I've noticed lately the hero's profession in romance books is successful in internet/software/computer business or any other related IT jobs.

What other trends you've come across in romance genre recently?

Rock and Roll artists are a popular narrative for romance protagonists.

The heroes are Ice Hockey man candy and Mafia bosses/enforcers lol

They all have abs. Not a single love interest in any romance book I read, not one didn't have abs! lol

[HelloSeetie]

Does billionaire count? Lol

[Dendra]

Or military hero who became a billionaire after leaving the service?

Does emotionally broken heros

I've been noticing a huge trend for Kpop-themed heroes (also a lot of RH) cropping up in contemp romances.

[Bewitch2005]

Seems like I'm seeing a lot more bikers or mafia types romance books leaning a bit into the 'dark' realm.

1) Oft same-gender character couples and intimate details in m/f genre books/series. Alnea Alder's Bewitched series and Nalini Singh's recent books, to name a few. Different reader groups.

2) Profanity / Crude language gal..ore... Human or otherwise. Every normal human act has a sexual connotation... crudity isn't necessary for good writing or humour. Lost the dictionary ?

3) Fetishes, O-sex, Socially pressured Dating / Promiscuity. Everyone has sex... and premarital kinky sex at that. Even people who are from restrained societies, human or other. The non-promiscuous people have to compromise and be rarin' to go, but RARELY the other way around. No worries of STDs / worms / residual dna / cleanliness / privacy / preferences. Romance = Sincere Feelings, not sex manual. That's what the erotica genre is for...

4) Tattoos, Leather / Minimal Clothes, Loose long hair. Impractical in people who are always expecting to fight and get injured. And, Tats traditionally have specific cultural reasons not merely ornamental hodge podge.

5) Bad people as heroes (m/f). All is forgiven as long they're : good looking / sexual athletes / "true love". Doesn't matter if they're rapists / mass murderers / torturers / perverts / supporters of rapists-murderers-perverts-invaders...

6) Multiple Male Partners for Females.

7) Chapters with character name subtitles. Rather pre-schoolish / draft style. Are adult readers suddenly unable to follow a flowing writing style ?

I see a lot of ex military guys, hockey players and billionaires.

[Bewitch2005]

My last 3-4 books had the guy as a tattoo artist.

Books by alexa riley has become predictable and overly sweet.as in excessively not believable sweet. Lost interest very fast in her books. Her previous books were grounded in reality,were sweet and very much lovey dovey. Smh