We’ve talked a lot about hunky heroes here on the Blaze Authors blog. And why not? Hunky heroes are one of the sweetest benefits of our books, right? Right. Sexy cowboys, Harley riding bad boys, intense soldier boys… mmmm mmmmmmm heroes! 
But how about the heroines?
Blaze has tough girl heroines, sassy heroines, sweet heroines and darn near any description in between. I’m partial to the smart-mouthed, strong yet vulnerable ones myself, but always get inspired by the kick-butt gals in Blaze, and drawn to the sweetly old-fashioned girls next door. One things certain in a Blaze, you’ll always find a strong, sexually-empowered heroine. 
I think that’s one of the major draws in this line -heroines who either from the beginning, and always by the ending of the story, are strong, sexual women. They know what they want. They know how to get it. They know where they want it and how they like it, and make sure that’s part of their own happy-ever-after. Like the awesomely sexy heroes, these fabulous heroines are just one more thing that make Blazes great, huh?
It’s been said that a romance reader identifies with heroine -she’s the lens we see the story through. As a reader, I don’t know that I identify with the heroine so much as empathize with her, if that makes sense? I like to watch her story play out, see what motivates her to be who she is, and what choices she makes. I guess that makes me a voyeur 
As a writer, I do tend to meet the heroine first when I start a book. Once I know who she is, what her goal is and what her fears are, its a lot easier to find her hero. You know, that guy who’ll push all her buttons, seem totally wrong for her and drive her absolutely crazy? The hunky one, with the broad shoulders and tight… abs. 
How about you? Do you identify with the heroine? I’ve heard readers say they put themselves in the readers shoes -so to speak- as they read, living the story through her. How do you read your stories? Through the eyes of the heroine? What kind of heroine do you prefer? And which fictional heroine is your absolute favorite?
I’ll pick one random commenter to win an advance copy of my September Blaze, FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME!
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I like to see the story through her eyes but at the same time I want to know his thoughts and feelings and out takes on everything. I like to know that while she is feeling herself drawn to him and he appears unmoved, deep down he is feelings some of the same feelings she is. He isn’t going to let her know of course but that makes her situation all that more interesting because when he finally lets her know what it is he is feeling, she falls in head over heels (like she wasn’t already LOL)
I just finished reading ‘Up all night’ by Joanne Rock and I loved ther heroine in that book. She had serious problems but put herself out on a limb and out of her comfort zone to be with the man she wanted. Ahhh, the makings of a great story!
What a great outline of a compelling heroine, Patsy
Like you, I’m a fan of edgy heroines with vulnerabilities I can relate to.
I haven’t read Up Ajl Night yet, but have it in my TBR pile because I love Joanne’s writing – I’ll have to move it to the top of the stack.
Good question. I like heroines who deserve their happily-ever-afters. They’re the ones who go after life rather than waiting for life to come to them.
I’m with you, Heather. And its so fun to go after life with them while reading, isn’t it?!
Being a woman, I tend to identify with the heroine and like to watch the story unfold from her viewpoint. Though, don’t get me wrong, I love the glimpses of what makes the hero tick and act how he does but Blaze novels are written by women for women and that’s one of the major things that drew me to these books.
I can’t say there’s a specific type of heroine I enjoy discovering more than others…being more on the outwardly shy and reserved side myself, I identify with those characters more, but outgoing, strong and outspoken women earn my respect and admiration.
Sarah, I hear you on enjoying reading about characters who are different than ourselves. I’m always intrigued by the adventurous, intense heroines. Julie Leto wrote the most amazing assassin in The Domino Effect that’s always made me wish I was tougher LOL
Hello Tawny,
As an avid reader, I do put myself in the shoes of the heroine. I love it when the are sassy and don’t know when to shut up and listen. I’m a lot like that in real life. I’m one of those readers that will get so into the heroines part I cry, yell, and sometimes will even throw a tantrum with them. LOL Thanks for the opportunity to win your upcoming release. Have a great day.
LOL, you even throw tantrums with them, Roberta? I LOVE it!!! I can’t think of anything a writer wants to hear more than that they elicit strong emotion from their readers
I like to be able to relate and sympathize with the heroine, and I like a strong, confident, sassy, witty heroine — not a wallflower or a pushover or one who leads with her pride or her emotions first and logic second. But I like to be able to see things through the hero too, and I like seeing how he views the heroine — what he finds admirable about her, where they mesh, where they clash, what kicks off the sparks, and then how those issues come together in the bedroom.
Julie
Mmm, GREAT point, Julie. I think one of the greatest things about Blaze is watching all the conflicts come together in the bedroom (or kitchen, or on the Harley, or… well, yeah
)
I do think seeing the heroine through the heroes eyes is important. I’m always intrigued by a person’s perception of their selves vs other’s perceptions of them – especially the heroes perception, while falling in love.
I enjoy the many different types of heroines out there. The variety gives me the chance to see what it is like to be someone different. I am one that loves to be pulled into a book and feel all of the emotions that are within those pages. I have to say the one heroine that always stood out for me was Scarlett in both GONE WITH THE WIND and SCARLETT.
Oh yeah, Colleen!! Has there ever been a heroine to impact readers more than Scarlett!?!? What a woman. She definitely made readers feel what she was going through, didn’t she?
I like how you put that, too – the variety giving you a chance to see what its like to be someone different.
I too read the story from the point of the heroine. I prefer the girl next door type of gal. I think it’s great to see her meet the man she rightly deserves. I always gave me hope.
I think that’s why my friends tell me my life would have made a good romance novel. My husband and I met as pen pals. The old fashioned way of pen to paper, not on the computer.
-Pamela
Aww, Pamela, your post made me smile. You and your husband being pen pals is so romantic and inspiring. And how awesome that your life reads like a romance novel – I can’t think of anything sweeter.
Tawny, just popping in because I am so psyched to see the first Dressed to Thrill book up on the blog! Woot! Great cover.
This is going to be a great series! (and a lot of neat surprises for readers along the way). 
I do have to identify with the heroine on some level, not that she has to be like me at all, but I have to at least relate to something she’s thinking, feeling, working for, etc. I love strong, smart heroines who have layers to their personalities — like Brenda Lee Johnson from The Closer who is one of my favorites. I like her because she is SO good at what she does, but she also has room to grow, and she’s so complex. In books, one of my favorite heroines is Richelle Mead’s Georgina Kincaid… great paranormal heroine.
I don’t necessarily experience the book as if I am in their shoes, but I do need characters I care about, even as people I could imagine knowing, to be involved in the book.
Sam
Sam
GREAT insights, Sam. I remember getting mail about DOUBLE DARE when it came out and hearing from readers who didn’t think they could relate to such a wild bad girl like my heroine, but it was the vulnerabilities she had, the same ones they had, that made it work. Isn’t that the key? To find some common ground in the character we’re reading and think ‘oh yeah, I can totally relate’.
Like you, I’m SO excited about the series!!! Its going to be so much fun.
Since I’m a quadraplegic that aren’t that many books out that I can put myself in to. That’s why I’m especially thrilled when I find characters that are physically challenged or in some way less than a perceived ideal. I like characters that are more sexy on the inside than the outside. For my heroes, I also want them to have a dark side, to have come from hardships to be the strong male they are today.
Hey Jody
Heroines who have the strength to overcome physical challenges are so inspiring, aren’t they? I don’t think we see enough of them in fiction – but I’d love to hear any you can recommend.
And dark, intense alpha heroes who love them… oh yum. You picked an awesome combination!!!
I usually find something I can relate to with most heroines, unless she’s doing some TSTL stuff, in which case I’m usually relating more to the hero.
LOL Chey, do you mean the ‘hey, I’m home alone and there’s a killer on the loose, and I just heard a noise in the spooky basement so I’m going to check it out’ TSTL heroine?
Sometimes I put myself in the Heroine’s shoes if I can relate to what she is going through or if she’s doing something I wish I could do
I like the sweet girl next door that meets the bad boy. I love when he shows her a side of herself she never knew existed. I think I love those ones best because I can relate to those Heroines because I’m the sweet girl next door, I can live through them
Hi Nicole
Soooo, the sweet girl next door lured over to the wild side by a bad boy. Mmmm, yeah, thats always a great read! Isn’t it fun to watch the sweet girls blossom and find out they have a little bad girl inside?
Most of the time I don’t identify with the heroine, but it doesn’t bother me because I’m reading for fun. It is nice to read about a heroine who looks and talks like you. You definitely connect with the character and want the best for her.
That’s great to know, Jane. I’ll admit, there are a ton of heroines I read that I don’t identify with – Eve Dallas is one that comes immediately to mind. But like you say, when you’re reading for fun, its all about connecting with the character and wanting them to win -at whatever it is they’re doing
Sometimes I identify with the heroine (you don’t run into many old chubby heroines) but if I can’t relate to the heroine I can usually relate to at least one of her characteristics. Of course there is the TSTL heroine mentioned above and her I just want to shake until her teeth rattle. Spooky noise in basement? Call your best friend and get out of Dodge!!
ROFL Dianna – I hear you!!! I’m the kind that yells at the book or movie when I see the TSTL heroine make her dumb moves.
Like you say, if there’s just one thing to relate to -or even if its not something *I* personally relate to, but can understand – its easy to get hooked.
I like the heroine, that I could but my feet into her shoes and love it!!! Like Nicole, I like the girl next door one too!!! Can’t wait to read your book!!!
Hi Cheryl!!! I hope you enjoy Feels Like the First Time
Its the first series story I’ve written and I had so much fun with Samantha, Karen and Lisa!
Hmmm, now you said the magic words -shoes. Gals with great shoes are one of my absolute favorite ways to identify with a heroine LOL. How about you?
Popping over from your blog to say hi, Tawny! (We just got back from out of town, so we’re happy but tired and buried in laundry, mail, and e-mail ;)) As for heroines, I don’t always fully identify with them, but usually the good stories give me a kernel of something that gives me an in–maybe they’re gorgeous but for some reason feel like an outsider in their hometown, or they’re brilliant and geeky, or have excellent fashion sense but are a bit shy… So maybe I’m not gorgeous, brilliant, or possessor or excellent fashion sense, but there’s still something I *can* relate to… and in the end, I just love a good love story, so these heroines give me a good story with some hope and reminders that HEAs exist, which is all the heroine I need
As for kind of heroine I prefer, I do tend to relate better when she isn’t perfect, but has some flaws too. I do like her to be relatively tough (no whiners, please ;)) and not TSTL (that’s a real turn-off). BTW, you do write them well, Tawny!
Fedora, hi!!
It sounds like you had a fabulous trip. I love that ahhh, I’m home feeling, even if there is a big pile of laundry waiting LOL. Great examples of what it is that we connect with as readers. I think you nailed it- its that one little something that we can relate to -and its probably never the same thing from reader to reader – that lets us empathize with the heroine.
and thank you
I sooo appreciate that!!! 
And the Winner Is: Julie Harrington!! Julie, if you could drop me an email with your shipping info to Tawny@TawnyWeber.com with Blaze Authors in the subject line, I’ll send your autographed book right out to you
I hope you enjoy reading FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME
And a huge thanks to everyone for visiting today!!!
Congrats Julie!!!
Congrats Julie!!