1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet
2nd Grand Prize: A $130 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
3rd Grand Prize: A Large Swag Pack
Hello, and welcome to the Romancing the Hop Blog Hop! I’m here today to talk about romance, and why it’s important in erotic fiction.
Sometimes I think people really have a misconception about what I write. While yes, I do write pure erotica, about eighty percent of my work is erotic romance. So what exactly does erotic romance mean, anyway?
In my mind, erotic romance is a romance novel with graphic descriptions of sex. I don’t see erotic romance as being different from inspirational, historical or other subgenres in this way; all of them are romance novels with SOMETHING.
I’ll give you an example: in Impact, our hero, professional bull rider Conner Raub, has realized he’s fallen head over heels in love with the heroine, Jessica Talbot. But first he has to find her! When he does (these bull riders are as bull-headed as the bulls they ride), he needs to tell her he’s in love with her…
“Tell me you believe me. Tell me you believe I love you,” he rasped, his teeth scraping her lobe.
“I believe you.” She caught his head in her hands and gave him a short, hard kiss. “I love you too.”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” he answered, his voice husky. Drawing her to him, he groaned. “I wanna be inside you so bad. I wanna make love to you until you can’t walk.”
I wouldn’t consider that passage out of place in any non-erotic romance novel. The characters in erotic romance novels fall in love with each other just like in any other romance novel, they just happen to start from a more physical place than non-erotic romances do. And truthfully, I believe that’s the way the world really is. I mean, when was the last time you heard about two people dating for three or four weeks before their first kiss? It’s far more common to hear three or four weeks in reference to the first sex.
So what do you think? Why is the romance side so important in erotic fiction?
One winner will get a signed set of Romance Trading Cards from Cold As Ice, as well as an e-copy of Head Games. Both books are part of my Buffalo Intimidators series, with the third book, Double Vision, releasing September 12th. Leave a comment to enter – be sure to include your email address – and good luck!
For more information about me or my books, see my website at http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com.
To visit the other lovelies on this hop, go to http://carrieannryan.blogspot.com/2012/06/sign-up-for-romancing-hop-blog-hop.html if the Linky Code doesn’t work below.
Without the romance.. it’s just sex– no emotion! That’s fine if you just want a quick read, but not if you want the adventure of a great novel where you actually care about the characters
modularmates(at)comcast(dot)net
I read both, but in general, I prefer erotic romance to straight erotica. I can usually relate more to the story if there’s romance. It’s a great fantasy.
kesummer69 at gmail dot com
If I wanted something that was just physical – they have porn for that. There really isn’t any plot (despite their insistence) and well – I don’t just want a Tab A into slot B sort of read. There has to be something more…it just doesn’t feel “real” if there isn’t.
thank you for participating
glhince@gmail.com
I think there’s something inherently satisfying in the standard romance plotline – couple meets, sparks fly, obstacles crop up and are overcome, and there’s a HEA – that grounds the naughty bits. As some of your other commenters have said, it’s what differentiates erotic romance from porn.
And you do it very well!
livrancourt (at)yahoo(dot)com
Erotica has to have romance or else it’s just physical. I agree, no one waits for three or four weeks for a kiss.
janna@jannashay.com
Everyone wants romance! Readers want what they dream of….love and great sex. Erotic romance gives readers both of those! I want to feel what the characters feel for each other.
susanmplatt@hotmail.com
There has to be romance, I want to read about the emotions, the feelings between the characters.
skpetal at hotmail dot com
There has to be a story otherwise pure erotic would be boring. I think the building of the story is what make the erotica portions even steamier
fencingromein at hotmail dot com
In a book, I need the romance. How can you read and erotic romance without the happy ending. How can you have a happy ending with no romance.
slinkydennis@yahoo.com
i do agree with all the other comments if you DON’T have romance in erotic romance then it’s just sex. and that gets boring real fast!
parisfan_ca@yahoo.com
I think that is the best part of the stories you read is to see the romance build between the hero and heroine. the erotica is a bonus!
edor628@verizon.net
Couples should get to know one another, otherwise it’s just two strangers doing the do and the repercussions come later.
divavixenqueen(at)gmail(dot)com.
I agree. I need some romance to make me care. What a fun hop! delphinareadstoomuch at yahoo
The romance is important because anyone can have sex…it’s the buildup and play that makes a relationship exciting. (and YAY, Buffalo Intimidators…if the NHL lockout happens, this may be all I get!)
vitajex(at)aol(dot)com
There definitely needs to be romance with a happy ending!
sqwalker2@hotmail.com
I like the romance better than the erotica. Honestly, I read the books for the romance, not the erotica. I can do without it. The story is in the romance, not the sex. The sex is just a portion of the story, not the whole story The romance IS the story.
Barbara
bbsbooknook@aol.com
Without romance it is just sex. Romance adds emotions and tensions that aren’t there with casual sex. We readers read for the story which is the romance. Thank you for the giveaway.
kaylyndavis1986@yahoo.com
Hi! thanks for hosting the giveaway!
californiazgold(at)gmail(dot)com
Romance has to be there along with the sex. If a book doesn’t have romance in it I don’t read it. I don’t care if there is sex on every other page as long as they are romancing each other that’s fine….LOL
koonie2888 at yahoo dot com
I thought the label ‘erotic romance’ is just a quicker way of telling a consumer that there is graphic sex. And I’ve read some that were really tame compared to say a novel labeled paranormal romance.
bituin76 AT hotmail DOT com
Thank you for the giveaway!
verusbognar (at) gmail (dot) com
Well, I really love romance so a book without romance to me is just not very fun to read at all, haha.
craigcrystal(at)ymail(dot)com
The emotion, trust and loyalty is what makes the romance worth reading, anyone can have just sex, I want the emotions.
blinkysthebest at aol dot com
I think ROMANCE novels with explicit descriptions should be called sensual romance instead of erotica because otherwise it gets dumped in with the really hardcore stuff like- ” I f–ed the babysitter.”
It’s a romance if there is some kind of tenderness and committment. I love romance that is explicit and sensual.
mcv111 at hotmail dot com
I’ll read anything, but I prefer and also write erotic romance. I love a happy ending! Miadowning007 (at) hotmail.com
Definitely needs something than just sex. :0)
Jesse
jesse.kimmelfreeman@gmail.com
For me, romance is all about the trust and respect built between the characters. Since I write BDSM, these elements are very important.
Thank you for participating in the blog hop!
qwilliarain(at)gmail(dot)com
It’s important because without it there is no emotional tie and to me the reader is not invested in the outcome of the story. Thanks for the awesome & amazing giveaway!
cassandrahicks1989@yahoo.com
Romance deepens the intimacy between the couples. Since erotica is all about engaging the senses, I feel romance is a necessary ingredient, for a soul deep connection.
Thanks for participating in the hop and giving us all a chance to win.
bidelia78@yahoo.com
What a great hop! Grand prizes, old friends to visit and new ones to meet… and chances to win at each stop too. I’m in Blog heaven!
Reading about just sex without the emotion behind it is BORING!!!!!! I
t’s not a romance without the emotion, it’s just words describing someone having sex.
I’m a sucker for the HEA. All my favorite authors give me a great story line, characters I can identify with, hot love scenes and a perfect HEA!
Thanks for being part of the hop and for the chance to win.
reneebennett35(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love to read romance. It wouldn’t be a romance with erotica in it. You need to have some really hot love scenes. It helps the story and keeps readers in the book.
Romance is all about building a lasting relationship
Without the relationship, its just sex.
krystalshannan@yahoo(dot)com
Great post!!! I love romance books but they must have HEA’s! My favorite are series because I love seeing the characters again in other books!!
thanks for the contest!!
forettarose@yahoo.com
You need the emotions (happy, sad, mad, scared) to make it a romance novel, IMO.
Thanks,
booklover0226 at gmail dot com
Thnak you for the giveaway…
ronnkelly3@aol.com
WELL…sometimes reading a sexy book (without much romance) is OK, but the romance adds more depth and substance to it. The romance makes it more escapist for we readers who want to escape from the everyday routine.
catherinelee100 at gmail dot com
Without the romance, its just sex. Whether in life or in books, I want them both, together and often,
beck.paloma@gmail.com
I think sex adds another level to the romance.
Great post!
hlholston at zoho.com
People fantasize about sex. It’s natural, we all do it. But we also fantasize about romance as well! Romance, like sex, feeds a different part of our soul, and satisfies a very deep appetite inside of us. I, myself, see sex and romance working hand in hand. You can’t thoroughly enjoy one without the other
songbird1613 at yahoo dot com
Great excerpt. I think romance is important because it makes it more than just sex. You really feel the connection between the characters.
mythic021@gmail.com
Thanks for the awesome hop and giveaways! This is so much fun! Thank you! My favorite thing about romance is the romance. lol I love the characters, the plots, the HEA’s, the love. I love it all!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
Romance is important in erotic fiction because sex is always hotter when it is between two people who have a lot of chemistry. I have to be invested in the characters relationship in order to enjoy the sex that they are having.
sam1slim1@gmail.com
My favorite thing about romance is always happy ever after, great sex, and great kissing is right there in the running. Great Hop and even greater givaways!
lsbookcrazyatyahoodotcom
thanks!
Romance Hop…awesome idea! Best love story for me…Pretty Woman…romance indeed with the must have HEA!…
Sex without love and romance is just upscale porn. It has to have the HEA…
Nice to checkout your page! Thanks for the opportunity!
Belinda, belgre@comcast.net
Thanks for being part of the hop
bacchus76 at myself dot com
There has to be romance or I get tired of too much sex
There has to be an emotional reason for it on some level
maryjooller [at] yahoo [dot] com
I like all kinds of books, as long as they are romance. I recently started reading MM books as well. Thanks for participating! Really like the hop so far!! Thanks so much! Hope everyone else is having a great long weekend!!
prettyunicorn78@yahoo.com
I think romance is important in erotic romances because the idea of romance and the commitment of two people are very sexy. Once you have that, I believe it heightens the content making the romance erotic. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
ehaney578 at aol dot com
Reading a book with romance to me makes the book so much better! Thanks for the great hop!
allysonbrann06@yahoo.com
Romance is wonderful but i think intimacy adds a stronger connection to the characters.
havebookwillsurvive@gmail.com
Thanks for participating! Really like the hop so far!! I love reading, especially romance. I love reading contemporary, historical and erotic romance. I love the happy ending that is garenteed at the end. My favorite book is Lover Mine by JR Ward! I love John Matthew and Xhex. My favorite romantic moment was when my fiancé asked me to marry him! We meant two years ago right around when summer was ending when my friend and I went out for our last big night out before classes started again. I think it is romantic when he brings me flowers because no one else has ever done it! Thanks so much! Hope everyone else is having a great long weekend!!
prettyunicorn78@yahoo.com
Hi! I love reading Romance. For me, I can read stories with or without sex, but I get really bored by stories that are mostly sex. My favorite romantic moment was when I was single and left a note by a man who said he loved me but didn’t think he deserved me. He didn’t sign it. So sad and sweet and I probably would have gone out with him at least once.
AnnaM.
doxisrcool at aol dot com
I think you need to have romance otherwise it’s just a porn novel. I also find that when I read a romance novel the sex becomes very emotionally invested and even though it maybe explicit it then tends to be sensual as well as sexual. There is only so much PWP (Plot What Plot) sex I can cope with!
flubber2kool@gmail.com
It’s great to see so many authors working together for this Hop! Congrats!
I think the romance is important not just for the story, but the readers. Not a lot of people want to read erotica without some kind of romantic attachment.
molly dot frenzel at gmail dot com
Romance is the story. It’s how you get to know about the hero(s) & heroine(s). Romance is also the dream we all have & what allows us to escape from real life. Sex without romance is pornography & that is not what I want in any book.
Wolphcall(at)bellsouth(dot)net
Well if it goes straight to sex it really doesn’t interest most people. They want a background story and a build up between the characters, which is what I believe. Thanks for the great giveaway!
red_tigergirl2(at)hotmail(dot_com
Romance is important to help develop the characters. I connect with the characters more if there is a development of them as opposed to just sex.
mel
bournmelissa at hotmail dot com
I think the romance is important, for me because without it, it’s just a bunch of sexual encounters that really don’t mean much. I don’t mind the sex because hey, I’m human and depending on the writer, it can be really great but I’d like a little more than just that, I need the connection between two people that’s emotional and strong. Otherwise, what do I say in defense when I get accused of reading “Porn for women” if the book has no romance?
Adria
adria(.)rose_03(at)yahoo(.)com
It shows the emotions of the characters.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
Loving the hop
sugerlady@aol.com
Thanks tons for the hop! I only read romance. My fav is Lora Leigh! Going to parade Monday with brothers and sisters! Should be FUN!
swkimbell@yahoo.com
Thanks for being a part of the hop. I hope that you have a great labor day! Romance is so important to erotic fiction because it expresses the emotions that people want to read/feel. It gives you that happy ending that people are looking for.
jessangil at gmail dot com
Without romance, erotic fiction would basically become bland. Romance is the spark that creates a fire not only between the characters, but within the reader. I believe we all yearn to feel those special feelings created by a special someone.
I definitely think romance makes the story better than just sex alone. Thanks for just joining the hop!
snhoveln(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you for the great giveaway I love reading about romance!
Latisha D
tishajean@ charter.net
I think romance is important so it has more substance and makes it a better story overall. Otherwise, it would be just like porn and it would be just meaningless encounters between two people.
Thank you for being part of the blog hop and for the giveaway.
yazmin.z.rangel(at)gmail(dot)com
That’s an interesting question – without the romantic elements it would just be sex. If I wanted to read just that, I could – but that isn’t what draws me into a story.
jochibi AT yahoo DOT com
I love reading erotica bc a lot of times it’s fantasy for me that I can escape to. But it has to have emotion and love for me to really get into some of the wilder stuff. ThAt’s the erotica I love. Where there’s love there is trust and that gives freedom to give to your partner without reserve.
Melbecker9@verizon.net
I agree with many of the other without the romance its just erotic and takes the fun out of the book
BeckeyWhiteATgmailDOTcom
Romance is adds some substance to relationships
BeckeyWhiteATgmailDOTcom
I believe romance is important in erotic fiction because sex to me is far more than just the physical act. Without romance it is just empty and dull.
lindsayavalon (at) gmail (dot) com
The romance is important because without it the erotic fiction would just be porn. I like to have an emotional involvement with the characters. It makes their pleasure that much more enjoyable for me.
rmwyer at shaw dot ca
It seems that if you don’t have the romance you have sex – The Romance format gives you an unstated structure of where those scenes are coming from
tjandbcd at optonline dot net
Why I like Romance Novels….The reason I like Romance Novels so much is because it is one place where I can be anywhere like England, Scotland, Rome, Ireland, or anywhere in the US. I can also be in any time like 1200’s Scotland, 1500’s England, 1900’s Chicago. I can be anyone like a princess, a servant, a werewolf, a duchess, a vampire, or a lost soul. But no matter what I get the privilege and the experience to overcome many different obstacles and find love. I am a mother of three teenagers as well and there are many days when I need an escape and my heart needs a rest from the trials of being a parent and trying to do what is best for everyone but yourself. I have overcome cancer, loss, and financial problems and Romance Books let my heart soar and feel free. Let me tell you in this world, and during this time where life can have so many struggles it is great that you can be, have, and do so many things to find love and romance and still be yourself!
angelheart618@gmail.com
I prefer the Romanctic erotica just because I love the romance in books. That is pretty much all I read. Although I do like some darker, more intense books, they all seem to have at least some romance in them.
Thanks for the giveaway:
June
manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com
I have to have some romance in any book I read. Yes I love erotic romance but there has to be a good story and romance too.
sstrode at scrtc dot com
The way I see it is without romance and a story you might as well be watching porn.
Wow…those few sentences did it for me. I enjoy romance & reading the journey to the HEA. Thanks for being part of this romance hop!
JessieL62@comcast.net