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I recently picked up the newest book by the fabulous Gena Showalter (love her books!), and it featured something I’ve only seen a handful of times in my many years of reading romance novels: a virgin hero.
In the context of her story, the virgin hero makes total sense, because he is an angel who has never before experienced desire. But I couldn’t help but think, what’s the popular opinion on virgin heroes?
Is the thought that he’s never slept with another woman a turn-on, because the heroine is the one who’ll get to indoctrinate him, or are you constantly thinking that he’s gonna be a bumbling fool and she’ll have to teach them everything, lol?
Inquiring minds want to know!
The name of the book is WICKED NIGHTS, by the way, and I think it’s great so far.
Rosalie Lario
Author of the Demons of Infernum Series
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I have a virgin hero in my manuscript. The story determines whether or not this is a positive or negative. I can’t imagine Jason Bourne blowing up half a city block for breakfast as a virgin. I can imagine an Angel kept apart from sinful humans though.
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Rosalie Lario Reply:
August 12th, 2012 at 6:23 pm
Lol, just imagining Jason Bourne as a virgin…that’s a hoot.
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One of my favorite heroes of all time is Linnea Sinclair’s Kel-Paten and he’s a virgin. I think if it’s handled correctly, then it can be done and be HAWT, but it depends on the story.
Actually, now that I think about it, I’m pretty sure that Daemon SaDiablo in Anne Bishop’s books was a virgin too.
So, yes, two of the hottest heroes in my library were both virgins. It can be done!
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Rosalie Lario Reply:
August 12th, 2012 at 6:25 pm
I read a book once that enjoyed which had a virgin hero, but I can’t remember the author or anything else about it, lol!
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Jenna Reply:
August 17th, 2012 at 8:12 am
Kel-Paten is one, and fantastic, especially as you get his POV in the book. And who could resist, “You’re all I’ve ever wanted” ?
Another virgin hero is Jamie Fraser from Outlander, and it certainly hasn’t hurt his popularity.
I have Wicked Nights on my TBR pile. One day I’ll get to it.
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Rosalie Lario Reply:
August 17th, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Lol, yes, I know all about the TBR pile.
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I don’t know why, but virgins in novels turn me off. Period. With heroines though, her virginity usually isn’t the main plot point, it’s just a side note of her needing to keep the family farm. She marries the Earl next door, thus loses her virginity–or some such tale. However, an angel who has never experienced desire does sound intriguing enough for me to give it a try!
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Rosalie Lario Reply:
August 12th, 2012 at 6:27 pm
It’s a good one, Tracy.
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I think it totally depends on the hero’s journey. Virgin angel–awesome. Virgin spy–not so much. I’m not saying it can’t be done, I’ve read a few books with more experienced hero’s who were virgin’s and it worked in story. Such as Eloisa James’ Sebastian Bonnington with Esme Rawlings, but something has to really explain why the hero hasn’t buckled to societies views of manhood and thrown his virginity out the window at the first available opportunity. Afterall, sexual prowess lets the whole world know a guys hot–or not. Just ask Tiger.
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Rosalie Lario Reply:
August 12th, 2012 at 6:28 pm
You have a really good point. Unless there’s a special reason for why the hero is still a virgin, I tend to think it’s kind of…weird. I don’t know, maybe it’s because I knew a 28-year-old male virgin once and he was…well, he was weird.
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Virginity male or female not usually my style. The occasional virgin hero is ok IF well written and Showalter can serve up a sexy virgin!
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Rosalie Lario Reply:
August 12th, 2012 at 6:29 pm
Yes, it must be well-written, and Showalter definitely knows her stuff!
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I think it can be very sexy if done right. Definitely need the right background for it to work.
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Rosalie Lario Reply:
August 12th, 2012 at 6:30 pm
I agree, Tiffany!
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