Comments on: Romance and Infidelity

By: Ashley Ladd

Ashley Ladd — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:50:14 +0000

It all depends how it’s handled. Especially if it happened far in the past, and handled well now, I could handle it.

By: Gabriele

Gabriele — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:16:03 +0000

It would be a Pack Your Things and Leave issue in real life, but I don’t mind infidelity in books. It’s only fiction, after all.

And in historical times where marriages were arranged, I can’t blame either man or woman for getting their fun elsewhere. So yes, my characters cheat (but then, I’m not writing Romance with an R).

By: Shelley Munro

Shelley Munro — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:26:00 +0000

Thanks for all your comments. It’s certainly a subject where people have definite opinions. Like all of you I have a definite lean toward no. I also have this part of me that likes a challenge so we’ll see. And I just want to reassure you all that I would never write a book where infidelity was the main part of the plot because that isn’t a romance and it isn’t romantic.

By: Amy W.

Amy W. — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:23:43 +0000

I don’t know if I’d like it or not. I lean toward not but it could work if really well written. I did read one romance I liked where the guy was unfaithful to his wife, one of the Calder series by Janet Daily, and it worked there. She made the wife out to be the bad guy and so you were okay with it after the hero fought and struggled against his feelings, after all she betrayed him first. Best of luck with it.
HUGS!

By: JK Coi

JK Coi — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 15:24:06 +0000

This topic is such a volatile one for a lot of people. I don’t think that readers look for infidelity in their romance novels as a conflict, mostly because it makes for some sticky happy ever afters. But I have seen it done well once or twice, and the story was enriched by the hard dose of reality.

By: Nancy Henderson

Nancy Henderson — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 13:07:33 +0000

I agree with Christina Philips. If they stray when they’re together, I wouldn’t trust them in the future.

By: Debby

Debby — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 12:42:39 +0000

I would prefer fidelity but can accept the infidelity if the spouse is cruel

By: julia

julia — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 01:50:40 +0000

I agree that an infidelity storyline turns things into regular fiction, rather than romance. In romance, there has to be trust between the hero and heroine, and infidelity guarantees no trust.

By: Sandra Cox

Sandra Cox — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 23:11:24 +0000

You’re taking on a challenging subject, but if anyone can pull it off, you can, Shel.

By: Fedora

Fedora — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 07:22:01 +0000

Shelley, I think so too–I really think that the cheating isn’t limited to physical contact with someone else–it’s any way in which you’re giving yourself meaningfully to another person when that emotion or heart or devotion or body should be reserved for the person you already promised it to. Anyway, keep us posted! ;)