Apr 2012: A different type of RPG

[Melissa]

This is the first steampunk romance that I've read, and it's looking like it's going to be a new favorite genre. It's even inspired me to sew my own steampunk lingerie. (I might have to make a duke costume for my hubby *wink,wink*)
My Husband is my first and only, and since I've started reading romances, that part of our relationship has become stronger, and well, a lot more fun. I do have friends though that stopped reading these types of books because it was hurting their relationships. I guess their partners weren't living up to their fictional counterparts.
What are your thoughts? Do you believe romance novels can be a help or a hindrance to a relationship?

[Andrea]

This was my first steampunk romance to. I loved it! I mean it had pirates, airships, and zombies. It has it all. As far as my relationship with my husband, I would definitely say it hasn't hurt anything. In fact I may go so far as to say its helped. From getting inspiration for in the bedroom, or just getting in the mood I think romance novels have certainly added to our relationship. I never compare my husband to a character I've read, just as I am sure he never compares me to a porn star he has seen. I've described romance novels as women's porn to him, and I think that analogy fits.

[Amber]

Romance novels are about all that is keeping my marriage alive. I don't get a lot of time with my husband because he works 2 jobs and I'm often in bed before he even gets home. I'm lucky to spend 2 hours with him a day at most. We have no sex life to speak of because he has fibromyalgia and is never interested in making love anymore. If I don't read then I get terribly lonely and depressed, it's about the only thing keeping me somewhat happy these days.

[SesameG]

oh wow, Amber - that is one of the toughest things... Been there!

[Amber]

Yeah, just found out he cheated on me, that's why he's been so distant... don't know what to do anymore.

[Ruchi]

This was my first steampunk romance, too, and I have to say that it really didn't do it for me. Maybe I'm just not attracted to that sort of hero- Rhys seemed more like he would get on my nerves rather than make me fall for him. There was literally no extensive dialogue between them before they got together that didn't go along the lines of,"I want you...I'd try to buy you, but apparently you're not cool with that, so now I'll just stubbornly press on until I can ravish you like the pirate that I am", and "I'm part Mongolian! I'm such a whore, I don't deserve love!"

This is probably a good time to bring up how rape-y this book is. She refused him verbally a hundred times. She even shot him, and he raped her, and she still falls in love with him in the end? Come on, really? I hated the fact that conscent was coerced out of her.

Alright, maybe I'm being a bit too harsh. I found the author's take on zombies and nanobot infected blood streams to be refreshingly original and well thought out, also the whole business with "radio waves" was sketchy at best.

I'm rambling again. Anyway, I don't really think of trashy romance novels as porn for women. Porn for women is porn for women. Sometimes, I come across something that will make me think,"Hey, let's try that out", but for the most part it's just like watching a steamy scene in a movie. It's sex, but it's not porn, exactly. It just goes with what's happening with the characters.

[Loka]

Amber wrote: "Yeah, just found out he cheated on me, that's why he's been so distant... don't know what to do anymore."

I would say that no relationship is better than that kind of a relationship. But I've never been in one, so perhaps I'm not one to give advice. ):

[Molly]

Good luck with everything, Amber. Books are a great comfort, but I find that human empathy is usually better. I feel for you and hope that things work out for the best.

[Tara Tiger]

I'm sorry to hear that, Amber.

[Izzy]

I'm sorry Amber :(

I would say for me that romance noveles keep me going in some ways my hubby is in the military and gone A LOT for training and of course deployments. Sometimes I need the romance novel to keep me going. Plus for me at least they tend to put me in the mood more often than not. So he benefits from my reading them too.

[Chelsea]

So sorry to hear that Amber, and hope all the best for you as you decide what's best for you in your relationship.

Re: trashy romance novels as women's porn.... I think *trashy romance* is definitely women's porn - it's all about getting our motors going, right? Then there's stuff like this book which, yes, had some explicit sex but also had a fairly significant plot line going on, and I think that's somewhere on the not-porn side of things.

I've discovered my husband does not like it if a book has put me in the mood and I attempt any kind of seduction. He'd rather we spend time together first (versus me spending time with the book first). Still, *I* can definitely see how some romance novels would make for good foreplay, even if he can't :P

[Kamil]

Daeja wrote: "So sorry to hear that Amber, and hope all the best for you as you decide what's best for you in your relationship.

Re: trashy romance novels as women's porn.... I think *trashy romance* is definit..."

have you tried reading the book together? (the same copy of the book)