Much like ice cream, romance novels come in a variety of flavors. From stories set in the past to stories set in the future, from the ones that make you laugh to the ones that make you cry, the romance genre has a little something for everyone.

As reading tastes evolve, so do the subgenres of romance fiction, along with the subsets within those subgenres. Vampire romances may soar in popularity one year and plummet the next, as fast-paced romantic comedies become all the rage. The basic subgenres of romance, however, usually remain the same.

Contemporary Romance

As defined by Romance Writers of America, a contemporary romance is one that is set after the world wars. Most, however, are set in the present without a specific year mentioned in the text. (In fact, many publishers discourage the use of a time reference because it can date the novel and make future reprints harder sales.) Contemporary romances can be either a single title or a category in terms of size.

Historical Romance

Historical romances, by contrast, are romances set before the world wars. They are usually single-title releases, although a few are available in series-romance format. The word count, on average, for a historical romance is 100,000 words, or 400 manuscript pages. Rich with historical detail, these books transport the reader to another time and place.

While historical romances can be set in any time period, some may be a harder sale than others, due to fluctuating reader preferences. Popular historical time periods include:

• Regency

• Medieval

• England or Scotland — Any time period

• American West

• Colonial America

• French Revolution

A quick review of the historical romances being sold at your local book-store can give you a good idea of where the current market stands, although it may have little correlation to what type of books are being purchased right now by publishers.

A hot trend in historical romance could have already peaked by the time you see a book on the shelf of your local bookstore, since publishers usually sign the contracts with the author twelve months prior to the book's release date, if not longer.

Paranormal

Demons. Shapeshifters. Sword and sorcery epics. The colonization of faraway planets. They're all fair game in paranormal romances. Authors embrace an altered state of reality in a paranormal romance by creating new spins on existing folklore and legend, as well as complete new worlds. Connected books, or mini-series, are common in this subgenre. Popular types of paranormal romances include:

• Time travel

• Futuristic

• Fantasy

• Ghosts

• Witches and magic

• Vampires

• Shapeshifters

• Demons and the undead

But no matter the number of fairies, vampires, and alien life forms that populate these books, the romantic relationship between the hero and the heroine remains the central focus of the paranormal romance.

Romantic Suspense

According to a 2005 market survey conducted by Romance Writers of America, nearly half of all romance readers prefer their romances served with a side order of mystery. Romantic suspense blends the best of the genres of suspense and mystery within a solid romance plotline.

The tone of a romantic suspense can fluctuate between dark and edgy to something more lighthearted and humorous. With few exceptions, the mixture of romance to mystery is usually around 50/50.

Romantic Comedy

Romantic comedies are romances with a heavy emphasis on humor. They can have either a contemporary or a historical setting.

Multicultural

These are ethnically diverse romance novels that can have either a contemporary or a historical setting. In addition to the romance, the books usually contain elements unique to the characters' cultural background. Examples include African-American romances.

Alternative Lifestyles

These are romances with gay or lesbian main characters.

Inspirational

These are romances with spiritual themes, although usually the term inspirational refers to Christian romances.

Young Adult

Young adult romances are for the teen market, although a central love story is not a requirement of the plot.

Mainstream

Mainstream novels refer to women's fiction novels that may or may not contain a romantic element.

Erotic Romance

Erotic romances turn up the heat between the main characters to the boiling point. While inhibitions are often cast aside in an erotic romance, the central focus of the story never wavers from the romantic relationship between the two main characters.