As mentioned in my bio, I’ve written romance novels for awhile, and on Saturday Harlequin will release A MISTLETOE KISS WITH THE BOSS through their Harlequin Romance line.

But nobody everybody likes romance and sometimes they even make fun of it. Which is a shame because that genre has a lot to offer that other genres don’t.

If there was one thing I wish I could get readers to see, it’s that not all romance novels are created equal. Not all romance novels are sexy. Not all are silly. Not all are predictable. Though I have to admit, I do try to give readers what they want…and a lot of times that means I repeat themes and story tropes. Frankly, I’m a sucker for a good marriage of convenience, fake fiancee, or falling for the boss story!

But I try to infuse my stories with something unexpected, something that doesn’t necessarily take it out of the genre — readers love genre fiction because there is something about those types of stories that appeal.

So within those confines, I try to be a storyteller and give them a great story.

In A MISTLETOE KISS WITH THE BOSS, the heroine sees the sadness in the hero that everyone else mistakes for grumpiness. Born a genius, raised by a grandma too old to raise another child — after his parents’ deaths — the hero hasn’t ever lived a normal life. Though accepting that has been the defense mechanism that’s kept him sane, kept him from feeling sorry for himself, deep down he wants a place just like everyone else. He wants to celebrate holidays. He wants to be a part of a family. And the heroine not only sees that. She sees beyond his defenses to the person he could be if he knew how to accept unconditional love…and that’s the guy she falls in love with.

How many people in your life would have the patience to wait for you? How many would care enough to look a little deeper when you’re tired or grouchy, to find the reason…Well, I’m hoping your spouse would. LOL

But that’s the point, isn’t it? Real love isn’t about pretty eyes, a nice butt or unexplainable attraction. Those things might get the ball rolling, but it’s finding someone who genuinely cares about you, or someone you genuinely care about on the deepest level that makes love real love.

And that’s what I try to do in my stories. I try to show you the process of finding real love.

Happy Reading

susan meier