy her books when it was available and browsing through Tagalog Romance Novels online.

I typed the question: Why do people read romance novels? on Google and found that:

For this month I will conduct a series of easy contests in celebration of the Autumn Season.

My husband and I were 8 months pregnant, were traveling along the curvaceous Blue Ridge Mountains and were looking for ways to squander our carsickness when we decided to listen to Frank McCourt’s Pulitzer Prize winning biography in Angela’s Ashes. A few chapters into it, we were hooked. His simplified approach, masterful interweaving of words, [...]

Endong the family rooster crowed twice at the break of dawn. It was still dark in the small hut. Inside are two figures lying on a reed rug on top of floor bamboo slats. The rug is frayed and has a couple gaping holes. When Endong crowed the third time, Terya elbowed her aging husband.

Tuesday.

I am walking in a dark hallway. Mustard yellow wallpaper reveals black mold silently hanging from the wall. The hallway is narrow and seems like it barely sees the light of day. Overhead, a whining vent emits the smell of old feces and fermented urine. The floor displays a wide array of yesterday’s newspapers, two [...]

I am in the shower lathering up my waist length hair. The sprinkle of warm water participates with the drumming sound from the monsoon. It has been raining for three hours now. It’s a Saturday night, there’s nothing to do and my dear hubby went to West Virginia with his buddies to go turkey hunting.
It [...]

The march started from a church. First, everyone gathered and said a prayer. I was not sure if the church service was held to ward off any danger or to let the people’s cry be heard. So, I just folded my hands, bent my knees and closed my eyes. Because Dan was looking if I [...]