Reader Forum > What makes a great love story?
I think great romance stories are a combination of romance and sex. Honestly, when I first read romance novels it was purely sex based. Now I read a combination of romance and erotica. I prefer a well written story over everything. I need good character developement and I want to really understand the story.
I prefer a strong, alpha male type hero. I don't really care if he's partnered with a strong heroine or a small helpless heroine. I need the alpha male to keep the story interesting. I read everything in romance, from cowboys to aliens. Always there is the big strong man being a real pain, yet somehow perfect and tender at the same time. I need everything to work out in the end.
I do like the steamy scenes, everything from tender love to bdsm scenes. Sex can be an important part of the story, but I prefer to think of it as icing on the cake. Once I have great characters with a great story, give me great sex, turmoil and a happy ending to bring it all together.
aprilI
Great love stories. Are they about the romance or the sex?
When I first started reading romance novels, (I’m about to truly date myself), there was very little sexual activity in the story itself. For the most part, it was all “hinted” at. Then came the “bodice rippers” where the writer took a bit more leeway with the description.
Today, there’s something for everyone. Do you love a good “romance”, with a story that tears at your heart and make you fall in love right along with the hero and heroine?
Or do you prefer a sexy romance, filled with lots of “steam”. A romance that doesn’t have to necessary be happily ever after, but just happy for the moment. Sometimes, getting there is the best part of a story.
Today, with the wide variety of romance genres that we have, there’s truly something for everyone.
Now, as a writer, I have to say, I’m drawn to creating stories filled with raw emotion. Whether it be romantic suspense of just contemporary romances, I love to fill my stories with the seemingly insurmountable drama in my characters lives that creates great emotion for the reader and well as for me the writer.
So, what do you think? Are great love stories about the romance or the sex? I contend that great love stories can be filled with romance and sex but they always, always leave the reader wanting to know what happens next in the hero and heroine’s lives. And if you’re like me, you’ll end up reading those books over and over again.
Hoping your 2012 is filled with great love stories…
All the best…
Mary Eason
www.maryeason.com
UNBREAKABLE - Available now at NCP