Why Men Love My Stories Too

One of the biggest misconceptions about romance novels is that men don’t read them.

Or worse:

That men shouldn’t enjoy them.

I’ve always found that assumption a little strange.

Because, while men and women may sometimes connect to stories for different reasons, good stories have always appealed to people regardless of gender.

And over the years, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how many men have enjoyed my books.

Not because they’re secretly reading romance.

But because they’re reading stories filled with suspense, adventure, danger, redemption, courage, and characters who feel real.

The romance simply happens to come along for the ride.

Most men don’t pick up a romance novel expecting to love it.

And honestly?

Many of the men who’ve read my books only started because they knew me personally and wanted to support my writing.

When male readers finished Unconditional Love, the comments weren’t what I expected.

They didn’t talk about romance first.

They talked about:

• suspense,

• danger,

• tension,

• pacing,

• and how difficult it was to put down.

And every one of them told me it was so good, it should be a movie!

That’s not a reaction I take lightly.

Part of the appeal may be that I don’t write sanitized people living sanitized lives.

My characters struggle.

They fail. They make mistakes. They wrestle with temptation, fear, trauma, and uncertainty.

In other words:

They look a lot like real people.

And I think many readers—especially male readers—appreciate that honesty.

If you’ve spent any time reading my books, you’ve probably noticed something about my heroes.

They’re men.

Not caricatures.

Not stereotypes.

Men.

Whether we’re talking about Xavier, Colton, Christiaan, or any of the heroes still waiting for their stories to be told, they all share something important.

They are strong. Protective. Competent. Courageous.

But they are also capable of tenderness.

They know how to love. They know how to commit.

And they know how to sacrifice.

I believe real masculinity includes both strength and devotion.

Modern entertainment gives us plenty of fighters.

What it often lacks are lovers.

Not lovers in the modern casual sense.

Lovers in the deeper sense.

Men who:

• cherish,

• commit,

• protect,

• provide,

• and remain when things become difficult.

My heroes strive to embody both sides of that equation.

And I think many men quietly respect that.

Men and women often come to stories looking for different experiences.

And that’s perfectly okay.

Many women read romance because they enjoy:

• emotional intimacy,

• connection,

• healing,

• hope,

• and watching love grow.

Those elements matter deeply.

And they’re important parts of my stories too.

Many men enter through a different doorway.

Adventure. Danger. Mystery. Suspense. Redemption.

The challenge of becoming a better man.

What I love is that a story doesn’t have to choose between those things.

There’s no reason a novel can’t contain:

• grit and tenderness,

• danger and devotion,

• action and affection,

• suspense and romance.

The best stories often contain all of them.

The older I get, the less interested I become in dividing stories into categories.

One thing readers may notice about my stories is that I don’t treat masculinity as a flaw that needs correcting.

My heroes are allowed to be masculine.

They’re allowed to be protective.

They’re allowed to be brave.

They’re allowed to lead, sacrifice, and fight for the people they love.

Likewise, my heroines are allowed to be feminine.

They’re allowed to be nurturing.

They’re allowed to be soft.

They’re allowed to desire love, family, connection, beauty, and meaningful relationships.

Neither men nor women are portrayed as enemies.

They’re partners.

And when both bring their strengths to the table, beautiful things happen.