March 11th, 2010 | by Chloe Harris |
Over the weekend I read a rather negative review of Secrets of Sin. It was the first one out of six or seven that’s been more negative than positive. The reviewer gave it 2 out of 5 something or other. It wasn’t stars and I can’t quite remember was she uses.
She said it had no romance and was just about sex. I’m not sure I can agree with that. I know how hard we worked to specifically make sure there was lots of romance. And several other reviewers have used phrases like “touch me on a deep emotional level”, “delightful lead characters” and “desire and love run wild” to describe the story so they all saw the romance in it too. What I do agree with is that the romance portion of the story didn’t work for her. She said she never warmed up to Reinier, the hero. I have no problem with that. He’s a hard man to love and we knew some people wouldn’t.
Personally as a reader I adore a man that’s flawed and hard to love. Knights in shining armor are fine too but give me a tarnished hero with some kinks (yes pun intended) in that armor and I’m even happier. I’ve read a lot of them lately like Ian in the The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, Leo in Wild Heart and Christian in The Sin of Lord Easterbrook. But they are hard to love in a much more sympathetic way than Reinier.
Reinier is more in the vein of a Susan Johnson “hard to love” hero. And no, I am not comparing Chloe Harris to Susan Johnson, just that our hero is flawed in a similar way as some of her’s. When many historical writers write bad boys the things that make them bad are generally off the page or happen before the hero and heroine meet. SJ isn’t afraid to have the hero turn back to his bad habits after the first meet and we weren’t afraid to show how bad Reinier can be in vivid detail.
In a lot of historical romances the reader falls in love with the hero way before the heroine does and they continue to read to see her discover what they already know. But with Reinier, I think, the reader and the heroine are on more of an equal footing. For the most part it’s going to take just as long for the reader to love and forgive him as it does the heroine, for some readers sooner and for some not at all.
One reviewer called the story “slightly dark in a sensationally passionate way.” It’s set in the Caribbean on a lush island where everything is bright and airy. How can she say it’s dark? The dark she’s talking about, I think, comes from Reinier. There is a darkness in him that invades the story. I LOVE that in a hero. I get the shivers from just looking at the DVD cover with Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Henry VIII. But I’m weird that way. I’ve always known that. 
So what about you? Do you like a hero that’s hard to love or that perfect knight that saves the day? And what the hell, let’s give away another copy to a commenter so you can see for yourself.
I like a hero who’s hard to love…it offers a bit more angst to a story…At the end, I do want him to the right thing but the journey is what makes it interesting.
by Anna Shah Hoque · March 12th, 2010 at 12:16 amHi Chloe, thanks for finding a good topic/post out of a review/comment that may not have quite made your day
Your question is difficult: I do read romantic fiction for that ideal/”white knight” aspect, but it is the hard-to-love hero that makes happy ending so much more worthwhile. So I guess a bit of both? I will look out for your book and decide for myself!
by Allison · March 12th, 2010 at 1:21 amLife would be less lovely if all heroes were the same. There is a certain type of male character which I tend to fancy, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t enjoy someone like “Dain” in “Lord of Scoundrels”, Professor Henry Higgins in “My Fair Lady”, Rochester in “Jane Eyre”, or Jack Nicholson’s character in “As Good As It Gets”. What’s so delicious about these rotters is that it takes a very special lady to bring them to heel. Don’t we all enjoy seeing these rogues reformed by the love of a good woman?
by Virginia C · March 12th, 2010 at 1:28 amI like a challenge and I like to be different. With that in mind I wouldn’t fall for someone everybody finds loveable. I want to be the only want to see that there’s something redeemable in the guy, to be the one to breach all his defenses and that’s what I want my heroines to be able to do. I don’t expect perfection in anyone, perfection is boring and unrealistic.
by Sue A. · March 12th, 2010 at 1:52 amI love it when the hero has some flaws. Guess that is why I love bad boys, who are just waiting for the right woman. To think that there is a perfect man is a little bit unrealistic, at least in my opinion.
by Danny · March 12th, 2010 at 10:31 amI like a hero who is hard to love. Gives more substance to the story.
by Estella · March 12th, 2010 at 9:05 pmHi everyone! Whew, I’m so glad we got the site back up thanks to some quick action from Susan Lyons and Devyn Quinn.
You know I’ve been thinking. I agree that a perfect hero can be unrealistic but is it not just as unrealistic to think a bad boy can be completely save from just the love of a good woman.
Don’t get me wrong I LOVE LOVE LOVE those stories heck I write them but I think it can be just as much of a fantasy as the perfect hero that swoops in to save the day. I know June Cater Cash did it but it’s rare. Believe me I’m still trying to do it.
But that’s the point of Romance isn’t it – Fantasy. I guess it’s just a choice of which Fantasy does it for you personally.
Unless your my friend, Samantha Kane with Ellora’s Cave. She likes both types and in the same story!!
by Chloe Harris (Noelle) · March 12th, 2010 at 10:53 pmHi Chloe, the problem I have with the perfect or near perfect guy is that I’d expect the heroine to be perfect to be able to hold onto such a guy. I’d have a tough time identifying with such a heroine. Dating outside of your league is not the norm, although there have been some believable plain Jane stories, but that’s another topic entirely.
But I like Ms. Kane’s way of deferring the decision making and going with the best of both worlds.
by Sue A. · March 13th, 2010 at 7:42 amI guess it kind of depends on what mood I’m in–sometimes I like the whole fantasy, incredible prince of a guy to sweep the heroine away; other times, I like to read about a hero who doesn’t seem that way at first. He’s heroic, too–you just have to spend longer to get to that core; it isn’t obvious at first glance
by Fedora · March 13th, 2010 at 9:06 amHi Chloe,
As a reviewer myself, there are only (2) things I look for in a novel. (1) Do the characters act in a believable way and (2) does the hero/heroine come together; I didn’t mean that in the literal sense.(lol) But, if they do, that’s great too! I’m thrilled to say, the vast majority of romance authors…deliver!!!
Now, on to your question. I love a hero that’s hard to love, if he’s a brooding hero then I’m hooked all the more.
by Susan S. · March 13th, 2010 at 6:27 pmAnd the winner is by random.org……
Sue A!! Congrats
by Chloe Harris (Noelle) · March 14th, 2010 at 4:24 pmBig congrats Sue!!!
by Danny · March 15th, 2010 at 5:36 pmCongratulations Sue!!!
by Anna Shah Hoque · March 17th, 2010 at 2:19 am