This HaBO is from Liz, who is hoping to find this contemporary (at least I think it’s contemporary):
I’ve been wracking my brains trying to remember a book title, and someone just directed me here!
Ages ago I read a romance novel where the male lead was secretly a romance author, and the female lead was the editor of the author, having no idea the author was a guy. Her job is on the rocks after she refused a manuscript from another popular author, and then she gets a note from the male lead saying that he is taking a break from writing. Editor goes in search of author to beg the author to continue writing, encounters male lead, who promises to help her (while not letting on that he is really the author in question).
There are a few books where the hero is secretly a romance author, but I haven’t read them, so I can’t say for sure which one it is.
Man, I feel like this is on the tip of my brain and I just can’t get it. Like, I picked up this book or found it online and thought about buying it.
Anne McAllister had a book with a romance novel cover model as a hero (“Imagine”) and there is the book “The Boyfriend School” by Sarah Bird (I’ve only see the movie version, the adorable cheesy classic with Steve Gutenberg, “Don’t Tell Her Its Me”) with a the hero’s sister shaping him into “romance novel hero” material.
Google is not helping. I hope someone figures it out b/c this is going to drive me nuts all day.
ooh, and does the guy also help with building the roof? if we’re thinking of the same book (and no, I don’t remember the title!) he started writing romance when he was sick at his aunt’s who only had romance novels with her. or something like that!
I do wish someone will be able to help out! if it’s the book I’m thinking about then it was from 90s.
I know this one!!!
It’s Capture A Shadow by Leigh Michaels! Man, I loved Leigh Michaels back in the day.
Maybe you remember this detail: the “author’s” name was Valerie St. John, and there is a running gag that the hero can’t remember her name and calls her Valerie St. Anthony, Valerie St. Francis-of-Assisi, everything but the right thing.
And jujube, the first time they meet, he is working on a roof and she shouts up a ladder at him.
Also, jujube, you’re right; he tells her in the end that he started writing romances while he was recovering from a broken leg (I think) and his aunt had a box full of romances in the house someone had donated to the library. She was the town librarian. Mark, the hero, was actually already an author of spy thrillers when he tried his hand at romance.
(I read that book SO MANY TIMES)
I love when it works like this. I sure hope (just scrolled up to find your name and got a laugh, it must have been subliminal) that @Hope is right.
If Hope is right and this is the book Liz is looking for, Michaels has reissued it as an ebook:
https://www.amazon.com/Capture-Shadow-Leigh-Michaels-ebook/dp/B00359FJDG/
To tie into this, librarian and/or author should be added to the Archetypes & Themes section. I couldn’t explain why if I had to, but man I love when one of the main characters is book nerd of any sort.
@Beige: We can definitely do that!
@JILL Q. says: “Anne McAllister had a book with a romance novel cover model as a hero (“Imagine”)”
Really?! I like her books. How did this not come up in the male model HABO? I’m off to find a copy.
Don’t forget Lynsay Sands’ Single White Vampire which has the hero writing a family history which is published as a best selling paranormal romance. His editor is desperate to get him to do at least one promotional event at a romance book conference but he’s been ignoring her mail, phone calls, etc. It is my favorite of her series.
This isn’t the HABO but if you are looking for another book with the hero as a romance author try “Miss August” by Madison Hayes. I read this when Ellora’s Cave was around but think you can still find it on Amazon.
My favorite book with an author as male lead is Night Owl, by M Pierce. Not the HABO, but I would recommend as very good erotica.
Well, with all those raves, I had to go and buy the damn thing. LOL Love it when a HABO gets solved. 🙂
If you liked this, maybe check out the early Hugh Jackman movie starring baby! Hugh and his real life wife–he’s a truck driver who wrote a romance novel put her name on it as a psuedonym. The accents are thick, Hugh Jackman is Hugh Jackman, and it’s been so long since I saw it that’s all I remember.