by Nicola Marsh, author of Overtime in the Boss’s Bed (coming June 2010 in North America, May 2010 in UK, and July 2010 in Australia)
Okay, slipping out of comfy ‘mum wear’ and into something suitably slinky as befitting a romance author…think figure-hugging satin evening dress, sparkly stilettos and gorgeous make-up.
Wait, hang on a minute, I’m confusing myself with my latest heroine, Starr Merriday in my upcoming release Overtime in the Boss’s Bed!
I love being an author. Even when I’m feeling and looking my grungiest, I can live vicariously through my heroines. Gotta love that!
In Overtime in the Boss’s Bed, Starr is a dancer desperate to escape her old life in Sydney. After a sizzling one night stand her last night in the harbour city, she finds herself working as a PA in Melbourne; for the last man she wants as a boss!
While desperate to find a dance job, Starr’s life isn’t all bad: she lives in a mansion in Toorak and gets taken on a ‘business’ trip to the beautiful Whitsunday Islands.
It’s great to envisage myself living vicariously through her, from the mansion to the fast cars, while my car is filled with kiddie car seats, prams and other such paraphernalia!
As for an oceanside twilight picnic followed by fabulous sex with a dream guy…
Hmm…right…where were we?
Heroines and getting swept away into their lives.
For me, I love a book where I can identify with the heroine, if not her lifestyle then her faults/fears/expectations. I love a heroine who is real, who leaps off the page and has me cheering for her all the way.
When I write, I fall in love with every hero just a little (okay, a lot!) and creating a woman worthy of these heroes can sometimes be tough. In my books I’ve had a wide variety of women capturing the hearts of my heroes: from an aromatherapist theme park operator to a butler, from a web designer to a fairy shop owner, from a horse strapper to a patisserie chef to name a few.
Actress Kate Hudson, the inspiration behind Nicolas heroine Starr & an example of a sassy heroine!
Each of these women had one thing in common: an inner strength which I think is vital to a real heroine.
So what do you think makes a great heroine? Any stand-out favourites?
To find out more about fab heroes and the heroines who love them, drop by my website at http://www.nicolamarsh.com and blog http://www.nicolamarsh.blogspot.com
Now, before I get swept into the life of my latest heroine, I must go. I hear a toddler demanding more food!
That’s the way it is for me too. I need to relate to something in her. Of course, that doesn’t mean she needs to be like me, only that I understand and empathize with where she’s coming from.
I think one of the heroine qualities I admire most is that strong exterior that conceals some vulnerability that only the hero can reach.
And also, the book sounds great and your cover is hawt.
captcha is election hospice. If you’re a politician is that where your campaign goes to die?
Hi, Nic
I’m a firm believer that without the right heroine, our heroes come off looking less than heroic. I mean a woman who hates confrontation is a poor match for a guy who thrives on it and vice-versa. Neither lack heroic material in and of themselves, but paired together, neither one shows their best foot. I gave one piece of advice to my daughters when they asked about their husbands-to-be…if he brings out the best in you and you bring out the best in him, your relationship is going to bring out the best in both of you. Not all the time, but more often than not – and you’ll find happiness even when the bad times hit. Just like me and their dad. 
So, my favorite heroine is one who, while on the surface maybe appears to do the opposite, when it counts (or ultimately) – brings out the best in the hero. I think that’s the type of heroine you write, no matter what their backstory, personality type, etc. Truly? That’s making the world a better place with your books.
Okay, off my happy-loving-HPs soapbox.
Two peas in a pod.
That’s what I think of a hero and heroine that are suited together. Each one is a half and together, they make a whole.
A heroine must suit a hero in the sense that they “complete” each other. Maybe on the outside they don’t look/feel/seem to complement each other, but inside they do.
Personally, I love a good spunky, snappy kick ass heroine ~~ they usually wind up being my favorite. But what I truly love is when a hero and heroine wind up complementing each other ~~ completing that whole. I’ve been rereading the In Death series, and while everyone loves Roarke, you have SO admire the way that Nora makes Eve the perfect for HIM heroine. She’s everything he’s not, but she challenges him, she makes him work harder for every little emotion than he’s ever had to, and she can read him ~~ even though she doesn’t always know quite HOW to give what he needs, she knows he needs…I’ve just been thinking about their relationship alot, and how two people so very different can turn out so right together. It’s what makes the series so compelling, and makes us keep coming back for more, I think.
I agree with Maisey that it helps to identify with the heroine, whatever her career or lifestyle (or perfect cellulite-free legs) and I’m very much looking forward to reading Overtime in the Boss’s Bed.
However, I’m also a sucker for the old 1970′s Presents where the heroines are wonderfully un-pc (Anne Mather’s heroines being a particular favourite of mine).
I’m actually secretly longing for a heroine who makes off with the designer clothes. You know, the ones that the hero has had gift-wrapped and delivered to her bedroom in just the right size (the hero’s ability to accurately guess a bra-size at ten paces never fails to impress me).
PS. The heroine should, of course, sell the designer goodies on Ebay and send the proceeds to her favourite charity – just in case you think I’m a horribly mercenary individual!
I’m right with you, Nicola. It’s all part of the escape – the heroines we love are the ones we can relate to, but THEIR lives don’t revolve entirely around the school run, regular meals and that black hole that swallows clean, ironed sports kit and regurgitates it in mysterious places, all muddy and creased, minutes before it’s needed for sports day…
Haha! Mary, I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, if any lovely Italian Billionaires want to offer me their credit card, I’ll take it. And a new wardrobe? Toss it here!!!
Lucy, I love what you said. And I totally agree. In my WIP, which I’m on a break from due to revisions from the other book, I was noticing I was having a hard time making my hero strong enough. I blamed him. I yelled at him. MAN UP, MAN!! But then I realized, it wasn’t him, it was her. She just didn’t have the backbone to take any autocratic, ruthless, manly man behavior, and my hero couldn’t be anything but nice and nurturing to her because…well, he’s not a bully!
Christina, I’ve noticed just now that I’ve never written a scene where a heroine does laundry. I think that says it all.
Couldn’t agree with you more Nicola! (one car seat sporting mom to another, lol) Getting lost in a fantasy–that doesn’t revolve around stain treating grass, mud, and who knows what else in the laundry–as you write or read is definitely made all the better when you can relate to the heroine on some familiar level.
Can’t wait to read this one!!
Mira
The empathy is what grabs me too, Maisey.
No matter how unusual or glamorous the heroine’s life, if I can’t find one thing to relate, I’m not totally rooting for her.
Well said, Lucy.
You summed it up brilliantly
Love it, Mary!
Ah Christina…you know exactly what it’s like
Oh yes, Mira, that’s the beauty of books, taking us away from everyday laundry, school runs, etc…
Exciting that we’re shelf buddies in June
As a reader I can honestly say that I love a heroine who isn’t afraid to say what she thinks. I don’t care for the “doormat” type with an alpha male. While she doesn’t necessarily need to argue with him in public, she needs to be able to stand up for herself. This doesn’t need to be blatant, it could be subtle.
A great example is Sara from Michelle Reid’s “Gold Ring of Betrayal.” Both her husband and his father where the typical Italian/Sicilian alpha males. And yet in her subtle way she showed more strength than either of them.
Nicola, I will read your book even though Kate Hudson was your inspiration for the heroine. While I agree that Kate is sassy, I don’t like the way she “flits” from one guy to another. I can’t imagine one of your heroines doing that. LOL
Hi Nicola,
Yep, a sassy heroine is great, so long as she’s not the overly confrontational type who keeps verbally hammering away at the hero to the point of killing the story dead, as happens with strories where conflict arises in chapter one and is still going strong in the one but last chapter, and finally in last chapter she miraculously discovers she doesn’t despise the hero she loves him. Yeah, as if!
Sassy is one thing, a complete “bitch” another.
What I do like to see is a bitchy anti-heroine giving her all to the hero, and him in true man style recoiling from her and giving all his attention to a sassy-but-nice heroine, which makes for a far more rivetting plot!
best
Francine
Hi Nicola
I like a heroine who has hidden depths. Perhaps painfully shy, but with a backbone of steel. I don’t mind if she’s initially judgemental either but learns her lesson in the end. And that’s the key, the protagonists need to learn a truth be it painful or otherwise.
A heroine who is unaware of her own sex appeal is another winner, she’s effortless, honest and real with no ego. She has other things to contend with rather than what’s the handbag of the moment. LOL!
Humour is another winner and Liz Fielding’s Lady Gabriella had me laughing out loud. I’m sure she had purple hair with a navel piercing!! And the one where the wedding planner heroine has to explain to the just jilted hero why he had to pay a fortune for a glitter cannon and engraved silver bracelets for the twelve maids on honour – she nailed it!
Good Luck with the book Nicola.
Christine
I’d call that type of heroine a nag, Francine, if she kept hammering away at the poor hero
I love books where the protagonists are evenly matched and both give as good as they get. Makes for loads of fireworks!
Christine, I adored Liz’s Lady Gabriella too!
I like writing strong heroines and Beth, in The Boss’s Bedroom Agenda, garnered the most surprise from readers because of how forward she was.
On the other hand, her cousin Lana in Two Weeks in the Magnate’s Bed was a shy geek, and I haven’t had much feedback on her.
Interesting?
And humour gets me every time too
Maisey, I was thinking about the whole ‘new wardrobe’ trope a couple of days ago. I would loathe it if someone bought me a whole lot of clothes that I didn’t get to choose. Particularly if I thought it was wholly or partly a way to control me or change me. I can’t see that as a romantic gesture at all. Would you really want someone to do that for you? I can’t think of a book I’ve read where that happened that I’ve really warmed to.
Now, start waving a credit card with no limits for me to choose my own clothes, and we can start talking!
Nicola, I like the sound of your shy geek! Off to see if I can download that now…
Hehe…I don’t know, Ros. Yeah, the credit card would be my preference, but at the same time…I’m not overly attached to my style. Clothes are clothes. If they look good, I like them.
What can I say? I’m easy where clothes are concerned. I like them, and I like to try a lot of different things, so I don’t associate it with my identity…guess that might be why I never think too much about it when the heroine gets a new wardrobe except…woot! Designer wardrobe!
Lidia, I must’ve missed your comment first time around, sorry!
With Kate as the inspiration, it’s more about the expression in a picture rather than her, so I’m glad you’ll still read my book
My heroine Starr is definitely not a ‘flitter’
Sorry Maisey, I’m with Ros.
I adore clothes, know what suits me and wouldn’t like anyone buying it for me.
Unless we’re talking complete fantasy here
Ros, you first meet Lana in ‘The Boss’s Bedroom Agenda’, then she gets her own story in ‘Two Weeks in the Magnate’s Bed’.
Not meaning to put you off at all, but I like my heroines much stronger than Lana.
It’s a Cinderella tale, so she needs to develop as the book progresses but hot on the heels of her cousin Beth, who was really ‘out there’, I wish she’d been more assertive.
Hey girls, come on now, you’re saying you’d only wear what you’ve chosen for yourselves. Fair enough, so if the hero gave you diamonds are you saying you wouldn’t wear them, and instead would drag out some tired old piece of costume jewellery and wear that to show him what you think of his gift?
Umm, now suppose a huge box is delivered to your door, inside is a stunning designer made gown the like you would have chosen and fits you perfectly, along with it comes invitation to a ball/party, and note saying a limousine will pick you up at eight-thirty p.m.
Ha, and you’re not going to put on the gown and get into the limo when it arrives, right?
No, perhaps you shouldn’t. He might be a control freak. Then again he might be a lovely guy who knows what he wants and knows what you want, and if he’s a man of the world and has already bedded you he probably knows your bra size, dress size and what knickers he likes best for the taking off bit!
Fantasy, or what? No, it’s happened! I’v been the victim!
best
F
I’ve been thinking about the clothes thing a bit more. Here’s an example of when I really think it works. In India Grey’s ‘Taken for Revenge, Bedded for Pleasure’ the hero buys a LOT of new underwear for the heroine. It’s a lovely romantic gesture for several reasons – he knows she’s been wearing black because she’s unhappy and trying to conform, and he wants to see her in fabulous colours and being happy. And it’s on a whim – he sees the shop, thinks of her and chooses the things he knows she’ll love. WIN.
But in several books what happens is that the hero calls a designer shop and asks them to send round a whole new wardrobe, or even worse, gets his PA to organise it. There’s no personal thought involved – it’s not about what will make this particular woman feel happy and beautiful, it’s just a generic ‘all women love expensive clothes’ thing. LOSE.
Nicola, I read Two Weeks in the Magnate’s Bed last night and really enjoyed it. Although the title is completely misleading! One Interrupted Night in the Magnate’s Bed maybe isn’t quite so catchy, though.
CAPTCHA words: rotted his. Rotted his what, I wonder?
Francine, I’ve been married a very long time and my darling husband still wouldn’t have a clue about my bra or dress size, bless him!! Obviously, the Presents Alpha Male is an entirely different male, otherwise his idea of romance would be to remember to take his socks off before he bedded you!
I mentioned the designer wardrobe scenario because it’s something that always sets my molars on edge, however tastefully done, but I just don’t know why! And I also freak out when the hero gives his girlfriends an item of jewellery when he breaks up with them. I mean, I might be a little slow on the uptake, but if a gorgeous man I’d been dating – especially one who knew my bra size! – gave me a little trinket box, I’d think yippee, I’m heading up the aisle, not that I was about to be given the heave-ho.
I can see the gripe, for sure. But it all depends on the scenario. If they’re in a real relationship it would seem impersonal, but if it’s more an arrangement, then it’s in keeping with that. Does that make sense at all??
So, for me, it all depends on how it’s done. 
MaryF,
I’m sorry, just had to come back on the socks comment!
LOL, have you seen the calf suspenders worn by some men, which keep their socks aloft? Hilarious! Imagine an Alpha hero with those on . . .
Have to say my hubby knows my size for everything, including shoes. My feet were absolutely frozen once when out shopping (leather boots on) in the bitter winter we’ve just had, hubby disappeared and we met up in a fave coffee house and what did he have with him – swish knee length sheepskin boots. Bbbbbrilliant!
And, yeah, know what you mean about designer tack!
For me, I think a strong heroine goes out and buys her own designer wardrobe.
Sure, would be nice if a big, strong alpha wooed her with something special (a la Ros’s example of India’s book, love that!) but like Mary, my alpha wouldn’t have a clue what size I am!
So glad you enjoyed Two Weeks in the Magnate’s Bed, Ros, and sooo many people have said the same thing to me, that the title is a tad misleading.
A good friend of mine, who has never read M&B, took away ‘The Boss’s Bedroom Agenda’ and ‘Two Weeks in the Magnate’s Bed’ on her recent holiday.
Was hilarious when she kept posting updates on my Facebook page…and one of them was about that title, saying she wanted Lana to have more nights in Zac’s bed
Makes perfect sense, Maisey, that as part of an arrangement the alpha would include ‘arranging’ his heroine’s clothes too.
Mine just wouldn’t stand for it
Or maybe I should’ve said mine prefer ‘rearranging’ the hero’s clothes?
well, who DOESN’T enjoy that, Nic??
My personal alpha would forget my size too, but he always seems to ‘underestimate’, so he has to get points for that!
Ahh… we’re talking about our own Alpha’s here girls?
I’ll always remember being in the lingerie department of a large department store shortly before we got married with DH hovering near the edge pretending to be invisible. (He’s over six feet, sea blue eyes, long dark lashes – get the picture?)
My eyes were riveted on gorgeous panties on wooden hangers, I tried to catch his eye but he was too busy studying the floor pattern.
‘Helloooo!….what do you think of these?’ I waved them in the air with a huge smile. ‘Ivory or white?’ As long as I live, I’ll never forget the look of horror on his face, he couldn’t speak! A male voice piped up
‘If I were you mate I’d take them off her as soon as you can!’ This from an electrician fixing a light fitting – all the customers howled with laughter.
To this day, he’s never forgiven me! We’ve been married many years and recently he told a dinner party that he’s never had a boring moment. I was thrilled – until he added that it wasn’t a compliment! Let me tell you girls, I inflicted pain for that one!
He has no idea of my bra size and wouldn’t dare buy me clothes – I would kill him!
Although I wouldn’t say no to a lovely piece of jewellery, especially the sparkly kind. LOL!
Christine.
Apologies Nicola
I think we’ve gone off topic!!
xx
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Underestimating is good, Maisey, lucky you
Oh my, Christine, don’t apologise, you’ve got me grinning like a loon
You’re lovely, lovely dh, what a hoot!!!
And honestly? What a great scene for a book
Oh don’t tempt me!
Can you imagine putting it in a book? Every single family member or friend says ‘I hope I’m not in your book!’ Even my sister said the same thing recently.
“My heroine is between the age of 19 and 30. The only way you’ll be in a novel of mine is if you’re the wicked stepmother or her menopausal neurotic mother!” I said. Since she’s known me all my life, I was forgiven.
Quite recently, when I met her for coffee in a cafe, my eldest daughter described how she managed to escape a horrendous blind date. She climbed out of the toilet window of an up market country hotel. Her sister and I were crying with laughter because she’s such a gentle lovely girl and it was so out of character!
She told us she picks the hotel for that very reason and this is the second time she’s done it! Bless!
Now that is definately going in a book!!!
OMG! We’re definately off topic now Nicola, Amy will kill me!
LOL!
Christine
Christine, I don’t think we’re off topic at all.
You’ve just given us a marvellous example of a strong heroine who knows her mind and what she’ll do to look after herself.
Love it!
Sorry to come so late to this fascinating discussion!
I think I like the heroines who risk everything the most. What “everything” is might change from heroine to heroine, but I’m most invested when she really has to dig down deep and lay everything on the line. That’s when I’m reading with my heart in my throat, wondering how she’ll possibly survive it all… Whether she’s a fighter or a bender doesn’t matter as much to me as how much she’s prepared to risk to win the hero.