Who knew that porn stars are a popular group of Romance heroes?!
But I was wondering: Why is this a thing? Now, going by the books I have read, I believe that the male porn star is the continuation of the typical player and here’s why…
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The Player Hero
In Romance novels, the player is an insatiable guy who is – also because of having practiced so much – a god between the sheets. Most often, he’s cocky and happy with himself, not a broody type. And the
This romance hero can do his thing without ever actually having to deal with unsexy things like STDs. It’s enough that his author mentions somewhere that he always uses condoms. Rarely, he has to deal with an unplanned pregnancy. But that’s usually what brings him and his soul mate together, so it’s all good!
The Porn Star Hero
Now, the male porn star on the other hand… For him, things aren’t quite as easy. While he – technically, kind of – does the same thing as the player, the stakes for him are much higher. He can’t simply stop sleeping with a lot of partners, because it’s his job. He has to consider his responsibilities. Money is usually a pretty big aspect in porn star Romance books. He’s not the happy-go-lucky guy who can simply change his ways.
And I think this mix of the sexual prowess of the player, the troubles of the brooding hero, and the sense of responsibility of characters like the single dad hero, make the porn star hero so interesting.
But enough of all this analyzing and discussion! Of course, I have a few great recommendations for porn star Romance books that are absolutely worth checking out!
Romance Novel Recommendations
Porn Star
Laurelin Paige (Author), Sierra Simone (Author), CJ Bloom (Narrator), Jacob Morgan (Narrator)
Get the Audible book in a deal on Amazon**
This book is, firstly, fantastic, and secondly, a great example of everything I discussed above!
Logan is particularly awesome at being an insatiable hero. He loves sex, he turned it into a very successful career, and he always treats women with respect.
Come to think of it, Devi is pretty much the same! She enjoys sex and found it to be a good way to earn a living.
I liked how this book tries to show both the good and the ugly of the porn industry. It doesn’t shy away from portraying the predatory side. But to me, it didn’t feel like this was used as a cheap plot device.
Instead, it’s a fitting counterweight to the nice and cuddly side of the industry that the protagonists strive to represent.
If you’re curious about porn star Romance, this one should be your first pick! It’s a great story and the narration by CJ Bloom and Jacob Morgan is absolutely fantastic.
Related article: How to get Audiobooks cheaper with Amazon Whispersync
The Dare
Kendall Ryan (Author), Andi Arndt (Narrator), Tim Paige (Narrator)
Get the Audible book in a deal on Amazon**
Oh, Cade… My heart broke a bit for him. He’s the polar opposite of Logan from the book above!
And while the start of this book is rather hilarious, I wouldn’t really think of this as a Romantic Comedy.
Cade turns to the adult entertainment industry because he desperately needs the money. He’s the responsible Romance hero who can’t give up his job just like that because he falls for someone. But his love story with Alexa takes such a wonderful turn!
This book has a particularly wonderful happy ending and despite the trope, this is so romantic! Andi Arndt and Tim Paige are wonderful audiobook narrators that really make this a pleasure to listen to.
Lingus
Mariana Zapata (Author), Callie Dalton (Narrator)
Get the Audible book in a deal on Amazon**
Or listen on Scribd**
No porn star romance list without Lingus! The queen of the slow burn, Mariana Zapata, has this adorable porn star hero that you really want to be friends with. And then more!
Tristan is a little bit of everything (which is no surprise, because an almost 11h audiobook leaves a lot of room for character development). He takes his responsibilities seriously and he’s a bit of a nerdy, thoughtful type.
This book is definitely less sexual than the other two in this
Callie Daltonβs narration is awesome as always! Her voices, in particular her Tristan voice, are great and her intonations work well in keeping that balance between funny, heart-warming, and sexy.
Eline Blackman (pronouns: she/they) fell in love with books as a child – with being read to and reading herself. 10 years ago, she bought her first Audible book. It was love at first listen! An average of 250 audiobooks per year has become the new normal and you will rarely see Eline without a wireless earbud. Romance and Fantasy are the go-to genres for this audiobook fan.
Okay so I’m no romance specialist, I’ve read like 3 romance books in my life, but your post title definitely hooked me. Why is this a trope indeed o.o
(Also, wow, your blog has grown!! Congrats! So many followers, so happy for you π )
I’m not sure if I could read this type of romance, because I’m sensitive to romance in general, and this is an edgy topic! But I can see how “it’s just for the money” is a good angle for this kind of story. Nice post π
Thank you! π I think a lot of romance readers, me included, like “realistic” issues in contemporary romance. Not that we all meet porn stars all the time. But it has a more gritty feel to it, the storyline makes more sense, than when the protagonists are simply angsty without much reason and hold back the romance just by being pointlessly difficult, haha
I recently stumbled upon the genre and have become obsessed!!! I quickly read each book I can find and obsessively look for the next. A few that I have read that could be added to the list include:
Exrated by Stevie J Cole
Stinger by Mia Sheridan
The Truth About Porn Star Boyfriends by Sunniva Dee
Changing His Game by Justine Elvira
If you have come across any others PLEASE share!!
Thanks for your post!