Comments on: REVIEW: His Rebel Bride by Helen Dickson

By: Ann Bruce

Ann Bruce — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 01:49:53 +0000

Okay, I should tack on the following to my statement (I really need to wait a day before making comments):

“and don’t evolve.”

I just find it frustrating sometimes because heroes in romance novels usually start off with intelligence and common sense. I can’t recall too many books where the heroes grow throughout the story. I guess it’s not too sexy at any point to have your hero do idiotic things.

In romance, it’s all too common to have heroes evolve emotionally, but not intellectually (unless he did stupid things in the distant past when he was still in short pants) because he should already be of superior intelligence.

Heroines, on the other hand, can start off TSTL and remain TSTL–and that appears to be acceptable.

By: Jayne

Jayne — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 01:36:40 +0000

Ann, I don’t mind if characters make mistakes because they don’t know something, some plot point that we know or if they’re in a learning curve. We all do stupid things. But I want to see characters learn from what they’ve seen and done and had done to them. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice….do something stupid, well I’m learning, keep doing foolish things and I’m an idiot.

By: Ann Bruce

Ann Bruce — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:58:34 +0000

I read the scene and shouted out loud, “You stupid idiot!” Which startled my cat and my dog.

Good to know I’m not the only one who yells at inanimate objects.

And doesn’t it kill you to know there are still women writers who make their female characters so stupid?

By: sula

sula — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:05:30 +0000

Echoing others with the thanks for the warning. This kind of heroine is the kind that makes me pull out my hair in frustration and has me throwing the book against the wall. It’s a shame too because that time period can be so interesting if the characters are worth hanging out with. Why oh why does “feisty” have to equal pig-headed stupid obstinacy? grrr.

By: M.

M. — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 15:25:09 +0000

Sounds like a classic case of TSTL heroine syndrome. Thanks for the warning, I just can’t STAND them.

By: Jane A.

Jane A. — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:52:41 +0000

Ugh. I’m always looking for books set during this time, what an exciting period in England’s history. I’m surprised that more author’s don’t take advantage of the potential there. Yet based on your review I wouldn’t touch this one with a ten foot pole. I hate every single aspect of the heroine (and hero for that matter) that you’ve touched upon. Thank you for suffering in order to spare us!

By: Jayne

Jayne — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:31:01 +0000

Heather, the sad thing is that at times Marcus admires Catherine for her spirit and bravery. I just didn’t see it. There’s one scene when rebels appear at Marcus’s country estate while he’s away. They start banging on the door, are obviously low-lifes, the house has only women and old male servants in it and what does Catherine do? Has a servant open the door so she can confront them. Of course they storm the house, threaten the servants, ransack the place and refuse her bleating demands that they leave. Well, why should they? They’re in control there. I read the scene and shouted out loud, “You stupid idiot!” Which startled my cat and my dog. And it takes a lot to startle the dog, believe me.

And no, Helen Dickson is a woman according to the author’s note.

By: Jayne

Jayne — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:23:46 +0000

Sybil, I was soooo deeply disappointed with this book. It could have been great. It should have been readable at the very least. I read it shortly after the Juliet Landon one and the contrast was marked. Oh well, one good, one not….

By: heather (errantdreams)

heather (errantdreams) — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:20:11 +0000

But instead I found it boring, filled with little history lectures, overdramatic and peopled by characters I felt no sympathy for.

Wow. I might be able to forgive overdramatic if the rest was good, but…

And I HATE HATE HATE books that show us stupid selfish women and call them ‘feisty’ and ’strong.’ That is NOT a strong woman. ARGH! Makes me wonder if ‘Helen Dickson’ is a pen name for a male author. Not that you wouldn’t see that kind of characterization from a female author; I’m just much more used to it from the guys. Reminds me of an SF novel I read once where we’re told a young woman is extremely smart and independent, but throughout the whole book she’s stupid and stubborn and gets condescended to and coddled by the males (but that’s okay because they’re caring for her, y’know?). UGH. *shudder*

Okay, got that rant out of my system now…

By: Sybil

Sybil — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:13:22 +0000

Oh good I kept looking at this one and decided to pass on it the last time I was there. Now I feel better, I had added it to the cart and taken it out about three times.

Sorry about the disappointing read but thanks. Doesn’t sound like one I would enjoy either.