This is graphic. Reader discretion is advised.
A conversation between my sister and me this morning:
J: "Um, have you ever read a non-christian romance?"
Me: "Yes, yes I have. Why?"
J: "Um, because I just read my first ever 'mystery romance' and it had quite a few sex scenes and I was shocked. I'm wondering if they're all like that or did I pick up a porno?"
After inquiring what she had read and then reading an excerpt from the book, I regretfully had to inform her that all romance novels were written that way.
The leap from Christian romance to regular romance can be quite jarring. Thank the Lord she didn't pick up an "erotic novel." That stuff is whack.
I remember going to a seminar for our homeschool group when I was in my early teens and hearing about romance novels. They were a big "no-no" for two reasons: One, the obvious sexual content and two, that reading a romance novel will breed discontent in a relationship by causing you to expect things that won't necessarily happen.
Now, initially you could say the latter is a legitimate worry. But you will find that what happens in the book can happen in your relationship. You just need to know the language of romance.
Here's a few lines from a romance and what they actually mean.
"He felt weak and brutal all at the same time, desire pumping through him."
He's turned on and wants to procreate.
"He had to have her or die."
Ok, seriously, this guy is horny. And dramatic.
"Pulling her against him, he kissed her."
That one explains itself.
"She yielded completely, offering her body."
She gave up on trying to get any more sleep and just goes with it.
"She pulled him closer, as he took her with blunt, insistent pressure."
Might as well get it over with. He's already knocking at the door.
"He thrust into the luscious heat."
His penis has now entered her vagina.
"The rapture was severe, absolute. He made no effort to prolong it."
Two minutes in heaven is better than one minute in heaven.
You see? If you've ever had sex, you've enacted every naughty scene in a romance novel. If you haven't, well...doesn't it sound like fun written out in plain english?
Bonus: Anatomically correct terms are never used in classic romance. Instead you will read words like "member" "length" or "rigid length" "hardness" "instrument" "manhood" for a guy parts and words like "silk" "wetness" "heat" (with or without the words "luscious" "wet" "silk" "smooth" or "the" before it) "sex" "essence" for lady parts.
Hope that was helpful. You're welcome.
