Do you need more romance in your life? For many Americans the answer is "yes," as romance novels, films and cable networks devoted to the genre continue to proliferate and gain in popularity.

But while romantic fiction continues to flourish, the divorce rate is climbing and the marriage rate is falling, leading many experts to conclude that both happy couples and lonely hearts are turning to fiction for a good dose of romance. The genre itself is growing and changing to encompass all types of love stories, such as those set against science fiction and paranormal backdrops.

Nearly 50 percent of all marriages now end in divorce, and the marriage rate is dropping, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Meanwhile, 74.8 million Americans read at least one romance novel in 2008, according to a 2009 InfoTrends survey.

"It's no surprise romantic fiction is surging in popularity, as people continue to turn to the printed page and the screen to get their fill of love and romance. Life and fantasy can meet in romance fiction, and readers are transported to wherever their deepest emotions can carry them," said Christina Brashear, founder of Samhain Publishing, one of the fastestgrowing and largest digital publishers of romance fiction.

The romance genre is evolving beyond the bodice-rippers and historical fiction of years past and even moving beyond the printed page into digital devices. Here are the latest trends in romance fiction, according to Brashear:

•Subjects and settings are being redefined. The romance novel is evolving. It's no longer simply a genre focused on women escaping into affairs or forging more desirable lives in traditional settings. New settings appeal to both women and men and include the paranormal or occult, science fiction, horror and fantasy worlds. Also popular are inspirational, suspense and time-travel romance novels.

•Technology brings romance everywhere. New technologies are spreading romance fiction to different platforms and impacting book lengths. It's all about accessibility, as electronic books are increasing in popularity, changing where and how romance fiction is read. You can choose 1,000-page books or short novellas. Technology makes it easier to read stories with varying lengths on such devices as the iPhone, Sony Reader, Kindle or Blackberry.

•Readers want more, faster. The industry and technology are evolving so that publishers are able to satisfy the public's appetite faster and with more frequency.

•Changing values are impacting story lines. Quick relationships are being glorified, along with lasting ones. A quick affair can make for lively reading for many, as American values and customs change.

According to Nielsen Bookscan figures, recent retail sales of romance were up 7 percent, while overall adult book sales were down and adult fiction sales were flat.

"With all the bad news in the world, readers want to be absorbed in stories that help them escape and that move and inspire them," said Brashear. "No matter the backdrop or setting, or even the technology you use to read a romance novel, it's all about the story."

This story is provided by State Point Media.