Hi Eva,

some of the above comments are correct, other not.

First of all: they are not bodice rippers (which are historical) not chick lit (aimed at modern yuppi-type, career women) - both of these are quite different genres.

M&B are modern, but mushy and romantic; so call it 'modern romantic fiction'. It fills the shelves at my local W H Smith (chain of bookshops). The woman always starts out without a man, finds that she can't make it on her own, and always finds a hunk (usually also successful and rich) to sweep her off her feet.

Starting some 15 years ago, they were also permitted to have discreet sex, never on the first date, always implied only by 'His rippling muscles made her go soft and surrender to his manly touch, drown and go under in foamy waves'. Yuk :-)))

(This latest sub-section is known under the brand name Silhouette or Desire or something).