Love for the downtrodden hero
by Kat Latham
A couple of months ago, I wrote about how I don’t always connect with kickass heroines. The women I empathize with the most in novels are inevitably ones more like me—people whose main fights have been to overcome internal barriers, like fear and low confidence after spending too much time around mean jackasses, to accomplish the things they want in life.
Fortunately for me, romance is full of these women and I get to watch them blossom into confident, fulfilled people by the end of a novel. But what if the genders were reversed? How many romance heroes can you name who’ve been so badly beaten down by life and past relationships that they struggle with the confidence they need to achieve their dreams? Or worse, they barely allow themselves to dream anymore?
I was surprised to find such a hero in one of this year’s RITA-nominated contemporary single title novels.
Nate Shawcross, the hero of Joanne Kennedy’s One Fine Cowboy, is one of the few heroes I can remember in a contemporary romance who is the victim of an abusive romantic relationship. Sandi, his long-term girlfriend and the mother of his child, is emotionally manipulative and heaps so much pain on Nate that it’s no wonder he’s got the self-confidence of a roly-poly.
Nate owns a horse ranch in Wyoming, and he’s completely taken by surprise when people start showing up expecting him to teach them techniques for dealing with problem horses. He has a bit of a reputation as a horse whisperer, but his ranch is on the brink of foreclosure and it’s falling down around his ears. He soon discovers Sandi—who left him—sent out a bunch of brochures advertizing training sessions and comfortable accommodation on the ranch. She took people’s money and told them to show up at the ranch without telling Nate anything about her scheme.
One of the “trainees” is graduate student Charlie Banks, who quickly realizes what trouble Nate’s in and helps him out.
But Sandi comes back and starts re-exerting control over Nate, who doesn’t seem capable of fending off her manipulative, hateful acts. Only Charlie is able to stand up for him, like she does in this scene when Sandi returns.
Setting her fists on her hips, she glared at Charlie. “What are you doing with my husband?”
“Your husband?”
Sandi rolled her eyes in the universal high school language for I can’t believe how clueless you are.
“Nate,” she said. “You know, the dumbass cowboy you’ve been fooling around with.”
Charlie spun around, her hands on her hips. “Nate’s not a dumbass, and I don’t fool around. And he’s not your husband, either.”
“Yes he is,” Sandi said. “I’ve put up with him for seven years. That makes us married. Common-law husband and wife.”
Charlie felt a stab of sympathy for Nate. What kind of miserable, empty relationship did the two of them have?
“I thought you left,” she said. “I thought you guys broke up.”
“He might have thought so, but he was wrong,” Sandi said. “I’m not done with him yet.”
She’s a chilling woman, but unfortunately not unrealistic. Nate is up against several huge battles to save his livelihood, his home and his daughter. Falling in love with a new woman opens new troubles for him, particularly as he questions his ability to win any of the battles he’s fighting.
Charlie, the heroine, is the person who breathes fresh life into him. She inspires him to fight when he’s ready to give up, and she vanquishes Sandi’s hold over him.
In many ways, Nate reminded me of heroines common in the genre during the early 90s—a victim of life and unable to fight his own battles. A person who needs someone strong and commanding to help sort out his messy life.
And, just like with my favorite heroines, he develops into a stronger, more confident person by the end of the novel.
Have you read many novels with heroes like Nate, who are victims of emotionally abusive partners or who have lost confidence through being beaten down by life? How did you feel about them? Comment and enter to win an advance copy of Susan Sey’s MONEY SHOT.
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!
I’ve read books where the hero has had some emotional baggage, but usually it involves child-parent issues – nothing quite like this! All I can say is ‘wow’… as I write this on my to be bought list… I can understand why this was a nominated book, especially given just the blurb/excerpt we were given in this review/article as it kind of reaches right out and grabs you. It is ironic that most of the books out there and what seems to sell is the super alpha male who is all confident and sure of himself (mostly) but in reality, alot of the men out there have seriously been damaged by relationships (as a mother of two, wife of one, and deal on a daily basis with the law enforcement side of relationships) and in my real life, I know women aren’t really all that nice (like they are in my romance books). You’ve definately piqued my interest!
I like reading all kinds of books and have read a few with this type of hero. If the author has dealth with this kind of situation in a thoughtful manner, it makes for an interesting story.
I read Ms Kennedy’s story and enjoyed it.
I can’t remember reading about a hero that was so downtrodden by a woman before. I have known of plenty of real life situations but it’s not something that I have seen in a romance. Most of the heroes who I have read who have been beaten down by life seem to be soldiers.
I have read such a story in Evangeline Collin’s Seven Nights to Forever. It was refreshing to see and I enjoyed watching the hero be inspired to something more from life by his relationship with the heroine.
I read a little of everything and I am sure I have read a book with this type of hero at some time or the other, just can’t place a certaing book right now. Would love to read this book.
I can’t recall ever reading a book with that theme and I really want to! Most romance authors aren’t willing to write such vulnerable heroes, I think… they’re supposed to be invincible.
I don’t typically see this sort of situation when it comes to a hero, a heroine certainly. I guess that’s what makes this book so interesting, a downtrodden man who’s able to overcome.
No I’ve never read that scenario. I have read where the hero has been traumatized by his childhood.
I don’t think I’ve read any novels where the hero has been emotionally abused by his partners.
I don’t remember reading anything about a hero in an abusive relationship, but I have known by women and men in real life situations like that.
Susan Sey’s Money Shot sounds like a book you can sink your teeth into with Nate, dear (yuck) Sandi, and Charlie. I would love to read it!
I don’t recall reading a hero like that before, but I’m not surprised to see there are stories like that out there since there are real-life men who have self-confidence issues like that.
I loved “Money, Honey” and I can’t wait to read “Money Shot”! Go, Goose!
Have not read any books with a hero like Nate.
I haven’t read any romances with heroes like Nate. My books usually end up having those alpha male heroes.
ONE FINE COWBOY sounds like a great book!
So does MONEY SHOT!
Thanks for another wonderful giveaway!
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book were the hero is like Nate. Most of the books that I read the heroes are alpha and every once in a while I read a book were the hero is a beta. It will be interesting to read One Fine Cowboy to see how the author turns Nate around.
Very emotional stuff, I have never read a book in which the man suffered this kind of abuse.
But it can make a powerful story.
wow, I never realized this but I actually haven’t read any book where the hero isn’t confident or was emotionally abused by their partner. I want to try a book like that though.