I’ve decided that for me, reading romance is all about the guy. Sure, it helps to have a likable heroine, and if she’s a total idiot that book may well hit the wall, but in the end it’s the hero that makes or breaks a romance. And after too many decades of reading romances to count, I’ve found that there are a lot of heroes that can fit the bill. Dark and brooding. Funny but with a sad side. Biker bad boy or straight arrow cop. If they’re written well, if the author takes the time to make the guy into a real man with tics and dreams and issues, I can fall for any of them. All of them.
Which is why I was somewhat taken aback by an offhand comment my agent made to me a while ago. We’d just sold my first book, THE RAVEN PRINCE, to the editor of my dreams and were about to hand in my second book. THE LEOPARD PRINCE. My agent warned me that since the hero of LEOPARD, Harry Pye by name, was a lot different than Edward de Raaf, the hero of RAVEN, there was a possibility that the editor wouldn’t like the book. See, Edward is pock-marked, an earl, a bit brooding, and has a tendency to shout a lot. Harry, on the other hand, is the son of a game-keeper, doesn’t talk a lot, and is more of a still-waters-run-deep kinda guy. Personally, I’m in love with them both (aside: how can an author not be in love with her heroes?) so maybe that accounts for my moment of confusion. I mean, who wants to stick to only one type of guy, romance reading wise? I like discovering how the hero thinks, what makes him different from all the thousands of heroes I’ve read before and what makes him the same–essentially a guy. I like diversity.
Epilogue: My editor ending up loving LEOPARD and even the third book in my PRINCE trilogy, THE SERPENT PRINCE (Simon! A rake who loves to talk, likes red heels, and is one by one revenging himself on his brother’s murderers. What’s not to love?) so as it turned out, she must’ve liked diversity, too.
So, here’s a question for you: Who are your two favorite romance heroes? And are they the same type? Let me know and I’ll pick a poster at random to win an autographed copy of THE RAVEN PRINCE.
Cheers!
Elizabeth
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That is an interesting comment to have heard. I think variety is the spice of life…at least in regards to my reading and heroes. I am a sucker for a dark brooding hero since the smiles and happy glints in the eye are so precious for being rare and as they are teased out by the heroine they are treasured for being somewhat hardwon. Yet the strong, confident hero who has a happy or mildly ironic outlook on life is also compelling depending upon my mood…this could be the rock and humorous outlook for a less than cheerful heroine to be balanced with. So no the types of heroes that I like are not the same and in truth I only stopped at two types since that is what you requested. :)
by Little Lamb Lost
on February 7th, 2007 at 6:21 am
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I don’t think I’d be happy with the same type of hero in every book. I like diversity, too. It keeps things interesting and keeps you wondering. My two favorite heroes that come to mind are Roarke in the J.D. Robb series and Devil in Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens. Although, I think I have a few hundred favorites if I look back at my book list. lol
by KimW
on February 7th, 2007 at 6:27 am
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I agree with diversity. But I’m not really a fan of the fun-loving hero who is always happy and cracking jokes. I kinda prefer the brooding hero, or the silent ones who fall hard and forever. Michael Stirling from Julia Quinn’s “When He Was Wicked” and Ranger from the Plum series stick in my mind (even though Ranger is not the typical hero since he doesn’t have the girl).
by Stacy ~
on February 7th, 2007 at 6:41 am
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You need diversity in all things otherwise life would be boring.
Wolf Mackenzie and Mary come to mind from Mackenzie’s Mountain. Am sure when I am more awake will think of more.
by Karen T
on February 7th, 2007 at 7:24 am
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I agree, what an interesting and thought provoking topic!! I love a variety of heros too! I love the aloof Wolf Mackenzie as well as the suave nobleman hero of Whitney, My Love. I love the (initially) innocent Jamie of Outlander as well as the more experienced guys. I love a variety in their looks and background–loved Morgan in Sharon Sala’s “Tallchief.” Acck, there are so many and I can’t think of them here at work. Great topic!!
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Variety for me!!! I like the practical joker kind who is fun-loving and teases with a more serious side hidden and it comes out once in awhile when necessary.
I like the ‘take command’ hero who knows what a woman wants in every aspect
of life and is a pleaser.
by RobynL
on February 7th, 2007 at 11:06 am
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My two favorites are Rhett Butler from GWtW. I have adored him ever since I was old enough to understand male/female attraction. He was the ultimate bad boy with a heart of gold. And he loved Scarlett so much.
I have to agree with Stacy…I am a Ranger girl all the way! And I think he qualifies as a hero.
The strong silent type with a Special Forces background…sigh
What’s not to admire??
And one of my favorite heroes id from Jenny Cruisie’s book, “Bet Me” (which is my all time favorite of hers!), Calvin Morrisey. The Krispy Kremes and the Chicken Marsala were enough to make me love him! 
by Angie T
on February 7th, 2007 at 11:29 am
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That is a hard question…I have more than two favorites, but I will say the first two that came to my head:
Derek Craven in Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas and Colin Bridgerton in Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn. Derek is a bit brooding and dark…he is haunted by his past. Colin is almost the complete opposite, but he does have a few issues (hates living in the shadow of his brothers).
I like variety when it comes to my heroes so I like all types of heroes.
by Jennifer Y.
on February 7th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
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My two favorites are Roarke from J.D. Robb’s In Death series and Rhett from Gone with the Wind. There have been lots of others but these are the two that I always remember.
by Carol
on February 7th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
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I love diverse heroes as well. The hero is what makes or breaks a book for me. The heroine just has to not be a dingbat but if the hero has too many character flaws I won’t like the book. One of my favorite characters is Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. Another is Archer Blackcloak from Rachel Lee’s Ilduin trilogy. There are so many I can name but those are two of my favorites.
by Cherie Japp
on February 7th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
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I definitely like variety for all the reasons you mentioned above. I do have an attraction to alpha types who also have a soft side…I’m afraid the testosterone is a turn on. :) But if they are a jerk totally, that is definitely not a turn on. :) To me writing heroes all the same is too much like being an actor who is typecast. 
Denise A. Agnew
http://www.deniseagnew.com
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Heck, I’m happy with Alphas, Betas and all combinations in between. I just don’t like extremes, like big time alphas, for example. I don’t believe I ever read a very beta hero, but I’m sure I wouldn’t like that either. LOL
But what you said about the heroes, I always think of that myself! Sure, I’ve read plenty of heroines that I loved, but it’s the heroes that I tend to write down in my journal that I loved and such. LOL I guess I’m reading in terms that I want the guy when the heroine’s done or something. LOL :)
Before going to the comments, I was thinking of two examples that two people already mentioned, but I’ll put them together — I love Mr Darcy, Derek Craven and everyone in between! :)
Lois
by Lois
on February 7th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
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Adam de Marisco in The Skye O’Malley series by Bertrice Small.
Also Lucius in Much ado about You by Eloisa James
by alissa
on February 7th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
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I don’t have 2 favorites - I just love them all (mostly.)
by Karen B
on February 7th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
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I like a hero who is an alpha but has a kind heart, so he can be an executive or a SEAL, or a cowboy.
by Joyce
on February 7th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
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I agree about Roarke, he always makes my list, plus I just got thru reading Christine Feehan’s Conspiracy Game, (loved it), and all her Ghostwalker heroes make my list too.
by cathy
on February 7th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
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Wow, all these favorite heroes are making me want to go back and re-read some of my “keeper” romance books. I love Derek and Devil and Colin Bridgerton (actually any of the Bridgerton males!) and Wolf MacKenzie (actually any of the MacKenzie males) I have to say that I fall on the Joe Morelli side of the Morelli vs. Ranger debate.
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I like variety as well. It is nice to have change instead of cookie cutter heros. My favorites are military heros, nerd heros and heros that are scarred in some way.
I loved the Raven Prince and cannot wait to read The Leopard Prince.
by Kris
on February 7th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
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One was easy, the other required a little thought to weed out from all the good heros out there.
So, first up is Sydnam Bulter from Mary Balogh’s Simply Love. Next… Calder Hart from Brenda Joyce’s Deadly series. Both are brooding and I enjoyed (or am enjoying) the development of the character thru the book(s).
I can’t say that I have any one favorite type of hero. As long as he’s well written, and the story is good, I’m pretty easy to please.
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*slapping forehead* oops…you meant actual heroes from books not types? Ahem…well in that case, Carlos Rivera in LA Banks The Huntress series, and Patrick Beresford, Duke of Clare in Escapade by Joan Smith.
by Little Lamb Lost
on February 7th, 2007 at 11:39 pm
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My favorite hero provides protection no matter what. It can be a verbal or physical deflection…with words, fighting or other protective actions.
So they do not have to be the same type.
Some of my favorite real life heros are the ones that just respond in an emergency…do something special that they aren’t trained for.
So with that in mind I like VLT’s Nerds!
Two other favorites were well trained.
Linda Howard’s “White Lies” had an ex-FBI agent …. and Karen Robards “Walking After Midnight” had an ex cop Steve Calhoun. They protected even when physically injured and running for their lives!!
by Laurie G
on February 8th, 2007 at 5:29 am
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And the winner is…Kim W! Kim, contact me via my website and give me your snail mail and I’ll send you an autographed copy of THE RAVEN PRINCE!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the discussion–makes me want to go out and read a romance right now!
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Woohoo!! Thank you so much!
by KimW
on February 8th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
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Congrats, Kim.
by Pat L
on February 10th, 2007 at 8:14 am
