Bodice Ripper Readers Anonymous discussion

OK, so let's say your favorite author asks you to commission a book, tell her exactly what you would like her to write. What is your dream book? What would the hero be like? The heroine? How would their relationship progress? What would be the backdrop of the story? What elements would be necessary to make this book the most dog-eared book in your library, even if it's your guilty secret? Oh, and which author, in this daydream, would be the one who asked?

See, this is why I started writing myself, because I wanted to read and come up with my ideal story. At some point I just decided to start writing it myself. Even though it's not done and I don't know if it would be ever publishable I enjoy writing it.

* I would love it to be set in 16th to 18th century France, Italy or England. 19th century and Regency Era just doesn't have any appeal. I think I'm all Regencied out!
*I like big complicated plots with large casts.
* I really like Restoration England or the era of Louis XIV and his court
* Nuns or Priests as well at some point. I don't mind if they're sinful...
* I would like a musical setting, something to do with opera or musicians
* I love starcrossed romances so that's a definite
* Lots of glamour and scandal! I want details about settings and costumes. I want to be dazzled.
* Some kind of mystery and intrigue. I like a lot of plotting behind the scenes and really mean villains. Just don't make them too OTT!
* I tend to go for aristocratic/ Court settings. if you incorporate historical figures Like
-Louis XIV
-Charles II
-Prince Rupert of the Rhine
-John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester
-Nell Gwynne
-Louise de la Valliere
-Moliere
-Jean Baptiste Lully
-Ninon de Lenclos
-Athenais de Montespan and her family
-Phillipe d' Orleans (Monsieur)
-Henrietta- Anne d'Orleans (Madame)
that would be marvellous.

*I would like quite a high heat level without it turning into outright erotica. I still want developed characters and plot ;)

*A handsome dashing hero who's right for the heroine and treats her well. He can be a noble or a soldier. I don't mind an Alpha hero as long as he isn't a complete bastard. I would prefer a hero who actually behaves as if he likes and fancies the heroine.

*A heroine who's a decent person. It would be nice she's pretty but she must be intelligent and not too stupid to live. Please no irritating Mary-Sues!

*As for how the relationship develops... perhaps she leaves the convent and attends court as she's married to a noble. The husband isn't a good guy. She meets the love of her life at court.

*I wouldn't object to some m/m romance as a side plot or even the main plot, but would that make it a breeches-ripper rather than a bodice ripper? I don't mind having both m/m and m/f in the book.

Author wise, I doubt she ever would do the period but Diana Gabaldon, Sarah Ash or Phillipa Gregory as I like their prose. I'd like it to be a fun read so something a bit like old school Jilly Cooper.
Maybe Alex Beecroft or Mel Keegan if we're playing up the m/m angle.

I haven't asked for much, have I?

Yow, that is a tall order! So how are you doing writing this??

I've only read one Alex Beecroft historical, but I LOVED IT. I'd love to tell her to keep writing the Age of Sail manporn, because she's great at it. :)

*keeps mum* :P

Here's my wishlist. :)

*Author of choice: Judith McNaught (maybe with a little Rosemary Rogers influence)
*A good combination of humor, angst, adventure, and romance
*Dark-haired, jerk hero, villain-like at times, who struggles with coming to terms with his love for the heroine, has a scar somewhere (maybe old bullet wound on chest), 32-33 in age
*Brunette heroine, beautiful but tomboyish, tough enough to stand up to the hero (but not over-the-top fiery), innocent but smart, sees through the hero's bad-side, 21-24 in age
*rape or near rape of heroine by hero
*no cheating
*Western time period, perhaps hero is a gunslinger, hero kidnaps heroine

That's all I can think of for now. I love the westerns, but it's hard to find a good one.

Good ones!

SmittenKitten wrote: "Here's my wishlist. :)

*Author of choice: Judith McNaught (maybe with a little Rosemary Rogers influence)
*A good combination of humor, angst, adventure, and romance
*Dark-haired, jerk hero, vill..."

Oh, I like your wishlist. If you find it, let me know, OK??????????

*What is your dream book?
*What would the hero be like? An uber protective alpha, of course. A lean muscular built but not too bulky. I tend to like dark haired guys more. Normal height (around 6’ give or take an inch). A warrior type. Dangerous but heroine brings out a gentler protective side he never knew he had.
*The heroine? How would their relationship progress? Not a doormat or damsel in distress, but not some warrior queen who eats men for lunch either. Someone intelligent but not necessarily a bluestocking. Beautiful to the hero but doesn’t have to be beautiful to the world. I like the love at first sight but not the jump in bed at first sight. So strong feelings that they fight for a while. That’s makes for some good sexual tension.
*What would be the backdrop of the story? Maybe medieval or the highlands are nice.
*What elements would be necessary to make this book the most dog-eared book in your library, even if it's your guilty secret? Got to have evil villain. The eviler the better. A little action and adventure thrown in. Lots of sexual tension. Love a bit of humor. Definitely a few “awwwwwe” moments. A good grovel scene would be nice. Got to have some good dialogue. A good slow sensual love scene or two, maybe three…
*Oh, and which author, in this daydream, would be the one who asked? Maybe a conglomeration of Lisa Kleypas and Julie Garwood.

Pamela, I think you just read my mind(scary). I totally would read that book!

lol

You got me, too, Pamela, but my author would be Brenda Joyce.

OK, here's mine (tonight - tomorrow something else might be on my wish list):

What would the hero be like? Physically, think Hugh Jackman meets Gerard Butler. Dark, wavy hair, muscular. Alpha and damaged, but not in a psychiatrist's couch, my mommy ate my puppy kind of way. He's dark, but he has a conscience too, even if it's buried deep. If he wants a woman, he doesn't let much of anything stand in his way, but he thinks with the right part of his anatomy. And he's the kind of guy who, when he does finally love someone, he's committed to her in every way.

The heroine? Imagine Molly C. Quinn in about 2-5 years. She's young and a bit naive, but not stupid, and she is NOT passive or helpless. She doesn't give up; if she's locked in a room and she doesn't want to be there, she will scratch her way through the walls to get out. If she finds herself up against a stronger will and a more determined opponent, she might back down, but she is only biding her time. But she's not a b*tch. She is compassionate, and she would sacrifice everything for the people she loves. And while she's very passionate, she also has enough self-esteem that she doesn't wilt into a puddle of goo the first time the guy blows in her ear, particularly if he's just treated her like crap. Her affections don't come cheap and she doesn't waste them on someone who can't treat her right. But once she loves, there's no turning back.

How would their relationship progress? They might start as friends, lovers or even spouses, but for some reason they quickly become adversaries. He will wrong her in ways that she quite reasonably can't forgive. There will be a situation that throws them together in adverse circumstances, and they drive each other crazy. There's an attraction, but she really does hate him. He wants her, but he doesn't like or trust her, and he's hard on her. When he finally realizes how wrong he's been, he deeply regrets the hurts he's caused and he sets out to win her back. She doesn't make it easy.

What would be the backdrop of the story? Anything from Roman Britain to King James would work for me. I'm Regencied to death.

What elements would be necessary to make this book the most dog-eared book in your library, even if it's your guilty secret? I've already mentioned a battle of wills. Make that a war. Steamy, steamy sex (Brenda Joyce does it better than anyone for my tastes), but it needs to be part of the story, not a cheap way to build interest when the plot is lagging. At some point she needs to be at his mercy in some way, but please, if there's force, don't pretend it's seduction, and if the hero abuses or ill-treats her, he needs to honestly regret it and become a better man before the HEA. And she needs to stick it to him a bit before she lets him back into her life.

Oh, and which author, in this daydream, would be the one who asked? Brenda Joyce or Anne Stuart.

Sounds like a good one, Elle.

SmittenKitten wrote: "Here's my wishlist. :)

*Author of choice: Judith McNaught (maybe with a little Rosemary Rogers influence)
*A good combination of humor, angst, adventure, and romance
*Dark-haired, jerk hero, vill..."

SmittenKitten wrote: "Here's my wishlist. :)

*Author of choice: Judith McNaught (maybe with a little Rosemary Rogers influence)
*A good combination of humor, angst, adventure, and romance
*Dark-haired, jerk hero, vill..."

Have you read Lady of the West by Linda Howard? It fits most of your parameters.