4 Comments

  1. Well, hmmm. I have to wonder what in the world she’s been reading or rather not reading in romance. No, that truly wasn’t a sarcastic remark. Honest, because the very first thing that came to mind is that I’ve found that attitude regarding the heroine’s “sexual journey” in a lot of romances and particularly those within the last decade so I’m sort of at a loss here as to what to say. I think I have more questions than comments, so let me start there.

    Exactly what time frame are we talking about, i.e. when was Schone’s first book related to this published?

  2. Heh! Thanks. I have no problem with your reaction at all, fwiw.

    I agree that every story should be ‘theirs’, but that thing I talked about: if you remember, old historical romances – right up to 1998 or thereabouts – were usually about the hero. He usually decides when and where he and the heroine should have sex and how. More than not he has the control at all times, whether done brutally or not.

    Robin Schone’s books shifted that focus onto the heroine. It’s her turn to control when and where she’d like to have sex. It’s almost a revolution, having this woman taking control by going to this man and ask for sex lessons at her own pace. And the hero supports her by minding and nurturing her sexual desires. That’s what I meant about her ‘journey’.

    Although the focus is her, another new thing is the hero has his emotional/sexual satisfaction and love through HER emotional/sexual satisfaction and love. Basically he recognises that she has desires and it becomes his sole desire to answer them all. It’s not quite erotica, but it’s not quite romance either, hence the birth of erotic romance. [It’s still a romance, though!] Nowadays we see that in a lot of mainstream romances, particularly historicals [e.g. Cheryl Holt], but it was quite new back then, I think.

    I don’t mean to say that it’s one person’s journey *as* the whole story, but as the central vein of the story. It’s very much ‘their’ story. Definitely. 😀 I mean, the hero is the half of the story and the other half is the heroine. Without him, readers wouldn’t get that kind of satisfaction because it’s not about romance any more.

    I hope this clarifies a bit. Either way I still don’t know if my take is right. It’s how I saw it. :>

  3. Yeah, Maili, that was the one. (BG)

    And I honestly don’t have a problem with what you said there. It just got me to thinking about this whole “women’s fiction” thing.

    Again!

    And I had to rant some. (BG)

    Still, I’m always interested in what you have to say. (G)

  4. LOL! Are you referring to my response at Smart Bitches? If so, I’d like to explain myself a bit more there, but first I want to make sure that I’m not jumping to conclusion. 😀

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