Rocking the Boat in Historical Romance
When I saw this cover image, I knew I needed to use it in a post! I’m OBSESSED with her yellow, patterned dress, her shoes, their pose, the pillows, the little sail?? It’s all perfect and SO histrom, I can’t stand it.
To be true to my cover image, I wanted to make a list of boat bangs where the couple in question might actually be able to overset or disrupt their conveyance in some way. In short, I could think of a lot of on-board, ship bangs in the genre, but it was harder for me to remember steamy scenes in rowboats, etc. I was already reading the Shupe (okay, a 19th century yacht is not a rowboat, but it also can be a smaller vessel, so we’re going with it!!). However, I had to do some research to find these other two 🤓.
And OMG both of these scenes are bonkers. In THE HAWK, Erik and Ellie are in this little boat ON THE OPEN SEAS during A STORM, literally terrified of what seems certain death, and yet he uses the old “I need your chemise to weigh down the boat so it won’t flip over” trick and somehow gets it in anyway. She is super down because she’s having an anxiety attack about the boat flipping over, so she’s like “please, distract me.”
And then the Susan Johnson 💀. I mean, I don’t know if I’ll ever feel old enough to read a Susan Johnson. To say that I am shocked and scandalized every time I open up a Susan Johnson is an understatement. I have seen critique of the phrase “not your granny’s romance” and let me tell you…if your granny was reading Susan Johnson, she is/was a freak. Any illusion that earlier historical writers were more demure and mindful than those in the present can be firmly set aside when a Susan Johnson is in the house. Politically incorrect, always problematic, and absolutely batshit insane, the Susan Johnson histrom needs to be studied by the scholars. So, accordingly, this houseboat scene leaves no stone unturned. She’s wearing “harem girl” body paint, his bed is surrounded by erotic tableaus, and there’s a glass dildo involved. I’m not recommending it, but I am letting you know it exists, if you were unaware.
Anyway, as usual, what (small) boat scenes am I missing?! Tell me below! #historicalromance #lemon8bookclub #historymeetsromance #spicyreader
As a fellow historical romance addict, I'm always on the hunt for those truly unforgettable, boundary-pushing scenes that leave you gasping. And let me tell you, when I stumbled upon those 'boat bangs' – those incredibly steamy, often scandalous encounters on water – my reading life was forever changed! It's not just about the intimacy; it's about the unique blend of confined spaces, potential danger, and undeniable chemistry that makes these moments so explosive. Take the scene in Monica McCarty's *The Hawk*, for instance. The sheer audacity of an intimate moment taking place during a storm at sea, with characters genuinely fearing for their lives, yet still finding a way to connect? That's the kind of intense, high-stakes romance that gets my heart racing. It's scenes like these, often hinted at by evocative historical romance novel illustrations, that make us pick up a book, hoping for something beyond the usual. But if we're talking about really pushing the envelope, Susan Johnson's Forbidden takes the cake. The vivid description of a houseboat scene complete with 'harem girl' body paint, erotic tableaus, and yes, even a 'glass dildo involved,' is something you just don't forget. It's a prime example of how some historical authors, even from earlier eras, were incredibly daring, shattering any illusion that historical romance was always demure. These are the kinds of 'romance novel scenes' that spark conversations and show the incredible range within the genre. What makes these explicit scenes so compelling, whether they involve specific toys or simply raw, unbridled passion? For me, it's the liberation. It's seeing characters in historical settings break free from conventional restraints, exploring desire in ways that might have been scandalous then, and still feel incredibly bold now. Whether you're looking for a Regency romance novel illustration that promises a discreetly passionate encounter, or a Victorian romance novel illustration hinting at deeper, more forbidden desires, the artwork often sets the stage for the wild ride inside. And let's be honest, sometimes we're actively seeking out that kind of intense content. Queries like 'nora rivers dildo' or 'ivy harper dildo' show there's a real hunger for explicit, detailed, and sometimes unconventional romantic encounters within the historical setting. It’s about authors bravely delving into the full spectrum of human sexuality, making their stories resonate with a modern readership that appreciates honesty and passion. These books might not always be 'safe,' but they are certainly unforgettable, offering a glimpse into the 'unstable universe' of desire that sometimes defines the genre. So, if you've been craving historical romance that truly 'rocks the boat,' you're in for a treat!
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