Whatever happened to Romantica?

Several years ago when I first started writing, I knew erotica was my wheelhouse. It’s my comfort zone in writing. I also enjoyed romance  books, Historical/Regency is where I migrated to in that genre. During that time, back in the 2005-2008 era, Romantica took off. That blend of romance with some hot and steamy sex.  The genre flew off the charts and a lot of new authors flooded the market.

Some of my favorites and still are, Kristin Daniels and Jess Michaels. Both have different styles but  they captured that genre fully. Other names from back then, Maya Banks, Sylvia Day and a sprinkling of others. Time flies as they say, and recently I got thinking whatever happened to Romantica? I don’t see titles or # for it speeding past my twitter feed. Amazon and other providers have  have almost no “search” criteria for it.

I googled it and found Goodreads has a lineup of supposed Romantica books and I was stunned to see Fifty Shades of Grey listed. Please, really? It barely classifies as erotica and an insult to the BDSM authors everywhere. I admit I bailed at page 30 on Book One for it was so sophomoric. However, I did seek counsel for those masochist that read all three books (I think there are three books) and not one said it was romantic, erotic nor even close to BDSM.

Then I asked them about Sylvia Day and Maya Banks. Stares and blinks. Not saying these fine authors don’t write to the genre, but my friends looked at them as more romantic with a splash of erotica. So what happened? Where did that wonderful marriage of romance and gnarly sex go?

Is it really a dead genre or has it gotten overwhelmed by all the newer hotter smuttier genres today? What are your thoughts on Romantica?

If you are interested in Jess Michaels Historcial Romantica try Everything Forbidden