The Big Question in the Romance genre

I feel it is time to dive into a topic that has been on my mind since the release of my book. The big question that is usually on a person's mind as soon as they hear the words romance and book.

"Is there sex in it? And if so, is it graphic?"

When asking this question, there can be a wide variety of perspectives. Some people love reading it (sign me up!). Some people don't mind it (it's fine as long as it doesn't take away from the story). And some people detest it or it makes them feel uncomfortable (I won't put any examples in the brackets, because it is okay to feel that way too).

My novel is a contemporary romance. I love reading a good romance novel, and falling in love with the characters and their life experiences. This naturally flowed into my writing and allowed for me to plan my story and tap into a part of myself that needed to be expressed. I've read a wide range of stories, and I do intend on sharing about them in future blog posts. But I feel I need to talk about that question... that one area in romance novels that might make the reader uncomfortable if they are not prepared for it, including those who know me personally.

When I was writing my story, one of the things I consistently asked myself is what makes a powerful romance. Sometimes it's the chemistry. Sometimes it's the steamy scenes. Sometimes it's the life experiences. Sometimes it's the male and/or female lead's personality. And sometimes, it is an amalgamation of some or all of these areas. When I wrote my novel, I often reflected back on my favourite love stories, and there are a huge range of different ones that demonstrate some or all of these points. Some stories are pure, some are extremely risque, and some are in between.

My novel is somewhere in between. It is not intended for readers under the age of eighteen by any means. Most of this is due to the sensitive subject matter and the sexual scenes in the book. Often the scenes get descriptive. That being said, I felt it was necessary to show sex in a beautiful way, as well as to see the bigger picture. The aim of the scenes was to show there is hope in a loving relationship after trauma, and that someone can express and/or experience love with us even in brokenness. The novel also shares how consent and compassionate validation in a relationship is key, not just communication (though that is certainly key as well). I used love and sex to show the growth and bond between two characters, and to help one of them overcome fears and struggles. If it makes readers uncomfortable, please feel free to skim or bypass those scenes. There are a lot of moments that are truly beautiful and heartwarming in this story.

The most important thing is that the experience of the story is healing for those who have ever been through pain in a relationship, and to help people further understand trauma coming into a relationship. It also helps validate that sex is okay when the time is right, and this is especially true for those that have gone through devastating, negative experiences with it.

I hope this enlightens you before reading the story, and I hope I wrote this entry with compassion in my words to those from every perspective. Sending love and joy to each and every one of you.

My heart, forever, always.

RL Morrisseau