For this kind of woman, all of life is an adventure. Relationships in Romance are founded on respect and commitment. Nor are they looking for a loveless pornographic depiction of sex. Though the descriptions of love scenes can be explicit, even verging on erotica, they remain love scenes. Sex is not a mere physical thrill but something precious to be shared between committed partners.
Conflict is without gore and graphic violence.
What a truly paradoxical concept. It had its moment of notoriety, but readers swiftly turned from such violent degradation of women. Romance's readers look to the genre for entertainment and a positive female image. They made it clear to writers and publishers that they will accept the use of a rape scene in the genre with little more tolerance than they would accept the real horror in their own lives. Though the occasional rape still surfaces in Romance from time to time, its treatment is rare.