What happens when a gorgeous hunk washes up on a beach, too injured to care for
himself? You nurse him back to health, of course! The classic Nursing Back to
Health tale features a domineering and independent man who wants to look after
himself and a heroine who must take charge in order to save his life. Of course
love is nature's best medicine–and even the gruffest and most cantankerous
hero will eventually give in and acknowledge that the heroine is always right!
What's The Appeal?
When women fantasize about nursing their heroes back to health–their
fantasies don't usually include the grim physical realities of illness. Bed pans,
bed sores and regulated medicine intake are not the stuff of fairy tales. What
women fantasize about instead is the opportunity to dominate the hero. And the
stories readers love best are the ones that feature strong and invincible heroes
that really hate being dominated!
Traditionally men are the dominant partners in a relationship. Physically
stronger, they must protect their mates and care for their needs. If a male is
unable to perform this role due to illness, his partner must take over. In a
romance novel this offers for a wonderful and dynamic sexual role reversal with a
great deal of built-in conflict!
In a classic Nursing Back to Health romance, the hero is a loner who has been
injured. He is unable to care for himself, but believes he is better off alone.
He would rather die than be healed. He feels if he can't be restored to his
original state of heroic perfection–life isn't worth living. Whether the
heroine tends to the hero reluctantly, or is a caretaker by trade, she must
literally save the hero's life. By becoming the ultimate caretaker, the heroine
must completely dominate the hero–a man who has never been controlled
before.
The heroine transforms the hero through love–always the best medicine.
Her strength saves the hero's life. And at the end of the book, he must
acknowledge her gift of love–but also that she was right and he was wrong!
Although not politically correct, the most beloved Nursing Back to Health
tales still feature a final role reversal. For the relationship to be a success,
the heroine must revert back to her original less dominant role, because a
romance hero isn't a hero if he can't take care of the heroine! But in the end,
the hero and heroine are always united by their mutual strengths and love.
-Kate Ryan
| 
Site Map
