by Okay, so I stole the idea from Karen Templeton’s very informative description of SSE. I’ll get ready to duck and run for cover on this one, but I have to say it:
I am bored, bored BORED by the plethora of (admittedly, alas) very popular current historical romances in which the hero/heroine (even a virginal one who has no experience with sex) meet and, with little regard for historical accuracy, hop into bed and return there. And return there. And RETURN THERE. Well, maybe there’s a garden bench or an unoccupied library table in the mix, but you get my drift.
I realize the whole trend was sparked (if you will) by the erotica/paranormal craze and that fantasy is a big aspect of it… probably most women don’t actually want to experience a ménage-a-trois with a hunky guy and a werewolf. However, even as a kid I was never interested in fantasy. Nope, no Lion, Witch and Wardrobe for me. **I** read about World War II submarines and Egyptology.
Besides my underdeveloped fantasy genes and lamentable preoccupation with real life, I’m just not into spectator sports. Not that I begrudge the success of fellow authors, some close friends, who write the hotter books — I cheer for them happily while I try to weasel invitations to lunch. It’s just I miss, well, REAL stories about believably REAL historical people.
As a writer, what makes ME passionate is weaving tales about the emotional relationships between heroes and heroines who have family and friends as well as lovers. Who have tragedies to overcome and difficulties to shoulder that can’t always be solved by a little hot sex. But who discover that, despite their problems, their faults, their doubts and their fears, having a deep abiding love for one special person can make any situation bearable and illumine one’s life with joy.
Such is the case with my upcoming Regency historical, A MOST UNCONVENTIONAL MATCH. Elizabeth Wellingford Lowery has just lost her husband, an older man she sincerely loved, who treated her as a precious object, taking care of all the details of everyday life so she could immerse herself in her painting. Suddenly thrust unprepared into bitter reality, left with no one to turn to as all her family is currently abroad, she is floundering when Hal Waterman arrives at her door.
Possessed of a demanding, Society leader Diamond of a mother, Hal has always carefully avoided Beauties, particularly Elizabeth Wellingford, sister-in-law of his best friend Nicky, to whom he had an immediate, instantaneous attraction when they first met seven years ago. But with her family out of reach, when he hears of Elizabeth’s loss, he feels obligated to call and offer his assistance in Nicky’s stead. He intends to help her settle her financial affairs and make a quick exit…until he encounters her little boy, desolate with a grief that Hal, who lost his own father at an early age, recalls only too well.
So cautiously begins the dance of attraction between a gruff man’s man and a china-doll beauty who initially seem to have nothing in common…but come in time to realize they are each other’s perfect complement. I hope readers will agree.
And yeah, there is some pretty hot sex. (Don’t want you to think I don’t know how.)
So tell me what you think: am I the only coyote howling in the wildness on this issue? Do you want more, more, more of the hot stuff…or would you like to see a larger variety of stories not so preoccupied with the physical?
BTW, I have a monthly contest on my website where you can win books and other cool prizes, so stop by.
Your description of this book gave me chills… Thank you, it sounds great, and I’m going to get it as soon as I can.
I like a variety of different types of stories. Whatever happens, the important thing for me is that it makes sense for those characters to do it. Your book sounds like it’s mainly about the hero and heroine and you get to know them well which is the type of story that I enjoy.
I agree with Maureen — if it doesn’t make sense for the characters to do it, I can get pretty annoyed. 🙂
(And the same goes for other genres!)
And I do like some respect for the period… Not that there were no rebels or outcasts, but if characters are behaving outside of the rules, I’d like an acknowledgement of it.
Looking forward to the new book, Julia!
Cara
Thanks, Cara and azteclady! I hope you’ll enjoy Hal and Elizabeth’s story–or maybe you’ll win a copy since I contributed some books to the prizes the site is offering for the 30 days/knights spotlight. In any event, please do contact me at my website and let me know what you think after you’ve read it.
I SO agree with you, Julia. I hate for the people I’m supposed to admire and care about are written so that all they think about is sex, sex, sex. Sex is not a spectator sport and I don’t appreciate having to stop the story and turn the five or ten pages to get past the graphic description of character’s body parts and reactions to the use of said body parts. I swear I would buy ten to 15 regency historicals a month before all this nonsense started because I truly enjoyed the stories. But, now,I buy one, maybe two, a month if I know the author from the olden days of good stories first, foremost and always. I deplore those books where they’re having sex,or thinking about sex, throughout the first twenty chapters and then they fall in love! Where is the romance in that? Bring back the good old stories of people navigatating through problems, mishaps, mis understandings, demanding parents, thrawarted circumstances, and STILL stay in love to their HEA’s! Yea!
I read a variety. Julia, I always like a good romance that takes the time to develop emotional relationships, letting the characters get to know each other, and us, as we read along.
I do like to know the characters much better, what they think and feel and not only in bed. Your book sounds great with this couple, and her little boy…I love your books with all conflicts and how the couples deal with obstacles and their emotions. Another on my TBB list!
Hi Julia! Great post. I think sexy is great, as long as the characterization is there. Otherwise, it’s just tab A slot B… boring. I also like to know that there’s more between this couple than physical attraction–there has to be a spark between them that isn’t only sexual. But when the characterization is there and there’s a fantastic build-up of tension, don’t leave me hanging. I want payoff! I want details!
Ahem.
Looking forward to A Most Unconventional Match.
Yes, yes and thrice yes!
That’s why I don’t write erotic historicals unless I have a very good idea for one! (it might just have happened, but I’ll have to wait and see). My heroines are either virgins who know what’s good for them (and that’s not leaping into bed with the first rake who asks) or they’re married, in which case, more than sex goes on in the marital bed. They do some talking, as well!
Julia:
I, too, care about historical accuracy, so you know I’m going to be in violent agreement with you! While writing my first published book, I was having trouble getting the hero and heroine into bed and mentioned my dilemma to another author. “Can’t you just have them overcome by mad, passionate lust?” she asked. Well, since my heroine had grown up in a convent and wanted to be a nun, I didn’t think that would work! (My characters did, you will be relieved but not not surprised to know, manage to find a way.)
LOL, Blythe, about having your characters figure out a logical, in-sync-with-the-story way to give in to their desires! I don’t mind writing in a “payoff” after a buildup of sexual tension, as you said, Christine–just don’t like physical attraction being the first, foremost and sometimes only thing driving the relationship forward: they hate each other but they want each other, they hate, they want–hey, all of a sudden now they’re IN LOVE! Doesn’t work for me.
Eva, thanks for your kind words! Hope you’ll enjoy Hal and Elizabeth’s story.
I love historical romances. I like some of the paranormal. In the paranormal books the sex scenes seem to fit with those books. But with the historicals, which by the way is my number 1 fave, I’d rather read about the history and the characters than all the sex scenes.