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