Fantasy Island

When Tracy asked me to guest blog, I knew exactly what I wanted to post about. You see, last year when the DIK ladies were doing their hero picks, I was playing right along with them. I even made my own list of heroes along side their list. (Yes, I'm a geek like that!) Because I was doing it all on my own, I didn't have to worry about others "stealing" my guys. However, I mostly played along until my guys were "taken."

You see, books are my main form of entertainment. Since my kid came along, we don't go to movies the way we used to (unless it's rated G.) I love movies and movie stars, and some of the most fun I've had on my blog, Renee's Book Addiction, is doing some hero fantasy casting.

I thought I'd share a couple of my favorite heroes/actors from that post, and add a couple of new ones to the mix:

Russell Crowe as Nate Hawkins from My Fair Captain by JL Langley OK, I've said this more than once, but RC honestly doesn't "do it" for me (sorry, LB!) except when I think of him as Nate. Russell Crowe's commanding presence captures Nate Hawkins' masculine physicality and take-no-prisoners attitude.

Gabriel Byrne (from the 80's) as Cam Rohan from Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas His looks just scream Roma to me, AND he's Irish. He's also got that devil-may-care charm and intensity that I love about Cam. The picture in my head of Cam has always been very like GB when he was in movies like Gothic or Miller's Crossing.

Montgomery Clift as Adrien English from the Adrien English Mysteries by Josh Lanyon OK, this one was a gimme. Adrien is one of my favorite series characters. In the series, people often tell Adrien how much he looks like the actor, whom I think was one of the most beautiful of classic Hollywood's actors. Montgomery Clift was good at conveying vulnerability and restrained intensity that sometimes boiled over with catastrophic consequences. Hmm . . . sound familiar?

Here are some new casting additions I'd like to make: Javier Bardem as Japhrimel from the Dante Valentine series by Lilith Saintcrow Japhrimel is not just any demon, but Lucifer’s right-hand and enforcer. He’s the guy who all the other demons are afraid of. Yet, when he is given the job of assisting Dante, he falls so deeply in love that he rejects Lucifer to stay with her. Javier Bardem has that slightly dangerous quality that Japh has. Man, I just love this pic of him. Talk about a smoldering look! My favorite Japh quote: "You shall not leave me to wander the earth alone." ::melt::

Rick Yune as Chance from Blue Diablo by Ann Aguirre I just finished reading this great new uf last week, and I loved how Chance's intensity of emotion for Corine was so tightly controlled, and then it would just bleed through. Like Chance, Rick Yune is of Korean descent. Also (as evidenced by the above picture,) like Chance, he wears fashionable clothes really well. Rick Yune also has that smooth sophistication that Chance has.

Jensen Ackles as Elec Monroe from Flat Out Sexy by Erin McCarthy I love Elec's sexy confidence that never comes across as arrogant. He's emotionally honest, and once he realizes the depth of his feelings for Tamara, he is single-minded in his pursuit of her. I think Jensen Ackles really conveys that confidence, and while he's often smirky and arrogant on Supernatural, he's somehow never comes across as obnoxious.

Moses Brings Plenty as Charles from the Alpha & Omega series by Patricia Briggs This Lakota Sioux actor and musician seems perfect to me for the traditional Charles. I love how Charles is such a great combination of nurturer and alpha male. All the weres fear him, yet he is so gentle with Anna. I'm really looking forward to seeing how their relationship progress in book 2, Hunting Ground, which will be released in August.

Jude Law as Sebastian St Vincent from The Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas

I think Jude Law is almost criminally beautiful. Which sounds like St Vincent to a "T".

He's edgy and dark enough to abduct with his best friend's fiancé, yet charming enough to come back to be a hero in his own book (after taking a pounding by Marcus, of course!)

There's something about the redemptive quality of a great heroine, and the hero who needs redemption. St Vincent and Evie are one of my favorite romance couples!

Here are a few others I'd like to try casting, but haven't found the right man for the part:

• Clay from the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong
• Ranger from the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich
• Hardy Cates from Blue Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas
• Max Pesaro from The Gardella Vampire Chronicles by Colleen Gleason

Any suggestions? Any hero you'd like to cast?

Thanks, ladies, for letting me visit the island. I had a lot of fun! I'm throwing a goodbye party out on the beach. Bring your heroes, Chance, Charles, Elec, Japh and I will be there with the blender, mixing up some amaretto sours!

Cheers! Renee