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Rie Sheridan

ISN'T IT ROMANTIC

Isn't It Romantic... NOT!

Screeeech. Thud.

That is the sound of my soapbox being dragged over so that I can step up on it. I have been reviewing romances for Love Romances for some time now, and recently have been reading for several other purposes as well, and I am struck by something that makes me wonder if I am just getting too old to live. Lately, I have been concentrating on historicals, as I toy with the idea of going back to my Celtic romance which I contemplate finishing from time to time. I am thunderstruck by the amount of pre-marital relations going on.

Of course, since when I commented on this to my mother she said, "You know it is historically accurate," maybe it's not an age thing...maybe I am just a prude. But to me, one of the points of a good romance is that the hero and heroine build to the sexual part of their relationship very slowly, and it comes about as a consummation of their love. Preferably after the wedding ceremony.

Is this just me? I am not against writing steamy scenes. I have penned a few in my day...but when I saw books set in as varied settings as Victorian London, Gaelic Ireland, and pre-Civil War America all having playful bedroom romps before the rings went on the fingers, I was dumbfounded.

To me, it is much more challenging as a writer to keep that passion sizzling without consummation. To make the reader wait until finally they can't take any more. And then let them have what they want to see. Especially in a historical. I realize that contemporary stories have a bit more leeway with relationships. Modern society has much more tolerance for the extra/pre-marital affair than I THOUGHT that historical societies did. It makes it hard for me to accept the writer's story when I keep thinking "Did they REALLY do things like that?

I would truly like to hear from you, the readers, as to your thoughts on this subject. Feel free to drop me an email at rie@wvu.org.