Love - for Richer or Poorer?
by Flo Nicoll on January 5th, 2012, 1:58pm
Welcome back, everyone!
I hope you all had a fabby Christmas, brimming with enough festive cheer and happiness to cushion the shock of going back to work! (Anyone else also feeling somewhat ‘cushioned’ by post-Christmas podge? Looks like another January gym membership might be on the cards for me...)
But before the January blues can set in, let’s dwell a little more on the heady days of Christmas indulgence – what did everyone think of the TV?! I’m a complete sucker for both Christmas specials and costume dramas, so the one programme that I circled instantly in the Christmas Radio Times was, of course, ITV’s Downton Abbey. And wasn’t it a gem?!
As you might imagine, it was also a hot topic in Romance HQ come this Tuesday – Matthew and Mary’s will-they-won’t-they relationship has had us hooked for months. (Although, to be honest, it’s all about Thomas for me – he’s so deliciously evil!) Cue plenty of rhapsodizing about 1920s dresses and the amazingness of the servants’ ball, plus longing to see more of this incredible era in our slush piles.
However, the upstairs/downstairs theme got us thinking about one of the more awkward issues in romance – the importance of cold hard cash! Do you prefer heroes with bottomless bank accounts, or in this time of recession, is uber-wealth a turn off? Would you consider a hero to be less Alpha if he was poorer than the heroine, or does it add to his appeal? In historical fiction, would you rather read about the aristocrats or the servants getting their happy endings?
So, as we all live in fear of January’s credit card bills arriving, have a think and let us know…!
Wishing you all a very happy 2012!
Love Flo x
In historical fiction, would
In historical fiction, would you rather read about the aristocrats or the servants getting their happy endings :)
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The love is like to
The love is like to every one, It doesn't have the dissimilarity of rich and Poor. christmas love messages all are the same after they are in love.
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I had gone through the
I had gone through the post. The love is equal to all, It doesn't have the difference of Rich and Poor. All are equal when they are in love. It may be the relation or with friends or with in the couple. The only base in the earth to make it smoother from other sort of horrible things today is love.
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I seem to be the only persion in the world who doesn't like Downton. For me, it's not one thing or the other - not serious enough and not funny enough - and so it just doesn't work. Wish it did, I love the idea and I love the time and the Great War fascinates me, but there you go, someone has to be the the minority.
I've been thinking a lot about the money issue from a historical point of view. Problem with historicals is that if you're poor you're also probably filthy and smelly and that is so unromantic. Also, if you're a woman, even if you're rich in your own right (which was really unusual) the minute you marry then you hand over all your pennies. And if you have got money and your man doesn't then he's going to be accused of fortune hunting. So it's easy to see why it's a don't-go-there.
But I do keep wondering whether that's playing too safe. Does not having money have to mean dirt poor? Wouldn't it be fun to see a hero and heroine coping, for a change, with all the really huge differences betweeen our society and 200 years ago? And wouldn't it be great to have a hero so confident in himself and a heroine so in love that they dump her money or somehow get over the hurdle of it.
I think this opens lots of doors to new twists, and behind them are some rooms I definitely want to have a look around.
Historical Romance Writer
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For richer...if it doesn't interfere!
Firstly I must say, I absolutely loved the Christmas Downton!
As for the matter of money I tend to read Modern romances so I've developed quite a penchant for Billionaire heroes or cowboys with more money than they let on. I'm not saying they have to live as a billionaire: there's something very endearing about a billionaire who lives only comfortably, but I certainly prefer them a little richer. The condition to this? They have to be self made, from the gutters up, or having vastly improved on a little inherited money. I tend to find the ones who were born with the proverbial silver spoon just aren't as deep or interesting. I am, of course, open to correction everytime I read a new book!
The most important thing with money, is that it is never more important than the love he develops. Even historically...what use is the money if it comes at the price of love? Alpha heroes shouldn't need money to be alpha...it's the pure charisma/attitude!
Happy New Year!
I absolutely do not believe that a man needs to be richer than a woman to be alpha!! Alpha is an attitude, not a bank account number.
Amy Strnad w/a Aimee Carson
www.aimeecarson.com
Secret History of a Good Girl Harlequin Presents Extra Feb. 2012
Dare She Kiss And Tell? UK Modern June 2012
Downton
Flo, Downton starts here on Sunday and I can't WAIT! It looks so good and I loved the first series.
The money issue for me depends on the story. If I'm looking for glitz and glam, I want a hero to sweep me away to his villa. In a more "homey" kind of story - like my cowboys, for instance, I'm okay with things being a little tight on the budgetary front. I'm reading a historical right now which features a Duke, but he's rather like Matthew in that he's an unlikely heir. However he *is* a self-made man with scads of money. I like my historical heroes to be rich but I'm a regency lover so that works.
And yet in Downton one of my favourite characters is Bates...
I think it doesn't always matter as long as the hero is a leader, you know?
Donna
HONEYMOON WITH THE RANCHER, Cherish UK March 2011
A FAMILY FOR THE RUGGED RANCHER, Cherish UK June 2011
HOW A COWBOY STOLE HER HEART, Cherish UK October 2011
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