Friday, June 10, 2011

Can Medical Romances Be Funny?

Happy Friday! Today, I'm delighted to have Wendy S Marcus stopping by on her blog tour. But before we get to that, I want to thank Stephen Tremp for posting a lovely review of my novel The Hating Game (published by Prospera Publishing) over on his blog. Many thanks, Stephen!

Now, over to Wendy:

Hi Talli! Thank you so much for hosting me on the 10th stop of my blog tour to promote my debut Harlequin Medical Romance, WHEN ONE NIGHT ISN’T ENOUGH, which is currently available for purchase at the Mills and Boon website and Amazon UK. It will be in stores in the UK in June as well. It will also be in stores and online in Aus/NZ on July 11, 2011, and online in the U.S. as of July 11, 2011.

For my post today I’ve decided to address the question: Can medical romance be funny? It’s a valid question. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of hospitals? Gorgeous doctors? Probably not. Most people think of the Emergency Room. Trauma and drama. Sickness, injury, and pain. Not much material for funny stuff there.

But being a nurse, I can tell you with first-hand knowledge, medical professionals are some of the funniest people I know. And in Medical Romance, like in actual medical settings, humor is most often found in the interactions between people and not in the medical situations themselves.

Something you may not know, in Harlequin Medical Romance, the books do not take place solely in hospitals. There are many different medical settings that span the continents. Our characters have full lives outside of work. And while there are medical scenes, the focus of our stories is on the hero and heroine. While we strive to make our medical scenes as realistic as possible, gore and tension and high-stakes medical drama is not our main focus.

Here’s a scene from WHEN ONE NIGHT ISN’T ENOUGH. It may not be laugh out loud funny, but I hope it shows that medical romance can be light and entertaining, even in the midst of the medical setting:

“You okay?” Ali asked, coming to stand beside him.

Damn it. He thought she’d gone back inside.

“Just peachy. How about you?”

“You were great with Jimmy. I’m sorry you lost your dad so young.”

He couldn’t look at her. “It’s why I became a physician, so no kid would have to deal with what I went through. I’m doing a great job of it, huh?”

“You’re not God, Dr. P.” She set her hand on his forearm, sending a flare of soothing warmth throughout his body. He craved her touch with a ferocity that excited him as much as it unnerved him.

“You coded Jimmy’s dad twelve minutes longer than any other physician here would have,” she said. “You did your best.”

He tilted his head down and to his left, and their eyes met, held. Hers conveyed genuine concern, empathy. He’d seen it dozens if not hundreds of times over the months they had worked together, directed at her patients, never at him. Yet, instead of using the moment as an opportunity for a sincere conversation between them, he chose to ignore the unwanted, long-suppressed feelings starting to stir deep in his damaged soul for a chance to play, to forget.

“Careful, Kitten,” he said in an exaggerated whisper, taking care to make sure there was no one around to hear his term of endearment that delighted him as much as it aggravated her. “I might get the impression you’re starting to like me.” His mood lifted. “That as hard as you’re trying not to, you can’t help yourself.”

“Nah.” She looked down at her watch. “The hospital pays me to be kind and compassionate. Lucky for you I’m still on the clock.”

“Good.” He leaned in close to her ear. “Maybe we can go someplace private and you can give me a little more of your commm…passion.”

She pinched him.

Good for her. The girl had spunk. “Ouch.” He rubbed his upper arm. “Where’d the kindness go?”

She looked up at him, her light blue eyes narrowed.

“I’m on the verge of breaking down.” He wiped at his dry lashes. “Hell, I think I feel some tears coming.”

She turned and walked back toward the E.R. without giving him a second glance. And she looked just as fine from the back as she did from the front, her lavender scrub pants hugging her perfectly shaped rear, her long brown hair up in a loose knot, and sensible little gold hoop earrings curving under her kissable earlobes.

“Don’t women like it when a man shows his emotions?” he called after her.

She stopped. “Lust is not an emotion, Dr. P.,” she answered over her shoulder.

“It sure is.

Come over to my place after work and we’ll do a Google search. Whoever’s right gets to choose what we do next. You wanna know what I’ll pick?”

Ali hit the button beside the electronic doors.

As they started to open he called out, “Time’s running out, Ali.”

She hesitated before walking back into the ER.

Jared waited a minute, trying to contain his smile. He knew she wouldn’t bite, but provoking her was so much fun. No one entertained him like Ali. For the first time in the two years he’d worked as an agency physician, traveling from hospital to hospital throughout New York State, Jared might actually miss someone when an assignment ended. A sure-fire sign it was past time for him to move on.

So what’d you think?

As part of my blog tour I’m running some contests. To enter for a chance to win an Amazon Gift Card, visit my website: http://WendySMarcus.com. While you’re there check out the excerpts from my books.

And now some questions for you. Have you ever read a Harlequin Medical Romance? If so, did you like it? If no, why not? And would you be willing to make mine your first?

One lucky commenter will win a copy of my 2in1 UK release which includes a complete novel by Janice Lynn. Visit me on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

Thanks, Wendy. Have a great weekend, everyone!

87 comments:

  1. So far I've only read medical thrillers, but after reading your excerpt, I think I found a new genre. Thanks!

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  2. I think anything can be funny - it's just hard to do well. Look at Scrubs, the tv show? Some topics might just be harder to do well.

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  3. Hi Em-Musing!
    I like to think my medical romances have a nice mix of funny, light and flirty, and medical drama. If you check it out, I hope you enjoy!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  4. Hi Laura!
    Scrubs is one of my favorite TV shows and a perfect example of how medical situations can be funny! But not many people think of it when they refer to medical drama. And I agree, some topics are very hard to do well. If I have a concern about a scene I have friends willing to give me their honest opinions and, if I get too crazy, my editor will reel me in.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  5. OMG OMG!!! I haven't read M&B in a looooooooooooong time and look what I'm missing!!! Wow!! Awwww scrummy Dr Jared P and adorable feisty but ever so romantic at heart Ali!! I love them already!!! Yay!! Thank you for sharing this extract here Wendy and thanks for hosting lovely Talli! Take care
    x

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  6. I agree with Laura. Anything can be funny! I attended a conference with a lot of erotica authors over the past weekend and I write FAR from erotica. I picked up a copy of one gal's book, and read a passage. I started laughing. She drew back and said that it shouldn't read funny. I smiled and responded, "If I wrote this, it would say: She slipped off her panties and graciously flung them in the air for him to catch. "Ouch." He grabbed his eye and fell to the floor." Then I told her they'd have to go to the emergency room b/c the lace on the panties cut his cornea.
    Just saying....

    I'll definitely check it out, Wendy!

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  7. Hi Old Kitty!
    I'm so glad you enjoyed the excerpt! Harlequin Medical Romance has a writer for most every taste in romance. I write on the sexy side! It'd be great if you renewed your acquaintance with Mills and Boon by checking out my book! If you do, I hope you like it!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  8. Hi Wendy – Can’t say when I last read a medical romance, but I am looking forward to yours! I think humor can be found in any environment.

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  9. Hi Tonya!
    I find humor in lots of things. My editor makes the final determination of what's funny appropriate and what needs to be nixed. I recently did an enema scene that was laugh out loud funny. (At least in my opinion.) But my editor, taking into consideration patient privacy and possible embarrassment, "strongly encouraged" me to edit it out. It's a fine line.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  10. Hi Tara!
    I think finding the humor in situations makes them much easier to deal with. Although, granted, not every situation has a humorous side. My book will be coming to Amazon and eharlequin in the U.S. in July. But keep visiting me on my blog tour, and maybe you'll win a copy!

    I'm looking forward to meeting up at national!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  11. I have never read one, but my mother-in-law has. Major fan. I really enjoyed the snippet you posted. Love the teasing banter. :)

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  12. I have never read a medical romance--but I loved your excerpt. Thanks for sharing! I can't wait to check it out. Thanks Talli and Wendy!

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  13. For any Aus/NZ folks who may be interested, my book us currently up for sale on Mills and Boon Aus. Here's the link:
    http://www.millsandboon.com.au/product.asp?productid=4371&dest=%2Fcategory%2Easp%3Fbookcategoryid%3D27%26page%3D1

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  14. Hi Salarsen!
    I'm glad you enjoyed the excerpt. I am a huge fan of teasing banter. Please mention me to your mother-in-law! And consider this, Medical Romance is going mainstream. Maybe you want to check out a copy, too!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  15. I've never heard of it but they sound like a lot of fun. Great post!

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  16. Hi Heather!
    I'm glad you enjoyed the excerpt! If you check out my book I hope you like it! There's a longer excerpt from the beginning of the book on my website: http://WendySMarcus.com

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  17. Hi Clarissa!
    Medical romance is a line of Harlequin published out of their Mills and Boon office in England. I didn't really know much about medical romance, either, until I entered a pitch contest last year. But now that I've read a bunch, I'm a fan!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  18. What do I think? Well, I see why Harlequin bought your romance.

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  19. Hi Angela!
    Thank you! That's so nice!

    Thanks for stopping by (and brightening my day!!!)

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  20. Great excerpt. I love humor when it comes out like that.

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  21. Hi Carol!
    Thank you! Adding humor is not as easy as it looks. My first attempts as a new writer were labeled slapstick. (Apparently that's bad!)

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  22. Enjoyed reading this very much!

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  23. Speaking of good covers, I like that one!

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  24. Hi Bossy Betty!
    I'm glad.
    Thanks for stopping by!

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  25. Hi Suze!
    Thank you!
    That's my U.S. cover. My cover for the UK is similar and is up on my website. My Aus/NZ cover is totally different and is up on Mills and Boon Aus.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  26. Enjoyed the interview! My best friend's son is a new doctor and I know there is a lot of humour in his job (amongst the dark stuff).

    I read 2 M&B medical romances a while ago (the authors were known to me) and I really enjoyed them, so I'd be happy to read yours, Wendy!

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  27. Hi Rosemary!
    Yes, some of the humor amongst medical professionals is dark, and people outside of the profession may consider it harsh or uncaring. But I believe it's a form of coping mechanism for all that we see in a day of work.

    I'm glad you enjoyed the medical romance books you've read. If you pick up a copy of mine (or win it here!) I hope you enjoy it, too!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  28. Great interview and excellent excerpt! I love the idea of a funny medical romance.

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  29. Hi Heather!
    My book is not all funny. There's plenty of drama, too. But I wanted to show that medical romance doesn't have to be all tense and depressing. I'm glad you liked the excerpt!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  30. I read Stephen Tremp's review and thought it excellent.

    I am waiting for your book to hit the shops.

    Enjoy your week-end.;
    Yvonne.

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  31. A very fun read! Perfect for a summer or anytime escape! Keep 'em coming; now that the soaps are ending, this could be a great alternative! Julie

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  32. Sorry, not my genre at all, but if you can make it funny, so much the better for your readers!

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  33. This sounds great! Mills & Boons are my weekend curling-up-in-bed pleasure and have been since I was... er... ten?

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  34. HI Wendy,


    I am not a big romance reader, but I must admit this is a novel approach to romance.

    If the writing is good, I would certainly read it. I liked your excerpt.


    Hi, Talli,

    Thanks for hosting Wendy. This is one genre I never even knew about.

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  35. Oh, great scene! Yeah, I could see how medical romance could be light and fun. There's also tension in the background, which can be great as well. :)

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  36. Hi Yvonne!
    I'm not aware of a review by Stephen Tremp. Do you have a link? My book should be in shops in the UK now and coming to Aus/NZ shops in July.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  37. Hi Empty Nest Insider! (Julie)
    Mills and Boon romance replacing the soaps! Something I hadn't considered. Excellent idea! And I agree, medical romance is a perfect poolside read. Not too long, not too heavy, pure enjoyment!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  38. Hi Alex!
    We all have our preferences, but bottomline we want to be entertained.
    Thanks for stopping by!

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  39. Hi, Wendy! I like it... your characters have a real spark.

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  40. Wendy S. Marcus10 June 2011 at 20:41

    Hi Sangu!
    Since the age of 10? Whoa! I write on the sexy side of things so I don't think my book is appropriate for a 10-year-old --- although they are quite advanced these days - but....no. Not 10. Perfect for an adult, though! If you choose to cuddle up with my book, I hope you enjoy it!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  41. Hi Michael!
    I'm glad you liked my excerpt. One of the things I love about blog tours is being introduced to authors whose books I wouldn't normally read, and being introduced to readers who wouldn't normally read my books. And I agree, good writing and good storytelling can make any book enjoyable.

    Thanks for stopping by.

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  42. Hi Bethany!
    Yes. Writing medical scenes does create the opportunity for much drama. But it's important balance that with light moments to create an enjoyable read.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  43. Hi William!
    That's a wonderful compliment! Thank you! And thanks for stopping by!

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  44. What a wonderful excerpt. Thank you so much for sharing your teaser with us, Wendy!

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  45. Hi Alleged Author!
    I'm glad you liked it!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  46. I've seriously never considered Medicals to be funny :) Heart tugging, tear-jerking..yes..but humor - not much ;)

    Thanks for showing us a whole new side of it, Wendy!!! Loved the excerpt :)

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  47. I guess a lot of people found M*A*S*H to be funny and the reality of the situation would make it not seem such. Humor can be found anywhere. Even the times when I've suffered through ER experiences I still found some humor in the situation despite my fear and discomfort. Life always has it's absurd side.


    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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  48. Hi Ju!
    I think it's all in the timing of the humor. I just want people to know that there's a lot more to medical romance than tense medical drama and sickness/death/dying. That medical romance can be upbeat and fun, too.

    Thank you so much for following me on my blog tour!

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  49. Hi Lee!
    You totally get it! M*A*S*H is an excellent example of how humor can be found anywhere...especially in the absurd.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  50. Fab excerpt! I think nurses have the most outrageous sense of humour. Perhaps they have to.

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  51. Hi Lacey!
    I agree. Finding humor in life in general is important for everyone.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  52. HI Wendy! Great excerpt and some great writing - very fun and flirty! Really like this blog too!

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  53. Hey Jen!
    Thanks! And thanks for stopping by!

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  54. As an ex nurse I can relate to the funnies! Great interview, thanks for sharing.

    I enjoy medical drama/funny with a romance base. :)

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  55. Thank you Wendy, thank you Talli!

    I enjoyed your flirty, teasing snippet and wigh you every success with the book...I'll be reading it.

    I find life in general to be funny and like to read humour in many situations.

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  56. I think humour can be used in any subject and any genre if handled deftly. Nice excerpt - very readable! well done

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  57. Wendy, you might want to remind your NA readers that they will not find your books in a 'shop'. But it will be found on the eharlequin.com site.

    Medical Romance of the Harlequin Mills & Boon variety are the best kelp secret in the USA. They are only sold through their online bookstore or readers subscription plan.

    I can't wait to read your story--I feel like I have watched your writing development and I look forward to holding the finished product in my hands.

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  58. Sizzling dialogue! Nicely done. I met Wendy on the e-Harl Forums. Her book sounds fab!

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  59. Hi Glynis!
    As a nurse you certainly understand where I'm coming from!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  60. Hi Margo!
    Thank you!
    I like to find the funny in life, too!

    I hope you enjoy my book!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  61. Thank you, Pat!
    I'm glad you lked it!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  62. Hi Nancy!
    Yes. My book will only be available for sale online in North America, at eharlequin.com and Amazon. And I'm working to make medical romance less of a secret!

    Thank you for following my blog tour, Nancy! And for all the support you've given me over the last year!

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  63. Hi Liz!
    And don't forget Twitter!!! I'm glad you liked the excerpt!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  64. Hi Wendy,
    Nice to see you here :) (Thanks Talli for hosting Wendy!)

    Loved the excerpt and I'm loving the whole book - lucky me won it in a previous blog! (So no need to enter me in the draw) but I just had to come in and tell you how much I'm enjoying it.
    Hugs

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  65. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  66. Hi Wendy, Hello Talli,

    Talli thanks for hosting Wendy and Wendy, wow! the excerpt is definitely interesting and intriguing.

    I like the fact that Medical romances heros are take charge alphas, yet with sensitivity and caring.

    And to all our friends, if you miss out on winning Wendy's book, WHEN ONE NIGHT ISN'T ENOUGH here there's still chance to get it at her next blog stop which is at Romance University on the 15th June. Here's the link:

    http://romanceuniversity.org/

    Hope to see you there!

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  67. Hi Serena!
    I'm so happy you're enjoying my book!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  68. Hi Nas!

    Thanks for stopping by (and for the next stop on my blog tour promo!)

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  69. Hi Talli!
    Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog. You have some wonderful friends who made me feel most welcome!

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  70. Wow - that drew me in good and proper - job well done, Wendy! I loved this excerpt - I haven't read a hospital romance type thing since secretly peeking at my mum and nan's Mills & Boon ones when I was a young teen - they're just as snappy and sassy as I remembered them being back then - *gulp* I can feel them beckoning me back!

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  71. I could see medical romances not all about hospitals. I think of soap operas as an example. It's more about the romance and intrigue. A medical drama is something else entirely.

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  72. My brother is a nurse and some of the stories he tells us are hilarious! I've never read medical romance but I really liked this excerpt. Definitely makes me want to read more. Good luck Wendy! :)

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  73. What a tasty tidbit! Thanks, ladies!

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  74. I don't read much romance at all, but I enjoyed your excerpt. Good luck with your blog tour!

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  75. Yes, medical romances can be funny. Any romance can be funny.

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  76. Hi Debs!
    Follow that beckoning feeling. We want you back! I'd like to think medical romance has evolved with the changing tastes of readers - although no paranormal elements! Try mine out. I hope you like it!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  77. Hi Theresa!
    Exactly! Medical romance focuses on the hero and heroine. They could be a doctor and nurse or nurse and EMT or any combination as long as at least one is a healthcare professional and the other is in an occupation/situation that puts them into contact with the medical professional.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  78. Hi Alexia!
    I'm glad you enjoyed it.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  79. Hi Susan!
    I'm glad you enjoyed the excerpt.

    Thanks for stopping by.

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  80. Hi Notes from Nadir!
    I agree. Any romance can be funny.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  81. I sure hope they can be funny!

    As a nurse myself, i can see there is plenty to be made funny.

    Am plotting a hospital/nursing home comedy at the moment! Not a romance as such, but i'm sure i'll fit something in there.

    Have a great day

    sarah

    oh and whoever mentioned Scrubs! i love that show, we have a Dr Cox and a JD at out hospital. I could so actually call him Bambi :-)

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  82. medical romance! sounds like Grey's Anatomy for sure. :)
    nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  83. Hi Talli and Wendy .. gosh you can open loads of doors with this genre .. and the thought of those two taunting each other .. interesting - medical romance - what goes on behind closed doors ....?

    Thanks Talli for introducing me to Wendy and her writings .. a lot of behind the scenes inside information I can feel is there .. cheers Hilary

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  84. Hi Sarah!
    I love Scrubs! Great show. Good luck with your book!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  85. Hi Nutschell!
    Some of them are. But there is a very wide variety of stories that fall under the medical romance umbrella.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  86. Hi Hilary!
    Lots of opportunities for drama and, yes, humor in the medical setting.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  87. Hi Catherine!
    Sorry I didn't respond to your comment earlier! I don't know how I missed it. Yes, medical professionals can find themselves in some crazy situations. A sense of humor is mandatory.

    I'm glad you liked my excerpt. Thanks for stopping by!

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Coffee and wine for all!