By Narelle Atkins
Great romance stories have great lead characters. These characters have depth and are like real people. They have strengths and weaknesses and wrestle with problems and issues while falling in love.
The heroine in my current work-in-progress is fluent in four languages: English, French, Spanish and her native tongue, Italian. For my book research, I’ve been looking for movies with Italian scenery and characters who have similar accents to my heroine and her family.
My husband and I browsed Netflix and discovered the 2012 Danish film ‘Love Is All You Need’ starring Pierce Brosnan. The film has English subtitles and includes characters speaking Danish, Italian and English. I loved the beautiful coastal scenery in Italy and the diversity of accents, but it was the characters who hooked me into the story.
Ida is a Danish hairdresser who’s recovering from breast cancer and discovers her adulterous husband in a compromising situation. Her daughter is getting married in Italy and the groom’s father, Phillip (Pierce Brosnan’s character), is a widower and successful American businessman who owns the lemon grove where the wedding will take place.
Ida is a strong character. She’s struggling to deal with the changes to her physical appearance from her cancer battle and her husband’s brutal betrayal. Her unexpected connection with Phillip is both intriguing and complicated. Their maturity and life experiences add an extra dimension to their developing relationship. I’ve included the YouTube movie trailer at the end of this post. (Please note: The movie has some bad language in the subtitles and undressed characters in a few scenes.)
I recently read Muffins & Moonbeams by Elizabeth Maddrey in the Arcadia Valley Romance series. We first meet the Baxter brothers In Elizabeth’s Arcadia Valley novella, Loaves & Wishes. While reading the novella I really wanted to learn more about Malachi and discover his romance story in the first full length book in the Baxter Family Bakery Romance series, Muffins & Moonbeams.
Malachi lost his hearing when he was a young child and he has learned to lip read. He speaks well although he’s self conscious and worries about how people will relate to him. Ursula is an introvert who has social anxiety. She prefers to escape into her online gaming world rather than relate to people in the real world.
I have a family member who struggles with social anxiety and it was insightful to view the world through Ursula’s eyes. I really enjoyed Malachi and Ursula’s romance and how their unique challenges and character strengths created a fun and fascinating story.
Unique characters are memorable characters. Their stories stay with us and can give us a different perspective of the world.
Have you recently read a book or watched a movie with a character who has stayed in your mind? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
I haven’t read many Arcadia Valley books but loved the ones I did.
Some unforgettable characters – I’ve recently read the Tox Files (one prequel novella and two full-length novels) by Ronie Kendig and, man, those characters – even the secondary ones – are truly unforgettable.
I’m currently reading Love Story by Karen Kingsbury and Cody Coleman is another unforgettable hero.
Hi Narelle, great to hear you have another book coming:) Brock and Bodie Thoene’s Zion Series characters are some I will never forget- David and Ellie, Elisa and Murphy, Rachel and Moshe and more have stayed with me since I first read the series back in high school. The same authors wrote the AD Chronicles- stories set during Jesus’ ministry- wow!
Hope you are getting some warmer weather up your way, our trees have suddenly blossomed here, but that cold north wind lingers!!
Blessings:)
Hi Narelle and best wishes on your research and writing. I really have enjoyed the diversity of the authors and stories in the Arcadia Valley Romance series. I especially enjoy Elizabeth Maddrey’s Baxter Family Bakery series because as a teen I worked in a local bakery. As a clerk my work day started at 5:30 in the morning, so I saw the work the bakers did every day. Been an early riser ever since. I enjoy reading both Malachi and Micah’s stories (Muffins and Moonbeams / Cookies and Candlelight).
The character that has recently stayed in my mind is Jordan Haines in Carol Moncado’s Heart of a Prince (Crowns & Courtships Book 1: Royals of San Majoria). Jordan Haines not only falls in love with Crown Princess Astrid, but cares for her emotional well being. In most romance the female lead understands and cares for the male’s emotional well being. As a wife, mother, grandmother, retired high school teacher and pastor’s wife while being a care giver for aging parents for 20 years, I had been emotional drained from caring for others that I needed a Jordan Haines in my life. A person who didn’t need to be told what I needed. A person, who is quiet when needed and finds ways to uplift me. Jordan Haines listens to Crown Princess Astrid’s woes and manages to give her a spa day away from the paparazzi, just when she needed it. Not an easy feat for an outsider of the palace. Thank you Carol Moncado – a girl can dream.
what a great post. Two unforgettable characters I have read are Brenton and Jordana Baldwin. They are brother and sister in the series “Ribbons West” by Judith Pella and Tracie Peterson. They are from a wealthy family and travel west to photograph during the civil war. It is a page turner and I learned a lot about history and faith though them. Blurb on front cover “Theirs was the chance of a lifetime to explore the great frontier with the hopes of a transcontinental railroad on the horizon” Really recommend this series. There are 3 books 1-Westward the Dream 2-Seperate Roads 3-Ties That Bind
Writing those emotionally deep characters that stick with readers is every author’s dream! Like you, I really enjoyed Malachi and Ursula in Muffins & Moonbeams.
Also, I’m glad to hear you have another story in the works. :)
I’m reading a non-fiction book called The Boys in the Boat. It’s about the 1936 row team from the University of Washington that won an Olympic gold medal at the games in Berlin. The history is fascinating. One of the boys is the boat is Joe Rantz. He is an extraordinary real character.
I recently read two books and the “unique” characters stayed in my mind for days (longe than I wanted), but for all the wrong reasons as I still don’t understand why they ended up together (notice that this didn’t happen once, but twice). In both cases, both characters spent 90% of the book thinking they were all wrong for each other and they didn’t know if they even cared for each other, they drove each other away in so many scenes.. so I can’t wrap my mind that they ended up together. Actually I can’t figure out if the authors were just really trying to make them hate each other that they forgot that they should care for each other at some point–which just didn’t happen until they decided to get married in both books though (in my mind you kind of have to like each other for a few chapters/ days). For both series I have the two books in the sequence and I can’t get myself to even think about reading them. It feels that it will be just as awful.
Aw, thanks for the shout out, Narelle! :) I’m so glad you enjoyed Malachi and Ursula — they’re some of my favorites too. That movie sounds fun — I’m going to have to look it up (I’m a sucker for Pierce Brosnan, so it’s not a hard sell.)
Hi MH, I’m enjoying the Arcadia Valley books, too. I haven’t read a Ronie Kendig book in ages and I think I have at least one title in my Kindle list. I’ve just bought Love Story based on your recommendation. :)
Hi Wemble, Yes, the book is coming along slowly due to life distractions, but I’ll get there! The Zion series and AD Chronicles would be great to reread. It’s finally starting to warm up in Canberra and the blossoms are pretty. Tulip season is here. :)
Hi Renate, I can smell those delicious bakery scents as I read the Arcadia Valley books Elizabeth’s series, lol. Heart of a Prince is in my tbr list and I’ll have to bump it up to the top. Jordan sounds like my kind of hero, too. :)
Hi Lori, Thanks for the recommendation. I don’t usually read civil war stories but the Ribbons West series sounds like a good one. I enjoy learning about history through fiction and I’ll add the series to my tbr wishlist. :)
Hi Valerie, yes, we can all dream about writing those wonderful unforgettable characters. Not an easy task. :)
Hi Merrillee, There’s an added dimension to a story when it’s non-fiction and we know the characters were real people. I’m glad you’re enjoying the book and the historical setting. :)
Hi Priscila, It sounds like you did well to finish the books. I usually quit reading early on if the characters aren’t working for me. I don’t like finishing a romance and thinking the characters aren’t likely to be happily married in the longer term. It breaks the happily-ever-after story promise that we expect in a romance. :)
Hi Elizabeth, You’re very welcome, and I’m looking forward to reading Micah’s story in Cookies & Candlelight. I hope you enjoy the movie. :)
I read so many books, it’s hard to think back to which lead characters have really stood out. I do like Carol Moncado’s books, since past characters are always reappearing :-) The Arcadia Valley ones are fun too, since each new book builds on the earlier ones and again, you get to see previous characters again. I also loved the Thoene’s Zion Chronicles! And I agree that the books in which the tension between characters is drawn out too long are just not enjoyable to read.
I completely agree with you, but I kept hoping things would change, in particular because those were Christian romances supported by this blog and I kind of wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt since books I’ve read from other authors from the blog worked for me.. Big disappointment. (Not the first/second time, but still disappointing.) I considered not finishing so many times. I’m not sure I’ll give books 2 and 3 a try.
Oh my, I’ve read so many good books lately with great characters! I just finished reading Irene Hannon’s Hope Harbor series (3 books so far with a fourth coming out in Spring), and her characters are definitely memorable. I’m also catching up on Dani Pettrey’s Chesapeake Valor series (about to start Still Life #2) in anticipation of the release of Blind Spot in October. Rachel Dylan’s Deadly Proof is a great start to her Atlanta Justice series. I could go on, but I love connecting with an authors characters as if I could meet them in real life & become friends! I especially like series books where you get to meet back up with former characters :-)
I’ve read several Arcadia Valley books, and the rest are on my list to read. I’ve really enjoyed all of the authors who have written them. I’ve been reading so many good books right now, and am continually amazed at what wonderful Christian authors we have today!
Hi Margaret, I’m sorry for the delay in replying to your comment. It’s a holiday weekend where I live in Australia and I’ve been busy painting my kid’s bedrooms. A big job!
It’s fun to read books where we meet up with characters from previous books. It’s one reason why I prefer to read a series in order. :)
Hi Priscila, I’m sorry you were disappointed by the books. Thanks for supporting the authors here by buying our books – we appreciate all of our readers. :)
Hi Trixi, The authors you mentioned are also in my tbr list. I’m glad to hear the recent books you’ve read have great characters. And meeting them again in other books in the series is fun. :)
Hi Becky, I’m working my way through the Arcadia Valley series and really enjoying the stories. I’m glad you’ve found many great books to read. :)