Thursday, May 16, 2013

Romance Heroines We Love, by Natalie Charles

I love talking about romantic heroes. Whether you love billionaires, sheiks, dukes, single dads, or military men, romance offers a selection of heroes hot enough to make any reader swoon. But what about the smart, fesity women who bring those men to one knee? Today I want to talk about them, and I want to know: what do you look for in a romantic heroine?
 
Some readers seem to enjoy placing themselves in the role of the heroine and experiencing a story through her eyes. For those readers, it may be important for the heroine to have a relatable lifestyle, family, or outlook on life.
 
While I of course want to sympathize with the heroine on some level, I'm not in the vicarious living school of readers. I don't care if the heroine is someone whose life I want to experience. I want my heroines to be kick ass and edgy -- Eve Dallas in J.D. Robb's In Death series is a good example. I've also been enjoying Tess Gerritsen's Rizzoli and Isles series. Rizzoli and Isles may not be romantic heroines in the traditional sense, but they are bad ass women with brains and flaws. Sometimes the flaws are annoying, but that's cool. I can handle imperfect. I was also crazy about Cecilia Grant's heroine in A Lady Awakened, prickly as she could be, and Sarah Mayberry's heroine in Her Best Worst Mistake.
 
I confess to struggling a bit with Mary Sue heroines, though I'm not sure if it's because I find them dull or because I lied earlier about living vicariously through heroines. I can't relate to characters who are perky and kind and inexplicably have no idea how beautiful they are. Something about that is grating. But hey, I also struggle with a lot of alpha male heroes, so maybe I'm strange.
 
So let's hear it: Do you like to live through your heroines? What do you love in a romance heroine, and who have been some of your favorites?

12 comments:

  1. I'm with you on heroines, Natalie. Since I'm often viewing the story through her eyes, I can't bear a Mary Sue, and way prefer kick ass heroines. Relatable is good, but if she's just another me then I don't feel challenged either.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think that about sums it up for me too, Romy. I don't want to read about someone who's just like me.

      Delete
  2. I love quirky heroines--probably because I'm that way and can relate. LOL And I love smart and savvy ones too who can really handle themselves in touch situations.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I also love a clever heroine who knows how to get herself out of trouble! A sticky situation will keep me turning the pages, for sure.

      Delete
  3. I love feisty, strong-willed heroines, and I do enjoy a heroine I can relate to a bit since as Romy said, I am viewing the story through her eyes. Of course, I also just loved the heroine in Cecilia Grant's A LADY AWAKENED!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I loved that Grant took risks with that heroine. I'm sure not every reader related, but I thought it was a superb read. Maybe not something I would see myself doing, but that's what made the story so interesting.

      Delete
  4. All depends what mood I'm in really, I love a mixture and can't say I have a type I prefer :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's something to be said for variety! Also, I think that heroine types can vary dramatically depending on the subgenre you're reading. I don't find a lot of Mary Sues in romantic suspense, for example.

      Delete
  5. I don't really like alpha heroes. So often they seem to be flat-out jerks, and I just don't have the patience for that. I don't think I've ever read a book thinking I am living vicariously through the characters. I do like to be swept up in the book, but I feel more like I get to go along for the ride. I like kick-ass heroines, too. Since I am NOT one. LOL.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Ami. I'm so glad it's not just me with the alphas! Give me a sensitive beta any day. I'm with you on the kick-ass front. I love to read books and think, 'Oh, glad that's not me!' I want to be entertained. :-)

      Delete
  6. I like heroines who I can imagine being friends with. Someone with strengths and weaknesses, regular problems (like bills and flat car tires), and a good heart. My favorite heroine discovers her strengths and gets a chance to show hero (and the world) what they've been missing and just how amazing she is!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kick-ass or not, relatability is so important in a heroine. And I do love a book that features the heroine's journey to awesomeness. I feel like any story book romance should have both characters helping each other to become greater than they ever thought they could be. In my mind, that's soulmate material. :-)

      Delete