Just Erotic Romance Reviews

Condom use is more prevalent now than ever before. Not only as a birth control device but in a more safe sex conscious society it has become a necessity. Many people have grown into their sexuality using a condom. There is now a population who has never had sex without one. Just as there is a population, mostly long term monogamous couples who have never had sex with one. So, the question is do authors have a responsibility to show condom use in their books? Or because this is fiction and not reality should they be left out?

This is a question that has been asked many times on the different Internet discussion groups. I recently posed this question again on a newly formed board, composed of romance readers and writers alike, Fun with Authors and Readers, and on the Ellora’s Cave and Sensual Romance groups. I also asked this question directly of publishers and editors. The responses I received were extremely varied.

Of publishers like Ellora’s Cave, Liquid Silver, Extasy Books, and Amber Quill only Liquid Silver stated, “we prefer that at least the mention of birth control be present in our stories, however, if the author would not want to do so, we will defer” to them. When questioned for more information about this Raven Moore, Publisher and President of Liquid Silver, said that the reasoning was “due to research of representatives of readers on lists along with other reading material I’ve found, it appears that this is an important issue to people.” She further stated that since it was not all that important to everyone it is not a stringent rule at Liquid Silver and the reason why she does not force the issue with their authors.

The editors were also happy to respond with their opinions. Allie McKnight and Kari Berton of Ellora’s Cave both stated that there was not policy regarding the matter at Ellora’s Cave and they believe the choice is up to the individual author. Allie, however, did mention one case where she discussed with the author about inserting the use of condoms. She did this because "the premise of the story called for a lot of getting acquainted time before the two characters ever got it on. Imagine," Allie stated, "two people who met on the Internet and then decided to meet in person--that wasn't the scenario, but it was like that. Both the heroine and the hero had been obsessed with their personal safety, not just sexual safety, before and through their first few meetings." Allie felt that it was unrealistic that they would not be thinking about condom use. "It just seemed to me to be out of character that two such safety conscious, mildly paranoid people would hop in the sack without protection."

In response to my question, romance authors had a lot to say. Dee S. Knight of Liquid Silver said that because she has never had to personally use a condom, she feels unnatural writing about it. Shiloh Walker, a new author to Ellora’s Cave, is also a nurse, so as such she knows they are a must. However, she does not like to slip them in her stories, as she considers them “her fantasy world.” Lora Leigh, another Ellora’s Cave author as well as a reviewer, says that it is her fantasy and she wants the sexual release to be a very intimate and enjoyable sensation. In her own words, “The pulse and throb, the heat of his release sinking into your unprotected flesh. It’s primal and intimate, and very necessary, I think, to show the trust and the bonding both in real life, and in the fantasy.” Sahara Kelly stated that in contemporaries the characters are living in today’s world. She feels that there should be, at least, a nod to the fact that protection is being used or considered. Sahara proved to me how condom use can be an integral part of an explosively hot sex scene by telling me how the female character could unroll the condom over the males erection, teasing him a bit or watching his eyes stare at her hands as she touches him or even by doing the act with her mouth (which apparently requires some practice). Author Kate Douglas lives in California and has seen the devastation AIDS can cause lives and relationships and feels that it is the responsible thing to do. However, she also stated that she did not make her aliens wear condoms because the relationship between alien and human “is far enough away from reality to make the mention of safe sex a bit absurd.”

Readers, as well as reviewers, as we are readers first, have just the same reaction as the authors. Puawai, a reader who is also an active member on many of the lists, offered an interesting point of view. “Contemporaries should include them because in this day and age, it is, or should be, a standard operating procedure. In order to maintain safe sex anyone who is on the dating scene should be using condoms.” She stated that while reading a Regency, you do not want to see an inconsistency in the story line, such as actions being inconsistent with the time frame. As such, the lack of use of a condom in a Contemporary is an inconsistency to the time frame. Pat Haley-Ramirez , affectionately known on most lists as Mama Zuca, states that it is fiction, readers should be able to decipher fiction from reality and that it should not be the author’s job to educate us about sex. Another reader felt that if writing about condoms might influence just one person to not have an unwanted pregnancy or debilitating disease, it would be worth it. Raelene Gorlinsky, wearer of many hats reader/reviewer/editor for Ellora’s Cave, feels that it is the author’s decision and that while sometimes she, as an editor, might suggest the use or a reference of protection, as a reviewer, she always makes note of the lack of protection in a contemporary. Raelene also stated that it doesn’t have to be explicit, just a mention towards protection like “she heard the rustle of foil tearing.” Most readers, however, do feel this issue should be the author’s prerogative.

I believe that we should remind ourselves once in a while that we are reading fiction, not a true story. There are times when I even have to take a step back and remind myself that just because I do not believe that plot premise, or that a series of events can or should happen in a certain way, they are figments of the author’s imagination. Just because I do not believe in aliens, vampires, and honest politicians does not mean that they could exist in an author’s mind. In my fantasy world were every thing is perfect there are no diseases, no hunger, and no unemployment rate. In my fantasy world the men are all alpha and drop-dead gorgeous and the women are strong, intelligent and beautiful. When I read fiction, specifically romance, I want that fantasy to be continued. I am not reading about two people’s love life to learn something, but rather to step away from reality. Reading fiction is for pure enjoyment; if you want to learn something, go to the proper sources.

fic-tion (n) 1. A creation of the imagination. 2. A literary work whose content is produced by the imagination and is not necessarily based on fact.

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