Do you connect with romance heroines or are they just conduits needed to access your dangerous hero?

[[deleted user]]

It's a process. A lot of people don't realize how much goes into writing a book. That's part of the reason why I hate to give negative reviews, but I want to be honest also. I try to do it in a nice constructive way. Some people can be a bit nasty with their reviews.

[S.K.]

Tori wrote: "It's a process. A lot of people don't realize how much goes into writing a book. That's part of the reason why I hate to give negative reviews, but I want to be honest also. I try to do it in a nic..."



Yes I can't sleep at night for fear of the nasty ones ha ha ha ha ha!

[Teresa]

I can connect with the heroine but find it more easy to connect with the hero.

I can't stand heroine that allow themselves to get pushed around by a controlling hero all the time. It drives me crazy. Probably because in real life if my husband ever and I mean ever tried to control me or tell me what I can and can't do all the time it would end very badly for him. I can't stand pushy controlling people in any setting though.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Drop by and ask Zoe Archer what she thinks about heroines and heroes in her three hour Getting to Know Session tonight, starting in one hour:

Getting to Know Zoe Archer

[Paganalexandria]

I feel like lately connecting with the heroine is more imperative because there are so many books told in first person (which I'm really not a fan of), and from the heroine's perspective. It's impossible for me to like any book written like this if the heroine annoys me. The hero could be the best thing ever but if her inner dialogue gets on my nerves too bad, it's likely to be a DNF.

[S.K.]

Paganalexandria wrote: "I feel like lately connecting with the heroine is more imperative because there are so many books told in first person (which I'm really not a fan of), and from the heroine's perspective. It's impo..."

I write from 3rd person POV. In mine, though the main part of the story is told from Ivyanne's point of view, the other 3 are from the guys and for the exact same reason-because the inner dialogue of a heroine can just wear on your nerves and because it's written like you're thinking it as in : 'I felt' 'I kissed' sometimes it can butt up against the fantasy you're trying to sink into because you're thinking : 'Uh, no I wouldn't have!' Lol

[Teresa]

I agree I do not like books written in the first person only from the heroines POV. I find that I often have a harder time connecting with them because they end up annoying me. I am not sure why that is such a popular trend in romance novels of late. I really feel like it is a simplistic way to write (just my opinion I know not everyone agrees with me on that and its not meant to insult anyone).

[S.K.]

Teresa wrote: "I agree I do not like books written in the first person only from the heroines POV. I find that I often have a harder time connecting with them because they end up annoying me. I am not sure why th..."

I think the for first person to work the heroine has got to be sensational-or almost completely blank so everyone can wear her skin like a onesie ;)

But it can work. I put my foot down on switching POV. As in-mid paragraph switching. It drives me berserk! I don't even know how the author can enjoy reading them back.

[[deleted user]]

S.K. wrote: "Teresa wrote: "I agree I do not like books written in the first person only from the heroines POV. I find that I often have a harder time connecting with them because they end up annoying me. I am ..."

I agree. The heroine has to make you feel that she could be any woman. One of my favorite heroines to date has to be Cam Bennett in The Edge of Never. I loved everything about her.

I don't have a problem with switching POV, if it's done right. I don't like when they switch every few paragraphs. That is annoying.

[S.K.]

Tori wrote: "S.K. wrote: "Teresa wrote: "I agree I do not like books written in the first person only from the heroines POV. I find that I often have a harder time connecting with them because they end up annoy..."

Yeah the one i read switched 3 times in one paragraph. I thought i was being punked.
And it has 75 5 star ratings......*sigh*

[S.K.]

I LOVE 3rd POV from alternating perspectives.Even die-hard 1st person fans are eager to re-read books being told from an alternating perspective. It just gives a rounder picture.

Life Of Pi was fabulously done. The more literary ones always are. But for romance... I want to know what the guy is thinking too. The challenge is to leave mystery.

[[deleted user]]

S.K. wrote: "Tori wrote: "S.K. wrote: "Teresa wrote: "I agree I do not like books written in the first person only from the heroines POV. I find that I often have a harder time connecting with them because they..."

Wow, that's bad. lol

[namericanwordcat]

Bad heroines ruin a book as fast as bad heroines. I like the relationship built between two unique people. However, if the hero is super awesome or the heroine is super awesome I will sometimes cut the other half slack.

[[deleted user]]

^ Ditto :)

I'm more likely to like the book though if I like the hero. If I like the hero but hate the heroine I might like the book. But if I hate the hero and like the heroine I won't like it. Yeah. The hero is most important.

My biggest pet peeve with heroines are the ones who let the heroes order them around like they're dogs. I love alpha men. But I need an alpha woman to go with him.

[S.K.]

Traci L. wrote: "^ Ditto :)

I'm more likely to like the book though if I like the hero. If I like the hero but hate the heroine I might like the book. But if I hate the hero and like the heroine I won't like it. Y..."

Nicely said Traci

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

I think I can tolerate disliking the hero more than the heroine. I think it's because I started out my romance novel reading career on bodice rippers and Harlequin Presents, which tended to have jerky heroes.

[Susan (the other Susan)]

I need to connect with both people in order to enjoy their chemistry. And if the hero is exceptional but falls in love with love with a witless heroine, I just won't find the relationship believable or interesting.

[Susan (the other Susan)]

I need to connect with both people in order to enjoy their chemistry. And if the hero is exceptional but falls in love with love with a witless heroine, I just won't find the relationship believable or interesting.

[Willow]

So since I see that this is a topic that is revived (which I totally appreciate as a newbie) by Susan, I won't go back and answer any of the previous posts, just the original q and @Susan:

I'd agree. Both are elemental in my connection to the story. Although one can be "stronger" than the other, I need to at least see something in both to keep going with a story.

I love a super strong OTT alpha, but without an h that counter-balances that...the story is lost on me. I've read reviews that are helpful in pointing out a dislike or disconnect with the h before and I take these to heart.
I want a fully balanced story.

[Susan (the other Susan)]

Hi newbie.

[PepperP0t]

I need both. An inability to connect with both affects my enjoyment of the story. Neither should be TSTL and they each need to bring something to the story.

[MadameZelda]

To conduit or not conduit, it doesn't matter to me. However, if the heroine is a two-timing slut, I have to put that book in the trsh.

[Jillian]

The books I let my friends borrow are the ones with a heroine that totally kicked ass. I used to be more focused on the hero, but after experiencing a few heroines that made me want to reach through the pages and strangle them, I realized that a good heroine is just as important as a good hero.

It's also nice to read about heroines that, while still enjoying the fantasy of being overwhelmed and dominated, can still be strong and independent.

I do love it when a hero swoops in and saves his heroine, but if the heroine is constantly relying on the hero to do everything for her and acts like a helpless damsel, then it just gets annoying.

[Ren]

I have to like or connect to the heroine on some level. If I dislike her then its probably the fastest I'll drop a book. The hero on the other hand, just as previously mentioned I can dislike somewhat and I think its because I started reading early romance novels with some really bad heroes.

Plus I think it would be difficult to not feel some connection or like for a heroine when a majority of the books, older ones at least, read from the heroines point of the view.