Many free online 'romance' novels have outlaw motorcycle gang members as heroes. What's up?

[bobbieinok]

My tentative theory is that MC gang members are part of the cop/cowboy/SEAL group that this genre seems to think provides strong males who can and (perhaps more importantly) WILL do anything to rescue and protect the 'damsel in distress' heroine.

The MC gang members are usually involved in some type of violent criminal activity, often killing members of rival gangs.

[snowybirdie]

1. Stopped

reading that genre 50 years ago! Is it still a thing?😝

[bobbieinok]

4. Romance genre is VERY big online. Sub sections are vampire romance, shifter romance

And all-encompassing paranormal romance.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

6. Romance is huge.

I rarely read it. I have a niece who writes romance and seems to be making a pretty decent living at it. I went to the book launch, such as it was, of her first novel and have not been able to finish it. But I'm about 50 years older than her target audience, so I say good for her that she's earning a living at it.

[Coventina]

2. I blame "Sons of Anarchy"

But, yeah, the perceived hyper-masculinity is probably a draw as well.

[samnsara]

3. its part of the damsel in distress scenario....being 'saved' by an alpha male..The Bad Boy...

...is some womens fantasy. The Pirate...the outlaw...the biker...whatever. I would rather be 'saved' by someone who puts the toilet seat down, is a gourmet chef AND cleans up after himself.

[lunatica]

7. Every woman needs a wife to do the household chores

[Iggo]

8. Shh!

[procon]

5. 🎶 Its a tale as old as time... 🎶

The gorgeous hunk of a bad boy hero brings home the bacon, keeps the castle secure and his airheaded squeeze spends her days primping and pampering herself so she can cater to his needs while always looking glamorous and fashionable. Of course, he's rich enough to hire a competent staff to do all the real work because neither of the protagonists could even manage to feed themselves without attendants. It's the Kim Kardashian and Snooki reality TV written as very shallow formulaic plots that require nothing from the reader but the purchase price.

[Solly Mack]

9. A lot of romance novels are written by men using female pseudonyms.

Might explain it.

[Aristus]

10. Nevermind the strong male outlaw biker.

Give me a sexy lady biker any day.


Every day...


All day...


...Um......where was I again?...