Jul 6, 2015

Whatever You're Into...

You’ve seen the videos, I’m sure. The ordinary woman escaping her everyday life by “living” the fantasy found in her favourite romance novels: one with a military man, another with a cowboy. (Selected as best hero archetypes with hats, I reckon.)


The videos are part of a campaign promoting the diversity of category romance via the hero archetypes most associated with the various lines. Hence the tagline: Whatever You’re Into…or should that be Whomever You're Into, since we're talking powerful billionaires, brooding bad boys, dangerous dukes, nice guys next-door, dashing doctors, heroic servicemen, loyal lawmen, tradies with tool-belts (I may have made that one up), and so on.

The campaign, launched May 28, also includes on on-line game called Date Ditch or Marry.


As is my way, I am late to the party and only recently clicked through. For those not playing along at home, here's the skinny. You’re given three choices of hero and, based on a picture and mini bio, you decide which one you’d date, which you’d ditch, and which you would marry. If you don’t like the first three choices, you can reshuffle the deck of bachelors.

It’s a fun way for readers to identify which category line -- or lines, since there's a temptation to play more than once, just to check out all the possibilities -- best suit them, with the reward of a $1.00 off coupon (at Harlequin Books) for playing.  





Have you had a play?  

Was the category series suggested for you an accurate reflection of your reading taste?  Do you think that the hero archetypes are a good representation of each series?

Bonus question: were you influenced by the images more than the descriptions?


22 comments:

  1. Hi Bron,

    What fun is this? Like you, I'm late to it and I love the idea of playing pick my fave hero type. I wonder if it will change for some people depending on mood or the sort of day they're having? Thanks for sharing!

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  2. I know, right?

    I hadn't thought about mood/changeability but you're right. And it's the same with category lines, too. Sometimes I feel like a bit of danger/suspense, at other times I'm in the mood for a sweet or heartwarming read, and others I want all the passion and all the intensity. Totally.

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  3. I love these videos but haven't been game to try date/ditch/marry. I do not need any more sources of procrastination :-)
    I think they've found the perfect pics to represent the heroes of each line and I think it must have been a mega fun campaign to work on!

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    1. A tough job for someone on the Harlequin marketing team, studying thousands of photos to find the perfect models. What a chore!

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  4. Oh, were we supposed to only pick one? I thought I'd take them all -- a man for every mood. ;-)

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    1. Well, the rules do say you need to ditch one out of every three, Michelle. You are such a rule-breaking rebel.

      More seriously, I do agree with Annie. Different moods = different escapes.

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  5. Hi Bron

    I too loved these and had fun watching the videos and playing the games but I found it hard choosing because I read across all of the categories and love them :)

    Have Fun
    Helen

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    1. For those with eclectic tastes, the choice is tough. But I agree it's a fun little distraction.

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  6. Can't remember my results, but I seem to like almost all types of heroes depending on my mood. (eg currently loving sports player heroes with cowboys a close second, but at other times I like the straight business tycoons or military etc) I was definitely influenced by the images.
    I used to primarily read Blaze and Desire along with Kiss when it first came out. Since I've been a regular visitor to LoveCats I have introduced a lot more Presents and Hqn Romance along with other Hqn imprints to the mix.

    I enjoy the Nascar Hqn titles but these are harder for me to get hold of since Hqn NA started enforcing territorial rights! That and I don't get to pick and choose according to my favourite version of the cover now which is normally the NA version.

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    1. Hi Lyn. I'm also a fan of sports-hero romance. Do you enjoy any particular sports more (I love hockey!) or does the actual sport not matter?

      Yep, re the images. Me too!

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  7. A short PS. There are not enough romances set around motor racing - other than the Nascar titles the only others I can think of are Erin McCarthy's Fast Track series and one book of Jaci Burton's Play-By-Play series

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    1. Nascar is sooooo popular, too, not to mention other motor sports. You would think there'd be more. Wonder why that is?

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  8. OMG that laundry scene is hilarious, Bron. Such a fun promotion.

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  9. I got Blaze, so it must be doing something right ;) But I'm with Michelle, variety is the spice of life, right?

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    1. Yay you, Stefanie, getting the right answer!

      That saying is most applicable in this situation.

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  10. Bron, I'm late to all this too - in fact, I didn't even know it was all happening so thanks for the heads up! The laundry scene is a scream! I wonder if there are any more... And I'll have to find the game and see what that's all about too... but if they're all heroes how do you choose! What a delightful dilemma!

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    1. They do all sound well desirable, Sharon. The blurb writers have excelled. Makes it quite difficult to choose, hence my question about the shallow fallback of which image appeals most. :-)

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  11. Hi Bron - I got Special Edition & Harlequin American....so I guess I'm writing what I love. Love the video ads.....the washing machine idea has now got me thinking.......

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    1. Yay Helen. I'm guessing there might have been a cowboy hat amongst your bachelors? Glad you've been inspired by the washing machine scene. I remember a scene in a Blaze, I think. Tori Carrington, from memory…and this *was* a memorable scene. ;-)

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  12. Bronwyn - in response to your question about sports romance. I'm partial to the hockey stories too. Baseball is another one that I'm quit partial too... especially Kate Angell's Richmond Rogues books.

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  13. I haven't tried the Richmond Rogues but I like the sound of them. Kinda reminds me of Kat Latham's London Legends. I'm fond of the alliteration.

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