Steamy romance

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[edit] Steamy Romance

Refers to the level of graphic sex in a romance. Pianka listed three levels of sex in romances, but these days, we can list four:

The steamy romance is the norm today. The h/h have sex, or at least very sexy encounters, from fairly early on in the book, with or without marriage, and described in detail, though in slightly veiled language. The 1980s rule was "by chapter three," but fortunately this is no longer the case. However, if you can manage that without violating the characters, it won't hurt!

The coding of language is slowly thinning, as readers grow used to the straight-forward language of erotic romances. However, some observers say this may be the death-knell of the steamy romance, as readers who want sexy sex go to the erotic romances, while those who used to skim the sex scenes return to the spicy romance when they can find it.