Jill Shalvis on why reading romance matters

Jill Shalvis, whose Still the One, book six in her Animal Magnetism series, is out today, shares her thoughts on why romance reading means something. (Stick around until the end of the post for a chance to win a book from Jill!)

Jill: I read a lot. I read mysteries, I read thrillers, I read suspense, I read autobiographies. I read People magazine and US Weekly. Heck, I'll read the back of a cereal box.

But my first love is romance. It's food for my soul. I was reading it long before I ever wrote it, and it's still my first choice, my go-to read.

Always.

People ask me why, and the answer used to escape me. I didn't know how to express why romance matters so much. But I think I've figured it out, thanks to some reader letters I've received over the years.

Dear Jill,

I used to let my boyfriend knock me around a little. I excused it because he was good to me in other ways. My friend gave me a stack of your books and demanded I read them to find out what a real guy is like. She was right. Through your wonderful stories I learned that a real guy is someone who would never lift a hand to a woman. Thanks for giving me the courage to walk away from a bad guy and have hope that I'll find a better one. p.s. I wouldn't mind Josh from Forever and a Day …

—

Dear Jill,

Thanks for writing real characters. Chloe from Head Over Heels with her life-threatening asthma. Lance, with Cystic Fibrosis. My brother has Cystic Fibrosis, and it means so much to us that you portrayed that so beautifully. Gives us hope he too can have a HEA someday.

—

Dear Jill,

Just read the scene in Simply Irresistible where the heroine has an orgasm sitting on top of her running washing machine. All I can say is that I'm sincerely regretting buying a stacking washer and dryer…

Signed, Disappointed In Cincinnati

The truth is, a romance novel is food for the brain. No, I get that it's not brain surgery, but it's not exactly brain candy either. It means something. Romance goes right to the heart and soul. It makes us laugh, makes us cry, makes us yearn. Gives us hope. And that's why romance matters.

Why do YOU read romance?

Two random commenters here will receive a backlist book of their choice from Jill.

Here's the blurb about Still the One (courtesy of Berkley):

Love is a dare in the sexy new romance by the award-winning New York Times bestselling author of the Animal Magnetism novels and the Lucky Harbor series...

Darcy Stone is game for anything—except sexy Navy vet and physical therapist AJ Colten, the guy who'd rejected her when she'd needed him most. Now the shoe is on the other foot and he needs her to play nice and help him secure grants for his patients. Unfortunately Darcy can't refuse. She needs the money to fund her passion project: rescuing S&R dogs and placing them with emotionally wounded soldiers.

AJ admits it—Darcy is irresistible. But he's already been battle-scarred by a strong-willed, vivacious, adventurous woman like Darcy, and he's not making the same mistake twice—until he and Darcy are forced to fake a relationship. Growing closer than they'd ever imagined possible, Darcy and AJ have to ask themselves: how much between them is pretend? What's the real thing? And where does it go from here?

Find out more about Jill and her books at jillshalvis.com.