My guilty pleasure

Ok, I have read enough teen fiction via my fabulous older sister who buys every single on at K-Mart, Target, Big W, Kinokuniya, Angus & Robertson and QBD every month when they happened to be released. Thanks by the way, Sis. I happily tag along and present her with books that I think are great, which I haven’t read but she will look at me and say “Read it.” Rats! I got hooked on teen paranormal fiction just halfway through the year. Before that, she donated her vast collection to the library as we were moving house.
As she doesn’t like to clutter her room, she gives her newly purchased books to me when she is done! Woo! As a happily struggling Uni student, it gets quite difficult to buy books unless they are my favourite author that is! Then I am fine with it!
I tend to lean towards classics as in Plato, Homer, Austen, Steinbeck, Williams and O’Hara. Well I tend to dabble into the classics would be the appropriate word. My true love, and all my friends will attest to this, is romantic fiction. Yes, I admit to reading soppy, over the top, head over heels, bodice ripping, clichéd romantic fiction. I was always an avid reader as a child. I loved Goosebumps and scary stories as well as science and Harry Potter. I fell in love with romantic fiction as I was picking through my sister’s books. My sister is more of the book-a-holic that I am. As she is 5 years older than I am we both began our infatuation with them at around 13. She was staying at my Nana’s at the time, said-Nana loving Mills and Boon novels and the like. While I looked through her shelf, I don’t know for what reason, but I began to get hooked on to the romance kind. Before then I was reading Sweet Valley High, along with a great friend of mine Sweeda. But this book, by Amanda Ashley called “Shade’s of gray” was a paranormal romance about a vampire falling in love with a mortal and vice versa, it was something different altogether. I was moving away from the adolescent fiction onto the heavy adult stuff. It had all this content about true love and destiny and what not. I was hooked after that. Not particularly on the paranormal but on the romantic. I have always been a sensitive and romantic soul so these novels really spoke to me as an adolescent. I must point out that I knew these romances and situations and hunks in these books weren’t real. That they were the figment of some fantastic author’s fantasy. Gosh it’s the best kind of escapism. First it was the Vampires, then the rugged Pirates, then Vikings, Oh the Vikings, then Lawmen, Gunslingers, Intergalactic Men, etc. I maxed out my library card with all sorts of romantic fiction and whenever I could scrape together to go to the bookshop and pick out romantic fiction. It was my guilty pleasure.
And this is the part where most adults freak out or at least show some disgust and/or prejudice. A 13-14 year old reading romantic fiction? Yes, my Mum was horrified and disliked it also. But guess what? When my school report came around I still remember the comment my English teacher wrote on my report. “Mallory has shown an avid interest in reading and this has no doubt improved her grade.” I got a high B for that semester and by year 10 I was receiving A’s. See, any reading is good reading as long as it improves spelling, increases your vocabulary, understanding and writing.
I suppose by now that you are shocked, flabbergasted that I would admit to being one of those nerdy, awkward, shy people who read romance novels. And at times I do become a little self-conscious over it too. But reading itself is a part of who I am. I love those sappy novels and the author’s who write them. What I love most about these novels is that despite the adversities faced by the heroine and her man, they end up happily married. For me, I would like to come away from a book knowing that the mythical people I have read about and fallen in love with in that moment in time are alright. That they have ended in a happy place. That is why I still can’t stand Othello and plays and novel’s of the like today. I want the characters in the play to have that fairytale ending because it reiterates that a life without love, hope, caring and happiness is a sad one.
If you’re still with me at this point of this epic tale then it is important to note that K-Mart, Target and Big W have cheap teen fiction books. That would be my best bet. Kinokuniya would be next if you can’t find what you are looking for, same goes for Angus & Robertson, Borders, QBD and the like. For cheaper books I would recommend your local second-hand bookshop, eBay and op-shops like the Salvos, St. Vincent De Paul Society, etc.
Now, contemporary teen fiction series I would like to recommend would be:
- Melissa De la Cruz: Blue Bloods Series
Of all the books I recommend to people this is the crème de la crème. My older sister bought them and I instantly fell in love with them. Picture it as Gossip Girl meeting Vampire Diaries. Melissa De la Cruz gives you a detailed look into New York and its many forms and she keeps you in suspense through every novel. I am hooked!
- Alyxandra Harvey: Drake Chronicles

Truly a spellbinding series about Vampires, Hunters and Villains, this book has it all! You will fall in love with the Drake family and the description Harvey gives of each one of these young hunks – The Drake brothers – your heart will melt. I liked that she teamed these ruggedly handsome men with strong, wilful albeit stubborn heroines.

- Bree Despain: Dark Divine

Of all the teen paranormal fiction that is produced right now, Despain’s books are a breath of fresh air. Paranormal never felt so good – the mystery, the prodigal son, etc. It is so original and is so rich in its content that I am patiently (and I mean with as much patience an impatient person possesses) awaiting her next instalment.

- Sarah Dessen: Along for the ride

I felt that this book, in fact all her books, perfectly capture the imperfect adolescent journey. We aren’t yet completely adults and we, teens, make mistakes. Her books are so authentic and original that each one is special. Along for the ride, one of her latest novels allows us to understand these mistakes and help with grief and loss. They relate to all teens. Highly recommend her!

Romance Authors that I love:
- Johanna Lindsey: She is definitely the all rounder when it comes to romance novels. She can write them all and I hope she continues to do so. I make it my job in life to read every single one of her books. The Haardrad Viking series is my favourite

- Julie Garwood: For your Highland Romances look no further. She has mastered it, along with fantastic Regency Novels and Contemporary romantic thriller fiction. A personal favourite of Sweeda and I is “The Gift.”


- Mary Balogh: She tends to create romances of love coming softly. I love how it can break the chains of restraint and heal all wounds.

- Madeline Baker: She would be my go-to author for American Indian fiction. I love her style – it is authentic historical romance.

- Susan Sizemore: Her witty novels on Primes and Werewolves leaves me gasping for me.

- Diana Palmer: Contemporary Western romance writer who’s novels are close to my heart

- Arnette Lamb: Clan MacKenzie is a must!

- Julia Quinn: She has definitely earned the title of the modern day Jane Austen. Her novels are Regency genuine and witty.

- Christine Feehan: Her Carpathian series has won my heart over. I need more!

- Nalini Singh: Read her novels on Guild Hunters and there’s no turning back. A must for every paranormal fiction reader.

- Sandra Hill: Vikings and time travel never felt so good with her books.

- Katie McAlister: Outrageously witty and funny. The Ainsling Gray Chronicles being my favourite

- Elizabeth Lowell: You will love her Historical Western series. Another of Sweeda and my favourite.

- Jude Deveraux: Anything with the Montgomery’s is something that should be read as well as her medieval romances and contemporaries.

- Shirl Henke: Oh how I love how this woman and her writing partner Carol Reynard fuse American History and romance. Its a winning combination.

- Leigh Greenwood: A male romance writer with flair and was once a Romance Novel sceptic. The Seven Bride series will remain on my bookshelf of favourites

- Sherrilyn Kenyon: One of the best for last. Her paranormal novels on the Dark Hunters, Weres/Arcadians, Skoti etc are written with so much passion and downright hilarious humour that it will leave you with a belly ache from too much laughter and a mouth watering sensation as you read about these Hunks in designer. Maybe a few tears along the way as well. I suggest you read it right from the beginning with Kyrian and Amanda’s book then see if you can’t stop falling in love with Acheron.

I think I have embarrassed myself enough (if you have managed to get this far in this mammoth post), although now you should all have at least one or more Author’s novels to hunt down and enjoy.
Happy reading!