Just to Clarify: The purpose of this group

[Jaimey, The Other Queen]

I just want to be clear about the reasons why we (Linda and I) started this group. I suppose you could consider this a "clean" romance group. And by my (and Linda's) definition, it is definitely about clean romances. However, everyone's definition is different and ours allows for a little more detail than other clean romance groups.

For example, in the Clean Romances group (fabulous group following closely in the footsteps of Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen, which I also help moderate), mentioning breasts (in a sexual sense) is considered too much detail. Here, in this group, we don't consider it that big of a deal. Now, the detailed descriptions of genitalia, that's not accepted there or here. Goodreads has many, many groups catering to those who read and write the more detailed romances.

So why did we start this group? In my latest Regency romance, Honor, there is a love scene between the hero/heroine, after they are married, that may be just a bit warm, according to some opinions. Linda has a WIP (work-in-progress) where the hero kisses the heroine's thigh. With those reasons in mind, we started this group, simply because what we consider "clean" is different than what some others might. We wanted a place we could shelve our books here on Goodreads. And if there were two of us who felt our books might be just a little too warm for one group, yet a little too tame for another, surely there were others.

So, clear as mud, right? Questions, comments? Feel free to voice them here. :O)

[Amber]

I think your reasoning is sound. I like clean romance as well as the warmer stuff. So it's always nice to have an idea of what I'm in for before I read it. I think that taking a look at your bookshelf will be a great way of finding romance without all the "specifics".

Two clean authors I like are Deanne Gist and Betty Neels.

[Anne]

If you want clean romance with a gothic twist and historical, read "Rommany" by Florence Hurt. I had to buy a used one off Amazon and it was well worth it. It may be hard to find at a library and it was published in the 1970's, but definitely a page turner. I loved it.

[Jaimey, The Other Queen]

Anne wrote: "If you want clean romance with a gothic twist and historical, read "Rommany" by Florence Hurst. I had to but a used one off Amazon and it was well worth it. It may be hard to find at a library and ..."

Oooo, thanx, Anne! I grew up on Victoria Holt and the Zebra Gothic Romance line so clean Gothics are right up my alley. :O)

Which is another reason for this group. Some of the Zebra Gothics I've read are...wow...detailed, others are squeaky clean, and some fall somewhere in between. I consider the in between ones clean as well but I have some friends who definitely wouldn't.

And that reminds me. I need to add a few of them to the group bookshelf.

[Rinelle]

I'm wondering if my novel might fit in here? It's a sci-fi romance, and while it does make it clear that there are intimate scenes between my couple, I wouldn't describe them as "hot". They're about the emotions between the characters, not heat!

I'm finding it a struggle to find a place for my book among readers who seem to be looking for more and more erotic content in their books. I don't shy away from those sort of scenes, but I'm only going to go into detail where it shows the growth of the relationship between the characters, not just for entertainment.

But then I wonder if I don't have a bit too much detail for here? How do I know?

[Jaimey, The Other Queen]

Rinelle wrote: "I'm wondering if my novel might fit in here? It's a sci-fi romance, and while it does make it clear that there are intimate scenes between my couple, I wouldn't describe them as "hot". They're abou..."

Like I mentioned in the opening post, any description of genitalia means your book wouldn't fit on our shelf. If those descriptions are left out, then your book will probably be a perfect fit. :O)