Lynn Crandall: What's behind the pleasure of reading a romance?

Lynn Crandall, author of Secrets, explores the purpose of sex in some romance novels … and real life.

Lynn: When my first romance novel was published, the editor at the newspaper I was working for told me he was going to read it so he could review it for the paper. He asked me, "Where are the good parts?" He said it with a grin, as though of course I would know he was referring to the sex scenes. I kept my calm and answered, "The whole book is good stuff."

I've been known to get defensive about the perception that romance novels are simply words wrapped around a sex scene or two. Many types of books include sex scenes of one kind or another, not just romance novels, and not all romance novels offer sex scenes. But for many of us readers, the excitement of attraction, the tension of a developing relationship, and the intimacy of a love scene is part of the pleasure of reading a romance novel. We enjoy following the development of a relationship and learning how it overcomes blocks to affection and meaningful engagement as the hero and heroine get closer, and eventually skin to skin.

In real life, no one has to tell us that sex is a good thing. Experts do, though. Relationship expert Dr. Phil writes on his website that sex in a relationship is not to be taken lightly or considered a chore. He mentions that lovemaking promotes emotional intimacy, something that enhances meaningful engagement.

"The belief that sex is not important is a dangerous and intimacy-eroding myth. Sex provides an important time-out from the pressures of our daily lives and allows us to experience a quality level of closeness, vulnerability, and sharing with our partners," he writes.

But sometimes in reality, life gives reasons to hold back from full intimacy. It doesn't come easy to relax in the arms of a loved one for fear of something bad happening, such as rejection or shame. This holding back from meaningful affection is something I wanted to explore in my writing.

In my October release, Secrets, published by Crimson Romance, the concept of affection and intimacy elicits fear in the heroine, Michelle Slade. Raped by a fellow student five years ago in her first year of college, Michelle cringes from touch and closeness. The natural pleasure of an arm around her shoulder or a tender kiss was taken from her on that night.

Her friend Casey Mitchell, the hero, also is blocked to true intimacy. As a were-lynx, he's had the belief pounded into him since childhood that the only way to remain safe is to wall off from humans. True engagement, the kind that comes with vulnerability and is life-giving, is something he can never indulge in.

As the two work together to rescue feral cats from the machinations of powerful but malevolent businessman William Carter, their walls are challenged. Their choices take them deeper into grave danger aimed at humans and were-lynxes alike, and they must decide to trust one another or remain alone with their beliefs intact.

Here's a excerpt in which Casey struggles with blooming awareness of his longing for emotional intimacy.

Casey sat up in bed, the dream he'd been having still alive in his head. He rubbed his hand through his hair. Sweat beaded on his forehead. "Oh, my God." His heart thudded hard and fast in his chest. He glanced at the clock on his nightstand, sucking in deep breaths of air. Four in the morning. Loneliness heavied his heart.

The dream had been so real, so terrifying. So unusual.

He set his feet on the cold wood floor and sat still on the side of the bed. He took in the room, his room in his house, and sorted through the images in his dream as his body reactions calmed.

He was accustomed to dreaming as his lynx form. Dreams of running through fields with the speed and exhilaration of freedom made frequent nighttime appearances. But this, this dream made him shiver. He dropped his head in his hands and lived through it again.

He saw himself standing in his human form with Michelle in her backyard. Darkness enveloped them comfortably and above a starry, moonless sky contained their moments of shared solitude. He'd brought her warm hand to his lips, the scent of her skin heady and alluring. She'd laughed, delighted when he pretended to take a delicate nibble of her skin.

Casey balled his hands. The moment of togetherness in the dream thundered through him as he revisited what happened next.

He'd lost control. He'd done the unthinkable. He'd shimmered, right in front of Michelle, into his lynx form. Horrified, he'd stood there as his purest self and her screams echoed fiercely against his heart.

—

Romance novels have a way of moving characters through obstacles to love into finding a happy-ever-after. They also have a delightful way of infusing relationship development with the very sensual side of love. All of which is the good stuff.

Find out more about Lynn and her books at lynn-crandall.com.