That would depend on the subgenre of the romance - not every romance takes place where sex can be bought (or is easily available at all).
Bookwyrm----
Yes, there could be a scarcity of partners. Or a man could have a mental block about- s*x or emotional intimacy. Or have an abuse history. But for the most part, no matter the romance genre, the hero is almost always s*xually experienced. He's an odd duck w/o this experience.
This historical romance has a virgin H. There is a reason behind that though, it's not that he made the choice. I don't remember if I have posted about this book or not. I had to hear this song when I read the title, it seemed appropriate somehow, The Highwaymen, Johnny Cash- Highwayman
The hero and heroine knew each other from very young. They are both under the care of nuns and priests. He defends her by killing a priest who wanted to take advantage of the h who was a little girl. He gets sent to prison where he forms a crew who later will help him. Years later the H and h meet again, she has no idea he is the young man of her youth. Later on as they are intimate (they marry) he tells her not to touch him, due to things that went on in prison and how that has traumatized him. He has not been with anyone, he was abused in prison but he himself is a virgin since he has never taken anyone to his bed.
Earlier today I read Sarina Bowen's Keepsake (True North Book 3) which features a hero that fits this theme. He escaped a cult when he was 19. The book takes place about five years later. It's a contemporary romance AND it's currently on sale for 99 cents. I enjoyed it.
Lark Wainright used to be fearless. Her life was a series of adventures, each one more exhilarating than the last. But her recent overseas adventure was one too many. Now she's home and in one piece. Mostly. But her nights are filled with terror.
When her best friend offers her a stay at the orchard in exchange for help at the farmers' markets, Lark jumps at the chance to spend fall in Vermont. But her nightmares don't stop. Desperate to keep her fragile state a secret, she relies on the most soft-spoken resident of the Shipley Farm to soothe her when her dreams prove too much.
Zachariah is a survivor, too. It's been four years since he was tossed aside by the polygamist cult where he grew up. He's found a peaceful existence on the Shipley's farm, picking apples and fixing machinery. But getting thrown away by your own people at nineteen leaves a mark on a guy. He doesn't always know what to make of a world where movie quotes are the primary means of communication. Before hitchhiking to Vermont, he'd never watched TV or spoken on the phone.
Actually, there are a lot of things he's never done.
Zach and Lark slowly grow to trust one another. One night they become even closer than they'd planned. But Lark may still be too broken to trust anyone. When she pushes Zach away, he will have to prove to himself that he's good for much more than farm labor."
Veniamin - Thank you so much for the recommendations!!! I like that you put such a variety of books in there. I love it. Can I read Reaper first since it says it is the second book in the series? I think I might start with that one...they all look good. I think the blurb on the summary said..."I've slain for her...I'd do it again." Yep that's the one I want to start with!!! Thanks again.
I have a hard time reading books out of order. So I have another question...I think I am going to read Crow first then Reaper...hopefully its a good series and when I get to Reaper it really will have a virgin hero. It almost seems impossible to believe he will be. Thanks again for the recommendations.
I love me some variety lol.
Well you can read Reaper first but I recommend you to read them in order. They're all pretty good, at least the first three books. I liked Crow so I hope you'll like it too.
And yes, Reaper's H is a virgin (he's very shy at one point during sex, he didn't even know how to put a condom! he's very cute!). You'll looove it, I just know it.
Post by lovesickjunkie on Oct 29, 2017 13:59:07 GMT -7
Veniamin -- I just finished Reaper and Ronan was awesome. To be honest I couldn't see how he could possibly be a virgin and also be the mafia's Reaper. But indeed he was and the reasons behind it was quite heartbreaking. Making him vulnerable at times. I love a super alpha who has real insecurities and vulnerabilites at times. Thank you so much for sharing these recommendations with me. Now I need to decide should I read Echo? Or Ghost? Or maybe I should try something on the list you started me with Made looked good? And so did Deliver (looks very dark). I guess this is how our to be read lists get so long.
Veniamin -- I just finished Reaper and Ronan was awesome. To be honest I couldn't see how he could possibly be a virgin and also be the mafia's Reaper. But indeed he was and the reasons behind it was quite heartbreaking. Making him vulnerable at times. I love a super alpha who has real insecurities and vulnerabilites at times. Thank you so much for sharing these recommendations with me. Now I need to decide should I read Echo? Or Ghost? Or maybe I should try something on the list you started me with Made looked good? And so did Deliver (looks very dark). I guess this is how our to be read lists get so long.
Made by J.M. Darhower it's VERY good. I liked it even more than Crow and Reaper. It's a slow-burn romance because the story is focused on the H's life since he's a little kid. You'll scream, laugh and cry with that book.
Echo it's awesome too if you want to keep reading more stuff by this author. And Deliver by Pam Godwin its great. Hero's a holier-than-thou virgin college boy who gets kidnaped by the h, she's a mistress and her job its training the victims so they can be sold. It's awesome!
and there is a whole paragraph about hero's habit of smexing number of women, on their hands and knees, in the woods, over the past millenniums. Not very virtuous of him. LOL. Maybe you've been mixing this one with another book in the series?
Last Edit: Nov 15, 2017 8:13:55 GMT -7 by sinnamon
and there is a whole paragraph about hero's habit of smexing number of women, on their hands and knees, in the woods, over the past millenniums. Not very virtuous of him. LOL. Maybe you've been mixing this one with another book in the series?
- it's been years since I read that one and I must have put it on my "virgin heroes" shelf by mistake ( I may have been thinking of a another book in the series, but I can't be sure). Sorry about that - now I must promptly go fix my earlier post!
Last Edit: Nov 15, 2017 15:33:12 GMT -7 by bookwyrm
"Susan hated Literature. She’d much prefer to read a good book." -Terry Pratchett, Soul Music
- it's been years since I read that one and I must have put it on my "virgin heroes" shelf by mistake ( I may have been thinking of a another book in the series, but I can't be sure). Sorry about that - now I must promptly go fix my earlier post!
Don't be sorry. Virgin hero or not I do enjoy the book.
The biggest issue I have with this particular read is not lack of hero's virginity but the crazy pace of the story. I'm at 50% mark (not even full 24 hours into the story) and SO much happened over such a short span of time it makes my head spin. So many characters, so many things going on at the same time, insta-love, insta-lust, insta-possessiveness and every other insta you can possibly think of. Heroine changes her mind about being with hero every 5 pages, hot and cold games, Greek Gods, Titans, Hunters, demons, psychics, enigmatic Institution of Paranormal Stuff, curses, kidnapping, near death and actual death experiences, trips to hell and back and all this in a span of a ONE DAY. I do like the idea of the series and the worldbuilding but as for now, the story feels like a big, greasy garbage plate. In overall tasty but to much of everything to call it gourmet.
- it's been years since I read that one and I must have put it on my "virgin heroes" shelf by mistake ( I may have been thinking of a another book in the series, but I can't be sure). Sorry about that - now I must promptly go fix my earlier post!
Don't be sorry. Virgin hero or not I do enjoy the book.
The biggest issue I have with this particular read is not lack of hero's virginity but the crazy pace of the story. I'm at 50% mark (not even full 24 hours into the story) and SO much happened over such a short span of time it makes my head spin. So many characters, so many things going on at the same time, insta-love, insta-lust, insta-possessiveness and every other insta you can possibly think of. Heroine changes her mind about being with hero every 5 pages, hot and cold games, Greek Gods, Titans, Hunters, demons, psychics, enigmatic Institution of Paranormal Stuff, curses, kidnapping, near death and actual death experiences, trips to hell and back and all this in a span of a ONE DAY. I do like the idea of the series and the worldbuilding but as for now, the story feels like a big, greasy garbage plate. In overall tasty but to much of everything to call it gourmet.
sinnamon I'm glad you are enjoying it - but yes, it's all crazysauce all the time! You kind off have to turn off the rational part of your brain and just roll with it. I'm more of a slow-burn type of girl - but sometimes a little crazysauce is just what I need to de-stress I read the first few books in the series and enjoyed them but then I sort of lost interest.
If you like sci-fi or alien romances, I have a recommendation for a virgin hero (for real this time): Captured by Willow Danes. It's also a little insta-everything and over the top, but I still really enjoyed it.
"Susan hated Literature. She’d much prefer to read a good book." -Terry Pratchett, Soul Music
Post by lovesickjunkie on Nov 18, 2017 10:57:57 GMT -7
Veniamin - So I finally got to finish J.M. Darhower - Made - and once again something I have never read before. I'm still new to mafia books but really enjoying that aspect of the story. And he is a virgin hero so fits this thread . Also something I don't usually read in a book - this book spans a very long part of his life from childhood through his youth and even to later adulthood. That was interesting, normally I don't like this because it just feels like it makes the book drag on. In Made it just made it so good to see all aspects of his life. Once again - I appreciate your recommendations. I think I am going to stay with the first list of virgin heroes but the more I read - the more my tbr list grows. I might try the Win some, lose some - shay savage This would also be something completely new to me. I have never read a story with someone with a disability. I am wondering if it will be a sweet romance, or with some angst. I do like angst, but maybe sweet will be a nice change. The last three books have been full on angst. Thanks again.
Last Edit: Nov 18, 2017 11:00:30 GMT -7 by lovesickjunkie