Is riveting in the love scenes (8)
I believe the answer is:
clinches
'love scenes' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?
'is riveting in' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'in' is within the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'the' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for clinches that I've seen before include "Tight or amorous embraces, in the boxing ring" , "finally settles" , "Tight grips in boxing" .)