By Michelle Thorne
I love ROMANCE as a concept, although I haven’t really had much success in the real world. Don’t feel sorry for me. I have a store full of heroes who are romance personified. There’s Phillip from Tom and Sharon Curtis’ Lightning That Lingers. Was there ever a more caring, sweet or HOT guy than that? A stripper with a PhD. Sounds about right to me. How about Archie Goodwin from the Nero Wolfe series. I have loved him since I was twelve years old. Stylish dresser, snappy patter and a really good dancer. What’s not to like? Then there’s Nick Lightfoot from Jayne Ann Krentz’s The Golden Chance. What a guy!
Janet Evanovich has created quite a conundrum with Joe and Ranger in her Stephanie Plum series. I’m like Steph, I just can’t make up my mind. Then there are ANY of Linda Howard’s heroes. They all need the help of a good woman to save them from a life that is cold and without any soft place to land. I could be that woman, really. Consider Linda Lael Miller’s Vampires. Wonderful, very human and great looking, forever. Just a thought. Susan Elizabeth Phillips has all those Chicago Star football players and who could resist the guys in shoulder pads and tight ends. Not me. Don’t get me started on Robert Crais’ Elvis Cole. Great boyfriend material. Love him! And the “Bob” ain’t to shabby in the good lookng and funny area either. Yes, I am stalking him but in “a public place and he knows all about it, literary ” sort of way. Sue me.
There are many more fictional heroes who are very real to me but this is a blog not a book. Alas, I have to mention, The Man, The Guy, He who makes my heart stop on a regular basis.
For the last 11 years there has been one man who never fails to meet my expectations of a romantic hero. He is the whole package. He is suave, but has an edge. He is gorgeous, but isn’t afraid to get a little mussed. He has more money than God, but he made it himself and does good works with it. He is a great friend and a feared enemy. He’s funny and smart and he loves his woman with every fiber of his being and she’s not always that easy to love. Eve Dallas is one very lucky woman. Nora Roberts has created the PERFECT romantic hero in Roarke for the In Death series. OH, MY GOD. I want him. I don’t really know that I would have a clue of what to do with him once I got him, but it’s probably like a bicycle, you never forget. Roarke is the gold standard for me. Twenty five days of romance, ALL ROARKE, ALL THE TIME.
I’d love to hear about your fictional guys, I could always use another man to keep.
Reality, it’s overrated. Fiction ROCKS.
Michelle Thorne
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Whatever happened to Billie Green?
I picked up one of her books a long time ago and fell in love. She hasn’t written in a long time and I miss her. I can still pick up one of her books, leave my troubles, and wind up laughing.
If anyone knows please respond
Gillian,
Sunflower is one of my “Top 25 books of all time” I did’nt use any OCC authors heroes because this was a blog not a treatise on all the books I love and if I forgot someone I would feel terrible, but Sue,I do agree that Caleb is the right stuff, Hero -wise. OCC Authors RULE!!!
MichelleT
Sandy,
Are you talking about Rye or Dan?
Great Book! But books with two love interests always make me edgy.
“Twice Loved” is a very special story and LaVyrle Spencer was in a class by herslf.
MichelleT
Okay, help me out, Michelle. I can’t remember his name, but the hero in LaVeryl Spencer’s “Twice Loved.” A beautiful romance. Of course, any of Kathleen Woodiwiss’ heroes will do!
Sandy
This is a tough one, Michelle. But I’d have to say that my favorite hero is Caleb in SUNFLOWER by Jill Marie Landis.
Okay, I’ve got to chime in here, too. Matthew Farrell from Judith McNaught’s Paradise. Although, I have to admit Nora’s Roarke is at the top of the list.
Michele
Gina,
I love all of Tom and Sharon Curtis’ heroes. Phillip just happens to be in one of my all time favorite books. What the heck ever happend to Tom and Sharon??? They were so talented.
Michelle
Dana,
Ruark is one of my favorite guys too and Shanna in on my Top 50 books of all time. We’ll bond over him sometime…
Michelle
Louise,
I completely forgot about Clay…He was one of my first loves in non series romance. Until the early 80’s I was mystery girl. Then I got hooked, reluctanly,on Bantam Loveswepts. I couldn’t get enough. A very nice bookseller gave me one to try and the rest, shall we say is history! Even now, when a book dissapoints, I go back and read a Iris Johansen, Kay Hooper or Billie Green. They hold up really well and they are sooo much fun. I was a Mystery snob,and I hadn’t even read romance. What a dope. I love romance, in all its incarnations. Historical, Contempory, Suspense and Paranormal. It’s all good.
Michelle
Clay Forrester in LaVyrle Spencer’s “Separate Beds.” *Sigh* My mouth is watering just thinking about him!
— Louise
What a great post. 🙂
For me it’s Ruark from Kathleen Woodiwiss’ Shanna. You know what they say…you never forget your first. 🙂
I’ll take another Tom and Sharon Curtis hero: Devon Crandall from The Windflower. Oh my heart goes pitter pat over that one…
Michelle,
LOVE your post–and I so agree about these hunky heroes of romance. Like you said, there are simply too many to list, but I’v lost my heart over and over to these guys. I think Wolf from Mackenzie’s Mountain was one of my first great loves, and certainly Nora Roberts and I’m really annoyed that Stephanie couldn’t see that Joe was the man for her. (I want Ranger for myself)
Thanks for a great post, and for sharing your love of books with all of us!