BVS Reader's Blog

Archive for the ‘heroes’ Category

There were a lot of interesting comments in the topic about what makes a hero to die for. One of the themes that ran through several of the comments was the idea that a great hero is sensitive to the heroine, understands who she is, why she is the way she is, and what she needs to be happy.

As a reader, those traits (and others that are similar to them) are very important to me in terms of the hero — and whether I like him.

A non-BVS author who is new to me, who I like a lot is Catherine Anderson. I read Baby Love by her. One of the things that I found most striking, and that I REALLY liked about that book was the hero’s dedication to the heroine. The way that he made decisions based on what he believed was best for the heroine — what she needed from him emotionally — made me like him — a lot. Enough that I will undoubtedly buy and read a good many more Catherine Anderson books.

On the erotic side of the coin, another non-BVS author that I read recently is Tymber Dalton. Her book The Reluctant Dom is another book which has (in this case two heroes who put the heroine first in everything they do.) The whole book results from the hero (Kaden’s) desire for his best friend (Seth) to care for and love his (Kaden’s) wife (Leah) after Kaden’s death. Though the book is excellent for many reasons one of the things that I liked best about it was the way that the heroes (Seth and Kaden) showed sensitivity, understanding, compassion. It’s a fantastic read. I would highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t yet read it. Also keep your eye out for an interview with Tymber Dalton. I interviewed her for the column that I write for PopSyndicate each month. I will post a link when the column is out.

We have several Black Velvet Seductions books which have heroes who are very sensitive to their heroines. Night Angel by Renee Reeves comes to mind here…as does my own His Perfect Submissive.

Even Toy’s Story: Acquisition of a Sex Toy by Robert Cloud has a hero who is sensitive to his heroine’s sexual feelings and fantasies. The hero and heroine have an online relationship in which they share their fantasies. The heroine fantasizes about being kidnapped and forced to live the life of a slave. The heroine leads the hero to believe (through emails, chats, and conversations) that she wants a very harsh Master. Much of what the hero does through the book is based upon what the heroine has shared about her fantasies. Much of the hero’s internal struggle is about whether he can be the kind of Master the heroine wants without losing himself in the process. The fantasies themselves are pretty intense, and the story leaves nothing untold. I enjoyed it a lot, even though it is hard to read in places. It fits in the category of stories with heroes who are sensitive and understanding of their heroines even though the hero does some things that would be reprehensible in other situations.

How important is it to you for the character to demonstrate sensitivity, understanding, compassion toward the heroine in the books you read? Is it a trait that you look for in the books you read? Does an author who writes heroes like that end up on your buy list — like they do mine? Or is it just a nice trait — but not a make it or break it for you?

I’ve read romance novels and erotic romance novels with heroes that I adored, others that were just sort of so-so, and a few with heroes that I wanted the heroine to kick to the curb.

Most recently my husband and I have been reading A Slave To Love by Nikita Black. Though the story is definitely hot I can’t really say that I am in love with the hero … though I realize that the heroine is.

Mick, the hero in A Slave To Love is an alpha hero…in fact…he’s beyond alpha…he’s way over into Dom territory. I usually like alpha/Dom heroes…so I am not sure why this one isn’t quite doing it for me. I do have a few thoughts as to why.

The first is…in an erotic romance with a D/s element I like the hero to be someone who has all of his stuff together. I don’t want him to be troubled, uncertain, or wavering. I think this is because in power exchange relationships one party in the relationship is cedeing power to the other…and it makes me uneasy to think about cedeing power to someone who isn’t managing his own life that well. Yet, this didn’t really bother me in Toy’s Story: Acquisition of a Sex Toy which we published.

The hero in that story is certainly flawed…and yet in that book the reader is taken into the character so deeply that they understand his flaws…his depression…his anger…the mistakes he makes…and his eventual anguish at making them…so maybe some of his mistakes get a pass.   

I think what bothers me about Mick, the hero in Slave to Love is that he doesn’t seem to spend much time thinking about what the heroine wants or needs or what the ramifications of her relationship with him are on her career. Those are things that I think a “good Dom” would be concerned with. I guess what I want is him to look out for the heroine and her interests a bit more. Granted…Slave to Love is an erotic romantic suspense novel…with a serial killer…and part of the story line is to have the reader wonder if the hero is the guilty party.

In stories of a sweeter nature I still like alpha males. I like heroes who might appear to be tough…but who have a soft spot a mile wild for the heroine. I guess I really like to see the contrast between his alpha nature…his toughness…and his softer side…the part that comforts her when she is hurt…the part that tries to understand why she hurts.

I like heroes who have had some hard knocks in life, who have gained some strength, insight, wisdom from their hard knocks, or who do as they fall in love and realize that there is a place for softness…even for a hero who is hard as nails, controlled.

What is it that makes a to die for romance novel hero for you? Is it different in different types of books, or in different sub-genres?

How important is the hero to your overall enjoyment of the book? I am not in love with Mick, but I am still drawn into the story, still reading to find out who the killer is, still rooting for the Mick and Caroline to be together in the end.