Heroes! Gotta love them, and we can’t have romances without them! I recently asked my review team who their favorite character was out of all my books, and all the replies so far mentioned heroes. I didn’t expect that, but maybe I should have done! We all love our book boyfriends!
There are so many different occupations we can give our heroes and heroines. My hero list from my published books includes:
- Physics professor (James, in The Wedding List)
- Hollywood actor (Nick, in Believe in Me)
- Department store heir and dairy farmer (Ed, in Least Expected)
- Photographer (Mac, in A Model Bride)
- Psychology professor (Gabe, in Forget Paris)
- Store department manager (David, in Invitation to the Ball)
- Medical missionary (Matthew, in Teapots & Tiaras)
- Physiotherapist/ physical therapist (Alistair, in More than Friends)
- High school sports teacher (Fraser, in A Lesson in Love)
- Health care executive manager (Brad, in Calm & Bright)
- Investigative journalist (Daniel, in Imperfectly Proverbs 31)
- Carpenter and handyman (Ryan, in Midnight Clear)
- High school Welsh language teacher (Jonathan, in Dolce Vita)
- Artist (Beppe, in La Risposta)
- Retired multi-millionaire businessman (Giovanni, in Innamorata)
- Contractor and charity worker (Luke, in His Father’s Son)
- Wounded former Army medic (Adam, in His Healing Touch)
And that’s just in my own books! I hope I didn’t leave anyone out.
In the tri-author series Marion, Alexa, and I are writing together, we have a youth pastor/ photographer (Heath, in Remember Me), a champion snowboarder (Greg, in Love Me), and a police officer (Mateo, in Cherish Me). On their way in the series later this year (God willing), are a doctor, a contractor, and a pediatrician. Phew! And then we hope to add another six books to the series next year.
In between our Chapel Cove books, Alexa and I are also working on a new trilogy with some truly wonderful heroes. Alexa created them, so I can say that without being boastful! And these are very different heroes to my usual guys. Though it’s not romantic suspense, this trilogy has more than a touch of danger and mystery, so we have a security specialist, a scientist inventor, and a ranch owner. These guys are amazing! I totally love them.
But I truly do love all my heroes. When working on a story, the characters come to feel very real. Often, it’s hard to let them go and move on to the next book. One thing none of us are short of is story ideas. In fact we each have long line-ups of books waiting to be written! There are so many stories. So many heroes. So many jobs they could do.
But even more important that a hero’s occupation are his qualities and his flaws. No matter what job he does, I like for my heroes to be thoughtful, strong (even if in a very gentle way), protective, patient, kind, loving, faithful, and above all else, faith-filled! Okay, sometimes it may take till the end of the story for him to get there, but if he doesn’t have faith, he isn’t my hero.
And as I write my hero wish-list, it sounds very much like the list of the fruit of the Spirit:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
A man with all those? They’re a true hero, no matter how they look, no matter what they do, no matter what their age!
What are your favorite hero occupations? And what qualities must a story hero have to convince you he’s truly a worthy hero for the heroine? One commenter on the post by June 28th will be randomly chosen to win the choice of my single-author ebooks!
USA Today bestselling author Autumn Macarthur writes romances full of faith and hope, celebrating God's love as well as a man and a woman finding their happily ever after. She prays they’ll warm your heart and make you smile. An Australian transplanted to Britain, Autumn lives just north of London with her lovely English husband and three demanding cats, in a very small house with a teensy tiny garden. She loves talking to readers, so please get in touch! And get a free Christian romance novella when you sign up for her reader newsletter at http://bit.ly/Autumnsubscribe
I love a strong hero too, and of course faith filled is the most important quality. One with a sense of humor is always fun as well!
I am excited about your new adventure with Alexa!
All heroes are great who doesn’t love a great one. They make my day when they defeat the bad guys. ❤️
Hi Autumn! Thanks for your insightful blog into male characters – their occupations and their character strengths and flaws or weaknesses. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Find the list intriguing – especially the order. #1 – Faith is not stated in this list. #2 – Forbearance means patient self-control, restraint and tolerance. Wow – why is this trait referred to more than once. Peace, forbearance and gentleness, self-control. In today’s face paced, me, instant, I want it now and I want it my way society – something to ponder in our own life and in the lives of characters. Best wishes.
I like contractors, military, and fire fighters. They must be strong, kind, and have a good sense of humor.
You sure ran the gamut regarding occupations for heroes. I enjoyed reading the list and recalling each of their characters. Thanks for sharing the list.
I suppose a good hero occupation would be one where they use their expertise in part of the story. For example, Michael in Teapots & Tiaras took care of Anita’s blistered feet.
As for a “worthy hero”, his spiritual stance definitely plays a big part. I also feel that a good hero would impart self-control regarding physical affection. I don’t particularly care for it when a man reaches out to kiss someone when they still barely know each other.
On that same note, I also like it when a man sees that things are progressing too quickly, emotionally, and sets the tone by refraining from making a romantic move, even if the woman is hoping he will. There may be some disappointment on her side for the moment, but in the long run, the relationship is built on the right foundation. The kiss will eventually come. it always does. LOL
I love all of the things you mentioned!! I also don’t mind if they aren’t the handsomest, with the best body. It’s so rare that you’d find one of those that didn’t have the ego and arrogance to match!! Besides, those types are rare, anyway, except in books!! Lol!! I also don’t mind if the woman isn’t the most beautiful, for the same reason. Most of aren’t, and I like to read about people that could be me, or someone I know. To me, faith and their Christian walk are much more important than looks! Can’t wait to read the new trilogy, and go back to Chapel Cove!!
Awwww, thank you, Paula! :)
Thank you for your kind words, Autumn! I think Adam, James, and Alistaire are my favorite heroes from your books. And you already described a great hero well! I don’t think I could’ve done it better.
Trudy, thank you so much for all the support you’ve given the Chapel Cove Romances! And I couldn’t agree more. Faith is much important than looks. Thank you for a wonderful comment.
My favorite occupation would probably be firefighter and my favorite character trait would be his love and faith in God.
Thank you, Linda! I so agree about the favorite trait.
Oops, Paula, did I leave sense of humor out? Very important, and probably comes under joy in the fruit of the Spirit!
I’m excited about our new adventure too! A real change of pace for me.
:) That’s a real hero for sure, Brenda! Chances are you’ll enjoy our new Billionaire Protectors series. God willing, we’ll release them later this summer.
Wonderful comment, and so true, Renate. Forbearance is a quality that’s very much needed today and seems to be in short supply. I’m including myself in that too – I can be prone to “I want it my way and I want it now!” moments too.
Wonderful heroes, Lori! Real-life heroes who take risks every day like military and fire fighters and law enforecement are amazing! We have some fire fighter paramedics coming up in next year’s Chapel Cover line-up, God willing. I’m looking forward to writing these guys!
Thanks, Susan. :) I loved that scene where Matthew cares for Anita’s feet! That’s the whole hinge of the story, him lowering his pride and doing as the Lord did for His disciples.
And agreed about rushing to a kiss too soon. Resisting that when attraction is strong can require several of the fruit of the Spirit!
So true, Trudy! It’s not about looks, it’s about heart.
Marion is making wonderful progress with Book 4, so we’re hoping it won’t be too long before readers get back to Chapel Cove. :)
Thanks, Alexa! I’m looking forward to discovering what readers think of our three new heroes. :)
Excellent choices, Linda! Love and faith are so important. And firefighters are amazing real life heroes. We may have some firefighter heroes (and heroines!) on the way next year!
I like all sorts of heros but Doctors are one I really like, That can include anything in the medical field (actually it could be hero or heroine). I like physio’s, vets, paramedics, male nurses. The more unusual would be Childcare workers as in daycare (not sure if that’s what your call it).
I like heros who are humble, caring but can have an edge to them as we all have flaws.
Medical people make excellent characters, whether they’re hero or heroine, agreed, Jenny. Yes, you know I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where the main character works as a child care worker in Daycare. Nannies, yes, but I’m having problems coming up with a Daycare setting.
Characters have to be flawed, yes. Perfect characters = no real story.
Hi Autumn the local daycare centre had a male worker here and they actually had an article about him in the local paper when he left. He was moving to different place to work. It showed how much the children loved him and how they reacted to a male role model. Its not something we normally see but he was really loved by all the kids and the other carers. The daycare centre is next to the kindy (or what you may call pre school) mostly 4 year olds go to Kindergarten.
I like a hero who is kind, follows God, loves pthers, but isn’t too perfect. I want to feel like he is realistic and actually does things wrong sometimes, but then tries to right them after he realizes the error.
That’s wonderful, Jenny! Yes, I can imagine the little kids responding well to having a male role model there, especially the toddlers and three-year-olds.
Hi Melynda! Oh, yes, great point! Heroes can’t be perfect, because no one is! Recognizing he’s made mistakes, admitting it, and setting them right, that’s a true hero.
Hi Autumn, If I don’t like the hero, I usually don’t like the story. I’ve always believed in romances that it’s the hero who makes or breaks the story. I also like reading about hero’s who have unusual occupations and I like to see their faith journey, too. Whether that’s coming to faith or struggling in their faith or growing in their faith. Your new series sounds exciting! Thanks for sharing with us. :)
Agreed, Narelle! Such a good way to express it – the hero makes or breaks the story. And yes, the faith journey is way more important than his occupation.
Thanks for commenting!
I love this post! I completely second all the qualities on your list, Autumn! I love protective heroes, and some of my favorite hero occupations are police officer, firefighter, federal agent, and Navy SEAL, I’m also a sucker for heroes who are doctors or paramedics! I also love it when a hero is good with kids!
But most importantly (more important to me than his occupation!) he must be a faith filled man of God whose relationship with Jesus is the center point of his life and everything he does, and he should support and encourage the heroine in her walk with God, the last book I read was Toni Shiloh’s Risking Love and this description fits the hero, Shorty to a T! One of my very favorite lines was when he said this to the heroine, Nikki: “God’s got you, beautiful!” Ahh, it totally melted my heart. ?
Oh wow, Caitlyn! Now that’s a hero! I think I have that book of Toni’s, but I haven’t read it yet. Just bumped it up my TBR list. Thank you for recommending it. :)