Romance novels is weird

[msmcknittington]

In the current trashy book I'm reading (which is "Angel" by Johanna Lindsay -- so old it's got a Fabio clinch stepback for a cover), there's something that's just bugging me a lot. I take it for granted that the heroes in romance novels are supposed to be phenomenally handsome and virile to a fault. That's just the way it goes and probably the

Comments

[ciorstan]

FISHSTICKS.

I will never be able to look at another Johanna Lindsay book again. A'tall.

giggles insanely

[msmcknittington]

Yes, fishsticks! Not sexy. Sea captains are kind of sexy, but not the Gorton's fish guy. More like "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" or the Napoleonic Wars.

[ciorstan]

*swoon* Love those 1795 reg naval uniforms!

[msmcknittington]

Mmm, 'xactly. Dear Jack Aubry, ever so hotter than mopey-pants Hornblower.

[bklynwebgrrl]

I almost spit my tortorlini out at my computer when I saw the picture of the fisherman.

I hear ya... what romantic guy wears a yellow rain coat? Everyone knows true manly men heros wear london fog or one of those australian outback all-weather trench coats.

[msmcknittington]

You should have seen my face the first time I read the slicker description!

A drover's coat? Yeah, those are pretty cowboy-hot.

[bklynwebgrrl]

I had this idea for years that I wanted to marry an Australian sheep farmer. I like sheep. I could raise sheep. And I have a weakness for accents.

Something happened though since I ended up with a German auto mechanic.

Go figure.

[msmcknittington]

I had this idea when I was in high school that I'd never marry a farmer, but the idea is looking better the longer I'm at home.

Is your husband German German, or only German by ethnicity?

Re: Because this has been rattling around in my brain.

[msmcknittington]

I knew there was a name for it! It's been a while since I've done any reading of crit lit about romance novels that wasn't second-wave feminist torchburning

Re: Because this has been rattling around in my brain.

[ciorstan]

Harlequin is one of the very few houses that will read anything sent to its slush pile, which is why first-time authors have, over the years, made a point to submit-- typically without representation-- to it.