Man's POV?

I've written my first historic romance and I've let my husband read the proof copy. He likes the story, but it doesn't fit his idea of the traditional, formulaic romance novel. I know that things have changed and publishers want less formula, but I wonder if I've gone too far out on a limb to get published: it is told from a man's POV. Can that work in a romance novel today?

Well, I hope so, because my novel is written from my MMC's POV! LOL

If your husband likes the story and he thinks it makes sense, then I'd say you did a very good job. Maybe you could ask a female friend/relative to read it as well, see if they feel it's natural. And I don't think you should change the POV just because "it's expected" -- that's the surest way to writing formulaic stuff instead of original stuff.

Honestly, having the male as the main is a handicap. I've had one R'ed for a male-only POV and was told that if it had been split with female POV, they would likely have given it more consideration. The reason is because romance is mostly read by women, so the publishers want characters women can relate to.

That said, it's not impossible. I had a friend sell a male-only POV and m/m romance is an obvious exception. Just understand that most publishers will want more from the female and expect it to be a sticking point, especially if you are targeting a print house. Also, avoid publishers like Harlequin which specify 65% female POV.

Of course it can work! It's not the very easiest to publish, perhaps, as Voirey-Linger pointed out - but if it's really good, and you persevere, it'll go the distance. My current WIP is a romance from the man's point of view; granted, I would classify it equally as romance and fantasy, so there are some "diluting" elements to the whole romance-from-man's-POV thing. But still. I think I can make it work, and so can you. :) of course, it helps that almost all my friends are guys, so I have some insight into how they think. But that isn't truly necessary to writing a good male character.