Comments on: Would You Want to Live With a Romance Novel Hero?

By: Candice Gilmer

Candice Gilmer — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 02:33:31 +0000

Barbara — touche’

By: Barbara B.

Barbara B. — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 05:02:01 +0000

“I just wish there were more romances (that I could find) about heroes that were mechanics or cab drivers or insurance salesmen… Not every hot guy has to be ex-military.”

Or rich. I’m so very tired of reading about rich romance heroes. I love romance, but I have no interest in the fairy tale aspects. Nor do I need to read characters that are larger than life. Fortunately for me there are still a few romance writers who can make the ordinary extraordinary.

By: Candice Gilmer

Candice Gilmer — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 03:25:34 +0000

I don’t know that I could live with a romance hero — I have a great husband, who’s not alpha, but not beta either, somewhere in the middle. He doesn’t dominate, and he doesn’t just give in either. It’s a nice balance.

I just wish there were more romances (that I could find) about heroes that were mechanics or cab drivers or insurance salsemen… Not every hot guy has to be ex-military.

By: Andrea Blythe

Andrea Blythe — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 16:46:18 +0000

Hmm. I could never fall for a romance hero (although they are fun to read). I want someone who I would feel safe and somfortable with, and I could never feel that way with that kind of guy.

By: Jess

Jess — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 19:03:00 +0000

I’m with Kacie J an Lisa and Kimber Chin – I’m married to an alpha, but I’m a fairly alpha female (I prefer to say I have a “forceful personality”) so it works, and when I need to be submissive, I can be because I know he’s a man worthy of it who won’t abuse my vulnerability. Or something like that.

I also agree we read for escapism – my favorite male characters are the torn, shades of gray kind of guys, not the upstanding straight-laced alpha heros.

By: Kimber Chin

Kimber Chin — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 12:31:48 +0000

Reading the comments, yay for alphas!
I’m an alpha female happily married to an alpha male.
Yes, my hubby push, push, pushes
(one of the traits of an alpha)
but I need that push
’cause I’d run right over anyone else.

About the romance hero,
well, no, they often aren’t men I’d date in real life.
Actually it is almost impossible to date them in real life ’cause they’re contradictions.
Wealthy people are often wealthy because they’re super successful.
Super successful people work hard.
And hard workers don’t have time to sleep around.

A contradiction, sort of like the romance executive who isn’t good with people.
Impossible to get to the executive level (or build a company) without being good with people.

By: Sarah McCarty

Sarah McCarty — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 11:55:15 +0000

I always write about the personality I admire. Alpha doesn’t mean jerk to me. To me it means confident, and strong. Strong enough to put someone else first while still maintaining a sense of self. Someone comfortable in their own skin with a clear compass of what’s important to them. they may have angst about handling a relationship, but I don’t want to doubt that.

I like books that reflect a mature mindset on the part of the H&H. IOW, people ready for a relationship. They can have issues to over come, but pretty much I want them to be capable of handling it when it comes. I tend not to relate to books where the hero is too needy or too dominant. In both cases I tend to have this persistent need to hand the heroine a 2X4 to apply to the hero’s head so he can find the balance he lacks. *wry grin*

By: Emjai

Emjai — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 02:23:00 +0000

And finally the secret as to why I have a hard time selling my books. I don’t write the alpha heroes and unfortunately that is what publishers want…at least the ones I’ve been in contact with. I love a good alpha hero story if it’s done right but I can’t write about them it isn’t in my nature.

By: Yvonne Lindsay

Yvonne Lindsay — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 21:50:03 +0000

Maverick wrote: I was shocked and amazed to find that the qualities that made me fall for romance heroes were not the same ones that make me fall for real guys.

This is interesting, and I suppose it supports the theory that we read for the fantasy–the escapism. My dh is an alpha, a quiet alpha, and yeah, can be challenging at times, but can’t we all?

I think the inherent difference between alpha hero and alpha a$$ is the ‘hero’ element. People all too often confuse alpha with overbearing, arrogant, unpleasant, etc. A true alpha exhibits the characteristics we all love in our lifemates–honesty, integrity, loyalty, strength, kindness, dependability, passion etc., and above all the ability to provide and make you feel wanted, safe and secure.

By: Libby

Libby — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 21:40:24 +0000

I can’t say better what Lisa and Kacie J described above, so I’ll just say I agree with their descriptions 100% I married an alpha (a cop), but there is a HUGE difference between being alpha and just being an a$$. I can’t stress that enough. And there’s also a huge difference between fictional alpha heroes and the ones that exist in real life. That said, it boils down to how well the author writes and how fully she develops their characters. I have to understand them.

My husband and I are the polar opposites of eachother, which is perfect because we keep eachother in check. I can’t imagine what it would be like if I married somebody with a personality similar to mine, but I have a feeling it would be way too chaotic. My husband and I have a fantastic marriage/friendship/partnership that thrives on the balance that we bring eachother and I wouldn’t have it any other way