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Try Lynn Kurland novels.....the story lines are great....very touchy....and no sex....
;p
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thanks for the recommendation but i really wanted to ask if people just prefer Historicals with sex or is it unnessessary .. lol in truth im writing my own and wanted to get the opinion of the readers preference
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This is an interesting topic to me. As a writer, I have not found it necessary to have sex to show a connection and love between the characters, and I freely admit it is my preference to keep the doors mostly closed. I don't mind a little, but I think it takes time away from the story.
That said, it is unfortunately true that most of the larger pulbishers will not touch a historical at the moment unless it is heavily saturated with explicit sex scenes. However, I'm hoping this is just a fad and will pass. Or rather, I'm hoping they will broaden a bit and start publishing the entire spectrum again so that those of us who want more emphasis on the story and less on the sex can also find new books that cater to our tastes--even if we are in the minority.
My two Regencies, Smuggled Rose, and I Bid One American, were picked up by small publishers (Cerridwen Press and The Wild Rose Press, respectively) and so there are still some "sweeter" stories getting published, but you have to look for them outside of your regular mortar-and-brick bookstore. Amazon.com and the publishers' websites--those sorts of places.
Anyway, let's hope publisehrs widen their range a bit so we have the full spectrum again when we go browsing through the bookshelves of our neighborhood bookstore.
Sincerely,
Amy Corwin
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I like a little sex in most of the romance novels that I read, including the historicals. But for me it's not absolutely necessary. What IS necessary is a well written story. If a book is both sexy AND has a good story with a good plot, then I'm loving it.
Frankly, I think the trend is towards more sex in romances - historical or otherwise. Let's admit it, sex sells! But there are still some romances out there written with little or no sex in them. Lynn Kurland is an obvious example of the fact that it's NOT necessary to have sex in your stories in order to be a successful author.
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I used to prefer historicals without sex, since they were actually more true to the period. The older writers were more careful about being more realistic about the sex, as in--it was really not done before marriage!
I'm more used to sex scenes nowadays, since nearly all the books are filled with them. They still seem VERY anachronistic to me, but oh, well... If they aren't too boringly repetitive, they can be fun now and then!
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I'm currently looking for historical romance without much sex scene but I haven't found one. But I love Julia Quinn's books because there's very little sex scene (at least, as compared with the other romance authors nowadays) and she focuses more on the character development and the blossoming of the relationship between the hero and the heroine.
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Jen D
- Thursday, July 10 2008
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I think usually things like at least the first time the couple kisses and has sex are important. This helps to show growth in the couples relationship : )
I'm working on writing one myself currently and thats both how i feel and what i've been told *grin*
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I don't think they HAVE to have sex, as Lynn Kurland is one of my favorite authors. If something is well written, it stands on it's own.
If a book does have sex scenes, I enjoy them if they are well written, and they aren't hopping into bed every other chapter. In other words, the sex scenes fill out the story. I don't like books where a little storyline is thrown in around sex scenes to make it look like a real book. To me, the depth of the characters and interesting twists in the story are more important.
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Well, to tell you the truth, if the sex scenes are implicitly included in the novel, I can accept that as a reader. But if they are explicitly described, they make me sick and fill me with disgust. I agree with Miss Brenda; a well written story stands on its own wether it includes sex or does not...you just concentrate on writing your own book well and don't bother about sex.
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I have to agree. I think it is the sexual tension and the connection between the characters that matters. The descriptions of physical romance, i.e. the touch of a hand, the scent, matters more than the description of the phyisical sex act. That can be left to the imagination.
Some books can be down right gross.
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Fraoch
- Thursday, July 24 2008
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Read Lynn Kurland's time travel romances, she has tons of sexual tension but no sex and the books are just great because the sex isn't the story.
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Fraoch
- Thursday, July 24 2008
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second part of your questions: If the intimacy is part of a natural result of sexual tension and doesn't take over the story then I don't mind it. But some books that I have read of late, to me borders on soft pornography. This where the sex becomes the story and the romance is secondary. I read for the characterization and the plot and I don't want sex to be the plot. That is why I don't read erotica, which in some cases is starting to lean toward soft pornography.
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Like others said, I enjoy the sex scenes if they go with the story and IF the sexual tension has been built up throughout the rest of the book. If the tension isn't there, then the sex seems almost pointless. Authors that do this well are Judith McNaught, Linda Howard (oldies), Shana Abe, some Marsha Canham.... and of course Lynn Kurland does a great job at tension without the description of the sex, though she lets you know when they are going to do it. So I wouldn't say it's necessary, but it helps to round out a story.
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It depends on which publishing house you want to sell to. For example, any historical inspirational will not have sex as they abide by the CBA guidelines.
Some of the direct Harlequin Historicals have a more closed bedroom door policy, but those in retail sales have a higher sensual level (unless they have a Christmas theme).HH will launching its new Undone ebooks -- their hottest line yet in Nov 09. Guides should be available at end of July. ( Sorry I write for Harlequin)
The trend currently in single title does tend towards more sex. I know Avon and Grand Central have certainly requested it in recent guidance from editors.
But whatever the case, it does need to be integral to the story line.
Hope this helps.
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I like/want sex in the historicals I read. What I don't like is sex every other page with full details every time. I like details, don't get me wrong, but some things are better left to the imagination. It's important for me to be able to "feel" the connection between the two characters. I do like more than one sex scene but don't necessarily need a play by play each time.
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I don't mind the sex scenes as long as it's not graphic and every other chapter. Sex isn't a nessessary element to make a great story, but it is the cumulation of the main characters relationship. I don't think having sex in the story will nessessarily make a novel successful or popular, the author determines that by how well written the story is. I think sex has just because the nom for romance novels.
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I'm a big Kurland fan. I have almost all of her books. she has the romance and humor with a little paranormal twist (ghosts or time travel). Mary Balogh is great too. Just a little sex (not explicit!). For something sexier, try Stephanie Laurens or Julia Quinn
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