Spring and Romance are in the Air
While we love our naval adventures, our histories, and our children's stories, eNet Press also publishes some fine, and often overlooked, romances. And in honor of the season we'd like to celebrate a few of them.
If you are interested in light, comic romance with slapstick, zany, and often improbable situations, then Thorne Smith is the author for you. His characters are often escaping (or forcibly thrown out of) their humdrum lives. They fall into both hilarious adventure and unexpected romance on the way to finding their true selves. In his "The Night Life of the Gods," mad scientist, Hunter Hawk, sets off to adventure with his leprechaun girlfriend with romance, a few laughs, and biting social commentary.
For historic romance, you can't look any higher than Jan Westcott and Samuel Shellabarger. Both were respected historians and often built their romantic adventures around the lives of real historic figures, providing a window into their world and times while still weaving a rousing story.
For instance, Jan Westcott's "Captain for Elizabeth" is an historical romance about a 16th century explorer, Captain Tom Cavendish, who sets sail on a journey of perilous exploration and privateering. He fights the wild sea, the tropics, and the Spanish, capturing treasure for England, and also a ravishing Spanish widow who might just capture him right back.
While Shellabarger's "The King's Cavalier" tells the story of a young Frenchman and a young Englishwoman who are caught in the wild plots and counterplots surrounding the Bourbon conspiracy against Francis I in 16th century France. Shellabarger writes in a style that is compact, richly painted, and realistic dialog, while still telling a story that is flawlessly balanced and always compelling.
Many of our other authors use romance, both humorous and serious, as a centerpiece in some of their stories, including the unusual "His Monkey Wife" by John Collier. It is the story of Emily, an endearing chimp, and her unrequited love for the school master who teaches her about the human world. Through her eyes, Collier builds a remarkable social satire.
So please, browse our collection and find a little romance to celebrate the spring.
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