Maggie Blackbird

Yes, I switched back to old faithful–my choco theme.  I tried out a few but none of them are good ol’ choco.  It must be the book style or something, why I dig this theme.

Anyhoo, not to stray off topic, I’m trying to pinpoint why I loved certain books, even when I couldn’t stand the heroine or hero.  Luckily, I never disliked them both in the same novel!

Summer Storm by Catherine Hart comes to mind.  I couldn’t stand Summer—the mouthy brat!  Okay, she eventually grew up and quit being a spoiled, pampered princess.  Then there’s Jared Burkett from Johanna Lindsey’s Paradise Wild.  Ooh, I wanted Corinne to throw that bastard into a volcano!  He never even redeemed himself at the end, other than some half-hearted apology.  Still, I was grudgingly happy he boated and trained all the way back to Boston to fetch his bride and return her to Hawaii.

Now why on earth do I love novels when there is a character that makes me want to jump up and down while spewing curses that would make Yosemite Sam blush?  See?  Even Sam is the terrible.  Still, he’s one of my fave Loony Tunes characters.

All I can say is the author has done something to keep me reading.  I have no other answer.  Be it the author’s voice, the chemistry between the h/h, or the plot.

Fires of Winter is another book that comes to mind.  I wanted the Lady Brenna to drown in the fjord she annoyed me so much.  Funny, I can still pick that book up and re-read it again because Lindsey spun a helluva tale.

What about Lestat De Lioncourt from Anne Rice’s The Vampire Lestat?  He’s a fan favourite.  As for me, I think he’s a big pain in the ass.  But here I am, re-reading his book.

This seems to go against the grain of “characters we can identify with, or sympathetic characters.”  None of those I listed are people I can identify with, nor are they the least bit sympathetic—in my eyes, that is.  I can’t speak for anyone else on this matter.

I’m thankful it’s not often I want to choke the hero or heroine.  A Heart So Wild comes to mind.  Chandos and Courtney were a great team.  The same goes for Alriss and Marinel in Ransom’s Bond.  I adored these two and their story.  I’m hoping Kat Duncan will give them another story. *Hint Hint*  The same applies for Jen and Drake who shared Four Kisses by Bonnie Dee.

I wish I had a straight answer as to why I loved the book, even when I hated the hero or heroine.

What about you?  Ever enjoyed a book but hated the hero or heroine?  I’m hoping I’m not alone in this LOL.