Do you like heroines who have a checkered past? Do you like a heroine who has a checkered present? How much are you willing to overlook in the heroine’s journey to redemption?
As you can see from the blurb above, Annie Payton has a past she is trying to live down. So her bad-girl persona is in her past. Annie’s Hope is now available in paperback on Amazon and will release tomorrow in ebook form on these platforms.
While I was writing this post, Angela Ruth Strong had a post about a pregnant heroine. One of my bad-girl heroines, Kelsey Reynolds, in A Baby to Call Ours, the sixth book in my Front Porch Promises series, is pregnant. She has a lot of guilt about the situation and considered an abortion. When the idea came to me, I hesitated to write the story. Besides my bad-girl heroine, I wondered about a modern-day marriage of convenience. Would that work? I’m glad I did. I’ve had a lot of positive feedback for the book.
Now I’m ready to write the last book in my Kellersburg series, and this time I’m contemplating writing a heroine whose bad-girl persona is still going strong. My innocent hero isn’t ready for this headstrong worldly woman.
Would you find this type of heroine offensive, or would you be willing to give her a chance to find the right path for her life? I’d love your feedback.
I’ll give away an ebook copy of A Baby to Call Ours to one person who leaves a comment. I will draw the winning name on September 27, 2022 at 9PM MST.
I am currently on the road and may not have a chance to respond to your comments until we get back home, but I am looking forward to your input.
“Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.”
Merrillee Whren is an award-winning author who writes inspirational romance. She is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award for best inspirational romance manuscript presented by Romance Writers of America. She has also been the recipient of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of thirty plus years, and has two grown daughters. She has lived in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Florida but now makes her home in the Arizona desert. When she’s not writing, she spends her free time playing tennis or walking while she does the plotting for her novels.
Our preacher just yesterday preached a sermon in which he made the comment, “you have done nothing that God won’t forgive”. I’m afraid we as human beings tend to forget that characteristic of God. So, we all have a chance to find the right path for our life. No, I would not find this type of heroine offensive, and I would be willing to give her a chance to find the right path for her life.
This is a really interesting question. I think if I’m honest, choosing between two books, one with a heroine with a bad-girl persona and one without, I would probably go for reading the good girl’s story. But I’m not sure why – the comment above is absolutely right, as Christians we know the forgiving love of God for everyone, and a story showing someone who has made bad choices in life finding a new path and experiencing God’s love is so important.
I wouldn’t find this sort of heroine offensive, but I think without thinking about it more closely like this question has made me do I might pass over this sort of story thinking it’s not for me – in future I will try not to do this!
I would read it. Please don’t enter me in the drawing..I just bought the book a few days ago.
God can, and does, forgive us of everything we’ve done. As long as we repent and change. As long as the heroine, or the hero, turns from their bad ways and accepts Christ, I have no problem with it.
Yes, I would read it, I think it would really be good as things like this really happen.
If I like the look of the premise, I would possibly read it. It would depend how bad she is. As there will be redemption but that would need to be done well and not just a quick conversion. Virginia Smith did it well with Just as I am and book 2 Simply Mayla. She was a rebel who did become a christian but still struggled with things. (back at the time was the girl with purple hair etc). As long as shes not bad in the bullying and abusing people (I suffered bullying and it still affects me). I could handle it. It also gives hope to people reading as long as its not a quick fix. I would also like to see the heros struggle with dating a non christian. I also know that God can change a bad boy/gal as one of our present elders walked in to church night with the idea of being disruptive (He was drug user and drinker) but God had different ideas. He tells how by the end of the service he went forward and his life changed. He couldn’t read and he learnt by reading the bible. He is now a school chaplain. So It really does happen but in a book just for a hero to be able to have the girlfriend is not always the best.
may read it
We all have a past. Some have more stories to their testimonies than others do. We all had experiences we are not proud of doing. I would be encouraged to read a book where someone is working on their testimony and the Lord gets ahold of their life. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
I am willing to give her a chance just like the unredeemable bad boy but it would all depend on how the bad girl’s relationship with the good boy hero is handled. Why does he fall in love with her if she doesn’t believe/love God? What are those redeemable virtues that he sees? or maybe he falls in love when she is in the process of becoming and before they are just friends?
I guess I’ll be fine as long as this bad girl isn’t so bad that I wonder why the hero isn’t turning away from this temptation that is notoriously turning him away from God instead of the other way around…or the love rival is a Christian good girl that makes me empathize with her and end up thinking “here goes another good Christian guy in love with an unsaved woman”.
It happens a lot among young people and it doesn’t always have a happy ending.
Hi Linda,
Thanks for sharing that message from your preacher. It is a good reminder.
Hi Ruthie,
Thanks for your honest assessment about a heroine who has a bad-girl present. It is often easier to like characters who don’t have many problems.
Hi Jcp,
Thanks for your support in buying my book. I really appreciate it!
Hi Alicia,
I do like to see characters redeemed because it is such a good message to show us God’s love and redemption.
Hi Jenny,
You make many good points. Thanks for sharing.
Hi bn,
I’m glad you’re willing to give it a try.
Hi Trudy,
Repentance is definitely a part of changing.
Hi Debra,
I always hope that my stories will touch someone and bring them closer to God and give them hope.
Hi Lilly,
My good guy hero has every intention of staying away from this woman, but they are thrown together over and over. He’s trying to influence her for God, and she adores him, but she doesn’t like his preaching. I think it will be a fun story to write.
I’d be willing to read it. I think it’s good to have characters that aren’t all neat and tidy.
I would read it