The book strikes again

So I just finished listening to a romance novel by Christine Feehan.  I think it's safe to say that my writing style is not that of romance though romantic undertones do appear within the book.  From my review of romance novels, they all seem to have a similar thread.  The man is very... masculine.  Not to say that my hero isn't masculine, but he's not exceedingly tall or overbearing.  In fact, due to his heritage, he's rather short and slender for a guy.  He doesn't have manly chest hair or that sexy five o'clock shadow.  He is an artist and was raised to care for plants as a garden's keeper.  Definitely not romance novel material. 

Don't get me wrong.  My hero isn't effeminate.  Derek is as hotheaded of a fighter as any guy, perhaps even more so since he's been picked on by the jocks who do fit the stereotypical romance male.  But he has the personality of a playboy.  He's spent his life charming women with his winsome smile. 

Another thing I've noticed in romance novels is that the man is exceptional in bed having gained knowledge of how to please women from practice.  Go figure.  You'd think that Derek would fall into the same category.  I mean, he knows all the right words to make a woman fall willingly into his arms.  Flirting has great benefits with the ladies.  Only Derek has a secret.  He's a virgin.  Not of his own accord, he insists.  He's been as eager as the next man to explore his curiosity.  But Derek finds that his attempts are unfruitful as odd accidents keep him from getting close enough to doing the deed.  He flirts and teases to gain kisses, but he's given up hope of ever getting past first base.

There is one similarity between my hero and a romance novel guy.  It's his desire to have kids and start a family.  Romance guys have the trait to want to get the romance heroine fat with their romance babies.  Derek may not be thinking that far ahead, but he hopes to someday find a woman who can be happy staying with him, knowing his accident induced abstinence, and possibly adopt.  He's an orphan and only child.  He knows how the system works.  He knows what it's like to want a family.

That's my rundown of the comparison between my hero and a romance novel male.  Hope it doesn't destroy your hopes and dreams of a hero.