Gee, I hope I haven’t blogged about this already. I’ve talked about it enough and it gets kind of blurry in my brain as to what I’ve gabbed over and what I’ve blogged over. So, here we go…
How soon is too soon for a sex scene? When you read a book do you like for the story and relationship to build up to the sex scenes with lots of conflict and sparing and stuff getting in the way and some of those almost sex scenes that never quite get there? Do you think there has to be more of the story unfold before the h and h do the deed?
Have you ever read a book that opens with a sex scene and thought…this would never happen in real life. Then you threw the book across the room. Or you thought…you slut! Not a good way to present your heroine. And does the double standard apply in that when you see the hero too soon in bed you think of him as a male slut or just a guy doing what guys do. ‘Course this is before he connects with the heroine. Any hero that fools around on the heroine is not really a hero, is he?
I have two anthologies coming out and both of my stories open…or are very close to the opening…with a sex scene. In I’m Your Santa I wanted to see if I could pull it off and make it work as something new and a different way for me to open a book, and in The Morgue the Merrier it just kind of happened. And, surprise, surprise, I liked doing it.
But do you?
And then there’s the other extreme. How do you feel about the one big sex scene being the last scene? Can you wait that long for the h and h to get together? I’ve read books where this happens and I feel cheated. I want to know how the relationship progresses after they hit the sack. Okay, in historicals it’s sometimes different. I just saw Pride and Prejudice for the millionth time and the kiss at the end is very satisfying indeed!
So how do you weigh in on this? Opening sex scent too soon? End sex scene too late?
And if you join in the discussion I’ll pick a name from the participants and give away a tote with a copy of Star Quality, an anthology with Lori Foster, Lucy Monroe and me.
Hugs, Dianne Castell
PS—excerpts from I’m Your Santa and The Morgue the Merrier are on my website at DianneCastell.com
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Personally I don’t mind a book opening with a sex scene. And I also don’t mind waiting for the big sex scene at the end either. The only real trouble I have with books sometimes is when an author does not do things differently to mix it up in different intimate scenes. You know what I mean? Using the same material without throwing in a few different things. I like when an author mixes things up. One scene being passionate..another with the H and H perhaps using their mouths more..and possibly another where they play with tying the heroine’s hands up, covering her eyes or even use an ice cube. The throwing in of something different in the scene can make alot of difference sometimes. Just my opinion though.
by April
on June 21st, 2007 at 8:22 am
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I like for the sex and the story to build up most of the time before the actual sex scene takes place. Intimacy and flirting can take place before. I don’t believe I’ve read a book where the book starts with a sex scene. I’m okay with the one big sex scene being at the last. That would be the culmination of the h/h getting to know each other and falling in love.
by RobynL
on June 21st, 2007 at 10:03 am
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I’ve read a couple of books that started with sex and I thought they were great(Passion and Promises Keep come to mind). 
In some books the relationship developes as they are having sex. And then there are the ones that are sensually building to sex at the end. I’m happy as long as the author doesn’t throw a sex scene out there “just because.” I like to see the sex move the relationship forward.
by Linda B
on June 21st, 2007 at 11:49 am
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I don’t mind if the sex is at the beginning, middle, end, or all thru the book. Or if the book doesn’t have any at all, just as long as the book has a good story. I don’t want sex and nothing else, I want a good story to go with it.
by Tammy G.
on June 21st, 2007 at 12:38 pm
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Hey, I enjoy a good sex scene, at the beginning, the middle and the end..lol.
by Lisa W
on June 21st, 2007 at 1:57 pm
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Sure, I agree that a sex scene in the first chapter could be unrealistic in real life but it certainly doesn’t hurt when you are reading a book so go for it.
by Shuck Ying
on June 21st, 2007 at 1:58 pm
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The sex scenes should not be the main focus of the book but tied into the book to make it more intense.
by Deborah
on June 21st, 2007 at 1:59 pm
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I don’t mind if it’s at the beginning or end as long as it goes with the story. To me thats the most important thing is if it feels right.
by Stacy S
on June 21st, 2007 at 2:25 pm
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I don’t mind reading sex scenes in books alot of times it gives more flavor to the story. As long as I enjoy the story thats all I really care about.
by Teresa W.
on June 21st, 2007 at 2:53 pm
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So, where the sex scene is doen’t matter as long as it fits. I agree. And ususally the sex scenes…unless they are the last scene…complicate the heck out of things. Adds to the conflict and that’s always a good.
by Dianne Castell
on June 21st, 2007 at 3:24 pm
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The only thing I have to say about the opening sex scene is that as a reader I won’t be invested in the couple at this point and that it will be purely sex. This might work if the couple are starting off with a one night stand in which case they really don’t need a build up to explain how they got to this point. And I don’t have to have an emotion connection to the couple to get the scene from their POV.
by Sue A.
on June 21st, 2007 at 3:30 pm
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I prefer that the book not begin with the sex scene. For me, there is alot of satisfaction in a buildup of the relationship between the characters which leads to its consummation. It seems unrealistic for them to hop in the sack right away. An exception I can think of is the friends to lovers plot. If they have been friends for years and decide to go for it I can see that happening. I don’t feel cheated if the sex is at the end or if their is no sex at all like when reading love inspired romances. For me, no amount of sex is going to save a weak plot and cardboard characters. Hope that helps.
by Cherie J
on June 21st, 2007 at 3:43 pm
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no i dont mind, if it relates to the story. sex scene early are not bad for a book. but i do prefer them, buiding up to the relationship.
by kim h
on June 21st, 2007 at 4:11 pm
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I prefer it to be throughout the book at intervals.. Preferably not the beginning. But to me a great book is wonderful writing, great plot and a fabulous cast of characters, not just sex scenes. I love a depth to the book and great chracter portrayal.
by sharon
on June 21st, 2007 at 4:38 pm
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I like the relationships to build in a book but if the sex is in the beginning of a novel, that’s just fine with me. I just love a good book so it doesn’t matter.
by Janet
on June 21st, 2007 at 5:08 pm
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I have to agree with Tammy G. I’m not put off of a book due to the placement of the sex scenes. I don’t care when/if the couple does the horizontal mambo, as long as the story is interesting! 
by Angie T
on June 21st, 2007 at 6:46 pm
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I prefer that books not begin or end with sex scenes. I want the characters to build a relationship before and after. If I don’t care about the characters, then I don’t care if they have sex. If I don’t know about the characters, then I can’t care about them. So, the characters should come before the sex. Hope this helps.
by Linda F
on June 21st, 2007 at 7:05 pm
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I don’t mind a book opening up with a sex scene as long as it goes with the story, too 
by Ali
on June 21st, 2007 at 7:09 pm
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I think having sex right off the bat works really well when the h and h already know each other. Then they have something to build on. Then again, sometimes a one-night-stand just sort of happens. Fun to mix things up a little.
by Dianne Castell
on June 21st, 2007 at 7:29 pm
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I don’t mind a book starting with a sex scene, but waiting until the end seems rather unrealistic, especially if the book continually builds up to it and you are expecting some fantastic sexual scene that doesn’t live up to its expectations. I think if the beginning of a book starts with some sex between the hero and heroine and is handled in the right way by the author it can lead into a very interesting story to read.
by Shari C
on June 21st, 2007 at 7:36 pm
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I probably prefer it to come a bit later - I need to really like the characters for any book to to really do it for me.
by catslady
on June 21st, 2007 at 9:41 pm
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I enjoy both, depending on the characters and the story. They have to be right for that particular story. I love some books that begin with a sex scene, and not only when the hero and heroine share some past, and I also love others than have just a sex scene at the end, or no sex at all, but it fits them. I like variety in my romances :o)
by Juliet
on June 21st, 2007 at 11:19 pm
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Thanks everyone for your great comments!
I truly appreciate them.
I drew the winner for the book and tote contest and Cherie won!
Congrasts, Cherie. 
You all have a great weekend.
See you next time.
Hugs, Dianne
by Dianne Castell
on June 21st, 2007 at 11:25 pm
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Thank you so much! I just sent you an email with my mailing address. Have a great weekend everyone!
by Cherie J
on June 22nd, 2007 at 11:11 am
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wtg cherie
by kim h
on June 24th, 2007 at 1:48 am
