Unrealistic Expectations

I just watched a segment on The Doctors in which Fifty Shades was praised but other romance novels were put down as being too unrealistic because the characters don't use condoms and they give women unrealistic expectations.  I don't know what romance novels they have been reading but many of the contemporary romance novels that I read feature the use of condoms.  I have also read historical novels in which French letters were used.  I also have never experienced unrealistic expectations from reading romance novels.  

They gave credit to Fifty Shades of Gray for encouraging women to open up about what they want in bed.  How is this book realistic?  It's based on fan fiction which was based on the Twilight books.  Are sparkly vampires paired with whiny teenage girls realistic?  Is it realistic for a possessive  millionaire to buy the company for which his girlfriend works so he can keep tabs on her?  He is a control freak!!

Speaking of unrealistic! How are unrealistic are the James Bond movies?  Does every international dress daily in a tuxedo while sipping martinis and driving very expensive cars? James Bond is also sexism at it's finest.  He has a different voluptuous, beautiful woman as a love interest in every movie.  Even Dr. Ordon said James Bond wouldn't stop to put on a condom.  Romance novels end with Happily Ever After, but James Bond is a man slut who goes from woman to woman.  

I have enough reality living my life every day and I don't need it in my books which I read for escapism.  

It Started That Night by Virna DePaul

• Paperback
• Publisher: Harlequin Books 2012-04-17 (2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373277768
• ISBN-13: 978-0373277766

John Tyler returned to his hometown as a cop and he has never forgotten the beautiful young Lily Cantrell who had a crush on him as a teenager and she was his sister's best friend.  Lily was scarred by the murder of her mother fifteen years ago.  When John and Lily see each other again they soon realize the attraction of fifteen years ago is still there between them.  As John investigates a serial murder case he realizes that there are connections to the murder of Lily's mother.

 Virna DePaul kept me guessing until the end about the identity of the murderer.  I loved the sexual tension between John and Lily as they learned to know each other again and develop a closer relationship.  

In Love with Paris in Love

Paris in Love

      ISBN-13: 9780679604440

      Publisher: Random House Publishing Group

       Publication date: 4/3/2012

      Sold by: Random House

      Format: eBook

      Pages: 272

I

  

Paris in Love is a look into Eloisa James's life in Paris with her family. The book opens with Eloisa talking about her struggle with cancer.   Reading the memories made me want to return to Paris and visit my favorite places as well as the places that are new to me from the memoir.  The book is a collection of Ms. James’ Facebook posts, tweets and essays.  It is divided into easy to read chunks so that you can pick it up and put it down.  Her descriptions are vivid enough that I could picture it as I was reading (I’ve been there four times).

There are laugh out loud moments as she describes her children’s experiences with French school and adapting to Parisian culture.  I enjoyed her insight into the way French women dress and view themselves. 

I can identify with so much of this book.  I am a cancer survivor and a Francophile!! My own trip to Paris this summer was inspired by my own cancer diagnosis in 2008.   I love Paris!! There is no other city like it.   Reading the memories made me want to return to Paris and visit my favorite places as well as the places that are new to me from the memoir. When I return to Paris I will take along Paris in Love so I can visit some the places that James visited. I should have read it before my own trip to Paris in June.