Guest blogger: Noelle Clark

Happy ever after. Fact or fiction?

I recently had the pleasure of connecting with readers through a series of library author talks. It was February, and therefore the theme permeating the libraries was ‘Romance Month’.

I asked the audiences at each library what it was about romance novels that made them such avid readers of the genre. The answer was always the same: the struggle that the heroine and hero undergo to begin and maintain the relationship despite all sorts of obstacles; the deep, unconditional love that they eventually share; and the satisfying ending.

Romance fiction is diverse in so many ways. The multitude of subgenres allows for amazingly fresh plots, characterisation, settings, eras, and heat levels, but the constant underpinning foundation of two people meeting, falling in love, and then living happily ever after, are the expectations that readers have of a romance novel.

Readers universally resonate with many of the traits, problems, issues, and flaws of the characters. They connect, identifying similar traits in themselves or a loved one. They take sides, they cheer from the sidelines. They care. Readers identify with believable characters who battle their fears or overcome problems that seem insurmountable. They become deeply involved in the wellbeing of the characters, emotionally connecting with them.

Therefore readers deserve an ending where they can be certain that these characters, who they’ve invested so much emotion in, will be okay. In the end they’ll have each other, because they’ve fallen deeply in love, and everything will be alright.

For people who live their lives without hope, romance novels are uplifting, affirmative, positive, and provide an emotional release. For those who endure unsatisfactory relationships, romance novels can provide escape, maybe even an escape route. Apart from their emotional qualities, romance novels are an affordable, satisfying form of distraction from the sometimes harsh realities of everyday life.

‘Happily ever afters’ exist in real life too. They aren’t the figment of a romance author’s imagination. Happy couples abound in my circle of friends and family. You know the saying—love makes the world go round? Well it does. Humans are meant to love and be loved. Sadly for some, relationships don’t always work out, but love still abounds in other ways—children, family, friends.

In the words of Sarah Wendell: in real life, just as in fiction, we all deserve to live happily ever after.

Noelle Clark is an Australian author who weaves romance, suspense and adventure into colourful and often exotic locations around the world. Widely travelled, Noelle uses real life experience of places, culture, and people, as a backdrop to her stories, giving the reader an authentic taste of the location. Her novels feature strong, mature, heroines and heroes, who—often without knowing it—are ready for new beginnings. Noelle’s characters, like her, believe that love can be sweet at any age.

You can Noelle here: Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Rosamanti
Fate drew her to Rosamanti. Love made her stay.

Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance Ebooks | Kobo | Booktopia

Let Angels Fly
Life can be full of surprises the second time around

Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance eBooks | Kobo | Booktopia