She did WHAT????

A few days ago we had a nice little rant about what completely ticks us off in the books we read. Mine was reading work from authors who don't do a lick of research when it comes to dressing her characters. It totally takes me out of the story to see a heroine wearing rollers to bed, caftans, and frumpy-dumpy shoes. Sorry! It's just a THING with me.

Now I'm at it again with my take on heroines. They are the women we want to LOVE but end up just wanting to smack em. Oh, you know the ones I'm talking about. These are the ladies who quibble about their feelings for the hero and "do I TRRRUUUUSSSSTTT him?" while in the midst of wild hot monkey sex with the man she might not trust. Gimme a break. If a woman really had serious doubts about the hero would she really participate in a sex-a-thon with him?

Then there are the weepy damsels...eye roll here. They cry over everything through the entire book. Do we have any respect for a woman who can't face life head-on without falling apart? I've had a crying scene or two in my books because, yes, real women cry and feel things deeply but there comes a point where my heroine will pull herself up by her panty hose and face life, take charge, and reach for what she wants. She'll bravely face-off with a bully or protect a child from harm. Those are REAL heroines and I might say, more fairly represent REAL women. It's been my experience that women are the glue that holds the world together. They are the emotional backbones of their families, true to their friends, and are the cream that rises to the top in times of crisis. Most of us are women like that or know women like that.

Ninja warrior women. Oh puhleez. Don't get me started! What is wrong with a woman showing her strength through intellect, common sense, and wit? Does she really have to wear black leather, be trained in the martial arts, and kick ass with the boys? Maybe there are women who can identify with that kind of heroine but I'm not one of them.

What do you like to see in a heroine? Some of my favorites were crafted by Amanda Quick (aka Jayne Ann Krentz). In these bright, witty historicals, her heroines are always deeply interested in some endevour, hobby, or profession. They were women who had struggles and challenges in life and the never bitched about it. Most often they were underestimated by the men in their lives. But when push came to shove, these women solved the problem by remaining true to themselves and displaying a wit and intelligence that saves the day. Wow...what a woman!

On an aside note, I recently got a five blue ribbon review from Romance Junkies for Tempting Tess, my May Ellora's Cave release. Check it out here