Sex scenes like written by my gynecologist

jaime · Joined: 23 Sep 2011 Posts: 358

make me prefer fade to black love scenes instead.

The new Linda Howard was pretty good but the love scenes were so ...sterile. And Howard used to write good sex scenes. Disappointing.

http://likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookReview.pl?BookReviewId=9247

Leigh · Joined: 29 May 2007 Posts: 2685

It has been a long time since I have re-read any of her books especially her early ones like Dream Man. Reading it I kept thinking, I remember her books being a lot more steamy.

I did debate back and forth between a C+ and a B- but overall I did like it, and I am interested in the next stories, so I went with a B-. What grade would you give it?

What do you think of the antagonist?
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jaime · Joined: 23 Sep 2011 Posts: 358

janet w · Joined: 11 May 2007 Posts: 363

I do think her earlier earlier books were steamier but especially some of the standalone books set in jungles or the deep South -- when the sex was angry or the couple was new to each other, I personally thought the sex was pretty clinical, even sometimes reading uncomfortably. I have 15++ Howards on my keeper shelf so it's not like I didn't like those earlier books. Just saying.

Kayne · Joined: 31 Mar 2007 Posts: 783

I really enjoyed Veil of Night by Linda Howard. I didn't see very much mentioned here about it and so it felt almost like a Hidden Treasure. It had great humor with the h being a wedding planner. I got a sample of Running Wild and decided to order it from my library. I am not so sure about her coauthored books. Her last one was a DNF for me (Blood Born).

jaime · Joined: 23 Sep 2011 Posts: 358

Death Angel, which is a fairly recent Linda Howard book has a hot sex scene right at the beginning. And Jenny Crusie has some really sexy books, like "Welcome To Temptation" and the already mentioned "Crazy For You".

But if a writer just goes "penis A fits into vagina B" - well, I personally don't find that sexy.

erika · Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Posts: 290

I've felt this way and rarely read thru sex scenes. Authors not building up sexual tension is the problem. Maybe also heroines being experienced, nothing new about having sex.

dick · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 2254

I haven't read the latest collaboration, but I rather liked "Blood Born," even though I don't usually care for paranormals. As in earlier works in whcih she used some paranormal elements, those in "Blood Born" were incorporated in such a way that a reader like me, who doesn't like the difficult to believe, could sort of slide by that element.

tuga · Joined: 09 Feb 2011 Posts: 64 Location: Europe

Tinabelle · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 853 Location: SE Wisconsin

Eliza · Joined: 21 Aug 2011 Posts: 715

Lila LeCavalier · Joined: 06 Dec 2012 Posts: 5

I really have to agree. I mean don't get me wrong, a good hot scene makes my day, but it seems like so many authors just sort of feel like they have to put in their time, give us the blow by blow {so to speak!} and there is just NO build up and NO tension at all.

I have to see some sort of growth in the characters' relationship, some sort of push/pull, or i just lose interest and wander away...
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erika · Joined: 26 Mar 2007 Posts: 290

I read Harlequin Presents and they've gone downhill since authors have been devoting pages to the sex and not building the sexual tension.
I used to love Robyn Donald's Presents, she knew how to create jump off the pages chemistry and angst now its just clinical sex and a boring story.