Enchanted Ella: Romance Novels with Realistic Heroines

 

How often are you surprised when you are reading a romance novel and the heroine is described as full figured?  What is full figured?  Is it a size 10, 12 or 16 and up?  

All too often our society labels things inappropriately.  Kudos to the ladies who can eat what ever they want and not gain a pound.  Kudos to the ladies who eat what they want and work out at the gym to cancel out those calories.  I myself am a thicker girl (see the brave pictures below).  I'm often found in a struggle between self acceptance and self hatred.  I make efforts to eat healthy and exercise but find myself often "falling of the proverbial wagon" more often than not.  I am learning to accept and love myself - all of me, no exceptions.  Finding realistic heroines to relate to is helping.    

It's refreshing when you find a good novel or even a novella that is written about a heroine that you can relate to.  Personality wise, I find myself matching up to several of the heroines in the novels I choose.  It's rare that I find one that matches me body type and all.  But - I've found them.  And LOVED them!  

       

Photo courtesy of "a Bitt of You Photography"

Trying to look serious

Photo courtesy of "a Bitt of You Photography"

I got photo bombed by a vagrant! 

What books have you read that you relate to?  

Below you will find a list of just some of the books that Ravishing Romances has identified a realistic heroine:  

The Hawk by Monica McCarty
Heroine Lady Elyne de Burgh is described as an ordinary, common looking girl with little bossom.  The hero thinks of her as a "drowned rat"  - see swimming at night scene

The Sleeping Night by Barbara Samuel
Heroine Angel Corey is described a very average girl who's not quite a beauty due to her pale coloring with callouses on her feet.

Love Me by Bella Andre
Heroine Lilli is a size 16 woman with self image issues.

Heavy Issues by Elle Aycart 
Heroine Christy is overweight and surrounded by skinny friends and she has body issues due to stretch marks and what she calls fat rolls.  

Follow Enchanting Ella on Twitter and like her Facebook Page.  

Still curious?  Read her bio.

Best Reads of May 2012

Diamonds and books are a girl's best friends, but we still choose our favorites.

The three following novels are the best reads I found this May.  Selected for different reasons, they are wonderful novels delivered by even more wonderful authors.


The Sleeping Night by Barbara Samuel-O'Neal  (Emotional women's fiction/romance read)

Scheduled for release on June 21.  The Sleeping Night is well worth the $9.56 price tag.  "Emotional" is my description, but it's better defined as "the opposite of light and fluffy".  As my review mentions, the crisp Jane Austen style writing and 1940s racial tension is exactly what it took to tug my heart strings.  I thought about this book days after it was finished.


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Conquered by a Highlander by Paula Quinn  (Historically based romance read)

Released on May 22, my review explains why Conquered is just one of many great, great titles from Quinn.  This author has yet to pen a story I do not like and I hero-worship her.  It would be embarrassing if she wasn't so darn talented.




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Believe It or Not by Tawna Fenske  (Hilarious, contemporary romance read)

Released in March 2012.  Okay, I was a little late to the male strip club on this one, but it is exceptional.  I laughed - out loud and on multiple occasions.  This book should be read - preferably with a box of dark chocolates, a bottle of wine and a Van Halen album in the background.  It was not reviewed on this site, but if it was it would have received a glowing 6 stars.  I still think about this novel.  Click here to read an excerpt. 



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Blog About It

Want to weigh in?  Let me know your thoughts on these novels and sing the praises of the novels I missed.  If a story moves you, chances are it will move someone else, too.

The Sleeping Night (by Barbara Samuel)

The Sleeping Night rating:  5 out of 5 stars 

Release Date:  June 2012

How are the sex scenes?
Meaningful.  A few leading up to scenes and some implied,
but nothing that would embarrass you at the next book club meeting. 
(Yes, you should definitely be discussing this book.)

How are the story lines?
Romantic and beautiful with heart wrenching realism about southern life during the 1940s.

Would you read it again?
Yes.  Great literature should always be read again.

The Sleeping Night tells the story of Angel Corey, a white daughter left alone after the sudden passing of her father, and Isiah High, a black solider returned home after fighting during World War II.  Angel and Isiah's childhood friendship mirrored their fathers', despite the racial inequalities gripping the South and small town Gideon, Texas.  Angel and Isiah were separated as teenagers, an act meant to protect them from public rebuke, and as adults Isiah joined the army, thus saving him from the racist-fueled death suffered by his father.  Isiah returns to Gideon after the war with every intention of keeping his distance from Angel, whom he had secretly corresponded with while deployed.  Unable to watch Angel's struggle for survival, Isiah offers his help and a begrudging friendship grows. 

This story is a beautiful telling of forbidden romance. 

Angel is a stubborn, resilient character, quickly gaining the reader's respect (and in my case, awe) with her strong will and work ethic.  This woman is not your damsel in distress and only relies on herself and God to change her circumstance.

Isiah is a courageous and intelligent man, accepting the things he cannot win and finding ways to help Angel despite the limitations put to him by the color of his skin.  Well read, world traveled and utterly devoted, he is a practical hero, one every girl might be lucky enough to bring home to momma.  Even with Angel's superwoman toughness, Isiah's bravery refuses to be overshadowed.  He uses it, proving his love to Angel over and over again.

The supporting characters have great personalities and back stories of their own.  When their names are mentioned, you immediately recall their life, purpose and relevance to the story.

This novel is further enhanced by Angel and Isiah's letters exchanged during the war and its accurate 1940s setting, giving a realistic view of what life was like for African Americans and people who befriended them.

The Sleeping Night is a refined, romantic tale.  I imagine if Jane Austen wrote novels today, her stories would read a lot like Barbara Samuel's. 

I would love to discuss this book with readers.  Leave a comment here, find me on Facebook or let me know when your group has added it to your list. 

Learn more about Barbara Samuel (or her other pen names Barbara O'Neal and Ruth Wind) on her websites:

http://barbarasamuel.com/

http://www.barbaraoneal.com/

http://www.facebook.com/BarbaraSamuelONeal

The Sleeping Night is not part of a series, but you can read more Barbara Samuel novels based in Gideon, Texas:

In the Midnight Rain; and

Jezebel's Blues

Disclaimer: No compensation was received for this review. eARC courtesty of NetGalley.