CONTEST TODAY!!!  10 randomly chosen commenters each win a Harlequin Kimani tote packed with books 'n goodies!  Plus: One RCC wins a complete set of acclaimed Braddocks miniseries books.  Rules here.

From Michelle: It's an honor to welcome to myLifetime and RBTB today the talented authors from Harlequin's Kimani Romance line led by the delightful Pamela Yaye and ab fab Kimani Sr. Editor, Kelli Martin.  Join the dish, make new girlfriends and get to know some romance you didn't know you were missing.  Please offer the women of Kimani your warmest "African American romance spotlight?  Why, it's not even February!" Bella buongiorno...

From Pamela: She said, and I quote, "Romance novels are so unrealistic." Hair flip, eye roll, snort. "The main characters are sleeping together in chapter one, in love by chapter two and married by chapter four. Who writes this stuff anyway?"

Um...I do. My smile stayed in tact, but I was thinking, "What has this chick been reading???"  I've been sneaking off to read romance novels since I was fourteen (please don't tell my parents! I was supposed to be reading my bible, not Brenda Jackson!) and though I've read some novels that left me scratching my head, I like nothing better than diving into a book with engaging characters, clever banter and big, BIG, endings.

When fellow readers ask me to recommend a really great book, I always say, "You can never go wrong with Sandra Kitt, Rochelle Alers or Donna Hill." These women really know how to deliver. And all three of these African-American romance pioneers write for Kimani Romance. Impressive, huh?

I read romance novels for the fantasy, the escape, for inspiration (my husband is a very, very happy man!) and I suspect a lot of women do too. I know I'm not the only one out there who loves to read about over-the-top romantic gestures, first kisses and steaming, hot love scenes. I am a very sensual person and I have the "Cosmo" subscription, Motown CDsS, and copies of the "Kama Sutra" to prove it! What's wrong with knowing what you want and speaking up for yourself? Isn't that what the women's movement was about? Standing up and being heard?

But I digress. Let me get back to my conversation with Ms. Anti-Romance. The discussion continued and the more I listened to girlfriend talk, the more convinced I was that she was reading the wrong books! Kimani Romance features strong, intelligent heroines and successful, oh-so-fine heroes who fall in love despite the obstacles they face on their journey to happily ever after.

I have yet to read a wham-bam-thank-you-mam' love story within the Kimani Romance line and I read a lot. I'm talking Oprah Winfrey type numbers. (Okay, a bit of an exaggeration, but you get my point)!

I'm proud to say I write for Kimani Romance and aside from Ms. Anti-Romance, I've had nothing but positive feedback and glowing reviews about the line. Kimani Romance features very realistic but likeable characters. Regular, flawed people like you and me.

Take the hero in my latest book, "Love T.K.O.," for example. Rashawn "The Glove" Bishop is the first to admit he's made some mistakes. As a kid growing up in Tampa's poorest neighborhood, he was easily lured to the streets, ran with the wrong crowd and was on the fast track to a life of crime. But a teacher took pity on him when he was a teen and introduced him to the world of amateur boxing. Rashawn never looked back.

On the other hand, Dr. Yasmin Ohaji has lived a charmed life. A caring, supportive family, a thriving practice, a band of gregarious, fun-loving girlfriends. After the devastating loss of her fiance, she became consumed with work and activities in the community. Expanding her business and making a difference in the lives of inner-city children is all that matters now. Yasmin Ohaji has it all. Well, everything except true love. A soulmate. Someone she can trust and depend on.

Enter, Rashawn Bishop.

Sounds intriguing, doesn't it? That's what Ms. Anti-Romance said too! 

"Rashawn sounds like my kind of man," she confessed, her hazel eyes wide and dreamy. "I'll have to check this Kimani line out."

To ensure that she does, I told her a few more juicy tidbits about Rashawn and Yasmin's story. No, they don't end up in bed in chapter one, or three or even ten, but when it finally does happen, she'll be fanning her face and licking her lips because it's sensual, meaningful and intense. Everything a good romance book should be.

Now it's your turn. Weigh in here! Have romance novels become more or less realistic? What are the things that make all romance novels great, no matter the ethnicities of the characters, readers or writers?  -and- Do you think that everyone has a soulmate or is that a bunch of Hollywood mumbo-jumbo crap?

Go on, ladies, be heard. We're listening...

Joining me today is my very cool editor, Senior Kimani Editor, Kelli Martin and three other incredible, Kimani Romance authors. Brenda Jackson, "The Object of his Protection" (November 2008) Angie Daniels, "The Player's Proposal," (November 2008) and Elaine Overton, "Seducing the Matchmaker," (November 2008).

I'm a newbie -- and EVERYONE knows New York Times Bestselling author Brenda Jackson -- but Angie Daniels has published 20+ books and Elaine Overton's been writing since she penned her first love poem in seventh grade!

Now that everyone's been formerly introduced, let's talk romance!!!