Wow! I didn't expect such a huge response. I am so glad that there are others out there with the same views. I've always admired my uncle, he's the only man I know who openly admits he reads romance novels. I started out as a teen reading historical romances by Johanna Lindsey and Kathleen Woodiwiss. Part of my enjoyment, besides the romance, was the rich tapestry of history that came with these books. Matter of fact, it was the history I learned in these books that lead me to choose history for my first major.
Thanks everyone for your comments! It's been amazing reading your responses.