What’s your favourite kind of HR hero? Examples please.

[Melissa]

Susan, I love Anne Stuart. If you like Ruthless, I think you’ll love her other historical romances. I’m even thinking about checking out her contemporary Ice series. I’m so glad you liked Ruthless as well.

[Melissa]

SZ, I love Meagan McKinney, too. Vashon from Till Dawn Tames the Night was hot. I don’t know if you’ve read Celeste Bradley, but I like her a lot.

[Padma]

Love the rakehell. Its so nice to see them bowled over by the heroine and brought down to their knees

[Jennifer]

Judith McNaughts historical hero’s and a few of her modern ones. Also, Julie Garwood’s historical ones. I kinda feel like both authors use the same hero in all their books. I also just found Kerrigan Byrne so I’m reading my way through hers.

So I guess most of them are Alfa males with lots of baggage that the heroines all seem to fix them.

[Sha]

Potentially silly question but what's the difference between a beta hero and a gamma hero.

[Avid Booker]

Sha wrote: "Potentially silly question but what's the difference between a beta hero and a gamma hero."

Here's what I got from a google search that lead me to Cynthiaeden.com "The gamma is a combo of the alpha and beta. He’s got all the mad, bad alpha characteristics like being super strong and aggressive and being the guy you turn to if hell is at your door, but he’s not super arrogant. He cares about others (and not just the heroine; the gamma seems to have strong ties to friends and his family). Folks may think the gamma is the Big Bad, but usually his reputation is undeserved and if you look past the surface, you find a guy who was just misunderstood."

[Sha]

okay then i like gamma heroes
no alphas though alphas do not interact

[Jennifer]

I had to google gamma too. It says Julie Garwoods heros are thought to be gammas. I think Judith McNaught are along the same vein. So I guess I like gammas. But I’d think 90% of romance novels are more or less gammas.

[SZ]

@JenniferB
Loveeeee Judith McKnaught and Julie Garwood! My all time favorites in high school. I’ve read all their books!

[Sha]

I wouldn't call McNaught heroes gammas they seem very definitely alpha to me.

[Anshi]

I like them all (alpha, beta, gamma heroes - Rakes, Lords, Recluse, Scientists, Cads) but they must be in touch with their feelings. Love, protectiveness, jealousy, possessiveness everything.
I especially enjoy where the hero knows about their feelings concerning the heroine & accepts the fact that the heroine is important(even if the idea of love has not come up) to them. They do not even have to like having those feelings. While there could be reasons(insecurity, past trauma, etc.) for the hero to not disclose such feelings to the heroine, the feelings must figure in their side of the story.
I feel dampening the hero's feelings often makes the romance seem very one-sided. That's why I don't enjoy when heroes are constantly implying that they don't care for the heroine but one fine day the heroine ticked a particular nerve & they're suddenly going gaga.

Like the Cynster series by Stephanie Laurens, where they understand that the heroine gets under their skin & while they are portrayed as a group of alphas, it is clear that they are okay to fall for their heroines(heroines are not missish either).
Also, in Her Favourite Duke by Jess Michaels, Simon knows how he feels within.
Or in The Fake Rake by Eva Leigh, he suffers from anxiety & fails to communicate but he knows hiw strong his feelings are for her.
Or in the Wanton Wager by Grace Callaway, the portrayal of the hero is someone does not like the idea of love but feels deeply for the heroine & is not afraid to tell her that he wants her to step away from her other suitor.
Some other authors like Lisa Kleypas, Stacy Reid, Sarah Maclean, Elisa Braden, etc. have made heroes who know their hearts & that has made the story better.

I can't abide by heroes who cheat, especially in married relationships. Even if the event can justify the storyline, cheating is unacceptable.

[Mariana]

Anshi wrote: "I like them all (alpha, beta, gamma heroes - Rakes, Lords, Recluse, Scientists, Cads) but they must be in touch with their feelings. Love, protectiveness, jealousy, possessiveness everything.
I es..."

Thanks for sharing. You make a good point. Although I do have a favorite type of hero, I can enjoy a story about any hero who acknowledges (at least to himself) his feelings and who does not cheat. I am with you on that.

[Shannon]

I would say I'm partial to an alpha hero like the kind McNaught wrote, but I like them all if it's a good character driven plot. And let's not forget that a little groveling from any one of them isn't a bad thing. So, I guess, all in all, perhaps it's the groveling that I love so much. ;)

My perfect hero specifically would be Ian Thornton "Almost Heaven"
and Duke of Jervaulx "Flowers From the Storm"

[Melissa]

Shannon, you know I love Judith McNaught. My favorite Hero in Her books is Clayton Westmoreland, Duke of Claymore from Whitney, My Love.
I’d have to say that my favorite Heroes are the devilishly charming, Naughty Rakes that can make me laugh as well as Blush while reading. Hubba, Hubba!
Examples: Gideon from Anne Gracie’s the Perfect Rake; Sebastian St. Vincent from Lisa Kleypas’ Devil in Winter; West Ravenel from Devil’s Daughter also by Lisa Kleypas; Julian Dane from The Ruthless Charmer by Julia London; Frances Rohan from Anne Stuart’s Ruthless; The Duke of Ashbury from The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare (Actually, I usually like all of Tessa Dare’s Heroes).

[Shannon]

Melissa wrote: "Shannon, you know I love Judith McNaught. My favorite Hero in Her books is Clayton Westmoreland, Duke of Claymore from Whitney, My Love."

Aw, Clayton. He is the rake of rakes. I love the scene where he's standing behind Whitney at her friend's wedding and she leans into him. That still makes my heart pitter patter.

[peachrings]

I like a variety of heroes, except for rakes and rogues. I'm totally fine with morally gray heroes, but I'm sick of all the smirking, devilish rakes! I tend to enjoy types you don't see as much - gamma or beta, lower class/poor, smiley fun-loving sweethearts, etc. I also like heroes that are more serious but not brooding or mean, sort of a strong and silent type, but unfortunately most heroes that are serious are also arrogant and cold!

[Preeti]

kerry wrote: "I like a variety of heroes, except for rakes and rogues. I'm totally fine with morally gray heroes, but I'm sick of all the smirking, devilish rakes! I tend to enjoy types you don't see as much - g..."
Exactly my kind of heroes.

[Tanya]

Oh this is an interesting topic! So I've realized I like the broody, somber hero's - I have a type. But mostly I love hero's that don't hero too hard . Essentially the ones that don't do the whole macho I will supress my emotions, be a man man and realize I'm a jackass at the last 2% of the book. Rakes and rogues that reform in a blink of an eye are a no-no for me.

Here are some of my favorites from my shelf (You're going to see a lot of Caroline Linden here sorry not sorry)-

What a Gentleman Wants - Marcus is MVP, that man can get it.
One Night in London - Edward is just ugh!
Luck Be a Lady - NICK!!!
The Duchess War - Robert is an all time favorite of pretty much anyone, I am no different.
A Rake's Guide to Seduction - I mean, come on?!
A Kiss for Midwinter - Jonathan is a lovely, expressive, emotional and wonderful hero. And all this in novella ugh!
Scandal of the Year - Aidan was so unexpectedly wonderful!
The Sum of All Kisses - I just love hugh!

Okay sorry for the ranting, but I love it when books get hero's righ.t

[Mariana]

Tanya wrote: "Oh this is an interesting topic! So I've realized I like the broody, somber hero's - I have a type. But mostly I love hero's that don't hero too hard . Essentially the ones that don't do the whole..."

Yes! There are a lot of great heroes here. Robert is also my all-time favorite.

The only one I haven't read is Scandal of the Year, so I am adding to my list.

[Preeti]

Tanya wrote: "Oh this is an interesting topic! So I've realized I like the broody, somber hero's - I have a type. But mostly I love hero's that don't hero too hard. Essentially the ones that don't do the whole..."
Thanks, I got two books to add to my TBR and one more reason to read ` A Rakes guide to seduction` for the next BOTM. Although I had already chosen it as my next BOTM read.

[Zerry]

I like men like Mr. Knightley. Someone who does the things that are truly romantic, not flowered up romance. Kind, patient, and considerate of everyone high or low. Who isn't afraid to say, I know you are a better person than this, now show that person to the world. I want someone who brings out the best in me, Mr. Knightley always sought to bring out the best in Emma.

[Zerry]

You have to read him to really love him.

[HR-ML]

The Courtship Dance: A Regency Romance
Hero defends his love verbally & otherwise.

A Simple Case of Seduction
They work together as enquiry agents. He's secretly in love w/ her.

Lady Derring Takes a Lover
An all-business hero bends a little w/ assist from the heroine.

[Dagmar]

I like all kinds of heroes. Often I'm particular to seemingly cold as ice grumpy alphas (with a heart of gold) that eventually come around types. Wulfric Bedwyn in Slightly Dangerous or Christopher Argent in Kerrigan Byrne's The Hunter for example. Also the hero with a purpose and integrity, like Ambrose Kent, the hero in Grace Callaway's Her Protector's Pleasure who is also a police officer.

[Dagmar]

I also love a reformed rake. Two examples would be West Ravenel in Lisa Kleypas' Devil's Daughter and Paul Fines in Grace Callaway's Her Prodigal Passion.

[Shannon]

Dagmar wrote: "I like all kinds of heroes. Often I'm particular to seemingly cold as ice grumpy alphas (with a heart of gold) that eventually come around types. Wulfric Bedwyn in Slightly Dangerous or Christopher..."

Now you just made me want to re-read Slightly Dangerous. I loved Wulfric! And I might not have found him if not for a BOTM read from this group.

[Dagmar]

He is one of my favourite heroes!

[Jan]

Dagmar wrote: "He is one of my favourite heroes!"

Yeah me too. I love that book.

[Sandra]

I loved Michael in When He Was Wicked, I think I like those kind of heroes who have a long life love for the heroine and suffers in silence. He, being a Scotch, also helps! ;)

“Why? It’s because I love you, damn me to hell. Because I’ve always loved you. Because I loved you when you were with John, and I loved you when I was in India, and God only knows I don’t deserve you, but I love you, anyway.”
― Julia Quinn, When He Was Wicked

[Cath]

Michael's one of my favorites, too, @Sandra! And for the same reason, the secretly-in-love pining hero.

[Sandra]

Cath wrote: "Michael's one of my favorites, too, @Sandra! And for the same reason, the secretly-in-love pining hero."

I also think that the heros that always loved the girl, since childood are one of my favorites! Like Robert in Ever Yours, Annabelle and some others I´ve already read but don´t remember the name of the book

[HR-ML]

Dangerous in Diamonds
A reformed rake.

[Cath]

Sandra wrote: I also think that the heros that always loved the girl, since childood are one of my favorites! Like Robert in Ever Yours, Annabelle and some others I´ve already read but don´t remember the name of the book

Definitely opportunities for secret love and pining in hero-in-love-since-childhood stories! I'll have to give the Annabelle book a try sometime :)

[Sandra]

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1... ;)

[Cath]

^oh wow you've created a list! I'm so impressed b/c I'm way too intimidated to try to create one. Technology-wise I mean. I'm doing good just to be able to use the spoiler and italics tags in my posts, lol. Your list will be a useful resource. Excellent job!

[Sandra]

Cath wrote: "^oh wow you've created a list! I'm so impressed b/c I'm way too intimidated to try to create one. Technology-wise I mean. I'm doing good just to be able to use the spoiler and italics tags in my po..."

Thanks, I was experimenting, testing the waters, looking for a list like that one, I already had a tag. The ones existing are for all books in general and I wanted something more specific. I've never done that before lets see if it's worth it. Please, feel free to add more books in that theme!! :)

[Lauren]

my favorite is an Alpha reformed rake. Reformed bad boys are the best. If I had to pick my favorite hero I'd pick Mr. Darcy and Lord Jamie Mackenzie Frasier.

[Lauren]

Jamie from Outlander is perfect

[Sandra]

Lauren, yes!!!! Those two are so perfect that it seems they don't even count!! Mr. Darcy, Colin Firth version off course, is the very perfect HR version and Jamie, Jamie is Jamie!! *sign like a school girl, ahahahah!!

[Lauren]

it doesn't hurt that I watch Outlander. He even sexier on the show.

[Lauren]

I saw P&P with Kiera Knighly. Mr. Darcy was played by the same actor in " Pilliars Of The Earth' . I can't tell you how many dreams I had of Prior Phillip..

[Sandra]

To me Mr Darcy will always be Colin Firth, he put the bar to high!! When I saw P&P with Keira Knightley Mr Darcy was such a disappointment. I think it was the same if some other actor doing Outlander and not Sam Heughan or Poldark not being Aidan Turner, and so on...

[Sandra]

I was reading the thread of this post and I have so many "new" books to read I will need a new confinement!! :D

[Lauren]

oh Sandra, I forgot about sexy/ brooding Poldark. I've never read the books to my shame, but i enjoy watching Aidrian Turner.

i still have a thing for Mr. Willoughby in Sense and Senseablity. Bad guy, but sexy.

[Sandra]

Ohhhh yes, loved that also! Quite awesome! ;)

[Lauren]

let's face it, we all want the brooding, possessive, rake so we can fix him. The good guys in real life are perfect but in a book they are boring.

[Melissa]

Hahaha. That’s the truth, Lauren.

[Shannon]

Yes Jaimie!! He's exactly as I pictured him in the book. And he was a virgin hero!

I've never read the Poldark series either, but I love Poldark! The scene where he gives Demelza stockings.... Oh, I can watch that over and over. If any hero frustrates me, it's Poldark and yet I can't NOT like him.

[HR-ML]

Shannon----

I watched Poldark 1970s version & the newer one. The 1st one
was funny b/c Jeb the servant imbibed + made witty comments.
There was an incident where they thought Jeb died. He rose
up during his wake!

[Shannon]

HR-ML wrote: "Shannon----

I watched Poldark 1970s version & the newer one. The 1st one
was funny b/c Jeb the servant imbibed + made witty comments.
There was an incident where they thought Jeb died. He rose
u..."
LOL... I loved that part!