My Real-Life Hero

Things have been a little crazy lately around my place, and to be honest, I almost forgot I was posting here at DIK, today. Part of why I've been pre-occupied this week is that today is my guy's birthday, and I've been party-planning.

Now, the DIK blog is all about the heroes we love. So, in honor of his birthday, I wanted to dedicate today's post to my favorite, real-life hero: my guy.

Even though this picture is over a year old, it's still one of my favorites, because it says so much about him.

Like Ben Fortune, in Jill Sorenson's Crash Into Me, my guy is an awesome dad. He's there for our kid, whether it's attending or coaching sports activities, playing video games with him, taking him on hikes, or reading him bedtime stories acting out all of the voices.

Like Seth Mortenson, in Richelle Mead's Succubus series, he's an unabashed geek, loving quirky t-shirts (like Yoda, above) and a bit absent-minded when he's focused on whatever he happens to be working on at the time.

Like Jasper, in Elizabeth Hoyt's To Seduce a Sinner, my guy has a sense of humor and is quick with a silly joke.

Like Lord John, in Diana Gabaldon's Lord John Mystery series and the Outlander series, he has a sense of integrity and honor that just blow me away.

Like Dave Malkoff, in Suzanne Brockmann's Troubleshooters series, my guy's intelligence and intensity are belied by a laid back attitude.

But, when it comes down to it, even though he has lots in common with some of my favorite romance novel heroes, my guy is an original, and my only real life hero.

So here's to heroes, ladies, and here's to my guy.

Happy birthday, honey!

Do you have a real-life hero? If you do, which fictional hero does he (or she) remind you of? If you don't which fictional hero has qualities that you would like to find in someone?

Come on back tomorrow and visit me here at the island.
Also, be sure to visit me at my place, Renee's Book Addiction.

The Hero and the Grovel

This past week I read an interesting review where the reviewer took issue with how the hero didn't take enough responsibility for his actions in their relationship, and that the grovel at the end felt tacked on.

Now, I'm willing to put up with a lot in my heroes: alpha-bordering-on-asshole-ish behavior (all to "protect" the heroine, of course), jumping to conclusions, etc. HOWEVER, while I'm reading about these misquided actions and character flaws, I'm thinking two things:

1. "I'd better be seeing to really great character growth in this guy."
2. "I'd better be reading a great grovel scene at the end." The late, lamented Rip My Bodice blog had a great definition for grovel, which fortunately, I'd quoted over at Renee's Book Addiction, so I have it saved for posterity:
   

   Grovel, The [Pronunciation Key: gruhv-uhl] -verb 1. situation whereby hard-headed hero who has greviously [ sic ] wronged the heroine through unforgivable actions (see also entry for Alpha Male, The) is made to prostrate himself before her in an attempt for forgiveness. The Hero will often resort to tears, impassioned pleas and grand gestures. Artfully perpetuated by certain authors (see also entry for Ms Judith McNaught), the potential for heart-wrenching drama and tearful emotion is enormous, especially if The Hero is normally taciturn and unfeeling . . .

And, undoubtedly, the bad behavior must be proportional to the drama and size of the grovel. Of course, the grovel isn't meant to emasculate the hero, but demonstrates that his acknowledgment of how fucked up he's been, how sorry he is, and thus makes him an even more awesome hero.

I remember reading Anne Stuart's Ice Blue, and really liking the hero, Takashi O'Brien, though he was one of those bordering on asshole-ish. Throughout the book, I kept thinking, "Oh, his grovel's going to be goooood." Yet, when he finally meets up with Summer, the heroine, and the climactic reunion at the end, the grove never happened. I was SO pissed! I felt like I'd been cheated out of something after over 350 pgs. It made Takashi appear not to be a man who has seen the error of his ways (and is man enough to admit it), but just a guy who is kind of a jerk.

My stand out grovel scene comes at the end of the Adrien English series, in the last book The Dark Tide.
If you haven't read this and don't want any spoilers, skip to the end of the post. To read the scene, highlight the blank area, below:

Jake, who has admittedly put Adrien through hell over the course of the 5-book series, finally comes clean with Adrien. It's an emotional, soul-bearing scene:

He spoke so quietly I had to strain to hear, “You remember asking me if I'd ever begged?”. . .

“And you said you did beg once—and you got what you asked for.” I waited, wondering if I was going to like what I was about to hear.
Jake said, “When your heart stopped on that fucking boat.” The sudden fierce glitter in his eyes had to be a trick of the light. “I begged then.”
I couldn't think of a thing to say. It was the last thing I'd expected. Almost the opposite, in fact, of what I'd expected.
“I've never been that afraid. Not even close. I worked over you, and I called you every name in the book.” His face twisted. “I cried. And then I begged. You're damn right I begged. I promised—not that I had anything worth promising—but I was willing to give anything for you to be able to walk away from that.” His smile was the rare one, the wide and unguarded one. “And you did.”
I caught a ragged breath. Sat up so fast, we nearly head-slammed each other. “Jesus, Jake. If that's true, why the hell can't you say it?”
He looked confused.
“If you do feel that way, then why have you never said it? It would have helped. Because to not say it at this point feels like you have some reason for not saying it, that you're making some point by not saying it.”
He was shaking his head. “I don't know what you're talking about. Of course I—what do you think this is about?”
“Knowing and believing are two different things.”
He was looking at me like something had been lost in translation.
“Why can't you say it?” I hardened my voice. “Because I'm telling you, you never have. I'd have remembered.” He stared at me with disbelief. Then he lunged forward, pushing me flat in the pillows once more. He leaned over me, his mouth a brush of lips away from my own, his breath warm on my face.
“Love you? Of course I love you. Baby, I fucking worship you.”


*clutches heart*

So, what about you?
Do you like this kind of hero?
Do you need a grovel scene at the end to make things right with the world? If so, what is the best grovel scene that you can think of?

Thanks for visiting me here at the Island. And, don't forget
to come by and visit me at Renee's Book Addiction.

April Foolin'

Yesterday, I was totally sucked in by this April Fool's Day tweet.



Of course, part of it was that they were a day early and it WASN'T yet April 1st. The other part that sucked me in was that there was just enough truth to it to make it believable. James Marsters--Spike, to Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans--narrates the audiobooks for Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series, and Bob is Harry Dresden's talking skull sidekick. I can totally see JM as Bob's voice.

However, the mere thought of Robert Pattinson, in all his freakish sparkly vampire glory playing my beloved knight errant-wizard, Harry Dresden, was enough to make me do this:

But, the tweet got me, and it gave me a laugh.

Now, I'm not much of a prankster. Even something as relatively innocuous (though ludicrously funny) as this one is beyond my imaginative abilities. However, I am appreciative of a good one.

How about you? Do you like to pull pranks for April's Fools Day?

If not, why?

If so, what is the one you were most proud of?

A little more Fantasy Casting

One of my favorite things to do, here on the island and at my place, is play the fantasy casting game. I sometimes need a little help visualizing my heroes, and it's always a bit of fun finding the celebrity will fit.

So, here are a few of my recent casting choices:

Hawke, from Nalini Singh's PsyChangeling series: Josh Holloway I just finished reading Play of Passion (it was great!) and events are moving into place for Hawke's book, which is next. I can't wait! I didn't even try to find someone with Hawke's trademark silver-gold hair, but when it comes to Hawke's attitude, sense of humor, and charisma, I think Josh Holloway is the total package.

Captain Gabriel Huntley, from Zoe Archer's Warrior (Blades of the Rose series): Ewan McGregor I loved this book, and a lot of it was due to Gabriel. He's a soldier who is weary of war, and ready to return to England to settle down with a nice English miss. Or so he thinks. Then, events overtake him and he finds himself fighting a new war, in a world that he'd never realized was alive with magic, and falling for a sharpshooting woman in Mongolia. I love how Gabriel makes Thalia's fight his own, and is a through and through soldier to the core. His nervousness about all of his "rough edges" gives him just a hint of vulnerability that I just love.

Javier, from Ginn Hale's The Lord of the White Hell, parts 1 & 2: Rufus Sewell I know Rufus Sewell's far too old to play the 19(?) year old Javier, but he would be (for me) THE choice if we could go back to Rufus Sewell 20 years ago. Rufus Sewell has that dangerous quality that Javier has, as well as the smoldering good looks.

Packard, from Carolyn Crane's Disillusionists series: Jeffrey Dean Morgan Packard is a study in contradictions: smooth operator (or manipulator, Justine might say); victim of circumstance --trapped against his will in Mongolian Delites; stealthy crime boss. I love his ambiguity, which makes him such a fascinating character. Whether JDM is the kick-ass dad from Supernatural or the odious Comedian from The Watchmen, he seems to have a chameleon-like ability to disappear into a role. Also, his rough-hewn good looks totally remind me of Packard.

Ben, from Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville series: Zachary Levi The thing about Ben, is that he is an unassuming guy, who is easily under-estimated, until one realizes he is the alpha male of a werewolf pack. I know it's type-casting, but Zachary Levi really seems to fit the bill. Ben us usually happy to let Kitty (the pack's alpha female) to be out front and center, leading the pack and as its public face. He prefers to work behind the scenes, doing he work as a lawyer. But, he is always there, ready to back Kitty up, and take care of their pack.

Agree? Disagree? Have any fantasy casting suggestions of your own?

It's been fun visiting the island again!
Come visit me anytime at Renee's Book Addiction.

My favorite heroes of 2010...so far

I know that it's a little early for "best of the year" lists, but 2010 has been such a great year for heroes, and, DIK is all about the heroes, isn't it?

I compiled a pretty healthy list for the year. Initially, the list was pretty long, but I've been able to whittle it down to my top 5. *wipes brow*

Here goes:

1. William from Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews

I could go on and on about the awesomeness that is William, but at the risk of repeating myself in my review of the book, William is the total package:




Alpha shifter who can kick ass and take names? Check.
Tragic past that he’s dealing with? Check.
An admiration for strong heroines who can kick ass and take names? Check.




Truly, it's the combination of vulnerability and alpha male that gets me every time.

2. Terrible from the Chess Putnam series by Stacia Kane




Terrible's love for Chess is totally compelling. He is tough, and feared by all. Yet, Chess, brings him to his knees.




Over the course of the series, the reader (through Chess' eyes) sees beyond Terrible's 'ugliness' and into the man beneath the surface. His relationship with her isn't easy, or even comfortable reading, but the payoff is soooo worth it.




I can not wait until the next book to read more about Terrible!




3. Nick from The Demon's Lexicon series by Sarah Rees Brennan




Nick is one of those characters that, whenever he enters the scene, it completely belongs to him.




He's a really uncomfortable guy to read about. He's angry, he's violent, and he's more than a little sociopathic. But, his relationship with his brother, Alan, reveals that there's more to him than meets the eye.




I've got a confession to make about Nick: while I know that it's a hopeless wish, whenever he's in a scene with Mae's brother, Jamie, I totally root for them to wind up together. They have the best chemistry together, and their dialog/banter is great reading.




4. Javier from Lord of the White Hell, books 1 & 2 by Ginn Hale

Javier, on first glance is a rakehell, who leads the aptly named Hellions with arrogance and wit. Yet, his outrageous behavior hides a young man who is damned. Literally.

As the vessel for the White Hell, even Javier's friends are afraid to enter his rooms or get too close to him. That is, until Kiram, also an outsider, shares his room, his life, and wins his heart.




Javier has a lot to overcome in The Lord of the White Hell. Not only does he live under a curse, but he must hide his love for Kiram while trying to find a way to protect him from a mysterious supernatural threat.




5. Curran from the Kate Daniels series, by Ilona Andrews




While Curran has been around for a while (and one of my favorite heroes for the last couple of years), he really comes into his own in 2010's Magic Bleeds.




Ilona Andrews has taken her time developing the relationship between Kate and Curran, and with Magic Bleeds, their courtship --if that's what you can call the mayhem that takes place --is nothing if not unique.




Curran truly is the King of Beasts, and Kate is a perfect match for his over the top personality. His need to take care of his people and his love for Kate make him truly a favorite hero of mine.

Of course, I've still got 5 weeks left in 2010, so there's every possibility I may add a couple more to my list. At least, I hope so. ;-)

What are your heroes in 2010?

Come on back tomorrow and visit me on my second day here on the Island!
Also, be sure to visit me at my place, Renee's Book Addiction.

In need of a break

If you've read the recent posts at my place, you know that the last few weeks have been more than a little crazy for me. In the last 2 weeks, I've: moved into a new home with my in-laws as landlord (with the attendant repairs, polite drama, and negotiation that it involves), become a first-time landlord (with the attendant repairs, legal stuff, and negotiation that it involves), gotten my kid into school and soccer, and started a 3rd part-time job.

I've found that I have been so exhausted at the end of the day—or even in the middle of the day when I have a few moments to myself—that I've been unable to read. The energy required to focus has been non-existent. Now, I've always read, and the idea of not having an escape is impossible for me to fathom. And, lord knows, I have been in dire need of escape. So, what's an avid reader to do?

Well, I've made a few realizations during this time.

Format: Audiobooks are the way to go when I'm too tired to even keep my eyes open to read, yet feel too restless to actually sleep. There was more than one night during the last few weeks when I'd wake up at 4am and start making lists in my head of things I needed to do the next day (or things I had forgotten to do the night before). Being able to lie in the dark (no reading lamp necessary) with my eyes closed, listening to my audiobook helped me relax and got me back to sleep much quicker.

Genre: Without meaning to, I found myself gravitating strongly toward contemporary romance. The dark urban fantasy that I love felt too bleak to give me the relaxation and comfort I was so in need of. And, the complex world building of other specualtive fiction that I enjoy so much was just too much work for my exhausted mind. Yet, the familiar world and guaranteed happy ending of contemporary romance hit that spot.

OK. Sizzling Sixteen isn't actually romance. At least not in my book. However, it's contemporary, enjoyable (if I don't expect anything to actually happen wrt the Stephanie/Morelli/Ranger triangle) and light.

Location: Enough cannot be said about how comforting it was to be able to curl up in my favorite chair, my trusty polka-dotted recliner at the end of the day. I cannot even express how wonderful it felt to climb into it and put my feet up the day after move-in. (Here's a picture of my lovely, at my old place. *strokes fondly*) Even surrounded by boxes and random furniture in the middle of the room, my buzz from sitting in my chair wasn't diminished.

So when times are crazy, and you find yourself in need of a little comfort, what are the things that you do so that you can feed your reading addiction? Is it a tub full of bubbles? Relaxing music?

Is there a specific kind of book, format or genre, that puts you into the zen of reading?

Come on back tomorrow when I confess one of my reading quirks.
Also, be sure to visit me at my place, Renee's Book Addiction.

Hit Me Baby One More Time

I'm a bit of a series 'ho.

There's nothing I love more than knowing that the story I'm enjoying will continue long after I finish the book I'm reading. A series, too, gives the author time to flesh out characters, show their depth, as well as have them change over a protracted period of time. Also, larger story arcs can be explored that extend over a number of books, adding to the overall complexity of the world in which the story occurs.

A few of my favorite series that have maximized world and character development would include:

Troubleshooters series by Suzanne Brockmann I love how characters that start out as supporting cast develop over the course of the books, and by the time they get "their" story, they have a history, a personality, and on-going friendships/relationships. Sam, Max, Jules (among others) feel 3-dimensional. I root for/against the characters in this series, and feel invested in them.

PsyChangeling series by Nalini Singh Any kind of speculative fiction really benefits from lots of time to develop the world in which the story takes place. The PsyChangeling world is one that has so many layers, and with each book, more and more of the world is filled in. (BTW, have you see the beautiful new cover for Book 9, Play of Passion, to be released in November? --->)

Nightrunners series by Lynn Flewelling This fantasy series builds slowly, and the relationship between Alec and Seregil grows from one between a younger man/older mentor to that of equals and lovers. The series also allows each book to focus on a specific region/culture in the Nightrunners world.

Adrien English Mysteries by Josh Lanyon When the final book in the AE Mysteries was released in December, I re-read the entire series. Doing that really allowed me to appreciate how Josh Lanyon crafted, not just each individual book, but the entire story. The coolest part was seeing how, though Jake undergoes the most obvious character growth, it was Adrien's more subtle changes that I most enjoyed reading about. Their love story could never have been confined to only a single book.

Now, I understand the whole saw about how it's better to leave people wanting more, but here are a few books that I really wish were series:

Sunshine by Robin McKinley When I finished this book, I frantically scoured Robin McKinley's site looking for indications that book 2 would be written. This dark romance between the engaging baker, Rae and the loner vampire Con felt so fresh. There is so much rich material in this story that I couldn't believe it was a standalone. The author says she has no inclination to write more in this world. *sob*

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman This story of the orphan Nobody Owens (Bod, for short) who is raised, protected, and loved by the ghostly inhabitants of the the graveyard is sweet, dark, and lovely. It's reminiscent of Tim Burton's movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas, with its twisted sense of humor. By the end, I had a lump in my throat, and I wanted to follow Bod on his further adventures.

Hemovore by Jordan Castillo Price While I tend to rave about JCP's PsyCop series, this is the story that introduced me to her great storytelling. Hemovore's completely unique take on the "vampire virus" is told from the perspective of the germophobic Mark, who assists the V-positive artist Jonathan. I'd LOVE for JCP to re-visit the gritty Hemovore world, either telling more of Mark and Jonathan's story or introducing a new couple.

Do you like series, or do you prefer stand alone novels? Is there a book you wish was a series? Or is there a series that would have been better left as a stand alone?

True Confessions

OK, so I have a confession.

I don't know how it happened. I was careful. Lists were made. Blogs were read. Bookstores and libraries were trolled. Lunch was had with other bloggers. Much discussion was had, and many books were exchanged in parking lots.

Yet, somehow, oversights occurred anyway.

I admit it.

I have never read Joanna Bourne's My Lord and Spymaster. Or Meredith Duran's The Duke of Shadows. While historical romance was my gateway into the world of romance back when I was a teen, there are some really big names I still haven't read. Laura Kinsale, Eloisa James, and Suzanne Enoch, among others.

And, when it comes to classics, there are other reading oversights. Being a lit major in college, I actually read Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre 2 or 3 times for various classes, but sister Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights remains unread. Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind is another classic I never got to.

Whenever these books (or other much-read books I haven't read) come up in conversation, I always feel like I'm missing out.

Over the last year, I've finally gotten around to reading books that everyone else seems to have read, like JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series, Loretta Chase's Lord of Scoundrels, and Nalini Singh's PsyChangeling series. And, if it hadn't have been for The Book Smugglers Guest Dare back in January, I'd still be a Lord of the Rings virgin. (I finally read The Fellowship of the Ring.)

So, now, it's the moment of truth.

I told you some of mine. Now you tell me yours.

Finish this sentence:

I can't believe I still haven't read . . .

Come on back tomorrow and visit me on my second day here on the Island! Also, be sure to visit me at my place, Renee's Book Addiction.

10 Anticipated Books in 2010

It's been so much fun over to be here the last few days. I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday, and peaceful New Year. Vacations have started for all of us here at chez Renee, and I'm really hoping I'll be getting some good reading in.
I've been in such a state of anticipation for Dark Tide, Adrien English Mysteries book 5,which will be out on Tuesday, Dec. 22 (the day after my birthday!) I've been re-reading the entire series to get ready for its release, and loving every minute of it. However, even though that has been my high point for book releases this month, there are also lots of books to be released in 2010 that I'm really excited about.

Here are 10 that I'm looking forward to:

1. late January/early February 2010: In and Out (Men of Smithfield series, book 4) by LB Gregg (Aspen Mountain Press)

This is (possibly?) the final book in the Smithfield series. It's been such a fun series, and I've really enjoyed how it's evolved. The guys in Smithfield are all smart and funny, though my heart will always belong to David (Happy Ending).

2. February 2, 2010: Archangel’s Kiss (Guild Hunter series, book 2) by Nalini Singh. Scroll down linked page for an excerpt.

When I read book 1 in the series, Angels' Blood, I was blown away by the completely original world building and the compelling characters. I'm really looking forward to seeing where she's going to take Elena and Raphael in Archangel's Kiss, especially after the events of book 1.


3. March 23, 2010: Mind Games by Carolyn Crane

The Thrillionth Page was one of the first blogs that I stalked, um I mean, followed. Carolyn's sometimes off-kilter sense of humor is one I enjoy immensely, and she's become a person I go to when I get my own crazy book connections. I can't wait for her first book, which sounds like it will be a fun ride.

4. March 30, 2010: Changeless (The Parasol Protectorate, book 2) by Gail Carriger.

   This new series was such a breath of fresh air. I love the uf/steampunk sensibility and the sense of humor I found in book 1, Soulless. Weres, vamps, and dirigibles. Gotta love it! Hoping for more fun in book 2.
   

5. March 30, 2010: Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson series, book 5) by Patricia Briggs

I've been reading this series since book 1, Moon Called, was released, and have eagerly anticipated each subsequent release. This series continues to be one of my favorites, mostly because Patricia Briggs has been so true to her characters and really allowed them to grow.

6. Summer 2010: Married by Morning (Hathaways series, book 4) by Lisa Kleypas

This is the series that brought me back to reading historicals after more than 10 years. Beatrix's story should be lots of fun, and I'm sure I'll enjoy catching up with the Hathaways.


7. June 8, 2010: Dragonsoul (Havemercy series, book 3) by Jaida Jones & Danielle Bennett

This series was an unexpected find for me, and as much as I enjoyed book 1, Havemercy, book 2, Shadow Dragon was even better. It's hard not to have even higher hopes for Dragonsoul.

8. June 22, 2010: Last Night’s Scandal by Loretta Chase

After reading Lord of Soundrels earlier this year, Loretta Chase has become an auto-buy for me. I love her smart, convention-thwarting stories.

9. Fall 2010: Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls series, book 2) by Maggie Stiefvater

In a year of a lot of great YA reading, book 1, Shiver was a standout. I'm really curious to see where Maggie Stiefvater is going to take Grace and the wolves of Mercy Falls in Linger.


10. October 2010: Bespelling Jane (An anthology of four paranormal tales based on Jane Austen novels, including novellas by Colleen Gleason & Mary Balogh.)

Do I even need to explain why I can't wait to read this one? Seriously, I'm not a big fan of Austen pastiche, but I'm confident that writers Colleen Gleason and Mary Balogh will make this book something to watch out for.

It was so hard to limit myself to 10 books for this post. There really are a TON of cool upcoming releases.

What are you looking forward to in 2010?

These are a few of my favorite things . . .

One of the fun things about DIK is its celebration of heroes. We have the guys in our hut, which were chosen with only a little (virtual) bloodshed. They are a pretty diverse group, appearing in books of different genres, coming from different time periods, and are even different kinds of beings (humans, vamps, shifters, etc).
However, something that transcends these differences between are heroes are the type of heroes they are. A few weeks ago, I posted over at my place, Renee's Book Addiction about a couple of my favorite hero types, the Misfit and the Smart Ass. Since writing that post, I've been thinking a lot about the kinds of heroes that I enjoy reading about.

Here are a few more hero types that I really love:

The Smart Ass
The Smart Ass hero is another independent type. He has loads of confidence and a strong independent streak.
He usually has a sense of humor (though not always appropriate). Often, he gets the best lines, using everyone around them as the straight man. And, he's typically extremely intelligent. (Brains=Sexy.) Usually, their mouth gets ahead of their better judgment (or they ignore it all-together) and they wind up in situations that are so fun to read about!
One of my favorite scenes with a smart ass hero, is in Natural Born Charmer, when Dean first meets Blue as she's walking down a rural road in a beaver costume. Their dialog, their separate internal monologues, and the circumstances make up one of my favorite scenes in a book.

Some of my favorite Smart Ass Heroes: Izzy Zanella (Troubleshooters series by Suzanne Brockmann); Harry Dresden (The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher); Dean Robillard (Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips); Cal Leandros (pictured on right) (Cal Leandros series by Rob Thurman).

The Tortured Hero
This is a man who has been through hell and back. He has darkness in his soul and needs the love of a good woman or man to heal him. One thing I love about a tortured hero is that if his story is done well, there is lots of character growth as he opens up to his significant other. One of my favorite tortured hero scenes is in To Seduce a Sinner when it's revealed what Vale, who was tortured while a prisoner of war, needs to do to feel safe when he sleeps at night. My heart hurt when I read that scene.

Some of my favorite Tortured Heroes: Zadist (Black Dagger Brotherhood by JR Ward); Lord Ian Mackenzie (The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley); Viscount Vale (To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt); Belimai Sykes (Wicked Gentlemen by Ginn Hale).

The Guy Next Door/Caretaker
Originally when I started writing this post, this was 2 separate hero types. But, they had so many qualities in common, I just had to bring them together. These are the guys that you can bring home to mom. The ones that you go to when you get into a jam or need a shoulder to lean on. Yet, they are never boring, and usually someone you would want to hang out with on a Saturday night (watching a DVD and eating popcorn).
Right now, I'm re-reading the Adrien English Mysteries (getting ready for Dark Tide!), and one thing I'm noticing is how people are drawn to Adrien. For all his drama with Jake and assorted murders, he is the port in the storm for his sister, for Claude, and for Angus.

Some of my favorite Guys Next Door/Caretakers: Adrien English (pictured on right) (Adrien English Mysteries by Josh Lanyon); Cam Rohan (Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas); Jeremy Danvers (Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong); Lord John Grey (Outlander & Lord John series by Diana Gabaldon), Devil Cynster (Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens); David Cooke (Happy Ending by LB Gregg).

The Reformed Rake
This is an old favorite of mine. Some of the first romances I read were Regencies (Barbara Cartland, anyone?) where rakes were thick on the ground. I love reading about a jaded, cynical hero is slowly transformed by their love, and allows himself to be vulnerable. Also, there is usually a great grovel when the hero realizes the error of his ways.
In Scandal, Banallt has already reformed when the book opens. Seeing how he struggles to convince Sophie that he has truly changed (and is not just trying to get her into bed) makes for such compelling reading.

Some of my favorite Reformed Rakes: St Vincent (Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas); James Durham, Viscount Sanburne (Bound by Your Touch by Meredith Duran); Banallt (Scandal by Carolyn Jewel); Dain (Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase).

The Misfit
I have a total soft-spot for the misfit hero. A few reasons I love them? They walk their own path, regardless of what everyone else is doing or expecting of them. They’re usually loners, which makes their connection with their significant other really meaningful. And, what often sets them apart is that their intelligence. (Again, Brains=Sexy in my book.)
My favorite recent misfit revelation was in Men of the Otherworld. I LOVED hearing Clay's voice in this anthology. After his being in so many previous Otherworld books, it was great to really "get" why he is so out of step with everyone around him, including the other members of his pack.

Some of my favorite Misfit Heroes: Dave Malkoff (Troubleshooters series by Suzanne Brockmann); Wildcard Karmody (Troubleshooters series by Suzanne Brockmann); Clay Danvers (Men of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong); Victor Bayne (pictured on right) (PsyCop series by Jordan Castillo Price).

The Enigma
A man of mystery, I'm typically turning the pages as fast as I can to discover what I can about this guy. His past tends to be murky, and sometimes discovering what he is is (Jericho, Dante) part of the mystery. Usually, his motives are questionable, and it's not always clear whether his actions are in the significant other's best interests. When he gets close to his love interest, he must reveal parts of himself that he never allows anyone to see.
In Zero at the Bone, D opens himself to Dr Jack, and small acts which most people would take for granted, are monumental acts of bravery for D. These scenes are so emotionally charged and fraught with significance, that I had a lump in my throat when I read them.

Some of my favorite Enigmas: Jericho Z Barrons (Fever series by Karen Marie Moning); Dante (The Maker's Song series by Adrian Phoenix); Jack Winter (Black London series by Caitlin Kittredge); Jack (Nadia Stafford series by Kelley Armstrong), D (pictured on right) (Zero at the Bone by Jane Seville).

Well, these are some of my favorite hero types. I deliberately avoided the Alpha and Beta (and, even Gamma) hero in this discussion, because any of these individual heroes can be an alpha or a beta hero. For example, both Zadist and Lord Ian are tortured heroes, but their individual personalities (and how they've reacted to their respective abusive experiences) are extremely different.

What are some of your favorite hero types?

Please join me tomorrow for my last visit of 2009 to the Island.

The Peanut Butter in My Chocolate

I'm probably dating myself by the above title, but if you grew up in the US in the 70s, you will remember the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup commercial where person A, who was eating peanut butter would bump into person B, who was eating a chocolate bar. The inevitable, "You've got peanut butter in my chocolate!" would of course be followed by, "You've got chocolate in my peanut butter!" And, of course, a match made in junk food heaven was born.

Well, earlier today I was making Scottish shortbread cookies for my guy's presents to his staff. Elbow deep in cookie dough, I was thinking hard about what the heck I was going to write about for this post. And then, as I pondered and baked, baked and pondered it came to me . . . Scottish cookies!

So, enjoy these celebrity cookies, Scottish style:

Ewan McGregor

There is just something about a man with the confidence to wear a kilt . . .

Gerard Butler

And, the sophistication to make it look like high fashion . . .

Nathan Fillion

Yet, not afraid to have fun and be a little funky with it . . .

John Barrowman

Though, a formal look is always so very good . . .

Mike Myers

OK, now the song "One of these things is not like the other" is going through my head . . .

Come on back tomorrow when I explore a little about some of my favorite types of heroes! Also, be sure to visit me at my place, Renee's Book Addiction.