Back in the dark ages, when I used to manage bookstores, there was most definitely a stigma associated with men reading any kind of romance novel. I admit that I oftentimes made assumptions when a man would purchase a romance release. But in the decades since then, working as a book reviewer – and reading hundreds if not thousands of paranormal romances – I now understand just how faulty those prejudices were.
I’ll just come right out and say it: reading paranormal romance novels has made me a better husband, a better lover, a better man.
Let’s look at the Shifters Unbound saga (Pride Mates, Primal Bonds, Wild Cat, and the recently released Mate Claimed) by Jennifer Ashley, a series that is set in a world where shapeshifters – after almost being hunted to extinction – have recently been “accepted” into human society and now live in poverty stricken Shiftertowns on the periphery of urban areas. Forced to wear collars that allegedly repress their violent tendencies, these Shifters are almost universally feared and secretly envied by more than a few humans – most males are well over six feet tall, incredibly well endowed, undeniably sexy, and fiercely loyal to their prides or packs.
Each novel in the series thus far is a standalone read – and each storyline revolves around an intensely erotic relationship between a Shifter and his love interest. The stories are compelling and the sex scenes incendiary – it’s nothing short of ideal erotic literary escapism. The female heroines are all intelligent, self-confident, courageous, and incredibly sexy; their male counterparts are all are chiseled, highly principled, protective, family-oriented, and obsessively filled with love (and lust) for their mates.
When it comes to paranormal romance, I’d rank the Shifters Unbound saga as the hottest series on the shelves. Ashley can choreograph a supernatural sex scene like no other writer I’ve read. Here are a few examples:
• “Kim laughed. Liam growled and sprinted up the last of the stairs, slammed into the bedroom and tossed her on the bed. As her clothes came off, then his, Kim gave in. For one night of her life, she was going to enjoy making wild, crazy love with a man who promised to make it unforgettable, no matter what might come in the morning...” – Pride Mates
• “The scent of their lovemaking, sweet, heavy, and exciting, blended with the scent of pine and old leaves. The night air brushed frigid fingers over them, but Iona was toasty warm with Eric inside her.” – Mate Claimed
• “He felt her body start to open and respond, a basic, hard reaction that erased all thoughts. It began with her drawing a surprised breath, her legs stiffening, her hands clenching at her sides. Then another gasp, followed by a wordless cry. And then Andrea was writhing against Sean, calling his name, hands in his hair, thrusting against his mouth and begging him to do all he wanted.” – Primal Bonds
So the Shifters Unbound novels are exceptionally erotic paranormal romance. What can a male reader learn in these books that may make him a better man, lover, human being?
1. Believe in true, everlasting love. In this series, Shifters experience a mate bond with their lovers, a “magical binding between true mates” that is all encompassing – body and soul – and lasts until death.
2. Aspire to be the perfect catch. In Mate Claimed, Eric is described as “strong, powerful, gentle, and protective. The perfect catch.” These Shifter characters are obviously extraordinary physical specimens but the physical aspect is only part of it. They’re understanding, caring, supportive, and sensitive to their lover’s every need.
3. Find passion in your life. Ashley’s male Shifter leads are, above all else, passionate. Passionate about their lives, their families, their causes, and their lovers. At one point early on in Mate Claimed, Eric tells Iona: “When we make love, it will be like the world exploded.” Enough said.
Maybe I’m completely wrong about this but I firmly believe that men who regularly read paranormal romance will ultimately find themselves better off for it.
I would love to hear what other paranormal romance readers – male and female – have to say about this!
Paul Goat Allen has been a full-time book reviewer specializing in genre fiction for the last two decades and has written thousands of reviews for companies like Publishers Weekly, The Chicago Tribune, Kirkus Reviews, and BarnesandNoble.com. He is a member of the National Book Critics Circle. You can follow him on Twitter at @paulgoatallen and get all the latest Barnes & Noble book news from @BNBuzz.
dhaupt
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PGA, my hero, paranormal or not.
I love Paranormal romance, the reason I started reading it was because as a woman of a certain age I was getting tired of reading romance novels that starred people younger than my children, it made me feel like a voyeur at times. Then came paranormal, urban fantasy and sci-fi some very much romance novels and some with romance as a side dish. And I found my new loves, why, because these folks were immortal, or almost, they sprang from Titans, Greeks and dragons and suddenly age didn't matter any more because these authors really know how to write between the sheet shenanigans.
My favs are as follows- JR Ward her Black Dagger Brotherhood, and Fallen Angels
Deborah Cooke/Claire Delacroix- her Pyr Dragon shape shifter series as Cooke and her Urban Fantasy Fallen Angels as Delacroix
Claire Ashgrove-Her Templar series
Angie Fox- both her Demonslayer series and her brand new Paranomal M*A*S*H series
Jessica Andersen-Her Myan end of days Nightkeeper series
Aimee Carter and her Goddess Legacy YA novels
And New kid on the Block Alma Katsu and her trilogy starting with The Taker, The Reckoning and a third novel to be upcoming.
So what started out as an age related matter became a new obsession for me, now I don't care how old the characters are because it's fantasy, it's an escape from my own rather boring existance, it's a way to learn history, it's a way to think outside the box.
Thanks Paul for another great article and it takes a real man to admit he loves romance 
