Posted by: Genene ValleauCurrent Project: Nine-book series
Status: Being developed
Have you ever seen a man who is so physically perfect he can only be considered beautiful? Yeah, I'm talking about that heart-stopping, turn-you-on jolt of lust at first sight. I suspect we've read about a lot of these guys in romance novels.
Now, what if this beautiful guy is also respectful, sincere and downright nice. I've met a couple of these kind of guys in person and, for various reasons, I was too dumb to snatch them up without a second thought. Yeah. I'm still shaking my head over those choices too. But I digress...
Have you ever read about a physically gorgeous guy who is also a really nice guy in a romance novel? Have you ever written a hero like this?
As I think about the heroes in my stories, some have been physically great looking but facing serious character demons. There's also a charmer who is average looking and has a lot of room for growth. And the heroes in my upcoming series are pretty darn good-looking but have all been adopted, so have a lot of childhood baggage.
Not one truly beautiful man among my romance heroes--at least not at the beginning of the story. Are beautiful guys too perfect for a romance story? No apparent flaws, so no potential character growth, and no conflict with the heroine. Or, as someone commented on an earlier blog, do we just have to live with a seemingly perfect guy awhile to discover his irritating habits?
What do you think? Have you ever read about or written a hero who is beautiful inside and out right from the beginning of the story? Was he memorable? Or did the story lack spark...or something?
Now, what if this beautiful guy is also respectful, sincere and downright nice. I've met a couple of these kind of guys in person and, for various reasons, I was too dumb to snatch them up without a second thought. Yeah. I'm still shaking my head over those choices too. But I digress...
Have you ever read about a physically gorgeous guy who is also a really nice guy in a romance novel? Have you ever written a hero like this?
As I think about the heroes in my stories, some have been physically great looking but facing serious character demons. There's also a charmer who is average looking and has a lot of room for growth. And the heroes in my upcoming series are pretty darn good-looking but have all been adopted, so have a lot of childhood baggage.
Not one truly beautiful man among my romance heroes--at least not at the beginning of the story. Are beautiful guys too perfect for a romance story? No apparent flaws, so no potential character growth, and no conflict with the heroine. Or, as someone commented on an earlier blog, do we just have to live with a seemingly perfect guy awhile to discover his irritating habits?
What do you think? Have you ever read about or written a hero who is beautiful inside and out right from the beginning of the story? Was he memorable? Or did the story lack spark...or something?
6 comments:
I have to say, Genene, that while I have met beautiful people inside and out, no one is that perfect and if they were, they might be so boring you'd wander off in more ways than one.
I have written books with heroes who were pretty darn near a done deal from the get go -- one in particular comes to mind. When he doesn't show up at his own wedding, his jilted bride has to go looking for him. Everyone is telling her to have some pride as it appears he ran out with another woman. The hero only makes it into the very last of the book, the last fifteen pages or so. So, he didn't have a whole lot of growing to do or time in which to do it. The book was really more about believing in yourself, your worth, and most of all, in love. Not a traditional romance, but I loved that book.
I'll be curious to see how others respond.
Hi, Alice!
Which book had the jilted bride? It sounds like a very interesting one. Maybe that departure from a "traditional" romance is one of the things that made it special. I like books that surprise me--as long as it's a pleasant surprise. :)
I'm Home! Until next Tuesday:(
Anyway, Genene, this is an interesting topic. Because I don't write really "bad" heroes. They all pretty much have redeeming qualities from the get-go with the exception of a little baggage. I try to make them gorgeous- at least to the heroine.
Zeke in Outlaw in Petticoats whom several reviewers said they fell in love with really had nothing majorly wrong with him. He was gorgeous and knew he wanted the heroine and he did whatever he had to, to get her to fall in love with him. Be gentle, let her lead, or be forceful and tell her what needed to be done. His flaw was doing what it took to get her.
Again, none of my heroes would be considered bad boys. I think it's because I stayed way away from those types growing up and don't have a feel for them. None are so flawed you can't see them growing, but their growth is hard to see sometimes because it is so small. Which upon listening to the craft workshops from the 2008 RWA conference (I've been doing this with all my traveling and I'll blog about it on Monday) Some say you must have growth in both main characters but one can be more pronounced than the other. In my stories it happens to be the heroine who shows the most growth. She needs the stable hero to help her find her way.
I'm trying to think of books I've read lately or that I really like and I can't remember if the heroes were beautiful men inside and out.
Hi, Paty! Are you glad to be home--at least for a few days?
Interesting what you said about your heroes not being "bad" boys and not having a lot of character growth. It must be working, though, because you are getting lots of great reviews!
I don't consider my heroes bad boys, but they usually have some major trauma or issue to work through during the course of the story.
Glad you had the time to stop by before you catch up on all the things I'm sure you have to do at home. :)
I agree with Alice - perfection is boring. I love flawed characters. So even if my heroes are gorgeous, they usually have some major issues to overcome or a serious character arc.
As for what I write...well, looking back at my heroes, I'd say I write anti-heroes. Let's see....hero #1 (FURY) a thief. Hero #2 (HEAT) a crook. Hero #3 (SEDUCTION) a cop (though one who has some of his own issues and walks a fine line between what the law says is legal and what he believes is legal). Definitely not "beautiful" people inside and out, but that's what makes their stories so fun to read. That character arc is the whole reason I love to read and write.
Hey, Eli!
A thief, a crook, and a barely legal cop. LOL! You do make your heroes work for their happy ending!
Maybe a perfectly beautiful guy could have a five-page story arc. :)
Hope all is going well with your giveaways and guest authors on your blog in honor of the release of STOLEN HEAT!
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