Welcome back to the Roadmap to Writing Romance! In the first two installments of this series, we talked about planning your romance novel and finding some incredible writing resources. Now, it’s time to ask yourself another important question: which Harlequin romance series may be right for my voice and story? Come to think of it, what does Harlequin publish?
Harlequin has many different romance lines, ranging from sexy contemporary romance to touching family stories to sweeping historical romances. These imprints offer “category romance” stories (see definition below). To help you figure out where your story may fit, we’ve broken down what Harlequin publishes into five groups: Passionate, Hope and Inspirational, Thrilling, Love and Life, and Historical.
These groupings summarize Harlequin’s romance lines, but they are not mutually exclusive! You can have a tender, heartwarming moment amongst your thrills, or a passionate moment in an everyday scene. Use this information as a guide to develop your story, not stifle your creativity.
Passionate | Presents & Afterglow Books
If your story is all about emotion with high sensuality, these series might be right for you!
Harlequin Presents brings the ultimate escape, where passion meets glamour! It is all about the irresistible, powerful heroes and the heroines who aren’t afraid to challenge them. This is where those international getaways and classic romance themes fit. Whether it is a marriage of convenience, a secret baby, or a billionaire, Presents is looking for that intensity in feeling and desire.
If your story is contemporary, but undeniably sexy, Afterglow Books may be the line for you. From showing up to glowing up, these relatable characters are on the path to leading their best lives and finding romance along the way. These stories follow complex characters who aren’t afraid to make mistakes or stand up for what they believe in, and the emotional conflict embraces the real world around us. Afterglow Books prove that happy endings are meant for everyone, as well as being explicitly sexy with electric chemistry!
Hope and Inspirational | Harlequin Heartwarming & Love Inspired
Harlequin’s Heartwarming and Love Inspired series offer wholesome and uplifting romance stories about characters surrounded by family and community.
If your story is contemporary, yet traditional, Heartwarming may be the spot for your story. Heartwarming novels are defined as wholesome, complex, and emotionally satisfying. They bring complicated, yet realistic characters to life in a tender way and are set in close-knit communities, small towns, and friendly neighborhoods where characters feel they belong.
If your story is relatable, emotionally satisfying, and its characters lean into the Christian faith in their lives, it could live in the Love Inspired series. Often these stories are contemporary and feature smart, compassionate heroines, and strong, honorable heroes. There is often a familial and community focused backdrop but they’re not preachy. These lines cater to readers looking for moving love stories with lots of romantic tension and emotion without sexual content or profanity.
Thrilling | Romantic Suspense, Intrigue & Love Inspired Suspense
These stories will keep you on the edge of your seat, whether you’re following a bodyguard under pressure or a law enforcement officer on the run.
Romantic Suspense is all about ordinary characters in extraordinary circumstances. This series is where romance meets danger. It often includes military heroes and heroines, law enforcement officers, Westerns, and characters in jeopardy. The romantic relationship is the central focus of these stories; the love story should be more developed than the suspense element.
Harlequin Intrigue is more focused on crime-solving, often including a race against time, with the hero and heroine working together to figure out a mystery. An Intrigue novel should have a complex plot that keeps the reader guessing. The stakes in an Intrigue story should be high, with palpable romantic tension.
In Love Inspired Suspense, courageous characters face challenges to their faith and their lives. This line caters to readers who enjoy Love Inspired and are looking for more thrills in their romance.
Love and Life | Harlequin Romance, Medical Romance & Special Edition
The series in this group are all about love and life!
Harlequin Romance is a relatable, ‘whisk me away’ romance! These stories are all about the heroine – you want the reader to be in her shoes as she experiences the rush of falling in love. It is emotional without being small-town or family focused. These feel-good stories are entertaining, with a low heat level.
Hospital romance anyone? Harlequin Medical Romance makes your pulse race as top surgeons, driven doctors, dedicated nurses, passionate midwives, and other medical pros work together in medical settings to save lives… and resuscitate their own hearts! They are life-affirming but exciting, often including international settings.
Finding love in today’s world is a real challenge, and the characters in Harlequin Special Edition face it head-on! Sure, they want to find their romantic partner—but they also may have to deal with career crises, single parenthood, and frayed friendships. And whether it’s saving for college, saving the ranch, or saving your family legacy, Special Edition characters often find who they’re looking for while they’re making their other dreams come true.
Historical | Harlequin Historical Romance
A Harlequin Historical novel is richly textured and incredibly romantic. These books are filled with vivid details that bring the setting to life, along with the rakes, rogues, Highlanders, or any other powerful hero from your favorite historical era. The Historical line covers a wide range of eras, from ancient civilizations up to the 1950’s, so there are endless possibilities. Whether it is sensual or sexy, it’s up to you, as long as it sweeps the reader away into a passionate love story.
As our editors always recommend, the best way to get a grasp on the type of stories we publish is to read the series! Check out TryHarlequin.com to download a free eBook from the series that you’re interested in or check out what is new on Harlequin.com.
DEFINITION: *Category romance novels have a strong romance at the center of the plot, with an equal focus on the romantic journey of both main characters. The romance always has a happy ending. Category romances feature easily identifiable story hooks and tropes, such as opposites attract, marriage of convenience, fake relationship, etc. Harlequin publishes category romance books in eleven different series, each with its own required story elements and a regular publishing schedule.
Try Harlequin’s Romance Glossary for quick explanations of common romance terms.
Follow the full roadmap:
#1: 5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting Your Romance Novel
