Surely, everyone loves a good love story, right? It certainly seems as if this would be true, especially since tales of love between two people and happy endings have turned romance books into a billion-dollar-a-year industry. From sweet to steamy, Christian to paranormal, and everything in between, there are all kinds of stories that fall into the category of romance. And, according to Romance Writers of America, there are all kinds of readers as well, with 84% of them women and 16% men, and all ages represented, although the majority are aged between 30 and 54.
Gift from early in our marriage
Despite the popularity of this genre, there are some critics out there who seem to think romance is a bad thing. The detractors are not making reference to books that go against their belief system or are offensive in some way. Instead, they are pronouncing all romance novels as being bad for marriages because they set up unrealistic expectations about how marriage is supposed to be.
I think this is as ridiculous as saying all good restaurants are bad because they set up unrealistic expectations about how food is supposed to be. And, just as a fantastic meal together adds benefits both people can enjoy, such as having something different than the same old boring dinner, enjoying the treat of being waited on and made to feel special, and adding some fun to spice up everyday life; romance novels offer many of the same rewards, especially if they are used as a source of ideas for making your marriage more enjoyable and bringing you and your spouse closer together.
An even more creative way to use a romance novel to improve your own relationship is to acquire one that actually stars you and your spouse! Did you know there are several companies that specialize in producing personalized romance novels? You provide information such as you and your spouse’s names, details such as how you met, what kind of car you drive, nicknames, hair color, favorite foods, and other facts, and they put it into a romance novel.
My husband actually surprised me with a few of these personalized romance novels over the course of several gift-giving occasions. (Well, it wasn’t actually that much of a surprise since I hinted that I wanted these.) Each one is set in a different exotic location and range from mild to a little bit steamy, although there are several companies out there that specialize in explicit books, so you need to check the heat level if you don’t want something too erotic.
One of my favorites was set on a South African game reserve. Not only did we go on safari in the story, but we had to deal with a killer on the loose! Greg was my hero and he vowed to protect me, whatever it took. The story was fun, although it was a bit ridiculous at times. The book was made even more entertaining by the fact that we took turns reading it aloud to one another and laughing at our adventures and at how the book had us making love every couple of pages!
If you want to find a personalized romance novel, just try doing an internet search for “romance novel starring you” or “personalized romance novels” and lots of different companies will appear. Some are more well-written than others, but even a poorly written novel can provide a fun activity for you and your spouse if you read it together. It’s funny how much I got into the storyline and actually started feeling as if Greg and I were teaming up together against the bad guy in the book. And, of course, I had to give him a kiss because he was my hero!
If you are a bit creative or are looking for a more economical alternative, you can always write your own romance. It doesn’t have to be an entire book. Even a short story about you and your spouse on a romantic adventure, read together, can add a bit of fairy-tale romance to your real world marriage.
Give it a try and let me know how your story turns out. For more ideas, remember to hit the “Follow” button on this blog and respond to the confirmation email. You’ll receive one free email per week with more romantic tips and stories. Also, please check out my earlier posts, “Like” my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/belleoftheballpoint and follow me at www.pinterest.com/nancyrose9
Belle of the Ballpoint™ 