i  write historical romance because most of what I read is historical romance. I can count the number of contemporary, non-paranormal authors I’ve read on one hand. And I really haven’t liked many of them (except I liked Toni Blake’s Swept Away, and I adore Jenny Crusie).
Why?

Simple. It’s because contemporary books are that much more likely to be wallbangers. And it’s a function of the time period. Here’s how it works. In order to interest your readers, your heroine is going to have to want something. What? I don’t know. Maybe she needs to pay her rent. Maybe she’s got a kid that needs a father. Who knows?

Now, there are one of two possibilities. 1. She does not need the man to help her with her problem. 2. She does.

Of course, it’s always possible that HE’LL have a problem and SHE’LL need to help him. Which is always fun, but it rarely occurs. But let’s assume that she’s got the problem. It’s a romance, and so he’s going to have to get involved somehow. And he’s supposed to be sexy, so we have to assume that eventually he helps her sort the problem out.

At this point, I throw the book against the wall and shout at the heroine, “STOP BEING SO NEEDY!” I hate needy women. I hate women who can’t solve their own problems. I hate the “man takes over and solves everything” ending. I especially hate it when she tries to get it right, but fails for two thirds of the book, and then BAM! He waves his right big toe.
This happens. A lot.
I hate it.

Also I hate it when they’re barely getting along and then they resolve all their differences and he says, “Marry me, my sweetest!” and she says, “Of course!” I feel like I’m looking at five years to a divorce, tops, and it lends a bitter note to the saccharine ending.
Now, in historical periods, there are a lot of things that a woman just can’t do, and so she does actually need men, at least if she doesn’t want to be a total social recluse. In fact, she can be incredibly independent and way ahead of her time, while still needing to rely a little bit on a man.
So that’s why I like historicals. Because the women can be smart and independent–at least in the historical sense–and still not make me want to shake them until their teeth rattle out.
What about you?

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