I’ve just finished rereading one of my favorite books by Meredith Duran–Written on Your Skin–for an upcoming review. I adore Phin Granville as a hero–he’s complex, strong, brilliant, and willing to work to win the woman he very slowly realizes he loves. He and Julian Sinclair, the hero of Duran’s sublime The Duke of Shadows are two of my favorite heroes.
Obviously, every reader has their own criteria for what makes or breaks a lead. I like heroes that are alpha, very smart, deft in bed, and are wryly witty. Some of my faves besides the two I’ve already mentioned are Connor Whitman from Julianna Keyes’ Bench Player, Asher Flint from I Kissed An Earl, Sebastian Kennett from My Lord and Spymaster, and Cardan from Holly Black’s Folk of the Air trilogy.
How about you? What makes a perfect hero for you? And who are your faves?
I’ve just revisited Jo Goodman’s “Lady Rivendale’s Connections” HRs – or at least the first three – and I have to say that the work holds up for me. Goodman remains one of my favorite writers. Her heroes start out on the page as good, smart, capable men; they are frequently more than who they appear to be on the surface, and they tend to champion (all of) the smart/capable/witty women in their lives (while also managing to serve up just desserts for any villains). A pretty simple formula and my idea of a good read.
Abby Jimenez’ Just For the Summer and Mhairi McFarlane’s You Belong With Me are new CRs with good-guy heroes I’ve enjoyed recently. (Interestingly, the women in the HRs are more in touch with who they are and what they want than in the CRs.)
I love the heroes in almost all of Goodman’s work. They get the women they love–it’s as if each is a puzzle they lovingly solve.
Yes! That’s it! 🙂
I love Jo Goodman’s heroes. They don’t solve the heroine’s problems. They give her the support she needs to solve the problems herself.
I am heroine centric so in general all heroes have to do is not lose my respect.
The heroes who have indelibly gained my respect are Aral Vorkosigan in Shards of Honor and Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold upon who’s shoulders comfortably sits the fate of a nation and Sebastian Devereux, the cold and calculating Duke of Montgomery in Evie Dunmore’s Bringing Down the Duke upon who’s shoulders the British Empire was built. Neither man had the slightest fear of love or doubt about what to do when he felt it.
Yes to Aral. Off to check out Sebastian . . .
You won’t be disappointed.
In that same vein, I love the Duke of Malloryn from Duke are Forever by Bec McMasters, Benedict Carsington, Viscount Rathbourne from Loretta Chase’s Lord Perfect, and Ash Turner from Courtney Milan’s Unveiled.
Thanks.
Unveiled was 5 stars for me.
Lord Perfect was 1.5 star DNF at end of sample due to overly affected writing, irritating precocious children and how stunningly beautiful hero and heroine are to each other.
I just don’t trust Bec McMasters after trying My Lady Quicksilver… 1.5 star DNF in sample. Hero is a bloody idiot, readers are expected to be bloody idiots, or author is a bloody idiot for writing a hero who can’t act like, “You have three weeks to find Mercury…or I swear you’ll share his fate…” means something. With that threat over your head, You. Would. Not. Do. What. He. Did!
Haven’t read Unveiled (so adding it to the list) or the Bec McMasters (I’ve tried this series but seem to lose interest to other things I’d rather read). But I echo Dabney’s love for Lord Perfect. Sorry! 😉 Chase is a favorite author for me. Not sure what is included in a sample – so don’t know how far into the story you get with it – but if you don’t like the kids, this isn’t the story to read. The kids (tweens really) are a prominent part of this story.
You haven’t read all of Courtney Milan? Tut. Tut. 😉
For me Loretta Chase is infinite stars for the Paris first half of LoS, 4 stars for the rest of the book (not the only romance book where the France part is superior to the Britain part, also notable in my favourite book The Spymaster’s Lady), 5 stars for two of her short stories, Lord Lovedon’s Duel and The Jilting of Lord Rothwick and DNFing the other nine books of hers that I’ve tried (furiously blushing emoji) including Mr Impossible at 85% (was NOT impressed by what I considered concocted drama).
I think Chase does write concocted drama–I’d say James does as well.
Eloisa James?
Her Three Weeks with Lady X is the next best sparring romance to LoS I have found. 5 stars for that, 4 for When Beauty Tamed the Beast and Duchess by Night and 6 DNFs for me (I am a picky bastard apart from Lucy Parker with only one DNF and Joanna Bourne with none).
That is an excellent book!
I don’t care if the drama is concocted (although I’m not sure that I’d agree) when her heroes and heroines are so smart and so funny. Chase has some of the best dialogue – the heroes so clearly fall in love with the heroines because they love the way the heroines talk back (that she’s often beautiful is just icing on the cake). And her heroine’s characterizations of the heroines are so spot on and often so funny – even when those characterizations are not wholly complimentary, they indicate why the heroines fall just as in love with the heroes as the heroes do with them. Many books describe the H/h as witty; Chase doesn’t tell us but shows us.
I mean, Heyer is concocted as are many great romances. It’s not an insult as far as I’m concerned!
s/b “And her heroines’ characterizations of the heroes . . . .”
I’ve never read that one of McMasters. Caz and I both think her London Steampunk books are phenomenal. I don’t love the book Lord Perfect but I do love the hero!
Meljean Brook’s Iron Seas is my preferred steampunk series and not just because it visits Australia ;-).
And see I found that series hard to get into!
Can you read Shards of Honor as a stand alone? Amazon notes it’s first of 16, and Libby says it’s 2 of many.
Read Barrayar and Shards of Honor together.
Ding ding ding.
I have always loved Miles Calverleigh in The Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer. A naughty boy, yes, a bit shop-worn, yes, over-relaxed and casual sometimes, yes, amoral at times, yes but clever, funny, direct, able to handle tricky situations and possessed of a loving and generous heart. He is my gold standard in the hero department. I loathe picture perfect and too good to be true characters without flaws or a past. Bring on the not-so-bad boys who are available for (part) redemption by intelligent but loving heroines.
I like heroes of all stripes, but they need to be somewhat intelligent and not whiny. They can be alpha or beta rakish or prudish, staunchly moral or casually immoral but they need to be able to learn from their situations or mistakes and adapt to them.
I adore Loretta Chase’s books which got me through covid isolation.
However, for men who do their duty, without being self-righteous or boring–men who are committed and honorable–you can’t beat Carla Kelly’s heroes. Or her writing. My all-time favorite hero and book is “Marrying the Royal Marine,” with “Beau Crusoe”, and “The Admiral’s Penniless Bride” as close seconds.
But be warned: Kelly is not a fluff writer–her books often make me cry in their portrayal of war’s brutality, especially toward women. “Beau Crusoe” is about a man who was shipwrecked on an island, one who is haunted (literally) by one of his ship-mates. It is chilling, reminding me (in spots) of Stephen King.
Aside: “Marrying the Royal Marine” was one that did not make me cry.
Another reason to read Carla Kelly: you learn a lot of history which she makes fascinating, even if you are someone who would never read a history book.
You do not risk tears with Loretta Chase’s books. My all-time favorite is “Dukes Prefer Blondes,” but runners-up are “Lord Perfect” (I find the kids hilarious), “Mr Impossible,” and “Vixen in Velvet.” Her women are smart and speak their minds which usually shocks the heroes who, to their amazement, fall for the heroines. Yes, each of these books is part of a series, but can be read independently. Each one makes me smile and often, laugh. I love the plot, the heroines, and the heroes. If you download the first chapters, you will know whether these books are for you.
I’m a huge Carla Kelly fan too. She has a brand new christmas anthology I ordered yesterday and am looking forward to reading it!
On the subject of Alphas I think they are quite difficult to write without them coming across the same. I m not sure why but I think Alphas are pretty difficult to write and make them original.
More so than beta or omega heroes? Maybe it’s just that there have been so so so many Alpha heroes over the years. We’ve become inured.
Possibly or maybe the Alpha is just not my type of hero, I think I prefer heroes with a sense of humour, funny, non brooding and complex of Course.
I like Theo From ALA by Cecilia Grant I think he’s my type.
Have you read The Worst Woman in London? James has a lot of overlap with Theo.
No I’ve never read that book I will give it a go. Thanks.
I loved it!
I like Nick from Luck be a Lady he’s by favourite mmc from historical romance.
I adore Nick. Sherry Thomas has written some of my favorite heroes and he’s one of them!
Meredith Duran wrote LbaL.
Ugh. I KNOW THAT!! I’m on the tail end of a three week European trip where I’ve stayed in seven places and I am EXHAUSTED. My brain is off!
My Apologies.
NO! You were right. I can’t wait to be better rested!