Feisty heroines

We've talked quite a bit about man titty, what a real Regency gentleman, warts and all might have looked like and why images of women, even in Regency fashion mags, are all tall and skinny, but we haven't talked about the kind of heroine we like to read about in our erotic historical romances.

What makes her different from the heroine in a steamy romance novel? Okay, so she's likely to have more sex but what about her, how about how she presents herself? Readers don't like TSTL (too stupid to live) heroines so do they consider erotic heroines too stupid not to have sex with the first man, or men who ask?

It's an interesting question. Should the heroine in an erotic romance be more experienced sexually? Can you still get away with a virgin heroine learning about sex? In my opinion, you can. I want to read about heroines who make deliberate choices to have sex, understand the consequences of their actions and then hopefully fall in love by the end of the book.

I think that's why readers occasionally complain that some erotic romances are all about sex and people falling into bed with each other before they've even had a proper conversation. If my heroine makes a conscious and informed choice to explore her sexuality, then I'm quite happy to believe anything can happen.

One thing I admire about all the writers here is that they don't write dumb heroines. They write about real women who enjoy sex. and what's wrong with that? Is a heroine who is comfortable with sex and willing to be adventurous, bad, loose or immoral? Not in my book.

Pet peeves or praise for erotic heroines, anyone?