When Is a Sex Scene Satisfying......
Oddly enough, it’s not the sex.
Many, if not most, of us who enjoy erotic romance become fidgety and irritated at books where there is page-to-page sex scenes. The couple does it in the bedroom, the bath, the pool, in restaurants, back alleys and everywhere else they can. They bump-and-grind so much, we start to glaze over.
Then, there are those erotic romances where the couples connect and bond. You know they’re going to fall in love even if they’re not certain of it. You root for them. You keep urging the guy, “Come on! Tell her how you feel!” You’re begging the woman to open her heart to him.
Before an author’s characters slip beneath the sheets the first time—even if it’s in chapter one—there needs to be some kind of an emotional connection between them. Something that goes beyond simple lust. Perhaps they laughed together. Maybe the heroine saw the hero’s pain when a certain subject was brought up. As a reader, you feel their attraction and growing bond. Suddenly, you want them to get closer. When they do, sparks fly. Because great sex begins in the mind.
In my latest release Losing Control, Book Two in my Appointment with Pleasure series, I wanted to convey the intense sexual attraction Catherine and Tim have for each other. More importantly, I wanted to show that it went deeper…during their first meeting they touched each other’s souls. Here’s the blurb and an excerpt to give you a taste of their story.
Many, if not most, of us who enjoy erotic romance become fidgety and irritated at books where there is page-to-page sex scenes. The couple does it in the bedroom, the bath, the pool, in restaurants, back alleys and everywhere else they can. They bump-and-grind so much, we start to glaze over.
Then, there are those erotic romances where the couples connect and bond. You know they’re going to fall in love even if they’re not certain of it. You root for them. You keep urging the guy, “Come on! Tell her how you feel!” You’re begging the woman to open her heart to him.
Before an author’s characters slip beneath the sheets the first time—even if it’s in chapter one—there needs to be some kind of an emotional connection between them. Something that goes beyond simple lust. Perhaps they laughed together. Maybe the heroine saw the hero’s pain when a certain subject was brought up. As a reader, you feel their attraction and growing bond. Suddenly, you want them to get closer. When they do, sparks fly. Because great sex begins in the mind.
In my latest release Losing Control, Book Two in my Appointment with Pleasure series, I wanted to convey the intense sexual attraction Catherine and Tim have for each other. More importantly, I wanted to show that it went deeper…during their first meeting they touched each other’s souls. Here’s the blurb and an excerpt to give you a taste of their story.
She wasn’t supposed to hunger for him. Tim Bellamy was off-limits to Catherine, a high-priced call girl with an uneasy past. Indulging in his raw desire shouldn’t have happened, especially at a District party attended by the nation’s elite. Tim doesn’t know she works for the agency. If he did… That’s not something Catherine wants to confess. Drowning in his strength and heat, aching to see him again, she keeps her secret.
From old wealth, Tim has never met anyone quite like Catherine. Exotic, elegant, earthy, she’s the best of all worlds. Their evenings are sensual delights where voyeurism, bondage and a growing bond satisfy carnal needs and stir something deep within…until he stumbles upon the truth.
Shaken by her lies, Tim needs to prove the depth of Catherine’s lust and yearning once and for all. For him, their erotic adventure has only begun…
EXCERPT:
Catherine’s skin tingled at his welcomed touch. Heat shot to her chest and throat. She cleared it. “You surprise me.”
“I do?” His eyebrows rose in seeming shock, while his expression registered delight. “Why?”
He was part of this world, wealthy beyond belief, indulged since day one according to his dossier and Alexa, and yet so damn easy to like. Not that Catherine would be stupid enough to say any of that. “I thought this party was for uptight right-wingers. The morality patrol, family first and all that.” She thought of the heathens upstairs and continued to tease, “Don’t tell me you’re not for apple pie, virginal mothers and father-knows-best dads.”
Something flickered across his face, unexpected, unreadable. Releasing her hand, Tim quickly finished his drink and studied the glass as he chuckled. “Not since I got back from Paris.”
She’d hit a nerve and hadn’t a clue why. The change in his manner from playful to sarcastic, almost wounded, touched her. No matter his lineage or vast wealth, someone over there must have hurt him badly. A woman?
Who else?
Probably someone his family hadn’t liked and somehow forced him to break ties with.
Catherine wondered why Alexa hadn’t said anything about that. Maybe she didn’t know. If she had, she wouldn’t have considered Tim shallow or arrogant. A world of pain flickered across his face before he pushed it away and became the man Alexa had warned her about…almost too self-assured, impenetrable.
Hungry to know the real Tim Bellamy, an injured soul beneath his effortless charm, Catherine rested her hand on his.
His face colored with what looked to be embarrassment. He searched the room. For the server? Another drink? Fortification against his feelings?
Catherine didn’t want him anesthetized. Suddenly…heedlessly…she needed him vulnerable to her alone, forgetting that other woman, seeing only her. “Have you eaten?” she asked.
He studied her. A measure of surprise at her concern and a great deal of feral heat transformed his expression, replacing his previous gloom. “No. You?”
“I will now.” She went around him, deliberately brushing his arm, and headed for the buffet. Even though it was foolish of her to want it, she hoped he’d follow.
He did.
Inwardly, Catherine smiled at his continued pursuit of her, eager for them to flirt again. She’d had so few chances to simply be a woman guided by her heart and reckless desire, rather than seeking momentary pleasure and the money she had to earn.
Leaving her wine glass on a side table, she went to the appetizers and selected the smoked trout terrine with apple. Turning to Tim, she murmured, “Open up.”
On her soft directive, she slipped her free hand beneath his chin and brought the treat to his mouth. Playfully, she ran the food across his lips.
He stared as though she were the hors d’oeuvres, what he really wanted to taste and enjoy. Her body softened beneath his intense scrutiny. The pleasantly toasty room seemed ungodly hot now, what little she wore restrictive.
Tim wrapped his fingers around her wrist, his hand warm, his strength gentle. Because they were in public? Damn right. She sensed he’d be demanding behind closed doors, pinning her with his weight. His mouth, hands, cock taking what he wanted, insisting upon all she could give while he indulged, losing control.
“I do?” His eyebrows rose in seeming shock, while his expression registered delight. “Why?”
He was part of this world, wealthy beyond belief, indulged since day one according to his dossier and Alexa, and yet so damn easy to like. Not that Catherine would be stupid enough to say any of that. “I thought this party was for uptight right-wingers. The morality patrol, family first and all that.” She thought of the heathens upstairs and continued to tease, “Don’t tell me you’re not for apple pie, virginal mothers and father-knows-best dads.”
Something flickered across his face, unexpected, unreadable. Releasing her hand, Tim quickly finished his drink and studied the glass as he chuckled. “Not since I got back from Paris.”
She’d hit a nerve and hadn’t a clue why. The change in his manner from playful to sarcastic, almost wounded, touched her. No matter his lineage or vast wealth, someone over there must have hurt him badly. A woman?
Who else?
Probably someone his family hadn’t liked and somehow forced him to break ties with.
Catherine wondered why Alexa hadn’t said anything about that. Maybe she didn’t know. If she had, she wouldn’t have considered Tim shallow or arrogant. A world of pain flickered across his face before he pushed it away and became the man Alexa had warned her about…almost too self-assured, impenetrable.
Hungry to know the real Tim Bellamy, an injured soul beneath his effortless charm, Catherine rested her hand on his.
His face colored with what looked to be embarrassment. He searched the room. For the server? Another drink? Fortification against his feelings?
Catherine didn’t want him anesthetized. Suddenly…heedlessly…she needed him vulnerable to her alone, forgetting that other woman, seeing only her. “Have you eaten?” she asked.
He studied her. A measure of surprise at her concern and a great deal of feral heat transformed his expression, replacing his previous gloom. “No. You?”
“I will now.” She went around him, deliberately brushing his arm, and headed for the buffet. Even though it was foolish of her to want it, she hoped he’d follow.
He did.
Inwardly, Catherine smiled at his continued pursuit of her, eager for them to flirt again. She’d had so few chances to simply be a woman guided by her heart and reckless desire, rather than seeking momentary pleasure and the money she had to earn.
Leaving her wine glass on a side table, she went to the appetizers and selected the smoked trout terrine with apple. Turning to Tim, she murmured, “Open up.”
On her soft directive, she slipped her free hand beneath his chin and brought the treat to his mouth. Playfully, she ran the food across his lips.
He stared as though she were the hors d’oeuvres, what he really wanted to taste and enjoy. Her body softened beneath his intense scrutiny. The pleasantly toasty room seemed ungodly hot now, what little she wore restrictive.
Tim wrapped his fingers around her wrist, his hand warm, his strength gentle. Because they were in public? Damn right. She sensed he’d be demanding behind closed doors, pinning her with his weight. His mouth, hands, cock taking what he wanted, insisting upon all she could give while he indulged, losing control.
BUY here.
AUTHOR INFO:
Tina Donahue is an award-winning, bestselling novelist in erotic, paranormal, contemporary and historical romance for Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, and Kensington. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. Three of her erotic romances (Adored, Lush Velvet Nights, and Deep, Dark, Delicious) were named finalists in the 2011 EPIC competition. The French review site, Blue Moon reviews, chose her erotic romanceSensual Stranger as their Book of the Year 2010 (erotic category). The Golden Nib Award at Miz Love Loves Books was created specifically for Lush Velvet Nights, and two of her titles (The Yearning and Deep, Dark, Delicious) received an Award of Merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competition (2011 and 2012). Take Me Away and Adored both won second place in the NEC RWA contest (different years). Tina is featured in the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. She was the editor of an award–winning Midwestern newspaper and worked in Story Direction for a Hollywood production company.
Email: tina@tinadonahue.com
Website/blog: www.tinadonahue.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/
Pinterest: http://pinterest.
**********GIVEAWAY**********
To celebrate the release of Losing Control, I’m offering a contest.
I’ll choose THREE winners (at random) from those who comment and leave their email addy on the various sites during the tour. The more you comment, the greater your chances of winning one of my backlist ebooks from this list:
Adored – RWA award-winning; EPIC 2011 Finalist; 4 Stars RT
Deep, Dark, Delicious – EPIC 2011 Finalist; Holt Medallion Award of Merit
Lush Velvet Nights – EPIC 2011 Finalist; Golden Nib Award
In His Arms – SIX 5 Star Reviews; 4 Stars RT
Sensual Stranger – 2010 Book of the Year (erotic); 4 Stars RT
The Yearning – Top Ten Bestseller
Take Me Away - #1 Pick, Miz Love Loves Books
Unending Desire – Best Book Rating LASR
SiNN – Nominated for Book of the Week LASR
Sinfully Wicked – Magnificent – Romancing the Book
*ENDS AT 11:59 PM CST ON 1/18.
*ENDS AT 11:59 PM CST ON 1/18.
Thanks for hosting me today! :)
ReplyDeleteThank YOU for being here! The new release sounds wonderful and I look forward to whatever else you'll be releasing this year!
DeleteThat's pretty much what I think too, Tina. Even in a sexy short, there has to be chemistry or some kind of connection between the characters to really make any sex scene, no matter how tame or racy, pop.
ReplyDeleteacm05atjuno.com
Hey, Anne - that's so true. The deeper the emotional build between the characters, the richer the romance and the sex. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for dropping by!
you are so right; I love the build up, sex scene after sex scene is boring and believe it or not it is no interesting,
ReplyDeletevera28546 at yahoo (dot) com
Hey, Vera! I love the build up too - thanks for dropping by! :)
DeleteThanks for the excerpt and the great giveaway! :)
ReplyDelete-Amber
amberlynn1231@yahoo.com
Thanks for dropping by, Amber!
ReplyDeleteI love how you put that, erotic stories aren't about the sex but the bond that's created.
ReplyDeleteJanice~
Thanks, Janice! Without that emotional connection there is no story, IMO. Thanks so much for dropping by! :)
DeleteTina, you've really hit it on the head re: what makes erotic romance interesting. It's not "tab A fits in slot B" but rather what makes the hero and heroine care about each other, and what makes them scared of admitting this. Great post.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lena! I definitely know what works for me as a reader. :)
DeleteGreat post, Tina. Yes, great sex begins in the mind. Your latest book sounds hot!
ReplyDeleteLisa
Thanks, Lisa! Losing Control is one of the sexiest and most romantic books I've written. Thanks so much for dropping by. :)
DeleteI love reading your books. I cant wait to read this one.
ReplyDeletelauratroxelatyahoodotcom
Thanks, Laura! Wonderful seeing you here. :)
Deletewonderful excerpt...sounds like another great read! Congratulations on the new release!
ReplyDeleteivegotmail8889(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks, pc! Always wonderful to see you. Thanks so much for stopping by! :)
DeleteThanks everyone for stopping by. I've now chosen my winner (at random - there's a winner at each stop BTW). The winner at this stop is Anne - yay, Anne! I'll be contacting you shortly about your prize. :)
ReplyDelete