And it’s hard to keep a high review count because I don’t want to be known as the reviewer who hates everything. 
There’s good steamy novels out there, I believe that in my heart, but it seems like every one I read is borderline trash. I have nothing against indie authors, but I feel like a lot of their works in this genre are pushed out to get that 50 Shades cash rather than wanting to tell a good story. Seeing the popularity of lemon-scented fanfiction works, it seems like there’s an audience that loves the romance story, but doesn’t want the fade to black.
So why do so many novels not follow the simple formula of good romance plus no fade to black?
I have no clue. 
I do see some that have potential, though they fall into the same pitfalls that most traditional romance novels fall into, which I usually detail in my reviews.
Maybe it’s because that would be like expecting a good plot out of an adult film, which defeats the entire purpose of its existence (though I recall in the days of Blockbuster Video, the edited version of Pirates was a bestseller).
I think I’m going to take a break from the steamy side for awhile and focus on the cute side so my soul can be cleansed… or something. 
Not that cute doesn’t have its share of problems… though usually those problems are more in the actual relationship being unhealthy rather than the lack of a good romance plot. Oh well. Even five stars on Amazon doesn’t guarantee quality. The best romances I read aren’t necessarily romance books. 
But as someone who writes and loves to read in this genre, I want it to not have the stigma it carries anymore. Ugh.
I’m not sure what the point of this was LOL I guess I’m just ranting/whining about not having a good romance to read.
As someone who loves erotica ( or New Adult ), I’ve pretty much given up reading anything in that genre in the published medium, with the exception of a handful of authors who have consistently demonstrated quality in their work. I understand that a large appeal of the romance genre is its escapism. But why is it so hard to write about two people working out a relationship together realistically? And why does the love interest have to be an abusive jerk?
I’ve gotten pretty good at being able to tell if a romance story will fall into dangerous tropes. The moment the synopsis describes a heroine being saved by a sexy, dark and mysterious man who is the only one who understands her, I run for the hills. Lots of critics voice their displeasure with these types of stories and yet, they’re everywhere and dominate the market. Will I never be free?! D:
Nowadays, when I want to read a good romance story, I’ll turn to fanfiction. While finding good fic takes a lot of work, when you find a gem it’s so good and rewarding. *_* Especially when you’re lucky and in a fandom with a lot of good writers!
I agree with all of this. The romance prose world is full of… I’m not sure how to explain it, but it’s rare that I read a prose romance that I like. It basically has to be really unique or not have romance be the focus. I feel like a lot of them are trapped in the same formulas and its exasperated by the romance publishers who pretty much want those cookie cutter novels. (I mean, they do sell but… I don’t really find them to my taste.)
I will go and seek out fanfiction when I want a good romance too. It’s hard to find gems, but when you do~ <3 <3 <3 <3 Not to mention, they tend to write the tropes I love, like belligerent couples, better than the pubs do. (I.e. not making them giant jerkfaces)