In the last two romances I read, the “hero” kisses the girl on the nose. It was something that pulled me right out of the romance, and suspended my belief in the story and the author. I just can’t see a man kissing anything but a baby, child or puppy on the nose– certainly not a lover.
For those who enjoy romance novels, what’s your pet peeve, if any?
On the nose
“on-the-nose” is a term that refers to a response in dialogue that’s expected, like when a woman walks in on her husband in bed with another woman, and you read: “Oh my God, you’re having an affair!” That is an on-the-nose, expected response. It would be far more interesting if she said, instead, “Hey, why she wearing my garter belt?”
Pet Peeves when it comes to sex:
1. Thrust is overused. Also “hardness” and “wetness” are cop outs.
2. No means yes. Sex on a horse. Ancient beings falling in love with teenagers (happens a lot). Very experienced man who is paired with a inexperienced virgin and all of his kinks fall away because love cures him of his sexuality. Heroes who exhibit traits that point to a personality disorder or abuse. Violent tempers, possessive natures etc. Calling anything part of a female’s body a “button.”
2. Men bossing women around because they want them to be safe, or they know better. Heroine wandering off on her own, determined to prove that she can take care of herself. Spoiler, she can’t.
3: “like a sword in its sheath” should only be used in historical romances where the hero genuinely uses a sword
4. Any clenching organs. No clenching uteruses. No clenching wombs. No clenching thighs to fight off desire. No gushing fluids. That’s not sexy. A friend told me that in the last book she read, the man joked to his lover that “his orgasm erupted with such force he thought it would shoot out her ears.”
5. A man described as “sex on a stick” — ew. I don’t think “sexy man,” I think “greasy corn dog”
Thank you for visiting.
Linda K. Sienkiewicz is a writer, poet, and artist:
Multi-finalist award winning novel In the Context of Love
Picture book Gordy and the Ghost Crab
Latest poetry chapbook: Sleepwalker
Connect with Linda: LinkTree