Sorry for the delay. But here are the posts for yesterday and today! ~Haven

Choosing a favorite romance novel hero is a tough task, as there are so many worthy men to choose from. I think for all of us, we never forget the first time a book or character truly moved us, and those are the heroes we remember.

For me, I remember FitzRoger from Jo Beverley’s Dark Champion, a wonderful, heavy, juicy medieval. He was strong and dangerous and a was a firm and sometimes harsh leader, yet when it came to his relationship with the heroine – which was overflowing with complex, compelling conflicts - he showed his gentler side. He was also beautifully three dimensional, because he had a tortured past and suffered from claustrophia.

Another favorite hero is Devon St. Clair from The Windflower – a pirate, but also an English gentleman. The heroine is kidnapped onto the ship, and while he has the perfect opportunity to be very dastardly and steal her virtue (to put it mildly), he treats her with gentleness, compassion and a bewitching sense of humor. He is handsome and intelligent, and oh so charming.

Another favorite – Jo Beverley again. In Secrets of the Night, Brand Malloren was more real to me than any other hero I’ve read, and I could never put my finger on why and probably never will. He wasn’t the alpha male cliché, but he was strong in terms of his integrity and humanity.

Recently, I enjoyed St.Vincent from The Devil in Winter, by Lisa Kleypas, who grabbed me in the first scene with his “less than polite” response to the heroine’s request to marry her. He seemed so untouchable, which was what made the book so interesting to read. He had a long way to go to become the devoted husband. It hardly seemed possible that he could be transformed, but Kleypas is indeed a master.

A different Kleypas hero I have yet to read is Derek Craven, who I hear is to die for. I must get that book…

Finally, let’s talk about the Duke of Harndon from Mary Balogh’s Heartless. Again, here is a hero who does not want to surrender to love, and his reasons are credible, painful and deep-rooted, which is what makes up a strong, believable character. At the same time, despite all that pain in his past, and the intense, difficult emotions he deals with as the book unfolds, he is never, ever weak. He appears again in the follow-up novel, Silent Melody, and is again the formidable leader of the family. You can’t help but respect the man. (And I didn’t even get into the sheer deluge of sexy charisma.)

Tomorrow I’ll blog about some of my favorite romance films, and why I enjoy them, but in the meantime, share with me some of your favorite romance novel heroes. I might add them to my TBR pile.

Blog for December 29

I have so many favorite movies, it’s tough to narrow it down, and there’s no way I can cover all of them in one blog, so I’ll just scratch the surface.

Has anyone seen the pair of films, Before Sunrise and Before Sunset? I saw the first one years ago when it came out, and enjoyed it, but the second one really affected me. It’s not a typical movie. In fact, the whole thing takes place in real time, showing the couple’s conversations and romantic connection, which takes place while they’re walking around Paris killing time before Jesse (played by Ethan Hawke) has to catch a plane. It’s remarkably true to life and what it’s like to connect with someone so instantly, and it’s like being a fly on the wall of someone else’s conversation and romantic entanglement, and it really makes you think about the idea of soulmates.

Another great romance – Titanic. I love the part when Rose jumps out of the lifeboat and back onto the sinking ship, just for another chance to be with Jack, however briefly, and at whatever cost. Now that’s unstoppable passion. And that is truly what it’s like when you fall in love and everything feels right. It is all encompassing, and that’s what I try to achieve in every book I write. It’s that powerful, magical pull of your whole heart and soul and body. There’s nothing like it in the world, and it’s why I read romance.

Message in a Bottle – I love that movie. I love the wounded hero and the determined heroine who will do anything to find this man whose words moved her, when she found his letter in a bottle on a beach. I loved all the beautiful cinematography around the sailing, and watched the movie a few times while writing SURRENDER TO A SCOUNDREL, because my hero Martin sails a yacht. (There’s something about a man who knows how to sail that makes him oh, so attractive and capable. Pirate books anyone? Gotta love ‘em.)

Serendipity – again, I love the idea of soulmates, who are going to find each other somehow, someway, and in this film, I loved the perfect romantic ending when a tear runs down John Cusack’s cheek at the mere sight of Kate Beckinsale approaching, after he’s longed for her for so long. What a relief when they find each other at last. Definitely a happy sigh moment.

Lastly, The Notebook. It captures first love so beautifully, and again delves into the idea of soulmates – two people who are destined to be together. My favorite scene is the one on the beach in the waves, when Noah says, “If you’re a bird, I’m a bird.” Then the final credits begin with the flock of birds flying over the water. You get it… Sigh – soulmates.

So those are the ones that are at the forefront of my mind, but I know there are others. Care to contribute your favorites?