Clean Romances discussion

Personally I like them nice, the nicer the better.

I don’t really understand why so many books have bad boy heroes as I just end up wanting to deck the horrors and wonder why the heroine is putting up with them.

I like kind guys who take responsibility and look after the heroine, who might not necessarily know exactly what to do with her but try to make sure she’s happy. I like heroes who have good relationships with their friends and show their worth by treating the other characters in the book well.

What about you???

What is your favourite kind of hero???

And what attributes do you really NOT want a hero to have???

I like a hero who treats a woman with respect, who doesn't put her down, and who doesn't think he's so sexy he just KNOWS the heroine can't resist him.

In romances where there's a beta man competing with the alpha hero for the heroine, I often find myself rooting for the beta guy, even when I know he won't win. Then I'm always still disappointed (and mad at the heroine) when he doesn't.

I have the same problem Joyce, would it hurt to make the alpha a little nicer to the heroine???

One of my favorite books is Cotillion by Heyer. In that book, the hero, who is just a normal nice guy, does everything he can to bring comfort to the lives of all the women in his life. After reading that, I determined to teach my daughters that if a young man isn't putting her first and giving her every consideration and treating her with all respect, he is not the man for her.

I love Regency romance because women are generally treated with respect and sheltered from the seedier aspects of life. I don't mind a bad guy in a hero as long as he is reforming by the end of things because the heroine brings out the best in him and he wants to live up to her expectations.

My favourite heroes would have to be responsible, respectful, protective, hardworking, decisive,...

The attribute they absolutely should not have is cheating tendencies, everything else i can swallow somehow.

Nanci wrote: "One of my favorite books is Cotillion by Heyer. In that book, the hero, who is just a normal nice guy, does everything he can to bring comfort to the lives of all the women in his life. After read..."

I love Cotillion too Nanci!!! And for the exact same reason!!! Freddy is awesome!

Mila wrote: "My favourite heroes would have to be responsible, respectful, protective, hardworking, decisive,...

The attribute they absolutely should not have is cheating tendencies, everything else i can swal..."

Couldn't agree more Mila!

I like my heroes imperfect and misunderstood. Dashing with good hearts, but a little chip on the shoulder that makes them hold back. Then it's up to me to melt them! ha!

Nanci wrote: "One of my favorite books is Cotillion by Heyer. In that book, the hero, who is just a normal nice guy, does everything he can to bring comfort to the lives of all the women in his life. After read..."

Georgette Heyer actually wrote many really good heroes! Besides Freddy, I love Beaumaris, Miles, The Shield, Sylvester... all of them are so gentleman, powerful, resourceful, with the twinkle in their eyes (which I love), and despite being rich and admired by everyone, they are also mischievous in a nice, funny way. Oh, and they are great friends of their heroines, and respectful, and are so willing to help the girl in anything, even if it means losing their quiet, peaceful daily lifes. That is my favorite kind of hero :)

Sakura Yue wrote: "Nanci wrote: "One of my favorite books is Cotillion by Heyer. In that book, the hero, who is just a normal nice guy, does everything he can to bring comfort to the lives of all the women in his li..."

I definitely agree with Sakura! I adore all of Georgette Heyer's heroes, because to me they are just so amazing!
I like my heroes to be friends with the heroine first. Kind, respectful but not afraid to tease, someone who won't let others speak bad of his girl.

:) I am sighing just thinking about it.

Mila wrote: "My favourite heroes would have to be responsible, respectful, protective, hardworking, decisive,...

The attribute they absolutely should not have is cheating tendencies, everything else i can swal..."

I am totally in agreement with you. I can't stand a cheater. I don't mind so much if that is a previous history but once his mind is made up to spend time with the heroine, or become engaged or get married, there must be commitment or I am done with that book. He can't be a hero if he can't be heroic right? I don't really like the make him/her jealous game either. I am on the respect and honor team.

Respect and Honor, yes! I definitely agree with you there.

I don't like a Hero who doesn't have flaws, though, because those guy seem very unrealistic. My favorite type of Hero is the one who has flaws, and who maybe had a bad past, but who works to change himself, because he wants to be better, and step away from those bad things. I think there's something very drawing about a person like that. I don't like the "I'm only going to change because the Heroin will like it". That bothers me. But, if a Hero really does change throughout a story, then I'm enamored.

I also really like the Hero who thinks of his other half first. I can't stand the "I'm so amazing" type of guy, or the the bad boy. They annoy me.

D.D. wrote: "Nanci wrote: "One of my favorite books is Cotillion by Heyer. In that book, the hero, who is just a normal nice guy, does everything he can to bring comfort to the lives of all the women in his li..."

It's funny because when I was younger I really didn't like Freddy. Then I re-read Cotillion and realized how GOOD he was and my mind changed.

I think the reason the 'bad boy' is so often the hero, is because women like men who take charge and it is an easy thing to make that kind of man domineering. The real trick is writing a hero who is masculine, sexy, strong, but still good! Now THAT is a real hero :O)

Alexandra wrote: "Respect and Honor, yes! I definitely agree with you there.

I don't like a Hero who doesn't have flaws, though, because those guy seem very unrealistic. My favorite type of Hero is the one who has..."

I love it when both the hero and heroine change and grow through the story! I totally agree.

May wrote: "Alexandra wrote: "Respect and Honor, yes! I definitely agree with you there.

I don't like a Hero who doesn't have flaws, though, because those guy seem very unrealistic. My favorite type of Hero ..."

Definitely! It's nice for the character's to have the real-life aspect to them. There's nothing better than being able to relate to the people you're reading about.

YES! True life is so paradoxical. Strong people having weaknesses, weak personalities being really stubborn. It is so hard to write reality because it is so vast and unexpected. I love heros that are deep and real, with flaws but also with admirable qualities. The hero has to be admirable.

I like my heroes sarcastic and supportive. I also love it when a hero can be a heroine's safe place. A good dose of protectiveness without pulling a caveman is also nice.

Zoe wrote: "I like my heroes sarcastic and supportive. I also love it when a hero can be a heroine's safe place. A good dose of protectiveness without pulling a caveman is also nice."

Oh, I love when the hero is a safe harbor as well...

Me too! To me it shows the hero strong without making him a jerk!!! Lol!

I love the strong heroes who know how to express their thoughts and feelings and are protective of the heroine but in no way domineering. Alpha males are so overrated to me.

I love a combination of an Alpha male and a Beta. In other words, I love a hero who is self assured enough to know who he is and what he wants/needs. But, I want him sensitive enough to know how to treat a lady. I also don't mind having a hero who is a little gruff with others but melts when he is with his heroine!

It's important to me that the Hero believes that the Heroine is capable and has some admirable traits. I want to know specifically what he likes about her, and it has to be something more than her being pretty, innocent, or pure. I also don't enjoy the trope of making the guy a woman hater, who thinks all women are untrustworthy, shallow, and trashy... but just this woman is different. That kind of guy is still gross & creepy, even if he is nice to the heroine. I find a LACK of jealousy and proof he will trust his love interest/girlfriend to be appealing and sexy. Super possessive and jealous guys remind me of abusive boyfriend pamphlets, not escapist romance.

Mixedbagreader wrote: "It's important to me that the Hero believes that the Heroine is capable and has some admirable traits. I want to know specifically what he likes about her, and it has to be something more than her ..."

I agree with a lot of what you said! I love it when a hero confesses love by listing a lot of the heroines quirks that he adores!

As for the guy hater...totally with you there! It's often because of one bad experience and then they just label all women into one category - absolutely childish!

Jennifer wrote: "I love the strong heroes who know how to express their thoughts and feelings and are protective of the heroine but in no way domineering. Alpha males are so overrated to me."

I agree. I can't stand those tycoon, super-rich alpha heroes - they're so cliche. I prefer a strong man who isn't afraid to express his love for his woman. He can be very beta, but still male and protective over his woman. He should be an ordinary, every-day person with flaws who changes in the journey of the book - his love for the woman helping him to change.

I don't mind a little mischief in a hero - but these over the top alphas don't do it for me.

I like my hero flawed, but genuinely trying. He doesn't have to always get it right, but his heart is obviously in the right place. (Not the brooding "well, I know he loves me even if no one else can tell" types.)

:)

A strong man does not have to be fowl-mouthed or controlling. These are sign of immaturity.

I'm so glad to find I'm not the only one who is turned off by cockiness and selfishness. Nice guys who love and respect their women are the best. I am amazed by the popularity of heros who are basically bullies. Quiet confidence is so much more appealing to me.

Lisa wrote: "I'm so glad to find I'm not the only one who is turned off by cockiness and selfishness. Nice guys who love and respect their women are the best. I am amazed by the popularity of heros who are basi..."

Me too!!!

Yes!!

Lisa wrote: "I'm so glad to find I'm not the only one who is turned off by cockiness and selfishness. Nice guys who love and respect their women are the best. I am amazed by the popularity of heros who are basi..."

Agreed! I don't mind a bit of aloofness or some character flaws, as long as you know that the character is trying to change, and that they are treating the heroin respectfully. It's one thing to have a quirky personality -- it's another entirely to be a jerk.

I like heroes who are kind and somewhat sensitive but I like for them to complex and multi-dimensional. I don't mind if they're temperamental as long as their not abusive.

This is a fascinating discussion! I was going to start one on this subject but now I don't have to. I want to do a blog post on chivalrous heroes and I'd like to interview 3-5 of you about this. Would anyone be interested?

Katharine wrote: "This is a fascinating discussion! I was going to start one on this subject but now I don't have to. I want to do a blog post on chivalrous heroes and I'd like to interview 3-5 of you about this. Wo..."

I'd love to, Katharine. What a great idea!

Sounds great! I'm up for it! Then I can post it on my blog/a link to it on your blog :)

Yes! Okay I need a couple more people. ... as soon as we get some, I'll work out the details! This is going to be fun!

I'd be up for it too, Katharine! :)

I would like to, depends on the process

I'd be interested, if you don't already have enough people.

Katharine wrote: "Yes! Okay I need a couple more people. ... as soon as we get some, I'll work out the details! This is going to be fun!"

Me too Katharine! :-D

Okay! I think we have enough people. I'm sure there's 25 ways to do this, but I want to make it easy, private and generally painless. My questions are all ready! I have 5 discussion questions and 2 about you questions (in case you want to promote something.)

Send me a private message that says "I'm in!" I'll send you the questions. You answer me back in another message over the next few days, let's say by Friday Jan 25. I'll cut and paste the whole interview together. Send it back to you for your own use on your blogs. It will be a lot more fun if we're cross promoting each other. We can post it the week of Jan 27.

If I don't hear from you by Jan. 25, I"ll assume you're out and don't want to -- which is perfectly fine.

Thanks ladies!

Just seen this and I have in fact messages you :)

#messaged
It all sounds great! :)