You know, I recall a blogger suggesting that when readers are browsing through a book, they always check out the love scenes first. I wanted to know how true this was, so when I went to my local Borders store earlier, I let the books fall open on their own.
Guess what? Every book that I let fall open, always seemed to land on a page, where the heroine and hero were doing the nasty.
Most of the books I picked up,weren’t even particularly sexy, but obviously most romance books do have sex in them at some point. dontcha just hate it when the H&H don’t get it on till page 499? What’s that about?
Now I would have understood it, if the sex scenes had been right at the beginning, but they mostly weren’t. I picked up a Rachel Gibson book, where the sex didn’t happen until well past page 150, and the book still managed to open up on that page. Huh?
Coincidence maybe? I think not. When I browse, I usually read the first couple of chapters, because to be fair, if you go beyond that, then what’s the point in buying the books, because you know what’s going to happen already. Personally, the only time I go past the first few chapters, is when I’m looking for the dirty bits. Yes, my name is Karen, and I’m a raving slut.
I love good sex scenes in my books. I love books that call a cock, a cock, and a pussy, a pussy, and I’ll happily admit to browsing through sex scenes sometimes, when trying to decide whether to buy a new-to-me author. Is that a bad thing?
If the love scenes are well written, then I’m likely to buy, if not, I’ll probably leave it on the shelf. Does that confirm every stereo-type out there about romance readers? Probably, but I’m not here to promote respect for the genre, so I couldn’t really care less.
My point is, I’m probably not alone, in fact, judging from today’s experiment. I know I’m not alone.
It bemuses me to think that there are hundreds of thousands of romance readers out there who pretend that sex in books don’t matter to them, when in reality, it’s probably what they’re secretly looking for.
This feeling is always reinforced when I stumble onto an Amazon review that denounces sex in books. I always think that the reader probably secretly loved the dirty bits, and they just don’t want to admit it.
There is a reason why erotic romance sell so well, and it isn’t just due to slutty ho-bags like yours truly.
All over the world, housewives, lawyers, stockbrokers, doctors and nurses are reading about rock hard cocks people makin’ love, and lovin’ it. A lot of them just wont admit it.
So, can any of you honestly tell me that you never purposely search for sex scenes when browsing? Like, never, ever? Seriously?
Chantal
March 6
10:44 pm
I want, need and expect sex in my romance novels.
I have only come across one where there was no sex. The Hero carried her on through bedroom door and that was it.
Pissed me righ off.
meljean brook
March 6
10:45 pm
I do. I don’t really *read* the sex scenes, but I do skim over them to see the type of language used (not a fan of the uber-flowery) the level of explicitness, and whether it’s just like every other scene I’ve ever read, or seems to have a bit of character to it.
On another note, last night I was in the grocery store and passed a middle-aged guy reading a Harlequin Presents. He was in the middle of the book, so I’m guessing that he was reading the sex scene.
Angie
March 6
10:51 pm
I don’t, seriously. Of course, I also buy most of my books off Amazon, so that precludes browsing, but when I am in the bookstore, I read the back blurb and the first few pages to see if the character voice and writing style appeal. It never even occurred to me to browse for the sexual content and I edit erotic romance!
In fact, I browsed an erotica title in the bookstore about a month ago and I only read the first few pages, didn’t even flip forward to see what the sex scenes consisted of. And I don’t have any reason to dissemble about this, since it’s no secret I read and love erotic romance 🙂
That said, I do think less and less people are interested in seeing the bedroom doors close, and I also know that I don’t want to read the Nascar Harlequin books for that reason (I read one by Pamela Britton a couple years ago and it was wayyyy too sweet for me) so just because I don’t browse to see the content of the sex scenes doesn’t mean I don’t want to see some good loving!
Jorrie Spencer
March 6
11:06 pm
I hate reading sex scenes on their own *g*
I LOVE reading within the context of the book and I want them to be well-written, rivetting and hot.
I think that you’re right, that sometimes people are pretending they don’t like to read sex when they do. But I also think some of these discussion occur when the sex in the book has been disappointing. Or when the romance has been disappointing so the sex, even if hot, was not quite what some romance readers want.
And I can enjoy books without much sex if the sexual tension is thick. I absolutely love the lead up. But maybe I’m in the minority about ST.
Meankitty Says...
March 6
11:24 pm
No, I don’t skim for the sex scenes before deciding whether to buy a book. Never, ever. Honestly. Not even before I did most of my shopping at Amazon! I like everything from sweet to erotic, too. If some people do skim a book rather, ah, vigorously in the bookstore, all I ask is that you don’t dogear it or crack the spine :).
I seem to be having some trouble posting–sorry if this rings up 2x.
Alessia Brio
March 6
11:37 pm
Y’know, I DO leaf through until I find some sex, but I do it for a different reason that titillation. I do it to see if the author’s writing style changes when they start knockin’ boots. Watch for it next time. An author’s prose will be 75% “to be” verbs until they get to the sex … then they switch over to all action verbs. The characters suck and groan and peak and stroke and nibble. I’m tempted to collect some real data on the subject.
Shiloh Walker
March 7
12:05 am
No, I don’t look for the sex scenes although I do skim the book to make sure it holds my attention past the first few pages.
If a book has bad sex scenes, though, i probably won’t pick up another book by that author. I don’t necessarily need the explicit details but I do want the sex to work within the story and the characters to remain in character, so to speak, during and after the lovin.
Shannon Stacey
March 7
12:24 am
I feel like a freak. Not only do I not read the sex scenes in the store, I don’t even open the book. I look at the cover and read the back copy. That’s it. I don’t even read the first paragraph.
Perhaps that explains the two double-stacked shelves of books I bought, then couldn’t get into. Dammit.
Kristie (J)
March 7
2:11 am
Ron used to get so annoyed with my mountain of romance books until he finally accepted the inevidable and started getting me book certificates. And I don’t know how he did it, but whenever he opened one to ‘prove his point’ because as Jorrie said – they were always out of context (although I never agreed with him anyway) he mananaged to find a sex scene. If there was only one in the whole book – he would find it instantly. I was always amazed at how he did that.
che
March 7
4:45 am
Add another one who doesn’t check out sex scenes before buying. I rely mostly on AAR and other sites for recs on new authors. Trying a new-to-me author on my own hasn’t been successful so far.
And I agree with you Karen. I’m happy when authors call a cock a cock etc. One phrase I’m so tired of reading is the juncture at her thighs. Call it a pussy for chrissakes.
Dawn
March 7
9:23 am
Y’know, I’ve never flicked through a book for the sex scenes. I just go by the blurb on the back – don’t even read the 1st chapter, though I should because I have bought some real stinkers.
Having said that I do love to read about cocks and pussies when the Hh are getting it on. I hold my head up high and freely admit that I’m a cock & pussy slut!!
And you are right Che, *juncture of her thighs* is annoying, but it is a very Harlequin Presents phrase.
Sarah McCarty
March 7
10:23 am
I think the sex scenes are so given in romance that I don’t even include any reference to them when I do a proposal to sell a series. *wry grin* I also don’t pay attention to them when I buy. My theory is if an author can write characterization, then they will write great love scenes. So I look for good characterization when I open the book.
My browsing habit (since I buy online) is to read excerpts at an author’s website. If the only thing they show me is a sex scene then I dont buy because I make an assumption, maybe an erroneous one, that that’s all they’ve got. If they have both story and love scene excerpts I’ll read the story one, and if I like it jump to the buy button. (the result of short attention span and no patience) I may come back later to the love scene because I’m now impatiently waiting on the book, (impatience begins the moment I hit the buy button*G*) but buy decisions are made off the story.
Kat O+
March 7
11:14 am
Depends on the book. If it’s an author I love, I’ll read the blurb. If it’s an author I’ve heard of, I might skim a little. If it’s a novel where the talk in blogland is about the sex, such as Passion, I’ll be looking for it. Last time I was in a bookstore, I read through the sex scenes in all the Anita Blakes on the shelf. That LKH was some riveting sex. I literally could not look away. A bit like the proverbial train wreck…
When I was younger, I used to select books by unknown authors based primarily on the sex scenes. *g*
Kat O+
March 7
11:16 am
was/writes – it’s hard to type while eating an ice cream
Dalia
March 7
11:43 am
I flip through books before I buy as well, to get a feel of the writing, and most of the time my hand rifles the book open to a sex scene.
Though I don’t go out looking for them, if they open on that page and I don’t like what I see, I won’t buy the book. I have more tolerance for a non-sexual scene that could be just ‘meh’ when I first read it while skimming in the bookstore. But sometimes there may not be more than two (three?) sex scenes in the book and if the one I came across isn’t cutting it, its likely the other one is going to be the same.
I don’t read ‘for’ the sex but I sure as hell like to read it.
Tara Marie
March 7
2:14 pm
I’ve never skimmed a book in a bookstore looking for the first sex scene or any. I read the back blurb, check out the copyright date, if it’s by an author with a large backlist and then I might (but rarely) read the first page.
The last time I was in Borders there was an old man in the trade paperback section reading the dirty parts in a bunch of ECs. Kind of creepy if you ask me–LOL.
Jane
March 7
2:45 pm
I have never, ever looked for a sex scene in a book at the bookstore. I’ve never read anything but the back cover and skim maybe the first chapter in a bookstore before deciding whether to buy or not. It never occurred to me to flip to the middle of the book because I may never make it that far if the beginning sucks ass.
Sarah McCarty
March 7
2:46 pm
I don’t mind juncture of her thighs, but the word “loins” really irks me for some reason. *G*
Sara Dennis
March 7
3:57 pm
Add me to the list of people who don’t skim for sex scenes in a bookstore. I do the front cover, back cover blurb, read a few pages thing. Sometimes I don’t even read pages if I’ve heard good recommendations for the book.
I don’t usually care about the sex at all unless it’s really good or really bad.
Darragha!
March 7
7:15 pm
Page 183!
My husband *finally* read Love’s Second Sight (my first novel–4 years old now). We now yell “Page 183!” …you know when 🙂 He liked that page.
Jackie
March 7
7:59 pm
Nope, sorry. I’ll autobuy the authors I know/love, and I’ll read the back cover copy on those I don’t. Then I buy. (And my TBR pile is taller than I am…)
Eve Vaughn
March 7
11:58 pm
Karen you British hussy! I knew there was a reason I liked you so much.
Mad
March 8
1:05 am
I can honestly say I never have. Usually, when I pick up a book, I read the first few pages of it, just to see if it’ll hold my attention. If it does, I add it to my pile, if it doesn’t, I skim through the whole first chapter but usually, when I do that, I end up not getting the book. But, I’ve noticed at BAM, and have mentioned it to my friend who works there, that lately, the new books look like books I’d get at the UBS because they’ve got several cracks in the the spine, etc. She said that she’s seen a lot of people just sitting in the store reading the books without buying them and that some even leave them hidden in different areas so they can come back and read them the next day. That completely surprises me, why not just buy the book and read it at home? Or if it’s money issues, check it out from the library? Boggles the mind. *G* But next time I’m at the bookstore, I’m going to test your theory. 🙂
Ann(ie)
March 8
1:16 am
Nope, I don’t skim for sex scenes, but I only get into a bookstore maybe twice a year now. The rest of my book purchases are ebooks or through Amazon.
Merlin
March 8
8:37 am
Hi Karen,
Sorry to interupt the flow of this thread. Just wondered who you fancy in the quarter finals ?
(They made hard work of it didn’t they ? Can’t say I enjoyed it much).
OK everybody …..carry on as normal.
Best Wishes,
M.
Karen Scott
March 8
9:47 am
Merlin, they can make as hard work of it as they like as long as they keep winning.
Far better to be still in it, than playing fantastic football and lose like Arsenal did. Booted out of three cup comps in 11 days. Shame, heheh.
Them losing yesterday just about made my day. Pity Celtic couldn’t do the job against Milan though!
Gutted about our injury worries though, at least now he’ll be forced to play Heinze.
BRING ON THE QUARTERS!
Karen Scott
March 8
9:53 am
Hmmmm, none of you check out the sex scenes? Liar, liar pants on fire!!!
Merlin
March 8
10:28 am
Lovefest ? Hmmmm….I suspect I’m getting into deep water but it’s fun and I never could resist a good wind-up as long as it doesn’t get nasty.
You havn’t told me who you’d fancy in the quarter finals.
Personally I think PSV or Roma look like the easiest options but I have a funny feeling about Milan. (There seems to be a lot of Milan in my life at the moment : don’t ask).
Incidentally I suggest we carry on talking football on my blog rather than yours in future if this is ok with you.
I have a feeling that I’m disrupting the “flow” of your blog rather more than you’re disrupting the flow of mine ; which has no flow as such !
M.
Merlin
March 8
10:44 am
Incidentally I’m involved in a similar conversation to this with a group of writer friends from the States (some of whom are familiar to you).
I think you’ll find the phrase you’re looking for is “blood gorged, throbbing member ” – not “rock hard cock” !!!!
M.
Karen Scott
March 8
3:22 pm
Merlin, there’s no such thing as disturbing the flow of conversation round here! The discussions on here are varied, and always manage to g off tangent!
As for ‘throbbing member’, I alwats get the urge to cross my legs whenever I read it in a book!
Jaye
March 8
4:07 pm
I never deliberately check for the sex scene either. If the back blurb (or online buzz) indicates the level of heat, that’s enough for me. I *do* skim for author voice though. If the author’s voice/writing style doesn’t work for me, it’s all moot anyway.
Rosie
March 8
5:46 pm
I’ve probably read more sex scenes in books I didn’t buy than those I do. A large number of books I just pick up off the shelf because I’ve already read excerpts and reviews on line and already know I want the book.
When I get enough time to really do a good browse like you I will read a couple of chapters and the back blurb.
I agree that most people buy romances assuming there will be some sex in the books depending on publisher, author, etc. Those of us who like it hot and erotic pretty much know who those authors are.
Raving slut are you? Where do I join?
SpecRom Joyce
March 8
7:26 pm
I dunno, Karen.
When I want to read a love story, hot or not, I pick up a romance.
When I am looking for a sex scene, I so for porn.
Maybe I am the only one honest enough to admit she has cinemax and can google adult tickling? hehehe.
Dylan
March 9
6:42 am
Before, I didn’t really care for the love scenes, I read them but I wasn’t all about them…but these days I’ve turned into Slutty Spice because the sluttier the book the more I want to read it…
Slutty Women Unite! haha…I want to get an ebook reader so that I can get all of my slutty books on it and read them whenever I want too!
Merlin
March 9
11:12 am
Rosie,
If you want to join the “raving slut society” please feel free to contact me at any time.
M.
Lee Goldberg
March 13
11:37 pm
“I love books that call a cock, a cock, and a pussy, a pussy…”
That’s certainly what I try to do in my DIAGNOSIS MURDER and MONK books.
Karen Scott
March 14
8:23 pm
Lee, having read a couple of your Diagnosis Murder books, I can certainly attest to that. *g*