| According to BusinessWeek, every 5 seconds | | | | are a connected set of processes that involve |
| someone buys a romance novel. For those more | | | | physiological changes, such as heart rate, blood |
| mathematically inclined-that makes romance novels a | | | | pressure and hormones circulating throughout the |
| $1.2 billion dollar a year industry. | | | | body-and these comprise the cornerstones of a |
| And it's no wonder. | | | | woman's sexual drive. Therefore, when a woman's |
| Experts agree that readers of romance novels find it | | | | emotions are stirred by a romance novel, that's a |
| easier to "get in the mood" and on average, even | | | | recipe for an emotional aphrodisiac. It's like giving a |
| have sex with their partners more often. Psychology | | | | woman emotional foreplay." |
| Today states that women who read romance novels | | | | She goes on to say that "when women read romance |
| make love with their partners 74% more often than | | | | novels, their emotions are stirred. Because a woman's |
| women who don't. Why? Because, according to a | | | | emotions are directly linked to their libido, romance |
| scientific study conducted by Harold Leitenberg of the | | | | novels then virtually become aphrodisiac cocktails - or |
| The Journal of Sex Research and Psychological | | | | what I call emotional foreplay for women. And that's a |
| Bulletin, when women fantasize frequently (as they do | | | | prelude to sex." |
| when they read romance novels), they have sex | | | | Just as men become aroused while perusing nude |
| more often, have more fun in bed, and engage in a | | | | magazines, women stimulate their emotional and their |
| wider variety of erotic activities. | | | | libido while reading a satisfying love scene. Some critics |
| Many therapists now go so far as to recommend | | | | of either men's magazine or steamy romance novels |
| reading steamy romance stories to boost a woman's | | | | may doubt this activity as an acceptable alternate for |
| sex drive. Their reasoning: "taking part in enjoyable | | | | couples in a committed relationship for bettering a |
| activities such as walking with a partner, listening to | | | | person's sex life. Some may believe these habits may |
| music, having a glass of wine, taking a bath, or reading | | | | actually take away that special something from a |
| a romance novel can help put women in the mood for | | | | sexual relationship rather than enhance it. Based on this |
| sex. These activities can help women shift into their | | | | current scientific studies, this is, thankfully, not the case. |
| "sex self" from their role as mother, wife, employer, or | | | | Women's sex lives and the level of intimacy they have |
| employee," says Carol Rinkleib Ellison, PhD, a | | | | with their husbands, boyfriends or partners will show a |
| psychologist and author of Women's Sexualities. | | | | noticeable improvement after reading a romance novel |
| Christiane Northrup, M.D. of Women's Health Wisdom | | | | because it simply puts them in a more romantic state |
| also says: "Consider reading novels or renting movies | | | | of mind. |
| that contain sexual content to help you get in the | | | | So what's the link between romance novel and better |
| mood." | | | | sex lives? |
| For those of us that enjoy a steamy romance novel | | | | Emotional satisfaction. |
| on a regular basis-this is not new news. We've been | | | | That's something to think about when you're at the |
| trying to tell mainstream nay-sayers this all along. We | | | | counter trying to decide between this month's Cosmo |
| women are turned on by "emotional stimulation" the | | | | and the latest steamy romance novel!!! |
| way men are aroused visually. Though more and | | | | Bonnie Williams Copyright(C) 2006 |
| more romance authors are leaning toward more erotic | | | | Sources: |
| romance, women don't always require graphic sex | | | | BusinessWeek Online - 02/12/2006; Romance Novels: |
| scenes to become aroused. After reading an | | | | Reading for Love, The Journal of Sex Research - 2/1 |
| emotionally intense love scene, a woman feels more | | | | 2001; Harold Leitenberg - Sexual Fantasies About |
| open to the "idea" of making love-or "in the mood" for | | | | One's Partner Versus Someone Else: Gender |
| sex. | | | | Differences in Incidence and Frequency, WebMD - 07 |
| Maria Veloso, author of Midwinter Turns to Spring | | | | 26/2004; Dulce Zamora - Revving Up Women's Sex |
| states, "Contrary to popular belief, the ability of | | | | Drive, Women's Health Wisdom Online Newsletter - |
| romance novels to fuel a woman's sexual desire | | | | March 2006; Christiane Northrup, M.D. - Turn Up the |
| doesn't lie in the stereotypical bodice-ripping, sexually | | | | Heat on Your Desire, Psychology Today - Sep/Oct 95; |
| explicit scenes so inherent in romance novels - but | | | | Peter Doskoch - The Safest Sex, The Open Press - |
| rather in the realm of emotions. In most cases, a | | | | 02/02/2006; Maria Veloso - Romance Novels: Are |
| woman's libido is directly linked to emotions that | | | | They the Antidote to a Dreary Sex Life? |
| revolve around romance and love. These emotions | | | | |