The first romance novel I read was around 12 or 13. Thanks to my older sister, I had access to a lovely collection of thick and juicy historical romances with covers that usually looked something like this:
Often they featured pirates (still a favourite to this day), or devilish earls, lords, viscounts (which I mispronounced terribly), barons or marquesses. Or sometimes our heroes were highland warriors who could tame the land — but could they tame our plucky heroine?
By reading my sister’s books I discovered that “oral sex” did not actually refer to French kissing. (I recall Virginia Henley’s books being particularly instructive in such matters.) In case you’re wondering what my parents thought of my reading material, I’d always read far beyond my years and my sister and I were such good kids that they never worried we’d become sex crazed or take to the high seas to find dashing-but-dastardly pirates of our own.
As an adult I’ve discovered the joys of reading and writing gay romance, and historicals remain a soft spot. If there’s a pirate or rake involved, it’s pretty much an autobuy. There needs to be a term for the gay equivalent of a bodice ripper. “Linen-shirt ripper” doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, though, does it? 
How about you? Do you enjoy historical romances? Or do you prefer the here and now?
I do like them, yes. I did like all things historical as a teen, especially. Now I have a soft-spot for fantasy with undertones that are similar to historical romance. What are those called? Fantastical Romance?
Hmm. That’s a good question! Fantasy Romance? FaRo? Fantmance?
Oh yes!! I discovered bodice rippers at an early age and often they were handed off to me by my Mother. I loved them!!! Some favourite authors were Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, Laurie McBain, Johanna Lindsay, Rosemary Rogers (Ginny and Steve, OMG) and Jude Devereaux. I devoured their books, and many of those books are packed in boxes in this house still. Reading those novels certainly was a form of sex education for me.
I can’t remember when I stopped reading them. Possibly more than 20 years ago. I suppose because reality set in and I figured out there is no hero in real life. I still treasure the memories of curling up with such books. Also, when I was reading them voraciously, the novels would cost less than $3.00, and the trade paperbacks would be less than $10.
Yes, looking back, it seems like books were so cheap! I know it’s the cost of living that has gone up (although it doesn’t feel like our salaries have!), but I would burn through paperbacks.
Thanks for sharing your memories, Robin!
Wow your list of authors brings back a lot of memories. I was really into the historical romances which really were a lot racier back in the back in the day. The sex scenes were front and center and went on for page after page and with lots of sex before marriage. I actually gave them up because the fantasy of the feisty little female overpowered by the brutish but oh so sexy wild man and almost but not quite rape scenes lost their appeal.
Were they a lot racier than today? I would say they’re about the same, but can’t be sure. My impression as a teen of what was racy and what I find racy now is likely not the same!
There definitely was a time when the historical romances were pushing the envelope with rough, borderline rape sex, lots of anything other than the missionary position sex and you could not have a book with the obligatory oral sex scene. Also the sex scenes were long, detailed and very hot. And then over time books by the same authors seemed to pull back so I was sure it was an editorial shift. I laugh to think about what I was reading when I was 12 and 13, except for the fact that it often about same sex partners most of it less explicit with much shorter sex scenes.
I have to admit, I’ve never read too many bodice-rippers, but I more than made up for it with fanfic over the years. However, my sister and I discovered that my mother once wrote one (on a typewriter!) but never tried to get it published. I hope she still has it somewhere; it was actually quite good.
(It was about a lass kidnapped by pirates, of course.)
You should totally ask your mom if she still has the book! Lass kidnapped by pirates is a classic flavour that never goes out of style.