We would like to welcome back the writing duo of Katie Porter. They have provided us with a guest post and they are sponsoring a giveaway. Make sure you keep reading for the contest rules and prize information. The winner will be announced on Monday 15 Oct. Come back for our late post today to see our review of HOLD ‘EM.
What Makes a Hero a Hero?
Mike from Hold ’Em is super sexy and awesome. He’s a romance hero. Super sexy and awesome comes as a matter of course for romance heroes, right along with the appropriately large personal member best suited to exploiting that sexy awesomeness, right?
Eh, maybe. I’ve read some asshole heroes before. (I was gonna say alpha-hole, but then I decided that certain heroes have crossed that line into full on ass, plus I feel like I’ve been around the Book Pushers long enough that I can let down my hair. Hope y’all agree. If not, it’s too late. Sorry!) Though they’re thankfully outnumbered by the great guys in plenty of romance novels, there are asses. Mike is certainly not one of them.
He has some left over hang-overs from his traditional white bread upbringing. Plus he’s strong headed, which he has to be in order to make it in the fierce field of fighter pilots. (Too many Fs! Eeek! Maybe I shoulda said Feek. Heh.) Those attitudes…they’re not his best feature.
Of course, Michael is hot in that romance hero sort of way. He’s blond, which is a wee bit on the rare side, but I do so love a blond hero. Daniel Craig and Paul Walker have appeared in other books of mine, though I’m not admitting which ones. (Unless you buy me a drink at some conference. Or chocolate I’ll spill all sorts of secrets for chocolate.) And Michael is built. All the standard romance hero accoutrements. But what makes him special?
His appreciation for getting whacked about by a dominant woman? Well, that helps. But most of all, I’d say it’s his zen level calm. He’s laid back in a way that high-strung, power house Leah needs pretty badly. He’s the rock to hold down her helium balloon.
Well. She doesn’t realize that, of course. Mostly she’s obsessed with the problems involved in getting involved with another member of her squadron when she’s trying so hard to walk the straight and narrow. Why risk the promotion she wants so badly on a quick tumble with a man from her past? “Cuz he’s hot” wouldn’t be nearly enough temptation for Leah. She works with Ryan and Jon, after all if we’re only operating on looks. And I wouldn’t want to be too cheesy, but Michael is totally the ying to Leah’s yang. (Wait. One of those is male and the other is female and I might have switched them. Serves me right for writing blog posts with no internet!)
Now we only have to make sure Leah realizes how good Michael would be for her. And Michael has to decide whether he can trust a live wire like Leah with his heart, his soul and his body. It’s not going to be easy.
But then, maybe that’s what makes a romance hero. Courage.
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Up next for Katie Porter, the co-writing team of Carrie Lofty and Lorelie Brown:
Now that the first three of the RT BookReviews 4½ Star Top Pick “Vegas Top Guns” series have been released, readers can anticipate the final two installments, HARD WAY and BARE KNUCKLE, in 2013.
November brings the m/m Christmas-themed CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR, described as “masterful” by Publishers Weekly. In January, LEAD AND FOLLOW, will launch the five-part “Club Devant” series of erotic multi-partner romances set in a hot New York City burlesque club.
Where to find us:
Katie Porter
Twitter: @MsKatiePorter
Or individually: @carrielofty and @LorelieBrown
We’d like to give away a copy of DOUBLE DOWN, INSIDE BET or HOLD ’EM (winner’s choice) in any format. Just answer the question: What’s your favorite heroic characteristic?
Thanks again to The Book Pushers for featuring Katie Porter and Hold ’Em!
My favorite hero’s characteristic is perseverance.
I would agree with courage and add protectiveness. Thanks for the giveway, I would love to start this series!
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I like compassion and confidence. Confident in the sense to accept the heroine’s abilities and strengths.. and the fact that she may even be smarter, stronger or what have you.. and accepts that as matter of factly as you would something like eye color. Not seeing their strength and abilities as an affront to their own. *sigh*
Confidence.
I’m gonna have to agree with another commenter, confidence. Being able to accept others as they are because you are secure in yourself is hugely appealing.
Also, the more I read about these books (I’ve run across a couple reviews for the first two books in the series) the more I wanna read them. They sound great!
My kind of hero is someone who knows that you need help ( even though it isn’t his problem), stay and protect you. He is someone who is so comfortable with himself and his surrounding, he knows when trouble is coming and stay with you to make you survive.
thanks for a fun post and congrats to the ladies on the success of the new series! It sounds fabulous!
Loyalty 😉
I love guys who are stoic, but still willing to show emotion to their favorite people, especially their heroine.
Courage, protectiveness and sacrafice.
Definitely protectiveness and courage.
yadkny@hotmail.com
I think the best heroic characteristic is bravery.
confidence
Kindess heart humor are mine congrats on books
Smarts to look at the whole picture and plan before taking action.
Hi everyone! This is the Carrie half of Katie Porter, checking in to say thank you for stopping by. I love that Lorelie takes care of the blog posts and I get to read them fresh like everyone else.
As for my favorite characteristic in a hero: competence. I don’t mean “he half-assed gets things done around the house and manages not to shrink my delicates,” but a man who is the best at what he does. I’ve found many a man sexy not because of his looks. Instead, I’m drawn to his expertise and the confidence with which he applies that expertise to the world. There’s nothing sexier than a leader of men, no matter the specialty.
Thanks again for stopping by, and good luck with the drawing. Have a great week!
A sense of humour.
I would say protectiveness and courage 🙂
I would also choose courage and I’d also add commitment
I would say protectiveness too. All of the other characteristics are so important too.
protectiveness