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When I was in high school I was horribly addicted to gothic fiction, especially romances. I read mostly Phyllis A. Whitney and Victoria Holt, never ever dreaming someday there would be gothic romances for lesbians.

It's not that the gothic fiction I read now has to have lesbians in it. If it's a good story, it's a good story. Period. But I'm pleasantly surprised and kind of glad that the lesfic with gothic undertones I've discovered are actually quite good.

Ghosts of Winter by Rebecca S. Buck, in particular, would have thrilled me as a teen (if it had been in existence) as much as it does now.

There is, of course, a gothic setting as well as lots of historical background, but it's the writing, the feelings I love so much, whether it's main character Ros Wayne's observations on the architect hired to help restore Winter Manor:

However much more Anna thawed, whether she became a friend or stayed as just the architect, I wouldn’t let myself think about her in any other way. She was married and I was an emotional mess.

or her musing on how we all handle life:

The notion came to me that maybe everyone felt the same things as me, and we were all just struggling to cope and putting on a brave face. The idea made me feel a little less alone and, to my surprise, more optimistic.

As Ros begins to really notice Anna as more than the person who is going to completely restore Winter Manor to its former glory, she does so with borderline reluctance:
        
She was so infuriatingly intriguing. As she put on and refastened her coat, I watched her, trying to make sense of just what was so damned attractive about her. But there was no way of clarifying it. Yes, she was striking to look at, and there was something undeniably appealing about her sheer competence. But the traces of what lay below the surface drew me to her most. That glimmer of enthusiasm and curiosity, the edge in her tone, possibly sarcasm or mirth, her unexpected physicality. She was confident in her abilities and knowledge, but not arrogant. In so many ways she was a puzzle, a mass of contradictions. Her reflective expression softened her face so much I could almost have been looking at a different woman. It was remarkable how expressive her face could be, and yet how impassive at other times. Anna confused me…

Caught up in finding Anna so appealing, Ros reigns her thoughts in quickly. She can't and won't take any chances on liking someone only get to hurt as she has in the past, plus she is still grieving over her mother's recent death. Besides, she tells herself: I should really keep my distance and save myself the suffering of my unrequited attraction.  Even after she discovers Anna is not married or straight, may in fact be interested back, Ros still has reservations about any relationship beyond their professional one:

A combination of elation and terror almost made me close the door again and pretend I’d not seen her.

I think a strong romance should emphasize the emotions and romantic attraction two people have for each other rather than the sexual components...another reason I prefer gothic romance, where atmosphere and non-physical interactions are more important so there's no need to worry or get embarrassed about graphic sex scenes.