"A romance novelist falls for her fictional hero"

Romance novelist Victoria Townsend is having a mid-life crisis triggered by her soon-to-be ex-husband, Henry. After years of a loveless marriage, Henry has decamped along with all of their assets. So when Tory starts hearing her hero talk to her, she figures she's losing her mind. But this "fantasy man" may be just what she needs to jump-start her flagging career. Will he help her to believe in love again?

Tory begins a most unusual relationship with the hero she's imagined as the hero of all her books. At first, he isn't visible, then he becomes a flesh and blood man. Well, with one exception. Since her books have always been sweet romances, he doesn't have, um, the equipment he needs. So Tory has to write the "goods" in for him. Is it possible to make love to a man who isn't really there?

Just who is Tory's hero? Is it the hero she's fantasized about for years? Or is it the real man right before her eyes? Will she lose the love of her life by making the wrong choice? How will she know the one to pick?

CARDBOARD HERO is funny and poignant. It was interesting to see the evolution of Tory's novel as she wrote it. I imagine that the real writing process is something like what is described. Tory's hero is every woman's hero with the right balance of machismo and sensitivity. Ms. Morgen has written a realistic insight into the mind of a writer. The story within the story is just the icing on the cake. This plot device has been a favorite of mine since I read Stephen King's MISERY (also about a romance author, you know). Don't miss out on this funny tale -- and don't forget to read the finished version of WILD GEESE (available separately).

Sensuality: Rated E-rotic by the publisher. Explicit sex; sexually explicit scenes: 7.

Reviewed by Denise Powers
Courtesy Sensual Romance Reviews
Posted October 19, 2003

Summary

Ewan MacKenzie. A dangerous man. In control of almost every situation—except the woman who haunts his fantasies.

A desperate woman who has found her hero. He's perfect. The embodiment of every fantasy Tory's ever written. There's only one little problem. Tory writes sweet romances. Her perfect lover's not anatomically correct! That's a problem she should be able to solve. But how do you describe a penis?

Cardboard Hero—a Contemporary-Paranormal-Romantic-Suspense that takes a satirical look at the mind of a writer. You might want to visit, but you don't want to live there. Trust me.

Sexual Content: E-rotic. Genre: Paranormal.