Let’s talk heroes.  Let’s talk loving ‘em.

Let’s talk letdown.

I’ve just finished reading two romance novels.  Written by popular authors whose names are unimportant to this discussion.  What IS important is that by the time I finished, I was thoroughly disappointed.

Why?

Because the heroes didn’t live up to the images they initially promised–at least, in my mind.

I’ll be up-front and confess that I LOVE IMPERFECT HEROES.  Give me a super-nice guy with a straight-laced job and thoughts as pure as the driven snow, and I am B-O-R-E-D. (Unless I’m writing him myself, in which case you can be sure I plan to corrupt him–but that’s another blog).  Give me the shady guys, the ones with a past, the ‘bad boys’ or whatever you wanna call ‘em, and you’ve got my interest right off the bat.

HOWEVER…

If, for example, you begin your story by telling me this guy has a rep for being a lady’s man and has screwed everything with a pulse within 75 miles, his attitude and behavior damn well better reflect that rep.  I don’t want to get fifty pages into the book only to discover that yeah, maybe he did those things, but in his heart of hearts he was disgusted with himself and really just wanted that one special woman…  :roll:

And PLEASE don’t introduce him as a tough guy who’s rough, without conscience, done it all and relished doing it–then have him become a squeaky-clean Boy Scout overnight, due to the love of that one special woman…  :roll:

In the first place, you’ve lied to me.  And I don’t like it.  You’ve invited me into your restaurant and led me to expect prime rib when you’re really serving spam on crackers.

Secondly–and yes, I know it’s romantic fantasy–but it also fuels a dangerous mythology, one that’s haunted embittered women for centuries:  the idea that this man must be molded and shaped, that if you could just change this ONE THING about him he’d be the perfect guy, and all it takes is the RIGHT WOMAN…  :roll:

We all know the rest of that fantasy.  And let’s be honest.  It would never just be “one thing”, now would it?  Change a little here, a little there…

And as long as we’re being honest, let’s admit that, if he initiated every change we suggested, eventually he’d be so boring and predictable we’d find any excuse we could to sneak out of the house to meet…

Yep.  That bad boy.  :razz:

I’ve got nothing against a bad boy changing for the better; and if it’s for love, better still.  And yes, the love of a good woman can do wonders.  But please, authors–if you MUST change your prime rib, at least do so gradually, and leave it rare, not overdone, or I’ll figure the chef’s not to be trusted and probably never eat at your restaurant again.

Check?