Today is very special!~
I’m trying something new and invited a fabulous reviewer to be my guest. Romance Reader Girl graciously agreed. She’d got something special for those ladies who might need a bit of extra love this month.
Read on:
February can be a wonderful month for many and the dreaded I hate everything about the second month of the year for others. I was lucky to be born in the month of February and even luckier to be born near the dreaded day so many people hate. What day is that? Oh, yes, the very much loved or hated Valentine’s Day. I was THAT girl that never had a date on Valentine’s Day or for my birthday and I hated being that girl, and I desperately wanted to hate the month of February with all of its romantic gestures, candy, flowers and stupid Hallmark cards, but that wasn’t in the stars for me. I could never hate the month I was born or what the symbol of what Valentine’s Day means. Not to worry, this girl found her prince charming and has had a date for Valentine’s Day and my birthday for almost decade. For the ladies out there that may dread the month of love I thought today I would list a few of my favorite, fabulously different heroines that win the dashing hero in the end.
Penelope Featherington in Julia Quinn’s Romancing Mister Bridgerton– Penelope is a young woman who has been at times the laughingstock of the Ton, at one time or another. She doesn’t talk much; she is a bit plump and relatively a wallflower. If that isn’t bad enough she is in love with her best friends brother, who is all things dashing and handsome. What I love about Penelope is she takes control of her life by secretly getting back at those of the Ton that have poked fun at her. Colin Bridgerton does not begin to take notice of Penelope until she becomes secretive and mysterious. Once he begins to learn more about her he is sucked in to the charm that is Penelope and is done for. Colin Bridgerton was the first historical romance crush I ever had. Oh, yes, that list has grown!
Caroline Townsend in Renee Bernard’s Seduction Wears Sapphires- The bookwork that is brought from America to chaperon a notorious rogue is Caroline Townsend. Caroline is everything opposite of what the Tonthinks a well-bred lady should be. First, she is American. Second, she has no idea what a fashionable dress is. Third, she loves to read and lastly, she has no charm. All in all she is dreadful to the eyes of the upper English class. All of those things are precisely why I adore Caroline Townsend, well that and maybe because she is an American. When the devastatingly charming rogue, Ashe Blackwell begins to see Caroline for the woman she is, they both are on unstoppable. On a side note, I love how Ashe helps Caroline with fashion. He really is her personal stylist.
Minerva Highwood in Tessa Dare’s A Week to be Wicked– Minerva is the middle sister between a classic beauty and the younger charming sister. She is a scientist that loves to study rocks and read. She has resolved herself to being a spinster and as long as there are rocks to be evaluated and written about she is happy about her unwedded status. With mighty brains and having two sisters Minerva is quick witted which draws the attention of Lord Colin Payne, who cannot help but be intrigued by the quirky Minerva. I absolutely love the banter of Minerva and Colin. I enjoyed how Minerva does not sit back and allow Colin’s smart comments to detour her or make her feel bad. She is sassy and I love it.
Beatrix Hathaway in Lisa Kleypas’ Love in the Afternoon– The gentle animal loving soul of Bea Hathaway is so sweet. She rather be in the country with animals than in a stuffy ballroom. Bea is not conventional and many find her rather odd, but her instincts about human nature make her intriguing. What makes Bea a great heroine is she uses her intuition to help others and when she does, she is the most charming and friendly girl around. Her gentle approach and sensibility will help her help a man that is troubled by his past experiences in war. Oh, and there is that tiny bit of deception too when it comes to the handsome soldier. After all, she is a Hathaway, being clever and cheeky is in her blood.
All of these heroines where different from the status quo but that did not stop them from being who they are. Who are some of your favorite heroines that do not fit the conventional mold? The heroines can be from any type of Romance.
Thank you, Collette for having me as a guest on your blog today.
-Romance Reader Girl