Comments on: You Belong To Me

By: Patricia Cochran

Patricia Cochran — Fri, 09 May 2008 23:18:29 +0000

After further study: I like the fact that Honey will place
his hand on my back as support/support/protection
and sometimes acknowledgment. Most often when
walking together, we usually hold hands. I feel that
presents us as a couple and helps me keep up
with him ( LOL – he’s taller than I)

Pat Cochran

By: bunnyb

bunnyb — Fri, 09 May 2008 10:55:51 +0000

Bad boys can be redeemed if they have a good heart. It’s just that they have a tough exterior. But if they’re too bad and their core being is really nasty, what’s to like?

By: azteclady

azteclady — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:14:15 +0000

I love the underlying possessiveness in the gesture, myself, and while I wouldn’t appreciate being considered solely a possession, I believe, like you, that there has to be balance for any relationship to work.

In my novels, I can enjoy the bad boys because there’s no risk–a skillful writer will make it believable that the alpha hero will tone down and control his more aggressive impulses around his heroine, and that his arrogance will come off as protectiveness.

But a well written good boy–so called beta males–can be even better to me. After all, the man I adore is more beta than alpha

By: Jamie Leigh Hansen

Jamie Leigh Hansen — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:47:34 +0000

I’m a bit stuck. I like the good guys, if they aren’t too sweet. Add sarcastic humor or something. And I like the bad guys if their motivations make sense to me. I can forgive a lot if they are clear.

I can’t write overly alpha guys without writing a heroine who is nearly violent in her responses to his aggressiveness. But at the same time, it doesn’t threaten my femininity if a man steps up to help or protect. It makes me think he has honor and a good code of ethics.

I agree with you, Gail. Intentions count. Balance, mutual respect, and a good code should mean more than an automatic assumption that a guy is claiming ownership.

Great post.

By: Jane

Jane — Thu, 08 May 2008 21:10:25 +0000

What’s not to love about a good boy? But we love bad boys, too and many like the idea of redeeming and taming these bad boys.

By: kim h

kim h — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:26:26 +0000

one who can be tamed by the lady. i like them they bring the wilde side in a timed herione.

By: Gail Dayton

Gail Dayton — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:03:10 +0000

“But I sure don’t like guys who are so lacking in self-esteem that they have to swagger, bully people, or claim women as their “property.””

I used to work for a prosecutor in a rural Texas county, and after watching people go through court year after year (I was there about 8 years), I noticed that most of the men who were brought in for assault / family violence tended to be small, scrawny guys. Wimps. Guys who were not sure of themselves, or their masculinity. (Well, except for one–the guy who complained in court “It’s only bruises” was a pretty big guy…) Not statistically significant by any stretch, but it sure played up that insecurity thing…

I have to admit that I do love me a bad boy hero… I’m a sucker for Anne Stuart’s. (Just ordered her FIRE AND ICE) But when I try to write one, I can’t seem to manage that fine line between bad and icky. Ah well.

Another bad boy I loved was Sebastian in Lisa Kleypas’ DEVIL IN WINTER. Who are some of your favorites?

By: Patricia Cochran

Patricia Cochran — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:28:50 +0000

I like the bad boy who is redeemed through his association
with the heroine. I like the good guy who has just that slight
touch or edge to his character, but his feelings for the heroine
keep him true. I can’t make up my mind!!

Pat Cochran

By: Allison Brennan

Allison Brennan — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:07:57 +0000

I like good boys. Bad boys work only if they have a strong motivation and code of ethics. And yes, they can be redeemed. Angel was an evil vampire who killed thousands of people; he was definitely redeemable and you felt bad for him because he lived with the horror of the pain and suffering he caused and would have lived with it for eternity. Roarke in the JD Robb series is a “bad boy” in many ways, but you forgive him his past life of crime because of his motivation and the fact that he’s put it behind him for love. Really, anything works as long as it’s done right.

By: Susan Lyons

Susan Lyons — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:47:39 +0000

Cheryl, I haven’t seen that movie but what a fascinating concept.

As for good versus bad boys – I like (and write) the good ones too. They always have to be strong and masculine, not wimpy, of course. The kind of man who stands up for his principles, defends the people he loves, and has strong self-esteem. And I’m fine with the bad boys who also have those qualities but have an added edge, some trauma in their past, maybe a dangerous career. But I sure don’t like guys who are so lacking in self-esteem that they have to swagger, bully people, or claim women as their “property.”

If a man protects a woman from a real threat, hurray for him (and hurray for the woman who protects him as well!). If a man has to mark turf and warn other guys away, I say he’s insecure (and the same with women who behave that way).

I think a man and woman who form a couple need to work out some signals. I hate it if a guy assumes I’m not capable of taking care of a situation myself – but sometimes the fact is that I’m not (I’m tiny!) and other times it’s easier if a little nonverbal gesture like an arm around a shoulder sends the message. It’s a delicate balance.

Susan
http://www.susanlyons.ca
For sexy romance that’s intense, passionate, heartwarming and fun!