Scarred heroes in contemporary romance by Kat Latham
The last week of December, I celebrated my final few days of holiday by dipping into the pile of books I’d bought myself for Christmas. Completely unintentionally, the two books I read were both contemporaries with scarred heroes.
The first, Edge of Sight by Roxanne St. Claire, is a sexy, exciting romantic suspense with one of the hottest heroes I’ve read about. He and the heroine have a history together, but in their years apart he’s suffered horrifically and it’s kept him from contacting her. To say anything more would spoil parts of the plot, so instead I’ll quote the back cover copy, which describes Zach as “a Special Forces vet with the scars to prove he’s both courageous and flawed.”
The second, NEVER TOO HOT by Bella Andre, is a very steamy contemporary single title starring a wounded firefighter. The reader finds out about Connor MacKenzie’s scars in the first paragraph, so I don’t think it’d spoil anything to say his hands and arms were burned and he’s had skin grafts which continue causing him terrible pain and discomfort.
In Bella Andre’s book, the scars are a mark of heroism but also a sign that the hero’s future plans are damaged beyond repair. Connor is desperate to get back to firefighting because it’s all he’s ever imagined doing, but doing so would mean not having a future with his heroine.
In Roxanne St. Claire’s, the scars Zach carries are a constant reminder of a decision he made that cost the men who trusted him far more than it cost him. When he is asked to protect his heroine, he has good reason to doubt his abilities.
Scars are used for so many reasons in romance, but as I think back over my twenty years of reading romance it seems like characters—particularly men—suffer more and more. Back in the early 90s, contemporary heroes sometimes had a scar slashed across their cheeks, probably to make them sexier instead of being a physical manifestation of their emotional torment. Now, contemporary men can be missing body parts, or even sacrifice them while protecting their lover.
I can only think of one contemporary romance I’ve read recently that featured a terribly scarred heroine: the amazing Butterfly Tattoo by Deidre Knight. (If you love unusual, deeply emotional contemporary romance, please do yourself a favor and read Butterfly Tattoo. It’s one of my favorite books.)
Although I don’t seek out scarred characters, gut-wrenching contemporary romance is my favorite thing to read so I’d love to know what you think about characters who might make other people stare.
Are we living in darker times? Do scarred characters reflect the popularity of military characters and the fact that many militaries around the world are engaged in fighting wars right now? Or are authors upping the ante to create more emotional, more gripping stories? Do you feel more sympathetic toward scarred characters because of all they’ve survived?
Finally, any books you can recommend? Comment and enter to win Deirdre Martin’s ICEBREAKER.
Kat Latham has been reading romance for a couple of decades. With degrees in English lit and human rights, she loves stories that reflect the depth, humor and emotion of real life. When she’s not writing contemporary romance novels, she can usually be found blogging or tweeting overly personal information. She loves meeting other readers and writers online, so follow her on Twitter or check out her blog and say hello!
Edge of Sight sounds great and I have the other on my TBR pile.
Interesting questions. I wonder if you’re not on to something with the theory of scarred heroes being linked to military missions around the world. It makes sense because writers have been getting ideas from headlines for years and what’s constantly in the headlines these days? War, military heroes, wounded soldiers returning home. And I do tend to be more sympathetic toward scarred heroes – as long as they’re not totally jerks.
This made me think. Do you think readers would accept scarred heroines? Or are we still locked into “must be beautiful” for them? I also agree with Margay. If there’s a jerk factor, it doesn’t matter what they look like. They’re jerks, not heroes.
Oh, I’ve read Edge of Sight and I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE Zach. Rocki’s got a free prequel to that book on her website, too, which shows how Zach and Sam met and ohmyHOTness, it was good. In fact, five pages of the prequel had me clicking BUY NOW (for Edge of Sight) on Amazon.
There’s a historical I just read with a scarred heroine (The Lovely Duckling, in The Princess in His Bed by Lila DiPasqua). She had burn scars on her back, thanks to a fire in her childhood.
I don’t mind reading about scarred or physically damaged heroes because I like the psychological complexity that comes with it. In addition, I really don’t mind heroes or heroines who aren’t godlike in their beauty. In those cases, I can relate more easily with them because, let’s face it, very few of us are supermodel material.
Oh, Rocki’s website: http://www.roxannestclaire.com/
I love scarred hero books. They just need extra love right? Its the Beauty and the Beast Theme that I have always loved. I do like darker books but they have to be laced with a good amount of humor for me to read them. Mary Balogh’s book Simply Love is a excellent book about a scarred hero and a herione who loves him no matter what.
@Terry, I have read a few books where the heroine is scarred or blind and really enjoyed them. I really don’t like perfect heriones.
jcp – Edge of Sight IS great. Hope you enjoy Never Too Hot.
Margay – I agree. I can’t stand a jerky hero. I don’t care how much he grows by the end of the book. He can be flawed in all kinds of ways, and he can make mistakes, but don’t consistently be a jerk.
Terry – I’m sure readers are more and more open to scarred heroines. I just haven’t seen many, and I’m wondering why that is. Maybe publishers aren’t sure whether readers would want them?
Noelle – THANK YOU for pointing out the prequel. I’d missed that, but I will definitely go read…now!
Johanna – I thought Mary Balogh’s Simply Love was amazing. Talk about scars – both characters have them, but the heroine’s are emotional. Fantastic book.
Kat, thank you for including EDGE OF SIGHT in this thoughtful post! So glad you liked the book and its scarred hero. You want to know something funny? When I wrote the synopsis that sold the book to my editor, there was no mention of the scar. I didn’t *know* he was scarred. At least, not on the outside. I’m kind of a “discover your characters as you write them” creator, which can be a real pain but I don’t know any other way to work. When I got to the page where Zach appeared for the first time, I just knew he wanted to hide from the heroine. I didn’t know why. Really, I had no idea. I actually just let the scene unfold and when she turned around for the first time and sees him…I realized he had an eye patch and scar.
Trust me, I wasn’t happy about this. I have never written a less-than-physically perfect hero. I’m really partial to uber-hot guys that way. But there he was. Scarred. Great – I didn’t even TELL my editor. I just wrote the book and about midway through, I sent her a warning that, as always, I’d deviated “a bit” from the synopsis. And the hero has…some physical imperfections. She said she’d trust me and decide when she read it. Well, you can believe I was holding my breath after submitting THAT manuscript! She loved Zach and really helped me dig even deeper for his emotional pain, which was very rewarding for me as a writer.
Scarred heroes are hard to write and, sometimes, they are hard to read. But I’m just honored and delighted that you fell in love with Zach. Now I’m off to get Bella’s book – I love her!!!
xoxo
Good blog discussion. I have noticed more books with scarred characters. Seems to add depth to overall storytelling. Robyn Carr has done a wonderful job of dealing with military injuries in the Virgin River series. Thank you for the contemporary book recommendations. They sound great!
Interesting article
I think writers are writing about things that are happening or important now. It is the times we live in and the situations that challenge people that make for intersting stories.
I loved the scarred hero or heroine. Lets face it none of us are perfect in real life so I don’t want my characters in my books to be perfect. We all have our own scars and flaws so it should be that way in books. Sometimes the more scared the better the book.
I’ve run across books using scarred heroes, such as Simply Love by Mary Balogh, so I don’t think it has to do with what’s happening now. An author probably uses this device to up the emotional intensity of the story. The physical scars often accompany emotional ones as well, since the character is perceived differently by his/her peers.
I love reading about scarred heroes. There is a vulnerability there that isn’t with other heroes. I thank you for the recommendations, I will definitley put these on my TBR pile.
I love scarred heroes. They are wounded and you can’t help but love them.
I have no problems with scarred Heroes or heroines. I especially enjoy reading about the returning soldiers and how they start to heal. Butterfly Tattoo by Deidre Knight has been and is one of my favorite reads. It’s so packed with emotions of every kind. I loved it.
Carol L
Lucky4750@aol.com
I love scarred heroes and I guess I do feel more sympathetic towards them because they survived and maybe they were scarred after a heroic deed. Scarred heroes probably do reflect the popularity of military heroes.
I think there is a natural, strong emotional connection when the hero/heroine is a survivor. The scarring the character deals with can be either emotional or physical. It makes the character more real, more readable. What a thought-provoking column today. Thanks.
Good entry. I like when characters aren’t perfect. I don’t know if it makes them more sympathetic to me but it does make them more relatable.
I love scarred heroes, both emotionally and physically. Reading about perfection gets boring.
I think we are fascinated by scarred heros and perhaps it’s becuase the state of the world we live in. Command and Control by Shelli Stevens was fantastic!
I really like scarred and tormented heroes, I’m not sure why. Edge of Sight sounds great!
I like scarred and tormented heroes. The characters are usually better written, have more depth, and are more real. There have been scarred heroes in books for years, including alot in historical romances, but it is more rare for the heroine to be scarred, at least physically, they do often have emotional scares.
I like scarred heroes. they are more realistic, especially today. I feel proud of htem for surviving.
I don’t necessarily feel more sympathetic but it does create an extra foil and obstacle for the hero to overcome or make up for which would probably make me root for them all the more. I think authors are trying to tap into a deeper emotional connection with the “scars”.
The scarred hero or heroine is one of my favorite romance tropes. I loved Butterfly Tattoo. One of my favorites is To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt. Actually, The Raven Prince by her also features a “scarred” hero, although in that story, his scarring isn’t due to injury or an accident, but rather to smallpox, which the rest of his family all died from. And then, of course, there’s Zsadist from JR Ward’s Lover Awakened. I’m off to check out Edge of Sight right now. I don’t usually read rom. suspense, but I think I’ll have to make an exception for this one if the hero is scarred.
I enjoy reading books with scarred heroes. BORN IN SIN by Kinley Macgregor comes to mind. (I think he’d fit as a scarred hero) I really liked reading this blog post! Interesting topic.
I’m glad you guys liked the post and found it thought-provoking! And for those of you who end up reading Edge of Sight, Never Too Hot and Butterfly Tattoo, enjoy! They’re great books.
Rocki, thanks so much for the behind-the-scenes look at how Zach ended up scarred! I’m amazed Zach didn’t become scarred earlier in your writing process because it fits so naturally with the story and his character. You do a fantastic job with him (and he is incredibly hot – physical perfection would’ve made him too good to be true!).
I’m re-reading Stephenie Tyler’s Hard to Hold Trilogy and would recommend them to anyone. Tough guys that go through a lot in a not so perfect world. Love survives anything of course 🙂
I, too, love scarred heroes. I have had no family member who have been in military or navy or anything like so I wouldn’t really know if authors portray real emotion to heroes who are/have been one but from what I get from movies, I think authors might be accurate.
The scarred hero is one of my favourite tropes in romance – I think my all time favourite one has to be Daemon from the Black Jewels trilogy.
Roxanne St. Claire is an auto-buy for me. She writes wonderful stories, scarred hero or not!
I can recommend The Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas. Sebastian — so much angst and unhappiness but still so appealing.
This book is one of my favorites re-reads!