Erotic Romance - what do U read? with Giveaway!
by sue on Dec.10, 2009, under Book Chat
Erotic Romance - is it alive & well?
Today’s topic of discussion is focused on Erotic Romance books. Are people still reading our favorite erotic storytellers? Robin Schone wrote some of my favorites: Gabriel’s Woman; Lady’s Tutor. Lora Leigh has stayed sexy but gone mainstream with Nauti Boy; Heat Seeker; Bengal’s Heart. Opal Carew is heating up the pages with recent novel Secret Ties; Diane Whiteside certainly is a front runner with Captive Desires; Southern Devil & so many more, but overall, are readers buying these books? 
The reason I thought this would make for a good discussion is overall the Erotic Romance sales are steady but not growing. My question to you, is it because readers are choosing to purchase their selections from .com? Buying their favorites on digital downloads? Or, are we getting our fix through many of the mainstream authors? . . . haven’t mainstream books sexuality been elevated? Aren’t our romance books sexier? Authors seem to be pushing the envelope even more? Haven’t they increased the sexual tension between their characters?
Both Lora Leigh & Angela Knight have brought their steamy liaisons to mainstream publishing: Nauti Boy; Heat Seeker; Guardian; Captive Dreams, to name a few. I just finished reading Naked Edge by Pamela Clare & some of those scenes were definitely steamier than those days of old . . . & not that I’m complaining or anything 
Other mainstream writers that have spiced up their stories include: Sherrilyn Kenyon; JR Ward; Yasmine Gaelenorn; Shelly Laurenston; G A Aiken; Kresley Cole; Anna Campbell & so on.
So my question to you is, are we buying less Erotic Romance? If so, what are we buying instead? & lastly, are mainstream romances sexy enough?
Thanks for blogging today! Your views will be shared with the publishing industry so we really want to hear from YOU!
Happy Romance!
GIVEAWAY! 3 randomly chosen comments below will receive a book from Kensington’s Aphrodisia line - good luck!
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December 14th, 2009 on 12:53 am
I do most of my reading of erotic romances either through “e” retailers or through inter-library loan.
More and more libraries are carrying these “hot” books. Also, some libraries are going electronic - here’s hoping they’ll buy some “e-rotic romances.”
December 12th, 2009 on 8:14 pm
I’m definitely reading lots of erotica, maybe more than before. There’s so many new authors, more choices and the stories just keep getting better.
December 12th, 2009 on 2:22 pm
I still read and buy the same amount of erotica. Some authors are much better than others. Of course, most of my favorite authors are now mainstream.
December 12th, 2009 on 10:23 am
I am fairly new to erotic books. I have to admit, they don’t seem as easy to find as other genres. Maybe purchasing online is the easiest way to find them. Also if a person is uncomfortable buying them in person, buying online is a good way to go. Frankly I don’t care if people know what I buy, but I’m sure there are probably people out there who do.
December 11th, 2009 on 4:27 pm
I love erotic romance from paranormal to sci fi and the action can not get hot enough between two consenting main characters. That said - I’m buying a lot less of it. A lot of it seems to skip the work of creating a physical and emotional relationship between two people, so to ramp it up we’ll just throw in some BDSM stuff, a little menage, or some m/m. Maybe I’m on my own out here - just an old fashioned romantic. I like romance, romance with hot sex even better but sex for the sake of sex will drop me right out of a story - it has to have a plot and a great story line.
December 11th, 2009 on 12:08 am
Wow, I don’t think that I have ever seen this many comments before. Erotic Romance is definitely alive and well here.
December 11th, 2009 on 8:24 am
Yes, certainly has hit a cord
Great feedback from everyone — certainly will share with our publishing friends.
December 10th, 2009 on 11:42 pm
I think erotic romance, when it first came out was all over the place, and like most new sub-genres it has settled down as publishers discovered what sold and what didn’t sell. I still think there is a lot of blurring between the lines of what can be considered steamy and/or erotic these days and that can be confusing for readers.
Robin Schone is still my gold standard for my own writing, but I also enjoy a lot of my fellow Aphrodisia authors books as well as those from Berkkey Heat, Ellora’s Cave and Samhain.
December 10th, 2009 on 11:05 pm
I am reading a LOT more erotic romance. Just got started reading these about 18 months ago. Now it seems I am either reading some kind of erotic romance or YA. I read print books almost exclusively since I don’t have an ereader and I spend too much time at the computer as it is!
I didn’t even realize that “The Vampire Queen’s Servant” was considered to be erotic romance when I started reading it. Now Joey W. Hill is an auto buy for me. I just finished “Any Way You Want It” by Kathy Love. Very sweet story.
Some of my favorite authors are Joey W. Hill, Claire Thompson, Kaitlyn O’Connor, Megan Hart, Maya Banks, Sydney Croft, and Lauren Dane.
I have read a couple of books from one publisher that had many editing errors. The stories were good, but the problems with wrong word usage and incorrect grammar were so glaring that it detracted a lot from the books. In my opinion, that kind of error leads to readers becoming disillusioned with the whole genre.
December 10th, 2009 on 10:48 pm
I read mainstream for the most part and those books have gotten plenty steamy in many cases. The envelope has been pushed and then some and I am not complaining. The swooning heroine is no more; it’s down and dirty and hot and touching upon previously forbidden areas like anal sex. I’ve nearly spontaneously combusted reading some of Lora Leigh’s books and those were her Elite Ops books. Her “Pleasure” series about The Club with threesomes is off the charts.
December 10th, 2009 on 10:39 pm
I do believe that mainstream romances are getting steamier. I prefer paranormal romance and erotic romance. But I mainly buy standard size paperbacks. Trade size is too much for my budget unless I can buy them at a deal. I’d buy a lot more erotic books if they were available in my area stores. Sherrilyn Kenyon, Shayla Black/Shelley Bradley, J.R. Ward, Kresley Cole, Kathleen Dante, and Cathryn Fox are my main favorites.
December 10th, 2009 on 10:37 pm
I LOVE erotic romance!!! However I do not strictly read just those. I am basically a contemporary romance reader, but you can find some pretty erotic stuff in those these days. But there are just times you want to read a good HOT story. For those times I have a pile of erotic romances to choose from. I do however like my erotic romances to have a plot. Some of them are just sex, sex, sex. But I definitely like a good story to go along with them. I just read “Paradise Rules” by Beth Kery, which was very HOT but also had a good story line with it.
So yes I do buy erotic romances and I am not afraid to admit it. And yes I think many mainstream romances are sexier than they used to be. It just depends what author you are reading.
Great post!
December 10th, 2009 on 10:23 pm
I am still buying romance and erotic romance. Most of the authors/books you listed I have on the “keeper” shelf. I think mainstream has gotten hotter and I have no complaints.
December 10th, 2009 on 9:58 pm
i like the steamy scenes, but i also like a good plot with action or suspense. some of the fantasy authors i have started reading lately are great, but i also enjoy historicals and contemporary.
December 10th, 2009 on 9:33 pm
I love Robin Schone’s earlier work! All of the ones you listed are keepers for me. I just discovered Erotic Romance a few years ago, and for me I’ve only read more not less. That being said some of the authors that I bought at places like Ellora’s cave (ie Lora Leigh) have gone mainstream and I think Wild Card was one of her sexiest books and it was categorized as Romantic Suspense.
I don’t think Erotic Romance is dead, I think it has just been mainstreamed and since Erotic Romance has a stigma attached to it they are calling it Romantic Suspense, Paranormal romance….
In fact this is one of my pet peeves of the publishing industry in that you no longer no what you are going to get just by the genre label. Some are labeled romance….and really shouldn’t be. Makes it hard as a reader to know what you are buying sometimes.
December 10th, 2009 on 9:11 pm
I’m buying fewer books so I’m getting more choosy what I do buy or buying the book in eformat if there is a different in price.
December 10th, 2009 on 8:46 pm
I think there’s a push for mainstream romances to be steamier, and that’s great. Romance should not just stop at the bedroom door. Certainly, erotic romance writers are gathering followers for their books because they are providing more intimacy about their characters and readers can fall in love them.
December 10th, 2009 on 8:11 pm
I agree with the quality of the writing for some the erotica. I do not buy in print because it is so expensive. I will not pay the $10 or more price of the books. I have purchase some e-book titles since it is much cheaper.
December 10th, 2009 on 7:29 pm
I think it seems to me that even the mainstream romances are steamier than they used to be; I’m buying more romance, period, so yes, that includes more erotic romance. But I’m not keen on erotica; my preference really is for romance, whether it’s particulary steamy or not!
December 10th, 2009 on 6:51 pm
I’m like Ellen, I don’t mind allot of the erotic romance so long as it has a story and it can be real spicey for me. But, If it doesn’t have a good story to it it is just a book about sex.
December 10th, 2009 on 6:08 pm
I read a bit of everything, but really like romantic suspense the best. The new Stephanie Tyler book is soo good, and is Naked Edge already out? (another auto buy!)
I have read quite a bit of erotic romance, but as others have said, I’ve found the story lines to be lacking. I have begun sticking to authors I know I like in this area if I’m going to buy the book.
December 10th, 2009 on 5:12 pm
I’m definitely not buying less erotic romance. I’m definitely buying a lot more of it actually. Much of it comes from other reader’s recommendations. As I’ve gotten older I literally want more bang for my buck so these kinds of books have become more appealing to me.
December 10th, 2009 on 4:51 pm
I’ve noticed that the books I’m reading are definitely getting steamier. Some of them are by authors who were not quite as steamy in the past. I must say, I like the direction many of the books are going in nowadays
Personally, I like to read erotic romances, but for some reason I generally buy all of those in e-book format, whereas my other romances - paranormal, historical, etc. - are in print. I haven’t really explored the why of that. Hmmm…I wonder?
December 10th, 2009 on 4:35 pm
I read a lot of erotic romance. Paper and digital.
Some of my favorites are Claire Thompson, Lora Leigh,
Lauren Dane, Megan Hart, Mari Carr and Delilah Devlin.
December 10th, 2009 on 4:27 pm
Mainstream has definitely gotten hotter (not complaining) but I still buy erotica. There are a couple authors I will auto-buy but the price of trade books makes me nervous to try new authors (this is true in any genre). I will buy digital novellas of new-to-me authors and read them on my computer but if it’s a longer book (can’t stand reading long-ish books on the computer) I will order it online (yes the embarrassment factor).
December 10th, 2009 on 4:08 pm
I think erotic romances are still going strong but I think for all types of genres the main story and plot draw people into purchasing a book.
December 10th, 2009 on 3:48 pm
I still read a little bit of everything but I, like others, have run into a few erotic romances that were a bit thin on story. I like erotic romances and don’t mind graphic (but not raunchy) sex and BDSM, threesomes, M/M, etc., but there has to be a story and romance, not just lust. I used to read more of them but now I read mostly mainstream romances (a lot of my fave erotic romance authors have gone mainstream) since, as people have said, they sex scenes are just as hot as erotic romance, although not as numerous, but with character development and story.
December 10th, 2009 on 3:38 pm
I do read erotic romances and I really like them, but I couldn’t withstand the para wave and a side effect is that I read less erotic romances… the authors you mentioned like JRW or Nalini Singh write books which contains both - a great story with fantastic protas and hot scenes… every once in a while during reading an erotic romance I have the felling the story is less distinctive and that there could be more…
Greetings
December 10th, 2009 on 3:34 pm
I’m not buying as much erotic romance, but I still read the authors who trust will deliver a good romance along with the heat.
Mostly, though, I’m reading a lot of urban fantasy and romantic suspense.
December 10th, 2009 on 3:29 pm
I love erotic romance stories and read them almost exclusively these days. Love the variety and have lots of favorite authors on my auto-buy list that are so fun to curl up with on a cold wintery day.
December 10th, 2009 on 2:54 pm
I must say, I haven’t noticed one way or another….
What I have read? I agree with Virginia - What I have read, is hotter than ever!
Now, I guess I should say, that in the past year, since discovering Samhain and Ellora’s cave, and all the others, that I am reading a lot more erotica than I used to. But that is because I didn’t know it was around
December 10th, 2009 on 2:43 pm
I enjoy Maya Banks and just finished Sweet Surrender. I’m not into D/s relationships but she adds an emotional side that I enjoy.
I like steamier romances when it fits the story. I’ve been dismayed by some books I’ve read where the H/H are in instant lust and keep thinking about how much they want to have sex. Puh-leez! That ruins a story so quickly.
I do find sometimes that when reading erotic romance I’m a little hesitant to have the cover showing in the lunchroom at the hospital where I work. I’m just imagining that someone will complain.
December 10th, 2009 on 2:21 pm
Excuse the pun, but “Erotica is hotter than ever!”. As with any genre, it is the full character development and the well-crafted story line which makes me read the book and want to read further works by the same author. Romance, erotic romance and erotica all offer different levels of steam to appease any reader. There are many, many talented authors for each category. Sexuality is not just about sex. Enjoyable sexuality also involves humor, compassion, “give-and-take”, and loving respect. “To each his and her own” in reading and sexual preference. I have learned some things about myself by reading books written in different levels of sexual steam. The one thing which I do not tolerate in any genre is material which denigrates women. There is a huge difference between choice and force.
December 10th, 2009 on 3:15 pm
Oh gosh yes, no matter what the book is — I agree.
December 10th, 2009 on 2:03 pm
Hi Sue!
I haven’t bought any erotic romance in quite some time, mainly as one of the other bloggers said earlier, there just isn’t much of a plot to what I’ve seen. I need a story with some sustenance to it. I agree with Niveau and Angelique, their points state my feeling as well. I don’t want to feel like wasted my money on something that could be found in a trashy men’s magazine. Sex has to be done right whether it’s in a book, on t.v. or in the bedroom.
I read more suspense/romance, mystery/romance and paranormal romance. I read Laurell K. Hamilton, Kylie Brandt, Jocelynn Drake, Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb, Lisa Jackson, Caridad Pineiro to mention a few.
So Sue, see if someone can give me some classy erotic and help me change my mind.
December 10th, 2009 on 3:15 pm
LOL — love your comment - hopefully you’re getting some good recommendations from the comments in this post — I know I am — Maya Banks is a must read
December 10th, 2009 on 1:50 pm
I am more into the mainstreem books. I don’t buy many Erotic books for one thing the town I live in they are band from. You can’t even buy a Play Boy mag. here.
December 10th, 2009 on 1:10 pm
I was introduced to the Erotica Genre this year with the works of Jenesi Ash/Susanna Carr,Lacey Alexander,and Lorelei James. I found them while searching for book sales and contests online. I thought the mainstream romance that I was reading was racy,but I was surprised that these books were even spicier. Not just that;they delve into the inner makings of a person and answer the who,why,and how people are the way they are.They broaden your scope of thinking.Also,the authors have a great rapport with their readers. I have come across some books that were just awful,but the bulk of my purchases have been just fine. My only gripe is that I can not find Erotic Fiction in my local Borders or any bookstore for that matter. All of my books have to be purchased online. Also,I don’t like that many of these books are only available in ebook format. I don’t have an EReader and have to sit at my PC to read them. I prefer paperbacks because an EReader is not in my budget.
December 10th, 2009 on 1:01 pm
I enjoy mostly mainstream but will read anything if the story is good enough. Naked Edge was FABULOUS! Pamela Claire can always be counted on for a great story be it contemporary or historical. Mainstream romances do seem sexier but to me the most important factor is that the sex fits with the story and the characters. We can tell when it is put in the story just to make it steamier. Stay true to the characters. I read a book recently where a woman had been assaulted and within a short period of time she became a sexual aggressor. It did not fit with her character and I ended up putting the book down without finishing.
Kresley cole is another of my favorites. I can’t wait for the next book.
December 10th, 2009 on 12:52 pm
no i am reading more erotic stories now and i love it very much espciallly the aphodisa lines whoo
i read some authors an dif the stories are great and i read contemporty too those are my favorites
so i read those
please count me in
thanks ladies
December 10th, 2009 on 12:45 pm
I am curious, what differentiates an “erotica” vs. a super-sexed up mainstream romance? How does an editor or publishing house make the distinction because they are clearly marketed differently.
erotica = more graphic sex, right? or is this a wrong assumption?
December 10th, 2009 on 3:08 pm
Definitely that, more partners, different sex acts, usually every chapter has some sex scene, language & descriptions can be crude. Does that help?
December 10th, 2009 on 12:36 pm
I think sometimes this genre is colored by a few of the not best authors and then people just judge it in broad strokes.
Sure their is more sex but many of the authors are excellent with engaging stories. Many of the authors are beginning in the industry and were published in this genre or by these publishing houses, and will be published or considered mainstream in just a few houses.
I couldn’t imagine missing some of my favorite authors just because they were considered “erotica” and I didn’t want to at least attempt their books becuase I thought their was no story. Lora Leigh…Lorelei James…Sarah McCarty…the list is endless!
I was surprised the sales were about the same, I also would have thought the sales were going way up!
December 10th, 2009 on 12:01 pm
Oooh Robin is one of my favorite erotic writers EVER!!!
I would say mainstream romances are getting much sexier which I very much love! I think erotic romance sales are much higher if you factor in the digital downloads and ebooks.
People still just feel more comfortable buying their erotica online and whoa is there ever more of a wide array of sub genres and authors!
December 10th, 2009 on 11:32 am
Wow! I had no idea that the sales were about the same, they seem to be everywhere now! i enjoy the naughtier books and the mainstream but I find I’m reading more erotic the more I read. Finding some great authors that way and it’s broadening my reading circle.
The past two years I’ve discovered e-books and love ‘em! No kindle yet but I’m crossin’ my fingers for Christmas
December 10th, 2009 on 3:05 pm
Check out Sony first — http://www.bordersmedia.com/sonyreader/?cmpid=b3-112409 not restricted to the books you can download like other readers.
December 10th, 2009 on 11:26 am
I am a much happier & satisfied reader of mainstream romance today than I was, lets say, 10 years ago. Part of it is that authors have sexed it up (but gratuitous sex kills a story more than it helps, a big no-no) but moreso than that, I find that mainstream romances are simply written better and what’s marketed currently is higher quality than it once was. The storylines are much more believable than before, even the fantasy/paranormals.
I do not regularly purchase erotic romances. I have bought a few popular authors like Maya Banks and Julia Templeton to try but I wasn’t sold. I guess I’m just a traditional romance reader at heart: threesomes, bondage, etc are not my thing. I hear Megan Hart is different so I do have her on my to-buy list just to check her out.
For me erotica tends to be too much libido and not enough kismet. That is why I love writers like Elizabeth Hoyt & Anna Campbell who have turned a mainsteam romance sex scene up a couple of notches but still maintain that element of heart. I do not mind reading lusty, honest sex scenes..it makes the story more REAL to me. So, yes, currently I find that mainstream romances are sexy enough
But I do want to note that some of my most favorite romances don’t even feature an explicit sex scene (ex: TEXAS DESTINY-Lorraine Heath and JUST THE SEXIEST MAN ALIVE-Julie James.) My book purchasing $$$ are reserved for well-written, engaging, LOVE stories, but I do find myself drawn more and more towards the romantic suspense sub-genre.
December 10th, 2009 on 11:23 am
I don’t buy erotica for the following reasons: the price, the bad writing (I agree with the commenter who said there’s no real plot in most, the chemistry between the H/h is not as strong, there’s not much buildup like in the usual mainstream novels [and the buildup is usually a lot more fun to read than the actual act itself), etc.) and yes, the mainstream books are usually just as “spicy” as those marked as erotica. i’ll borrow erotic from a friend/the library but i wouldn’t personally buy it (digital or on paper).
December 10th, 2009 on 11:23 am
yes i think there is enough sexy romance in books lately. I just love it i just finish a book called “Her Chosen Wolf:The Were Chronicles, book 1″ by Renee Michaels. I have noticed lately i have been reading alot of werewolves books with plenty of sexy romance.
Also i dont think people are buying less sexy romances, it just happens that alot of books now have sum sort of romances in them
December 10th, 2009 on 11:08 am
I don’t read much erotic romance, largely because of the points listed above– though I do buy Maya Banks and Lauren Dane regularly. I have also recently discovered a new author that I love– Tracy Wolff writes really sizzling erotic suspense/romance with strong plot and characterization. I’m very glad I took a chance and spent the $15 on her.
December 10th, 2009 on 3:01 pm
Thanks, price point definitely seems to be an ongoing concern. Would you buy more ER if $7.99? like other mass markets?
December 10th, 2009 on 5:24 pm
Forgive me for butting in, but I know I would take more chances on ERs if they were priced at MMP levels.
December 10th, 2009 on 10:33 am
I think there’s several factors. For me, about a third of the romances I read are erotic. Typically, I read them as e-books. Usually because I’m embarrassed by the covers. For me price usually a factor also. While I love the Aphrodesia, Spice, and Heat lines, I don’t like paying twice as much for them as the average paperback. When I do buy them I usually buy them at my local used book store for half price. Most of my ebooks are from my library’s online branch. Maybe I’m just cheap, but cost is probably the biggest factor for me not buying more erotic romance.
December 10th, 2009 on 10:24 am
I find I am buying less erotic romance because mainstream romances are getting steamier that I am satisfied wit those. Not to say that I won’t pick up an occasional one if the plot is not superior but I am finding that to be case less often.
December 10th, 2009 on 9:15 am
I have been reading mainstream romance since I was 12. In my opinion, mainstream has gotten steamer and I like that most of the time (entirely depends on what I feel like reading at that moment). I’m relatively new to the erotic romance genre. Actually, I won a book from Maya Banks on Twitter in September and was hooked.
Since then, I have actually bought more erotic romance than regular romance novels (mostly because I can’t find the erotic romance at my library). I have been buying mine online (actual books, not e-books) because I can usually find better prices and better selection. Plus, when you’re shopping online, no one really knows what you’re buying. I’m still in the phase where I feel slightly uncomfortable buying erotic romance in the store. I went through the same thing with mainstream romance as a teenager, where I hid what I was reading from my friends because I thought they’d make fun of me (they did, but by then I stopped caring and I knew they were just teasing). And I think a lot of women probably feel somewhat uncomfortable browsing through the erotic romance novels, so they browse and buy online instead.
December 10th, 2009 on 9:19 am
Ha - In the same vein, I made it into a Borders on a visit (the nearest is over an hour away), and I find a book I had been looking for, RAN to the cashier, bought it and hid it in my bag, and never told the girl I was shopping with that I bought it.
December 10th, 2009 on 2:59 pm
LOL - thanks for shopping Borders — seems like online is a safer, less judgmental way to go — sounds like the book format rather than the ebook is preferred?
December 10th, 2009 on 4:30 pm
I don’t mind e-books occasionally (if I can read them on my computer - no e-reader), but I just prefer paperback books. I am an Archivist (sort of librarian; actually went to UM for grad school & shopped at Borders One all the time) and I love physical books. At work, I spend at least half of my day on the computer staring at a screen, so I love coming home and being able to ignore the computer if I want. For me, paperback books are almost like a security blanket. They’re familiar, almost comforting, and remind me of my childhood.
I could also go into an arguement about the long-term preservation implications of e-book formats, but I will refrain from doing so.
Oh, and I do take into consideration the price of trade paperbacks versus mass market. I think a lot of women would buy more erotic romance if more were sold in mass market because it’s more affordable. To spend $15 on a book that may or may not be good is harder to justify, but $7 is not that hard to budget.
December 10th, 2009 on 9:11 am
I think that finding erotic romance that you will enjoy is more difficult than finding a mainstream romance. With mainstream, the plot is a lot more grounded on emotional growth based on chemistry and social circumstances. With erotic romance, the growth is really based on sexual chemistry, and from there often is the potential for a more encompassing HEA.
I was buying a lot of both, but I have cut back on erotic romance and stepped up on my more mainstream romance, with the exception of some of my favorite authors like Lora Leigh and Maya Banks, who are my go-tos for good plots and hot sex. With new authors, erotic romance often being trade paperback size, I’d rather shell out the $7 on a mass market paperback than the $15 for the trade. With such a price difference there is the fear I won’t like the author and it is a waste of money, and it’s not like you can find a lot of erotic romance at your local library.
December 10th, 2009 on 9:17 am
I should clarify - with mainstream there is often a catalyst - moving, divorce, friend pact, murder, cheating spouse, debutantes, et cetera. The sex is just part of a larger plot. I find that many erotic romances put the sexual before the other elements of the plot. That doesn’t mean you won’t get to a HEA. But it does make it more difficult in an erotic romance to make the HEA believable when personal growth is more difficult to establish than sexual growth.
December 10th, 2009 on 2:57 pm
Excellent points & I agree with you. Not many authors write erotic stories to that level.
Thanks!
December 10th, 2009 on 9:09 am
I still am reading erotic romance, but that being said, I cannot take it if it is just all sex. Meaning there has to be a connection, and some of what I pick up, unfortunately, has no real meaning behind it. And some of the story lines are so way out in left field that I cannot get my head around what is even going on.
Thanks!
Amy
December 10th, 2009 on 2:55 pm
Been there, know exactly what you mean
December 10th, 2009 on 9:06 am
I’ve come to erotic romance just recently. I find I quite enjoy it, in most of its variations. I get my books from Borders, but sometimes have to order them for pickup at the store. I think there is a significant number of poorly written books out there, but they are more then outnumbered by those that are written well. Of course I have not read as many as most of the other reader here.
December 10th, 2009 on 2:54 pm
Great comments — sounds like most readers are finding the quality of story to be lacking in erotic romance.
& THANKS FOR SHOPPING AT BORDERS
December 10th, 2009 on 9:03 am
I read everything, started of with historical romance, than ventured into paranormal and not long after that I discovered erotic romance with Lora Leigh and Shannon McKenna and with both those I wandered into the world of romantic suspense. I went on a binge of Aphrodisia and HEAT books for a while but most of them are still unread on the shelves because as noted by others, mainstream romance is getting steamier and steamier.
A few “mainstream” romance authors whom I think do a great job of mixing steam with good characters and plot:
Gena Showalter (mostly paranormal)
Victoria Dahl (her contemporaries)
Elizabeth Hoyt (historical)
One of my all time fave erotic romance author is Lorelei James (with Samhain Publishing). I adore her Rough Rider series and her erotic romances are so much more than just a string of sex scenes. This series is a true family saga, only with a whole lot of good steam in it!!
December 10th, 2009 on 8:29 am
I definitely agree that mainstream romance has gotten a lot steamier of late. I do enjoy some erotic romance, but mostly from particular authors that I know I like….Lorelei James, some Lora Leigh, Jasmine Haynes, to name a few. I agree that the quality questionable on a lot of erotic romance. Also, I’m less likely to try a new erotic romance author, just because of the trade paperback price on most erotic romance…slightly cheap, I know, but there it is:)
December 10th, 2009 on 2:52 pm
Makes sense — seems like your opinion is shared.
December 10th, 2009 on 4:58 am
I read some erotic romance, but I’m really, REALLY sick of D/s stories. For some reason, every single erotic romance with BDSM elements I pick up ends up involving some form of total power exchange (with the alpha male in charge, of course) and I just find it so unrealistic. BDSM has so many variations. It’s sad that so few authors try something new using it. (Though this is only based on personal experience.) Also, can we please have some BDSM stuff that’s just about hot sex, not about “the ultimate expression of loooooooove”? Please?
I have to agree with Anita to some extent about a lack of true quality. Good sex does not an HEA make, and I’ve read too many erotica romances which didn’t seem to understand this.
So, basically, am I buying less erotic romance? Yes. I’m not willing to take chances anymore because I’m sick of reading stuff that doesn’t satisfy me. Because sex is so personal, it’s much easier to get turned off in a novel that deals with it explicitly than it is in a novel that is more vague.
Mainstream romances? Totally sexy enough. Sometimes too sexy. When I want pages and pages of sex, I go for an erotic romance. I’ve recently been let down by a couple of authors I love, because their latest releases have been waaaaaaay too focused on sex. I want to see the relationship developing outside of bed, too. In erotic romance, the sex tells a large part of the story. If that same thing is happening in a mainstream romance, what’s the difference? Less explicit language, sure, but what else?
December 10th, 2009 on 8:16 am
Regarding your comment on mainstream romances, is it that the sexed up levels we’re now reading are not true to the story? Like they are just added for the sake of adding sex? If the stories warrant that level of sex based on the characters you’d like to see more of that combination?
Just curious —
December 10th, 2009 on 11:03 am
I really enjoy Joey Hill’s erotica and erotic romance. She’s a great writer and really tells her stories well. You might want to give her a shot. She does do some BDSM in hers, but it’s very well done (IMO), and she even has some FemDom heroines, which I think is great.
So far as my purchases, I’m all ebook all the time now, because it’s easier for me to keep them on my computer than on my shelves. I love that Romance in general has gotten a little spicier, and that writers of straight Romance aren’t afraid to “play around in the bedroom” a little.
Really, though, that extra spicyness *lead* me to reading erotic Romances, not the other way around.
December 10th, 2009 on 2:51 pm
Really, though, that extra spicyness *lead* me to reading erotic Romances, not the other way around.
Interesting . . .to you read your ebooks on a reader or your computer?
December 10th, 2009 on 3:49 am
There are a few Erotic authors who I read and that’s about it. Not many who can do erotic and still have a great story and characters to go with it. If I wanted to read just about graphic sex with no good story with it I can read the penthouse forum type of sites. After a while you get tired of just the graphic stuff, you have to have the rest to make it worth while, IMHO.
I’m into Romantic suspense, preferably special ops/black ops types and paranoraml romance.
December 10th, 2009 on 8:13 am
Really? meeeeeee too! Stay tuned for 12/14, Stephanie Tyler is posting & you’ll love her series!
December 11th, 2009 on 2:28 am
Sue, I just started reading S. Tylers new “Hard to Hold” trilogy… I loved the first one and cannot wait for the other 2.
December 10th, 2009 on 3:43 am
I’m so jealous that you’ve already read “Naked Edge.” I love Pamela’s books and they are very steamy. I do think mainstream romances are sexy enough. Most of my erotic romance purchases are digital downloads and many are novellas.
December 10th, 2009 on 8:12 am
Interesting — why digital format — just curious — ease of shopping or???
Thanks - appreciate your comment.
Sue
December 10th, 2009 on 3:22 am
Most erotic romance novels are very badly written: No characterisation, no sense of emotional connect between the h/Hs and appalling grammar. There’s no pace, no tension (sexual or otherwise) in most. So if people wonder why the erotica market hasn’t grown, it’s because of the poor quality of the books.
I love Kresley Cole for her emotional depth, the amount work both h/Hs have to do before they get their HEAs and hell, her books are scorching hot!
Writing hot sex is an art — and I wish publishers realize this and up their quality considerably before moaning about a stagnating market.
IMHO.
December 10th, 2009 on 8:11 am
Thanks for your comment Anita — grammar, choice of descriptive words, etc., have always been a pet peeve of mine as well.
Kresley does rock — one of the best for great stories, great h/H & knows how to steam up those books inclusive of the plot not in spite of it.
Thanks!