By Vanessa Kelly
Have you ever read a book that featured a character that grabbed you by the throat and wouldn’t let go? One so compelling that every time you had to put the book down you couldn’t wait to get back to it. I can name several characters like that, spanning genres. In romance, one that springs immediately to mind is Dain, the tortured hero of Loretta Chase’s amazing book, Lord of Scoundrels. I was totally fascinated by Dain’s story and captivated by the way such a seemingly hard-hearted rake could be so empathetic and engaging. Chase’s masterful portrayal of Dain practically leaps off the page, rightly earning the book a place on many keeper shelves and “best” lists throughout romancelandia.
An author can also have this type of experience with one of her own creations. Every once in a while—if she’s lucky—her muse stumbles upon a character who grabs her by the collar, shakes her around, and won’t let go until he or she is fully realized on the pages of the author’s next manuscript. It’s an awesome experience and it’s one that writers pray to have with every book.
I was lucky enough to have this experience with the heroine of my latest Regency-set historical romance, My Favorite Countess. Bathsheba, Lady Randolph, was a tough nut to crack. She kept me awake at nights and had me cursing on more than one occasion—when she wasn’t making me laugh, that is, which happened quite a lot. But the interesting thing about Bathsheba is that I never in a million years envisioned her as a heroine. Ever!
Bathsheba started out as a throwaway line in my first book, Mastering The Marquess. She was the reputed mistress of Lord Trask, best friend to Lord Silverton, the hero of MTM. Bathsheba never even appeared on stage in that book, but already people were gossiping about her. I didn’t think too much about it but I filed her away in the back of my head, just in case I needed a sophisticated society widow for a later book.
Well, I didn’t have to wait too long for Bathsheba to pop up again. Simon, Lord Trask, was the hero of my next book, Sex And The Single Earl. Much to my surprise, that book started with Simon breaking off his relationship with Bathsheba because he had decided to court Sophie Stanton, the heroine of the book. Bathsheba was seriously annoyed about that, and she spent the rest of the book causing as much trouble for Sophie and Simon as she could. In fact, she was downright nasty, and I could hardly imagine how anyone could be so mean to poor Sophie.
But even as I was concocting all kinds of devious scenarios for Bathsheba to cause havoc in other characters’ lives, I couldn’t help thinking about her. Why was she so nasty to Sophie? Why was she so determined to have Simon when she didn’t even love him? Why, in fact, was she so darned desperate when she was a rich countess and one of the acknowledged leaders of the ton? Those questions just wouldn’t leave me alone.
I wrote My Favorite Countess in order to answer those vexing questions. And you know what? I had a great time doing it. By the time I started writing the book, Bathsheba was so alive in my head that she always took me exactly where I needed to go. Not that it was always easy. After all, she was the villainess of the previous book. I not only had to justify Bathsheba’s past behaviour by creating a compelling backstory for her, I had to make her face some difficult challenges so she could grow beyond her limitations and truly become the heroine I thought she deserved to be.
Fortunately, she didn’t have to do it alone. I gave her a wonderful hero in the character of John Blackmore, a handsome, crusading slum doctor and a pillar of strength who assisted Bathsheba through her trials and tribulations.
As I said, it wasn’t always easy dealing with Bathsheba, but I’m so glad I listened to her and gave the lady her own book.
What characters in romance have grabbed you by the throat? Was it a plucky heroine, a hardened rake, an evil but redeemable villain, or a vampire on the run from the sun? Tell me who that character is for a chance to win a copy of My Favorite Countess.
Vanessa Kelly writes Regency-set historical romance for Kensington Zebra, and was named by Booklist as one of the new stars of historical romance. She also writes contemporary romance with her husband under the pen name of VK Sykes. You can reach her on the web at: http://www.vanessakellyauthor.com.
I began reading Gabaldon’s Outlander series in late 1998 (soon after it came out, I believe) and the story and the characters really stayed with me. It’s possible that the pregnancy hormones coursing through my system at the time affected my reaction but it certainly made me a happy reader!
I tend to fall for heroes who came up the hard way. The most memorable of these for me were Derek Craven in Lisa Kleypas’ “Dreaming of You” and Kyle Bradwell in Madeline Hunter’s “Secrets of Surrender.” More recently, I totally fell for Castleford in Hunter’s “Dangerous in Diamonds.” His intelligence and droll wit – not to mention his scandalous behavior – make him one of my favorites.
I’d have to say Derek Craven, the hero from ‘Dreaming of You’ by Lisa Kleypas. He was a minor character in ‘Then Came You’ and has appeared in several other books. Derek owns a gambling den and is not your typical romance hero material. In fact, Lisa describes him on her website as: “he was a cockney-born gambling club owner . . . the son of a prostitute . . . minimally educated . . . and although he was handsome in an offbeat sort of way, he had slightly snaggly teeth, and a scar on his forehead”. A real bad boy turned hero…don’t you just love it?
Susan, the Outlander series is awesome, isn’t it? Even without the pregnancy hormones!
Diana & Karen, it’s amazing how often Derek Craven pops up on a favorite characters list. There are several Lisa Kleypas characters who have affected me that strongly – she’s a master at creating heroes who won’t let go!
I always wanted to have Rhett Butler have his own book…. darn that Scarlett!
The hero in Yesterday’s Child by Diane Whitney(OOP) and Will in Morning by L. Spencer.
It’s Morning Glory by L. Spencer. Great book. Sorry for the error.
Oh, Sylvester (awful name) and Honoria, Stephanie Laurens’ Duke and Duchess of St Ives. Love them and have to retead it every couple of years. They are like the Ur-couple of Regency romance for me. He’s so strong and powerful and yet she wraps him around her finger! Love them!!!
I gree with people who said Derek Craven. Also Zsadis from the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.
Rhett Butler has always been my favorite of all times from Gone With the Wind. I have never forgot this books it has stayed with me for years. This was the book that got me started reading and I guess that is why it has stayed with me through the years. Now I have a lot of other heros over the years but he still stands out. Also Hank for Kaki Warners Open Country has been a favorite.
I have two…well actually three heroes that come to mind. The reason that I picked these three heroes is because when I hear their names, I have to go and read their books. First off, I agree with other posters about Derek Craven. There’s just something about him. My next one is another LK hero, Sebastian, from The Devil in Winter. Now, he’s a reformed rake. He’s lived most men’s fantasies, by being with many women and being an all out scoundrel. However, his fantasy is most men’s reality, a woman that loves him and will always be with him. The third hero is Rhys from Jenna Petersen’s The Unclaimed Duchess. Rhys is a background character is JP’s What The Duke Desires. I thought he was the biggest jerk and couldn’t figure out how or why he was going to have his own book. After all he formed the so-called Duke’s Club as a child and if you weren’t heir to a dukedom, you weren’t worth the time of day. But after he finds out his very own identity isn’t what he thought it was, he tries to make amends. Of course we know all it takes is the love of a good woman. But it takes Rhys a while to figure that out.
All of the above lol. I really get into the book I’m currently reading and then I’m on to the next one. So many out there that I want to read. I love discovering new characters and new authors!
Wow! What great choices! I read Gone With The Wind when I was very young, and Rhett and Scarlett both stayed with me for a long time. I also totally agree about Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens. Arabella, Devil and Honoria as the Ur-couple of Regency romance is a perfect way to describe them! I also looovvvve Sebastian from Devil In Winter.
The most memorable characters for me are Jamie and Claire from Outlander (Diana Gabaldon), and Amelia and Emerson from The Amelia Peabody Mysteries (Elizabeth Peters). These characters are all so well written, I feel like they really existed in the past.
For me, it is the emotionally wounded heroes that are most memorable. Some of my favorite wounded heroes are JR Ward’s Zsadist and Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Zarek.
I am a bit shamefaced to admit I have hesitated picking this book up to read, because you did such a fine job of getting me to despise Bathsheba character in the first place I cannot picture her as a Heroine material. A character I find memorable and I could not wait for his HEA was Eloisa James’ the Earl of Mayne.
I agree with those who chose Derek Craven or Sebastian from Lisa Kleypas’ novels. There’s something about a reformed rake.
What can I say? I am fickle about my heroes and heroines. I love whichever one I am reading at the time. I loved the characters James Rutherford and Missy Armstrong and Thomas Armstrong and Amelia Bertram that were the subjects in Beverley Kendall’s books, Sinful Surrender and A Taste of Desire. Before that, it was Rayne Kenyon and Madeline Ellis in Nicole Jordan’s To Tame A Dangerous Lord.
Kat, think of what Lisa Kleypas did with the character of Sebastian in Devil In Winter. In the previous book he drugged and kidnapped his best friend’s fiance, and was considering raping her. And yet she redeemed him beautifully in the next book. I like to think I did the same with Bathsheba, who actually had a very compelling reason for behaving as she did in Sex And The Single Earl.
Oh, don’t get me wrong your book is my TBR pile (love your books). I am just lacking enthusiasm? (Is that the word) for the Heroine. Please this is not a negative to you in anyway. Truly it just may be the most back handed compliment ever, because it all comes down to you really made me dislike her in, Sex and the Single Earl. I agree L.K. did a fantastic job redeeming Sebastian (best rake makeover ever IMO). However, even without Sebastian I was already invested in that book thru the Heroine Evie so it zoomed to the top of the pile.
I have read sooo many books I can’t remember all the characters that I want to read about again. Bertrice Small’s series with Skye O ‘Malley/the Cynster guys from Stephanie Laurens/ and Shanna from Kathleen Woodiwiss are ones I can remember off the top of my head. Also the guys in Patrice Michele’s book COLT’S CHOICE and Penny McCall’s ALL JACKED UP. I also like all of the heroes in Suzanne Brockman’s books. Theres too many to recall.
Love those men that are trouble with a capital T! Just tell me how bad they are, and I can’t wait to find out how they are going to be redeemed–even the ones that I don’t admire or respect, at first. I am just finishing the “Ice” series by Anne Stuart and each of those heroes (Bastien, Takashi, Reno, Peter) are seemingly lost to any hint of softness in their characters. In fact, each one knows that they must kill the heroine of the book in the line of duty, a regrettable but necessary action for their secret work of the “Committee”. The melting of their individual ice shrouded hearts by the power of the women who love them is…lovely. I have finished each book with a smile on my face. Now heroines behaving badly are not as familiar or as appealing, I am afraid, so I am intrigued by your Bathsheba. I want to know how she changes too.
For me it depends on the character themselves. There have been many characters that have grabbed me over the years. I will say that I do normally gravitate more towards alpha males. I think it may be because there is always something hidden from their past that made them become the way they are. Like Zsadist from the BDB. He has grabbed me and not let go. I just loved his story and being able to see him transform. Logan Scott from Lisa Kleypas’ Because Your Mine is another character that I think of often. It just broke my heart when he confesses his love to Madeline to only find out that she was using him. Seriously pulls on my heart strings. Also, I totally agree with everyone about Derek Craven.
I have two — Derek Craven from Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas especially when we find out he’s had Sara’s glasses in his inside breast pocket of his suite. And my other one is Gabriel Cynster — oh there’s just something about him that I loved.
Oh, yes! Anne Stuart’s Ice series. Those guys were such badasses!
Kat, I totally understand. I guess I did a very good job with Bathsheba! What I will say, though, was that she was my favorite character – hands down – that I’ve ever written. She’s a total marshmellow under the tough exterior, and she also made me laugh. But, yes. She was a darn tough nut to crack!
Jennifer Estep’s Gin Blanco is a character I just keep thinking about. As soon as I finish a book in her Elemental Assassin series, it stays with me for days, I keep thinking about what happened, and what will happen in the next book.
Throw me on that Derek Craven bandwagon. I also really liked Minerva Dobbs from Jennifer Crusie’s Bet Me.
Great post Vanessa! Your new book looks so good, and what a lovely cover!
One of my favorites is Derek Craven also from DREAMING OF YOU. This was the first Lisa Kleypas book I had ever read and boy was it a standout–mainly because of the wonderful hero! I have also always liked Sydney Carton in A TALE OF TWO CITIES. 🙂
I have always loved Brodick from Ransom. He just tickles me when he is mad because he feels happy.
Popping in between a moment out of my writing cave. Welcome, Vanessa!!! Can’t wait to read your book. Always happy to have you on the blog. Come back again. 🙂
Hi Vanessa! Congratulations on your newest release. I’m really looking forward to reading MY FAVORITE COUNTESS because I have never read a story with a heroine like Bathsheba before and have heard such great things about the book.
Like some of the others have said Derek Craven from DREAMING OF YOU by Lisa Kleypas remains one of my favorite heros. I loved him in the book THEN CAME YOU when we first met him and was so excited when he got his own story.
Julia Quinn has a lot of memorable characters. I’ll mention Anthony Bridgerton, who gets his HEA in The Viscount Who Loved Me and appears in the whole Bridgerton series. Of course, it’s hard to select only one Bridgerton; they are all so lovingly and uniquely written.
A sense of humor goes a long way to stay in my mind.
I go back to the first romances I ever read: Julie Garwood was the first romance author I ever read. Her historical heroines were spunky, independent, strong women with a sweetness about them. They could hold their own with the hero and stand up against the villain. I still tend to like the good girls, but a well written, complex character is always appreciated. Throw in a touch of naughty and she is a delight.
A couple of characters from Susan Elizabeth Phillips’s novels have grabbed me. One of them was Sugar Beth from Ain’t She Sweet? Even though she did wrong in her past, I couldn’t hate her. Her family life was really messed up and I really felt saddened while reading the story. Another one was Phoebe from It Had to Be You. She suffered a lot in her past, but still managed to be a fun character. Both characters just grabbed me with their stories. I seriously felt their pain and could not stop thinking about them days after I read the books.
Thanks for having me on, Bev! Always love it on The Season. It was fun being reminded about so many great books and characters!
Sebastian St. Vincent whom we meet in the first Wallflowers book by Kleypas as a scoundrel and conscienceless cad, but in Devil in Winter he becomes one of my favorite heroes ever.
Wulfric Bedwyn who appears in each of his siblings Slightly books by Mary Balogh and comes across as an incredibly snooty, cold-hearted ass, but his book – Slightly Dangerous – is one of my favorite books ever.
Kylemore from Claiming the Courtesan. I wanted the heroine to bash him in the head through most of the book, but he steals my heart at about the same time he steals hers.
Ivan from Dangerous to Love by Rexanne Bechnel. What a complete jerk! But he was so compelling I simply couldn’t walk away. I had to finish the book and he ended up being a fabulous character.
I think these sorts of characters appeal to us because we truly want to believe love is the most powerful force in the universe and that anyone is redeemable.
A few years ago those characters were Bella and Edward from Twilight. I couldn’t get enough! Now it’s Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. So glad so many authors write about them!
I was most recently grabbed by the heroine of Revealed by Kate Noble. She’s the spoiled, beautiful prom queen we would all hate if we knew her, but has fascinating hidden depths. I have to go buy myself a copy of that book now, because I keep wanting to reread it.
FYI: for those of you who would love to read Rhett Butler’s book, try ‘Rhett Butler’s People’ by Donald McCaig, published in 2007. It is GWTW retold from Rhett’s perspective. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, especially the parts telling of Rhett’s early family life. Anyone loving GWTW & Rhett will enjoy this book.
I’ve read so many wonderful books with wonderful characters that I had to back to my author cards (where I keep track of what I’ve read & TBR). I decided on James MacLeod from Lynn Kurland’s ‘A Dance Through Time’ – a Scottish warrior from 1311 that comes thru time to present day 1996. He was great in 1311, but his reaction to current day was priceless.
Vanessa –
I definately pick the wicked rake as my favorite. After all the heroine will end up being able to enjoy all the wickedness and keep it all for herself for a lifetime. There is nothing like a reformed rake who has just been waiting for the right woman to turn his life into one of joy and happiness. On top of that they make the best husbands and fathers.
I should know – I married one myself 41 years ago! I loved Bathsheba ou when she was in Mastering the Marquess and am so glad that you gave her a book (and a love) of her own. From the way you wrote about her I just knew there was more to learn. I can’t wait to read My Favorite Countess. I just knew there had to be a story behind how she acted and am glad that you decided to share her story with us.
I must admit I love when characters reappear in a following story especially when their character leaves the reader with so many questions about who they really are.
I think both the hero and heroine of the Sarah Dearly series by Michelle Rowen really stuck with me. It was a five book long series (and how I hated waiting for that next book!) in which I felt Sarah’s humor and wit really kept the books interesting. Her spunk helped loosen up Theirry. And I liked how she was dependent on herself, but could still accept help. She was trusting but knew when to act in her own best interests. She wasn’t gullible, and she was strong and sexy while sweet and loving at all times. It was a wicked awesome series, and Sarah will always be a role-model of sorts for how to deal with problems (though I doubt I’ll ever have to face down a vampire…)