Okay, I’ll admit it -- I have a “type.” You can probably tell from my tall jock of a husband and from the leading men that always find their way into my books. What can I say, I just fancy a certain kind of hero. Tall, handsome and respectful -- it’s hard for any girl to resist that combination, isn’t it?!
While I was creating Reeve Wilder, (my newest guy who you’ll get to know in Tiffany Girl) I noticed that my male heroes tend to share a few qualities, like these:
They’re Alpha Males
Ohhhh how I love a good Alpha Male! Alpha Males are masculine, strong, driven, and oh-so-irresistible. They like to be in control and always want to appear like they have it all together. An Alpha Male hero tends to take himself way too seriously, so it’s great fun when the heroine asserts herself or teases him. As much as the alpha male hates that, he can’t help but secretly respect her gumption—which is what ultimately draws him to her.
They’re Respectful
My heroes MUST be respectful, especially with women. They’re the kind of guys you’d see helping a little old lady across the street or picking up a glove that someone dropped on the sidewalk. Some people might say chivalry is dead, but not in my book. I love that my man still opens my car door for me—every single time. And our son opens doors and pulls out chairs when he’s out on dates. Is that so sweet? Gotta love it.
They’re Handsome
I know, I know, looks aren’t everything! But my smart and strong heroines need equally good looking men to fall in love with, so my heroes are almost always that classic combo: tall, dark and handsome. I’m a sucker for a guy who has to duck to get through the doorway. Good thing I married one!
They're Flawed
My heroes absolutely must have a flaw or two. That’s what makes stories interesting, I think—watching how the characters overcome their own worst enemy … themselves!
So there you have it: the top traits of the men I love to write (and read) about. Are yours any different? You can share the things you love about the literary heroes and heartthrobs in your favorite books with me on Twitter or on my Facebook page. I can’t wait to hear whether you go for the tall, dark and handsome type too!