What do you love in a book that you would never like in real life?
Sometimes when I read a book, there's a scene that happens that I absolutely love, but in my real life? I would hate.
Here's a great example: I love when a hero rips off the heroine's panties. Like seriously, yes. I want that! But in real life? I do not want that. Holy cow my undies are expensive, and you had better not be ripping off my clothes. Buttons flying, panties ripping, just no.
Another is when they are so wrapped up in each other that they forget about everything they are doing and just have to have the sexytimes right now. In real life? If I were making my husband dinner and he tried to start stuff with me, I would smack his hand with a spatula lol. No one wants a burnt lasagna, babe.
Or gosh, even a singer singing to his heroine...I had that happen once in real life and it was awkward and uncomfortable for me. But in a book? I eat that up.
Or pirates! Oh my goodness I love a good pirate romance, but in real life? No thank you. Obviously I won't ever meet one, but I feel safe in saying they wouldn't be my jam.
Time travel! My goodness, I would love to time travel back to the Highlands of Scotland several hundred years ago, however...realistically? If that could happen? Yeah I'd probably die. Whether I was burnt as a witch, or stung by a bee and didn't have my epi pen, I'm under no illusions that time travel would be as sexy as books make it out to be.
Alpha males, jocks, nerds, hackers, celebrities...what's your catnip in fiction, but in your real life you would absolutely hate?
Check out my Time Travel Highland Warriors. This is a duology with both Highland Destiny and Highland Games in one!
Highland Destiny--Mackenzie Stewart’s in Scotland for a much-needed vacation. During the castle tour, Mackenzie becomes completely enamored with a painting of one of the previous lairds. Two gentlemen come up behind her and, begging her pardon, they kidnap her, dragging her through time.
Highland Games--Malcolm “Colm” MacRobert is ordered by his chief to travel through time and return with a woman. Not just any woman, the daughter of Laird and Lady Grant. There’s one problem, though. Everyone knows the Grants never had a daughter. Who is he bringing back? And why is she so important that his laird using the village witch to send Colm over 200 years into the future?
I guess mine is that wonderful morning sex. Not that morning sex isn't wonderful, but not before brushing your teeth and going to pee!
ReplyDeleteUgh morning breath! I heartily agree lol
DeleteHmmm...I love this question. And I completely agree with you about the ripping of the clothes! I think my main one would be the one night stand stuff. I like it in books because of the problems it usually creates, but that is something I would never want or do in real life. Too scary and too weird, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it funny what works for us in fiction and what doesn't work for us in real life?
DeleteI think we write about heroines we'd like to be. Heroines with courage we often lack. We'd like to think we'd be that way in real life, but we don't know. Maybe books helps us live through those experiences so we don't need to in real life.
ReplyDeleteThat's true! As a writer I write different heroines than I read too though. It's interesting what attracts me to a book or a trope vs. what I write.
DeleteI've always found the reserved, slightly distant hero appealing. Mysterious fascinates me, but not in person. The reality, in person, is often an emotionally distant man with a low EQ, and often damaged. At this stage of life, I don't want or need a project. Nor do I want to work that hard for anyone's love or attention.
ReplyDeleteI love how you put it, I don't want or need a project. Perfect.
DeleteOh my gosh!! Yes, I have thought of this often. It's maybe why I don't write the arrogant alpha male. He's a jerk and in real life who would want him? Or the bad boy. The hero I love reading about but would never want is the tortured hero. The one who has been so badly damaged he's barely human. In real life that would be a nightmare, but in our fantasy romance, he blossoms and comes back to life with the love of a good woman.
ReplyDeleteI love to read alpha males! Oh my goodness, I don't even mind the alphahole heroes ;) But in real life? no thank you.
DeleteI echo Kari. My daughter and I have talked about this--about how many of the "heroes" in modern books are actually men we would not like in real life.
ReplyDeleteOh for sure-so many tropes that I love but would never like in real life.
DeleteI write decent men because that's what I want in life...what I found in my dh. But in reading I'm partial to the tortured hero who is saved by love. NOT arrogant guys, but ones with guilt or wounds. Great topic!
ReplyDeleteThanks :) You've got a great dh ;) But yes isn't it funny how I will totally read about tortured alpha arrogant and werewolf heroes, but in real life? Yeah I don't really want a werewolf in any way lol
ReplyDeleteOh, my, what a wise and witty post. Thanks, Laura.
ReplyDelete