How do contemporary romance novels differ from historical romance novels?

Historical romance novels are set in the past, often in a specific historical period like the Victorian era or the Middle Ages. They usually incorporate elements of the historical setting such as social norms, fashion, and political situations. Contemporary romance novels, on the other hand, are set in the present day. They deal with modern - day issues like technology, career - driven characters, and modern relationship dynamics. For example, in a historical romance, a woman might be restricted by the social mores of her time in terms of her relationship with a man, while in a contemporary romance, the characters have more freedom in choosing their partners.

Historic romance novels are set in the past, so they often have a different cultural and social context. For example, in a Victorian - era historic romance, there are strict rules about courtship and propriety that don't exist in the same way in contemporary romance.

Erotic contemporary romance novels usually have more explicit sexual content compared to traditional ones. While traditional romance novels focus more on the emotional connection and the journey to love, erotic ones incorporate detailed sexual descriptions as part of the relationship development.

Feminist contemporary romance novels often have more empowered female characters. In traditional romance novels, the female lead might be more passive, waiting for the male to rescue or define her. But in feminist ones, like in 'The Kiss Quotient', the woman is in control of her own life and love story. She has her own career, goals, and doesn't rely solely on the man. Another difference is the handling of gender roles. Feminist novels break these roles more often. For example, in 'Red, White & Royal Blue', both male and female characters challenge the expected behaviors of their genders in a relationship.

Emotional contemporary romance novels often deal with modern - day issues and settings. For example, they might include technology, modern workplaces, or current social issues. Classic romance novels usually have more traditional settings like historical periods or aristocratic societies. Also, the way emotions are expressed in emotional contemporary romance novels can be more in line with modern sensibilities, while classic ones may have more formal ways of depicting love and attraction.

Christian contemporary romance novels often include strong religious themes. For example, characters might turn to prayer or their faith in God to deal with relationship issues, which is not as common in other romance novels.

Contemporary wallflower romance novels often focus on the transformation of the wallflower character. While other romance novels might center on more outgoing or already confident characters. For example, in a regular romance, the hero and heroine could be social butterflies. But in wallflower romance novels, the main character is usually shy and reserved at the start, like in 'The Wallflower Wager' where the wallflower has to step out of her comfort zone for love.

The pace of contemporary country romance novels can be different too. They might move at a slower, more laid - back pace, similar to the lifestyle in the country. This can be a refreshing change from the fast - paced, high - energy romances set in busy metropolitan areas. There's also often a connection to traditional ways of life in country romances, like country fairs and old - fashioned courtship, which you don't always find in other types of romance novels.

Contemporary Christian romance novels often have a stronger focus on faith. In regular romance novels, the focus may be mainly on the relationship between the two main characters. But in Christian ones, characters' spiritual growth and their relationship with God are important parts of the story. For example, in a regular romance, a couple might overcome an obstacle just for the sake of their love, while in a Christian romance, they might also turn to God for guidance in that situation.

Graphic historical romance novels have illustrations. Regular ones rely solely on text. The graphics in graphic novels can quickly set the historical scene, like showing a detailed 18th - century ballroom in an illustration. This gives a more immediate visual understanding of the historical setting compared to having to read detailed descriptions in a regular novel.