Have you ever read a book and fallen in love with the male lead? Waving my hand. I still sigh just thinking about Marcus O’Malley from Dee Henderson’s book The Guardian. But the thing that tripped me up is that same man would have driven me crazy in real life. Marcus was a bossy, alpha-male who expected everyone to do what he said. Okay, so he was a US Marshal and had a job to do, but still . . . LOL, if my husband was like that, neither of us would be happily married. But for some reason heroes in fiction can get away with this type of behavior, and we love them all the more for it.
I suppose it’s because we are able to get into their heads and see their loving intentions. To this day, I still adore Marcus. I was drawn to his strength, courage, tender heart, his desire to protect the heroine at all costs, his sense of justice, and most of all his values. Yet if he were real, he’d drive me nuts. J
This got me to thinking about the heroes in the books I write. What is it that draws me to write them the way that I do? What qualities are a must in a hero? I think the number one quality is he must have a good heart. Without that, he would be an epic fail for me. Secondly, he must put the heroine’s best interest ahead of his own—but that doesn’t mean she has to let him. Finally, all my heroes must adore the female lead, so that no matter what he says or how frustrating he might behave at times we will forgive him because we know he has a good heart and would never intentionally hurt the heroine.
In Island Hope Derrick is a widowed father of a fifteen-year-old girl. He loves his daughter and wants the best for her, but his daughter is determined to have her own way. I love that he sought out help from my heroine, Hope. A most unlikely source considering Hope was partly to blame for the problem he was having with his daughter, at least she was to his way of thinking.
I enjoyed Derrick’s strength of character, his perseverance, and his passion. What kind of characteristics do you enjoy in a book hero?
Award winning author Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing. She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance, romantic mystery, and romantic suspense that warms the heart and feeds the soul. Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.
I love a hero who is strong, yet not afraid to show his gentle and caring side. Also, a sense of humor, one who can laugh at himself, makes him even more loveable. Island Hope’s cover is beautiful, Kimberly!
Love that Jane Austen quote, Kimberly! So much, I’ll have to use it in my current story.
This story’s hero is a burned-out medical missionary, brusque, bossy, opinionated, appearing uncaring. It takes a long time for the heroine to see that he does have a tender heart, he just hides it well!
Your Derrick sounds lovely!
I like reading about a hero who has strong faith in God. A hero that has compassion and shows love and kindness to others, and a hero who can be depended on at all times is a good character to have in a story. I really enjoy your stories Kimberly Rose Johnson. :-)
I so enjoyed this book (and the rest of the series) :) I like heroes who could be real people, not the caricature of a real person — I need flaws (even ugly ones)–as long as he has a willingness to be remade as God works in his life.
I agree, Jill. strong and gentle are great characteristics. Thanks!
Thanks, Autumn. Our hero’s sometimes have their best qualities hidden and it takes the right woman to bring them out. :)
Thanks, Melissa. :)
Thanks, Elizabeth.:) I agree, it’s nice to see some flaws, though I do have a hard time looking past a flaw if it’s too big. It’s kind of funny though, I’m trying to think of a book where this was the case, and I can’t think of even one where I thought the hero was unlikable. Now heroines are a different story. LOL
I love a hero who is considerate, has a sense of humor, tolerates most of the heroine*s bad habits, loves the heroine, and wants to spend the rest of his life with her.
I like a hero that is sensitive but doesn’t make him appear less of a man because he’s shows strength and charisma.
Great qualities, Colleen.
A sense of humor is one I often forget about. Thanks for bringing that up.
I like heroes that are strong and protective (although not over-protective). They are kind and sensitive and have a great sense of humor. Your book looks and sounds great! I need to put it on my to-read list. Thanks for the fun post.
Great topic, as I write a hero who struggles with pride. Some flaws are easier for readers to empathize with than others, and I need to make sure this guy comes across well in the first few chapters so readers are willing to go the distance with him!
Reading romance is a way to escape the imperfect realities of the everyday world we live in. I connect with characters that are imperfect, but believable with intrigity.
Hi, Winnie. I like your kind of hero. :)
That’s one of the big challenges in writing, Valerie. Finding the balance between flawed and someone we want to cheer on.
I agree, Renate. I use fiction as a way of escape too. :)
Hmm, good question!
I think a hero who makes his sweetheart feel cherished and precious is one who resonates strongly for me. So many heroes are written as strong (physically, mentally and/or emotionally) which is so swoon-worthy. But simply cherishing… that is the winner for me.
Sigh.
Oh yeah, and having integrity. And…
It’s funny you should mention Marcus O’Malley because I am presently reading The Guardian by Dee Henderson for maybe the fifth time. Loyalty is the characteristic that stands out to me as being a necessary quality in a hero. That’s why I too fell in love with Marcus, he is loyal.
The other male hero that I fell in love with is Malachi, from Carol Moncado’s Hand Me Down Princess. His loyalty to Jessabelle from the beginning hooked me. When he chose to see her as beautiful and to protect her even when she wasn’t the supermodel, that’s a hero. He chose to be loyal to her alone. I love that in Hero.
What a thoughtful post. I’m also one of those who loves to write alpha males. I’m married to one, and he often drives me crazy for just the reasons I’m attracted to the heroes I write. I think the difference is I can see the “gentle giant’s” head and heart in my writing and I’m not always so sensitive when it comes to my hubby. It’s a good reminder for me to look at his heart behind the actions.
I agree, Narelle, when a hero cherishes the heroine, it takes the story to a new level.
Loyalty is a great quality.:)
Well said, Deb. It’s the heart behind the actions.:)
Some of us are happily married to alpha males. There is someone for everyone. I love a strong yet gentle hero.
You are absolutely right mylittlegrayhome. Isn’t it wonderful how we all appreciate different qualities? That’s one of the things that makes life so interesting. If we were all the same, and we all liked the same characteristics it would be so boring. :) one of my sons is an alpha male too.
I think exactly the three things you mentioned..although I never would have been able to pinpoint them myself.
I like a hero who is strong and confident yet also knows when to be gentle and how to be a gentleman. A hero who loves the heroine unconditionally and sacrificially absolutely melts my heart. It drives me crazy in books where the female character treats the male as if he’s wrong to want to protect her. I like knowing my husband’s got my back. Not only that I think that desire to protect is a God given and driven desire.
Great thoughts, Juliejobe. I agree. :)
I congratulate all authors! If it were up to me to create new people and new personalities for every story; I’d fail miserably. I love books and I LOVE to read so I’m glad God made writers!
The Dee Henderson series you mentioned have been my top favorites for years!
Thanks, Chelle! That series has been my favorite since it released. I still have the books sitting on my bookshelf. :)