#regency romance

I'm sure this has already been said by some podcaster, but I think it is - at least in part - because they follow a romance formula that has been popular for decades (and takes the reader on an emotional journey from repression and secrecy through to catharsis).

which leads me to:

10 Ways that Gay Sports Romances and Regency Romances scratch the same itch

(For these to really work, you need to compare heterosexual regency romances and queer male sports romances. Disclaimer that all 10 of these won't all apply to every romance novel you've ever read - we're embracing whimsy and general trends on this blog ❤️)

The characters' behaviour is dictated by context-specific social codes (both spoken and unspoken). For example, men and women cannot spend time alone together; male athletes are expected to perform their masculinity in particular ways.

The main relationship is constrained or even forbidden due to this context (which drives much of the narrative and romantic tension). For example, a woman may not be seen as a suitable marriage prospect because she belongs to a lower class than her love interest; an athlete may lose his job or face public backlash if his sexuality is revealed.

The characters must conceal any parts of their relationship that would not be deemed acceptable by their society. For example, a couple may publicly express interest in each other but hide the fact that they are already physically intimate; two athletes may have a public friendship but a private romance.

Characters may feel shame or reluctance due to their societal "transgressions", which can impact their self-perception and their relationship. For example, a woman may feel shame for experiencing desire or acting on it; a queer man may experience internalised homophobia.

Characters may face serious and life-altering social consequences for aspects of their relationship, particularly when sex is involved. For example, a woman becomes pregnant and is disowned by her family; an athlete is judged or targeted based on the type of sex he is presumed to have had.

The stakes of the story are serious but resolvable and the characters' relationship can be secured and often legitimised. For example, a dangerous loss of financial security can be resolved through marriage; two male athletes live in a time and place where the social consequences of being out are potentially serious but not life-threatening, or else they find a way to sustainably conceal their relationship.

Characters are faced with a choice between societal acceptance and personal happiness in a relationship. For example, a woman's family does not want her to marry a poorer man; an athlete is afraid of being caught with a man to the point where he considers ending the relationship.

This choice is often weighted so that one of the characters faces more severe consequences upon discovery (which creates additional conflict in their relationship). For example, a woman's life could be ruined if she's known to have had sex outside of wedlock; one half of the couple may have a homophobic or unsupportive work/home environment.

Gender roles and their maintenance or subversion are explored and drive much of the story's conflict. For example, a woman is not allowed to be seen to actively pursue her love interest; a queer man may be judged by his colleagues for not being the "right" sort of man.

Characters are often rich and high-status in a way that lets them solve many of their problems (and have a lifestyle that is fun for readers to experience vicariously). Fairly self-explanatory. This - like many of the above points - can also highlight the darker side of a specific romantic fantasy scenario (e.g., institutional and individual misogyny, classism, racism) which may or may not be explored in-text (and may or may not be a load-bearing part of the fantasy).

+ Bonus #11 which is sort of a feature and sort of a bug: The story can be vulnerable to logic-breaking plot gaps due to its reliance on social codes. Most easily summarised as, "...they wouldn't do that 😒". For example, a reader's suspension of disbelief might be broken by the widespread social acceptance of a "fallen" female character; or by a coming-out plotline being resolved without adequately exploring institutional homophobia.

They had a light fair of brunch. Most of the food tucked into the little basket Georgina carried around when she was gallivanting around the property. Fredrick had stayed the night after he had hit it off with her father. Apparently they knew each other from the House of Lords and had much to discuss, even with it being summer and it not being in session.

Georgina didn't mind having the man around. His servants had gone and brought his valet with a case so he was dressed appropriately as she packed her basket.

"Are you off to take in some air?" he asked, eyes scanning the room in search for a companion or a chaperone to accompany the young lady. When he came up short on it, he licked his lips. He could offer to walk with her. There was nothing wrong with that.

Georgina smiled, her pretty pink cupid bow lips a mirror image of Aphrodite. She was the sort of woman you looked at and longed to make a wife. She was also accomplished. Something in the short time he knew about her becasue he saw her playing he pinafore last night, singing in her beautiful soprano to entertain them after dinner. That had been after, in the afternoon, she had shown him the library where they had talked about books.

She was quick witted and smart. She knew about a great deal of topics, more than just the romance novels and poetry that were popular at the time. He appreciated hearing her talk about opinions on different topics, surprised at how her father fondly allowed this sort of discussion and how the duchess also chimed in with her own strong beliefs.

It was so refreshing to be around a family who cared so much about each other. It wasn't just the affection they shared but how they passed around knowledge with respect, listening to everyones opinion and talking about what they agreed and didn't agree with. It had been fascinating.

Georgina was in another one of her day dresses. This one a soft lavender color, with a lilac designed ribbon bely around her waist. He wanted to ask if she had done teh embroidery herself, to compliment her on another talent but it had been one day and Fredrick could already feel that he was over his head with the young lady.

He had dreamt of her last night. Thought of her in a way that had his staff thickening and hard, leaking and forcing him to take in his palm. The sight of her on the river bank, those porcelain legs in the water as she nibbled on her lunch. Her garters discarded in the grass and her dress pulled up past her thighs. How he longed that night to lay his hand on the flesh there. To kiss those milk colored legs of hers. He was like an untried young man, spilling on his stomach after barely a full thought. His cock twitching in his hand, wanting more than the unsatisfying tug he had given it.

"They are working on the gardens for the fete you agreed to attend." her blush at the reminder that he would be there attending the party made him smile. "Usually I take tea there now but now I am forced to once again go to the river." She pulled a tea towel over her packed basket, those pretty eyes of her coyly meeting his, "Papa said you were leaving this afternoon. Should I bid you farewell now, your grace? Or would you accompany me for a ways." He would walk through hell fire for her.

Fredrick didn't know what spell the young lady had woven on him. All he knew was that he was fully stuck in it now. He didn't care that eh was supposed to be visiting his friends, he wanted to be around her more. To hell with propierty behavior. He had this lady to woo!

Dipping his head he nodded, holding out the crock of his arm, thrilled when she took it. The door to the dining room opened and he saw the duchess stroking in. She took in the scene in front of her and offered a small smile.

"Ah, Georgina I was about to say you should take some air. Did his grace offer to escort you?" like all mammas of the ton she seemed to understand that her daughter was of marrying age. Even if she wasn't as forceful as other she did love the idea of a good match for her.

"I was just about to escort her lady down to the river." The duchess couldn't hide her shock, one eyebrow lifting as she looked at her daughter. She knew better than to be down by teh river on her own. Her mother had told her several times the dangers of a wet dress dragging her down stream of a slippery rock causing her to fall and smash her pretty face.

Instead of embarrassing her child the duchess just smiled and nodded in understanding, "I know my husband was getting a mount ready for you. The river might be too much of an adventure today. The gardens are being worked on but you can walk across the southern hills. The shade of the trees should be a wonderful walk right now and it is within sight so I won't have to call a servant to chaperone you." The way her daughter's cheek pinned. At her age the duchess had experiences under her belt. Georgina had been sheltered. Three brothers would do that to a young lady. Though now that she had met someone who seemed to catch her interest the duchess was excited to see what would come of this.

"Thank you for your hospitality. I look forward to attending the party and thank you again for the invitation. It must have gone to my London residence as I haven't made my way to my country seat yet. I would have been terribly upset to have missed the occasion. Plus the delight of getting to celebrate Lady Suffolk's birthday is something I am sure will be the highlight of this summer." He looked at the young lady fondly and her mother knew that look.

That was the look of a man who would propose. She hoped he would court her for a long while. Maybe a few months of the summer and then they could have a wonderful wedding before Christmas. Or if they chose to stretch out the courting they could start the season with a wedding and host their first ball as newlyweds. It was quite an exciting time.

Before the couple could leave the door was thrown open again and this time Georgina made a sound. Her middle brother Damon stood there, a smile on his face. Until he saw his sister with her arm through a gentleman's. Instantly the fondness was gone from his face and a scowl was instead across his features.

Her skirts were hiked up to her thighs, the soft baby blue silk ribbon she had gotten at the modiste tied around her thigh as a new garter to hold up her stockings. No one was around as Georgina used her deft fingers to untie it, letting it flutter into the overgrown summer grass before carefully rolling down her silk stockings that Mamma had the modiste order from Paris.

Her brothers used to bathe in the stream, something young men could do but girls of eight and ten could not get away with. She would be eight and ten in a few days time at least. A grand fete was planned for this event, campsites were already being put up by the servants on the south lawn of their country estate. The guests Papa was friends with in parliament would occupy the house, as well as the Prince regent himself. He had yet to marry and Mamma was pushing for Georgina to secure such an advantageous match

She had a small coming out at the last ball of the season, after she had formally been paraded in front of the royals. It had been quick enough that interest had surged in her before her Mamma had whisked her off to the country estate. They wanted her coming out to be a splash and a peak at what next year would have. It had a lot of men wondering if they could push marriage off a bit to secure her and a lot of girls her age suddenly looking at her as a foe. None of that bothered her, Her Mamma already was planning gowns and accessories that were exquisite. As the only daughter to the Duke and Duchess of Suffolk she had a large dowry and no real rush to marry. Her three older brothers would all be there to take on the family name and carry their dukedom to new heights. Georgina was left to be the spoiled younger sister who could marry if she chose. Her middle brother, Damon had already gleefully promised her a space in his home if she chose to be a spinster.

Sighing Georgina moved through the grass, her white linen morning dress much plainer since she wasn't in company. The long sleeves light on her skin to keep her protected from the sun. Her wide rimmed straw bonnet tied under her chin with the same blue ribbon she had used to tie her stockings up. The pond was bubbling around the brooks, shallow enough in the shade of the willow trees to allow her the privacy to dip her toes in the water.

Everyone was so preoccupied with the grande fete, the servants setting up rooms for their guests and cook planning grand feasts. There would be a few days worth of celebration. The house party would start with a summer formal lawn party, there would be a hunt the next day, the third day would be a time for people to gather all the things they would need and relax before the following bigger events of the next two days, the fourth day they were having a breakfast masquerade and the following day would be the ball for her day of birth. Her mother was planning a house party for what she said would be the more distinguished guests and that would be days of parlor games and walks. Georgina was looking forward to having people in the house, including her brothers who would be there probably chasing away any scoundrel who looked at her the wrong way. She was quite excited at the idea of meeting a scoundrel or highway man.

The cool water over her feet made her gasp, her toes curling at the ecstacy of it. Her skin felt so overheated all the time this summer. To finally break free and have a moment to cool down was a luxury that she had much needed. Her basket with the light lunch she had packed and a book for her to read once she was done cooling was close to her. Georgina sat on the edge of the river bank and sighed as her dress bunched at her thighs offered padding for her to sit. Her legs were up to her knees, cooling her down as she reached for some of the cheese and fruit cook had packed for her with one hand and her book with the other.

Plans of the party were a blossom around her but in the shade of the tree, a book in one hand and a snack in the other, Georgina was quite content to forget all about it an get lost in the romance she had boughten at a bookstore in London that her Mamma would faint if she knew about.

Kicking her feet and sighing out Georgina let a smile cross her face, wishing she didn't have to follow her father back to parliament. She liked being in the country so much. Plus they were going to spend part of the summer at the spa town of Brighton. Mamma had said being close to the ocean would be wonderful for her and Georgina didn't disagree.

A branch snapping had Georgina's eyes flicking up her eyes meeting a man standing to her left. His eyes widened upon seeing her and she gasped, her legs splashing out of the water as she curled them to throw her skirts over them.

"I beg your pardon." His voice, deep and strong had her heart beating wildly. He was tall, a couple inches over 6 ft, with a strong clean shaven jaw. His dark hair was wavy under his hat, casually windswept in the way that men seemed to wear it. He wore a pair of leather boots, tan colored pantaloons tucked inside, a cream colored waist coat with a. carefully tied cravat around his neck. His jacket was a dark brown and he was wearing the new straw hats men in the countryside favored. A walking stick was in his bare hand and she tore her eyes away from the sight.

"I beg your pardon, sir. I was just trying to cool off near our river." Georgina let her eyes waver over to where her stockings lay, the blue ribbons on top of them and her shoes next to that. The gentleman followed her line of vision and she heard him make a sound. "If you could please-"

"Of course!" he turned as she got up, dashing over to retrieve her stockings. Her heart beating a million miles a minute as she tugged them off, rolling them carefully so she didn't have to explain any runs to her her maid. She tied off the ribbons in a sloppy bow and then pulled on her slipper. Gathering up her gloves from her basket she pulled them on as well and straightened out her gown.

Once she was fixed her eyes landed on the man with his rigid posture. HIs hand flexed on his walking stick as he waited for her to right herself.

"My name is Lady Suffolk. My parents are the Duke and Duchess of Suffolk, the estate you are taking your walk on." At the sound of her voice he deemed it safe to turn, his eyes taking in the young woman in front of him. He bowed his head, wondering if this was the the girl everyone had been talking about as the season ended in London.

He had been meant to marry this season, having just gained his title a few years before and finally finding himself established in parliament. At the last ball the girl who had been dubbed the diamond of the season had been seething during one of the dances as the loud whispers of a new debutante late in the season had arrived.

The girl in front of him in her white day dress, pretty brown curls thick and glossy escaping her bonnet and pretty blue eyes looked so naive compared to the debutant of that night. He had only gotten a glimpse of her, her Mamma protective and her older brothers all seeming to want to make sure no one bothered their little sister on her big night. But she was just as gorgeous as he remembered.

"I am Lord Fredrick Devonshire, Duke of Devonshire." He bowed again and went to offer her his hand, realizing that it was bare he knew better but still reached out. She watched him, eyes widening before one of her dainty ands landed in his and they preformed the expected proper greeting. "I am visiting a friend at a nearby estate and must have wandered too far. I do beg your pardon." he should leave but he pretty creature in front of him that he caught so off guard.

She looked to the trees and swallowed, they were unsupervised and it could be quite a scandal if they were caught. She seemed to think the same thing and was careful as she gathered her belongings up.

Jen: What's wrong with him?

Ash: He's a TERRIBLE landlord. He doesn't know half his tenants, he doesn't care at ALL about repairing the church roof--

LuAnn: WHAT???

Jen: UGH.