to wonder who still reads Mills and Boon books

[lostsoulsunited]

I keep seeing them come up on Amazon but I'm surprised they are still being published as they seem so outdated in this day and age - woman meets man, falls hopelessly in love, lives happily ever after.

I have just ordered ‘powerful Italian, penniless housekeeper’. Can’t wait!

Even better, look at what is in the ‘other people who ordered this also bought’ list:

At the Argentinian billionaire’s pleasure

Mistress: hired for the billionaire’s pleasure (same billionaire, I wonder?)

The Italian’s defiant mistress (perhaps the precursor of the penniless housekeeper)

Hours of escapism, guaranteed!

(BTW I will defend to the death my right to say that those ‘Springtime romance at the twee little vintage cafe’ books are a crock of shit)

Also: ‘Taken for revenge, bedded for pleasure’. That title has got everything, hasn’t it? I’ve bought that too.

Wombat you are perfectly at liberty to say that about the 'Cornish beach hut cupcake cafe canal boat' books! However, just bear in mind that a lot of us wouldn't give our books that kind of title, but agents and publishers feel that the Cosy Village type titles are selling well atm, so we are forced to give twee titles to books that may have very little 'twee' in them!

I was put off them when I read one that referred to a woman's vagina as her 'sex'. That was 20 years ago, mind! I will give pretty much any book a go, to feed my insatiable reading habit, so maybe I should try them again.

Cornish beach hut cupcake cafe canal boat books!

Hahahahaha!

I used to devour them as a teen.

I think it gave me unrealistic expectations!

I got bored of the formula.

I now prefer m/m romances!

I was put off them when I read one that referred to a woman's vagina as her 'sex'. That was 20 years ago, mind!

That might be Pride and Prurience. I mentioned it upthread. It also talks about ‘her silken fleece’ (waxing not yet invented in 1810)

I had to read them when I was younger. Like 14. Can't believe now that my mum let me!

I can't remember what it was called, wombat - it annoyed me so much that I stopped reading. I have no problem with books that don't include explicit sex, and no problem with books that do, but I can't stand books that sit on the fence and use coy and senseless euphemisms to describe fucking.

@Iamthewombat I love them and won’t hear a word against them! Add in a sweet shop and a village green and I’m like a pig in shit.

However I’m horrified by those ‘Please Daddy No’ type books (there’s a whole section in whsmith). I truly find them revolting, and I had to leave Asda before Christmas as a lady was on the phone to someone, excitedly asking if they’d read the one about the uncle, while holding a book with a bedraggled child on the front.

I didn’t even get a chance to look for the book I needed. Seashells and Sleigh-bells, it might have been called.

@Iamthewombat Silken fleece just made me snort, which made my husband jump. He’s painting the skirting board, so could have had a mishap.

@bridgetreilly I read them sometimes, but I tend to prefer the slightly older ones. My favourite writers were Catherine George and Helen Brooks. Can you recommend any new ones I might like? Thank you.

A couple of weeks ago I visited a poorly elderly neighbour and read her M&B book to her. Set In scotland, his name was Hamish and hers was Arabella.
Ahhh, they don't write books with names like that anymore

I used to consume them in mid teens. They take an hour or two to read.

Seashells and Sleigh-bells, it might have been called.

That is a very efficient title. In three words (one hyphenated) it says, here’s what you are getting. A beach, a romance, a bit of Christmas, served up on a bed of twee, all right?

I used to play a game at the library - open any M&B towards the middle of the book and there would always be something a bit racy on the page. Always made me snort with laughter.

I work in a charity shop. I love getting them in they sell instantly! A 94 year old lady pops in every day to see if we have any and generally brings a few in too.

@bookridden I posted earlier, but I never mind giving more recommendations. I love most things by Kate Hewitt, Dani Collins, Kelly Hunter (though not her latest one which is... odd), Maisey Yates, Caitlin Crews. I adore Sarah Morgan though she's moved into single title romances now, which I like but not nearly as much. Her 'One Night... Nine Month Scandal' is pretty much my top favourite M&B of all time. I also really liked India Grey when she was writing. Some of Abby Green's are very good. Also Michelle Smart and Maya Blake.

This is the one my mum bought me. It's 4 stories. The last one is set in the USA when it was about to kick off with the British. With phrases like "you pox-riddled son of Satan" and "I'd sooner mate a rabid skunk." What's not to love!? Nora Roberts has some excellent insults and curses in her books and these two are my favourites so far. The feminist in me bristles at the old fashioned sexism and misogyny but the women are fighting it tooth and nail and quite frankly not taking any of that nonsense. I live a feisty female lead.

‘Taken for revenge, bedded for pleasure’ is a great read! Proper livened up the commute this morning. Thanks to all the posters who recommended titles. Next, Nora Roberts.

I went for Marrying her Viking Enemy - follows the expected plot but with a gorgeous Dane.

Oooh I might get that too!

Just as an aside, when I was a child we had a (oldish) factual children's book on something (I think it was trees? It was sort of Ladybird style) which had been published by M&B. I remember teasing my mum about it as a teenager.

Wonder at what point they decided to concentrate on the romantic fiction.

When they saw the profits!

@boldlygoingsomewhere I note that there is a cornucopia of passionate Viking-based fiction available. Including:

Enslaved by her Viking

Longing for her forbidden Viking

Forbidden nights with the Viking

And many more.

Romance is the best selling genre for books by a long way.

I’m always amazed that people want to read crime novels but to each their own.