I’ve read a romance novel a day for decades, long before I started sending my stories to publishers. I love romance because of the romantic happy ever after or happy for now ending. The rest of the fictional world might be messed up but the couple (or more) is together, in love, happy. I love that optimism.
I read across the subgenres, everything from sweet Regency romances to sizzling hot mafia romances. One of my favorite subgenres, however, to read and to write is SciFi Romance.
Why?
Romance has a romantic happy ever after. SciFi Romance gives me that PLUS the hope that humans will have a future. SciFi Romance writers, by setting their stories in the future, are telling us we’ll have one. We’ll survive as a species. During scary times, that’s very reassuring.
It is also nice to escape the planet for a while. When I’m tired of today’s politics, I can open a SciFi Romance set in the future and I’m unlikely to hear any mention of politics. If a loved one is struggling with an illness, I can open a SciFi Romance and it is unlikely that illness will appear on the pages. It is total escapism.
I can almost always be guaranteed a fresh, different read with SciFi Romance. There might be a new world, new types of characters, new technology. The core emotions are the same—wanting to love and be loved, desiring a place to belong, to be accepted—but the other aspects of the story will be refreshingly different. SciFi Romances tend to surprise and thrill readers. It is challenging to guess the next scenes.
Then there’s the blowing up of spaceships and planets. Nothing is more relaxing after a long stressful day than fictional destruction. (grins) I can’t think of another subgenre that allows a reader to experience a planet being blasted to bits. A hero killing a baddie is satisfying. Sure. A hero killing and EATING his enemies (as Kralj does in Dark Thoughts) is glorious.
These are some of the reasons I love SciFi Romance. Why do you love this super special subgenre?

USA Today bestselling author Cynthia Sax writes SciFi, contemporary and paranormal erotic romances. Her stories have been featured in Star Magazine, Real Time With Bill Maher, and numerous best of erotic romance top ten lists.
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Can love redeem a monster?
The Refuge is home to some of the most violent beings in the universe. Kralj, its leader, reigns over the remote outpost with terrifying ease, ruthlessly squashing any rumors of rebellion, killing anyone who breaks his rules. Primitive, deadly, powerful, he’s a monster, scarred both on his face and his soul. He has never met a being he couldn’t control.
Until he meets her.
Dita has one mission—to kill the three targets claiming sanctuary within the Refuge. Or so she claims. For the first time in his long lifespan, Kralj isn’t certain of another being’s intentions. The tiny assassin is immune to his powers, her thoughts unreadable. He can’t predict her movements, can’t control her, can’t stop wanting her.
Dita is rare, as unique as he is, and, to keep the residents of the Refuge safe, Kralj will have to kill her. But first, he’ll touch her, taste her, show her how passionate the beast inside him can be.
Dark Thoughts is a STAND-ALONE SciFi Romance.
The hero might be tall, dark, and scarred but don’t be fooled by his appearance.
He’s truly a monster.
This story is not for readers with delicate sensibilities.