Sunday, August 12, 2012

Hot Summer Heroes Blog Hop - Heroes Who Make Me Melt




Heroes Who Make Me Melt


My favorite heroes--the ones who make me melt--are kind, caring, and protective. Alphas, but not overbearing. Cocky, but able to laugh at themselves. They care about the people around them, to the point of making serious sacrifices, even of the things they most want or even need. They cherish their mates, their families, their friends. And they're not afraid, in the end, of being vulnerable to the ones they love.


I swoon over heroes who are highly intelligent, quick on their feet, and ready for any challenge. They must stand up to injustice when they encounter it and have a moral code they live by--even if they live outside the law or bend the rules at times. They also must have a strong passion that guides them--some desire or goal that they're willing to move mountains to achieve.


I tried to imbue the heroes of my romantic suspense series, "Blood and Honor," with these same qualities. Even though all of these men are involved in the Mafia, they have lines they won't cross, injustices they won't abide, and loved ones they'll put their lives on the line for, time and again. They may be anti-heroes, or dark heroes, but to the women and families they love, they're the heroes they need, their bulwarks against foes who have no boundaries.


For example, in Revenge (Blood and Honor, #1), Enrico Lucchesi may be a Mafia don, but he doesn't hesitate to get involved when Kate Andretti needs help escaping her abusive Mafia husband--even though helping Kate risks restarting the long-standing feud between the Lucchesi and Andretti families. Enrico isn't the sort of man who can stand by and watch a woman be abused and threatened with death if she won't "behave." Soon, sparks fly between Enrico and Kate, and she learns that she may not want to leave the Mafia after all... but the Andretti family will do anything to exact vengeance on the woman who dared defy them and on the man who chose to break the code of the Mafia and help her.


Want to know what happens next? You can find Revenge at these retailers: Amazon US (Kindle), Amazon UK (Kindle), Barnes & Noble (Nook), Apple, Sony, Kobo, Smashwords, and Diesel. If you prefer print, Revenge is also on Amazon (paperback).






Here are some of my other favorite romance novel heroes: Zsadist, in J.R. Ward's Lover Awakened; Jonathan, in Delilah Marvelle's Once Upon a Scandal; Mac in Joey W. Hill's Natural Law; Rehvenge in J.R. Ward's Lover Avenged (I love nearly all of Ward's heroes!); Eidolon in Larissa Ione's Pleasure Unbound; Ares in Larissa Ione's Eternal Rider (come to think of it, I love nearly all of Larissa Ione's heroes too!)


Who are your favorite heroes? What about them makes you melt?


Prize Giveaway!


To thank you for visiting my blog and participating in the Hot Summer Heroes blog hop, I'm giving away a $10 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble (winner's choice)! To win, you must post a comment with your name and email address. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Grand Prize!


In addition to the giveaway at each blog, one commenter from the tour will win a $100 gift card to Barnes & Noble!


Many thanks to Bella Media Management, H.D. Thomson, and Caris Roane for organizing this blog hop.

86 comments:

  1. Hero's that make ((me)) melt R I'll give my life 4 U & Love U 4ever!! Within a heartbeat..((sigh))!
    thanQ 4 the lovely giveaway:)
    redz041@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Ruby, for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  2. A hot hero to me knows his job and does it well but doesnt know his heart until is smacks him in the face. thanks
    hollybwrightatcomcastdotnet

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's a good one, Holly. I love those guys too. Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  3. I totally go for the protective Alpha males. Can't help it. Gotta love a man that protects his lady. :)

    imsocool(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I completely agree, Melissa! Those are definitely the guys that make me all swoony. Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  4. I love the Alpha military heroes, but with a touch of softheartiness behind the toughness!
    modularmates(at)comcast(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do too. Have you tried Trish McCallan's "Forged in Fire"? Hot Navy SEALs... need I say more? :) Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
    2. Yes-- they are great! Cindy Gerald's bodyguard series is also a fun quick read

      Delete
  5. I really like alpha males, especially military ones. Just read The Guardian by Catherine Mann and loved it.
    laurathomas61@att.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ooh, thanks for the recommendation, Laura! I've been wanting to try Catherine Mann, so that's the one I'll start with. Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  6. I love shifter Alphas (well, just Curran).
    strideress_longshanks@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Midu, there are a lot of hot shifters out there. I fell in love with Richard in the Anita Blake books. Hot!!! Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  7. I love alpha men. Thanks for the great giveaway!

    kelsey (kesummer69 at gmail dot com)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kelsey! Don't we all??? LOL Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  8. My hero is someone hot, but kind, smart, brave, and loyal. Someone that makes you feel treasured and loved and would die for you.

    jennirv4967 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jenn! I *so* agree. That's the kind of hero I always try to write. Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  9. I love a quietly intelligent, kind, witty, loyal, sensual hero.

    Trix, vitajex(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ooh, great points, Trix! I especially love smart guys. I guess that's the nerd in me, but if a guy doesn't have it going on upstairs, it doesn't matter how cute he is!

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  10. Thank you for the amazing givaway!

    justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Chelsea, for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  11. my kind of hero is smart, has a sense of humor, a fair ammount of cheek and knows how to protect his own

    parisfan_ca@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Laurie! Yep, funny, smart, and protective are all definite musts. Cheeky is a nice bonus! :)

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  12. A hero is hot when he's got that tender heart on the inside (the one where it's completely obvious to everyone but him that he's in love and wants to be loved in return) but on the outside he's Alpha and strong, kind of a bad ass attitude sort-of look. :)

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    molly at reviewsbymolly dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Molly! Oh yeah, the bad boy with the mushy center! It's always awesome to see them finally take the risk of being vulnerable. Always makes me go "awwww."

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  13. A hot hero to me is one that is rough around the edges but has a heart of gold (sometimes deeply buried but its there). Also a fierce protectiveness with those he cares about.

    vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi BLHMistress! I agree. Those guys are great. One of my favorites is Z from J.R. Ward's "Lover Awakened." I never thought I'd love that character, but that's my favorite book in the series. I cry every time I read it.

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  14. Woohoo! Loving this hop! All those HOT sexy hero's to drool over!
    A hero is HOT when he’s an alpha; (shifter, human, vamp or other paranormal) tall, handsome, sexy, with a sense of humor, loyal, and a BAD ASS! He doesn’t want anyone to know that he is soft on the inside, especially for his woman.
    <^_^>
    Thanks for being part of the hop and for the chance to win.
    reneebennett35(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Renee! Ooh, you've just described the ideal man! :)

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  15. For me what makes a hero hot is he has to be an alpha male, strong, powerful, confident, but at the same time has a tender side to him, is passionate and shows loyalty to the people around him. Oh and he has to look gorgeous. :)

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    redfirewood888(AT)yahoo(DOT)ca

    Ollie aka DarkBloodyVamp

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Ollie! You've brought up another great quality: loyalty. I think this goes hand in hand with integrity. A guy who's loyal isn't a cheater. He's a one-woman man--when he meets the right woman.

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  16. My Hero is a strong alpha who also has a gentle side that you have to find. And when you do bam. You have a Hero.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Exactly. Exactly that. :)

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  17. I love a hero who embraces his feelings and does the chasing. And muscles. Lots of muscles :) Thanks for doing this giveaway!
    ~Krista
    pinkbonanza{ AT }gmail{ DOT }com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Krista,

      Sounds like you might like Enrico in my first book. He has to chase after Kate, because she's determined not to be caught. But of course she succumbs to his charms... eventually. ;)

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  18. My ideal hero is someone that is more dominate! I like a guy that knows how to take charge! I love Cabal from Lora Leigh’s series Breeds.

    Thank you for the giveaway!

    jessharrison78@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jess,

      Thanks for another recommendation! I'll have to check that series out.

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  19. My favorite TV heroes are Sam and Dean from Supernatural.I also love all of the brothers from JR Ward's black dagger brotherhood. Those dudes are seriously hot!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Monique,

      Ooh, we could so be friends! Supernatural is my very favorite show! I'm a Dean girl. (Heck, I loved Jensen on Dark Angel too.) And I love the BDB books, especially Rhage's, Z's, Rehv's, John Matthew's, and Tohr's. Oh, and Butch's too. Hmm... I guess I love them all really!

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  20. I love the flawed hero's that have humor, power, having some tattoo's and a accent is also a plus. Thx for giveaway.

    blinkysthebest at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lona,

      Accents... *melt* Is it any wonder I write about hot Italian guys???

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  21. My favorite heros are typically alphas. Intelligent, has a sense of humor, protective, willing to do just about anything for those he loves. Compassionate, trustworthy.

    Christine S
    cms72023(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Christine,

      You've listed my perfect man. :)

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  22. A hot hero is strong in mind and body, that has strength as well as compassion..

    ronnkelly3(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Ronnkelly,

      Very true. I don't like guys that are jerks. Truly confident guys are understanding and kind.

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  23. Hi Kim,

    I also love heroes who aren't afraid to be romantic. In my first book, Revenge, Enrico really goes all out to prove himself to Kate, and he's not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve. She's the one who's afraid to be open and trusting. I liked having a reversal like that. One of the most romantic heroes I've ever read was in Delilah Marvelle's "Once Upon a Scandal," where the hero, Jonathan, isn't afraid to declare himself.

    But the reverse (the guy who really is bound and determined to hide his feelings) can be amazing too when he finally fesses up!

    Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi Ashley,

    Yep, those bad boys who've got soft sides to them are great. It's always a nice surprise when that side comes out. And well, if they look like Ian Somerhalder, that's even nicer! ;)

    Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi Carol,

    I love that kind of guy too. I'm going to check that series out!

    Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Gimmie a take charge alpha and that's my kind of hero! Thanks for the chance to win :) raynman1979 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Rissa! I love those heroes too (as long as they're not obnoxious).

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  27. I've read your book Revenge. I don't usually read books with the protagonist as an anti-hero (I prefer them on TV shows or movies) and reality based settings but Enrico is definitely heroic.

    Some of my favorite heroes: Zarek from Dance with the Devil (tough exterior w/ a kind heart) and Shaheen from Kismet (commanding and protective)

    bituin76 AT hotmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jan! I'm glad you liked Revenge and Enrico. I was trying to do a different take on a hero, and I'm glad that most readers are enjoying him.

      Thanks for the book recommendations! I always loving hearing about great books. (My TBR pile is a mile high!)

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  28. A hero is someone that knows what to do when it gets tough! I like when they are somewhat protective and gorgeous…of course!
    Lucan rom Kiss of Midnight is my absolute favorite hero… and a vampire to boot! SO SEXY!
    Thanks so much!!
    donnasing777@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Donna! How funny -- that book is next on my TBR list!

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  29. thanks for the contest, i would say my hero would be someone like butch from BDB lol i just him hehe so yea that would be what my hero would be like like him

    pademe_lee@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Tammy! Butch is one of my faves from the BDB books. (Well, I pretty much love *all* the BDB guys, but I do have a real soft spot for Butch.)

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  30. A perfect hero needs to be fearless, sensitive and confident.
    Thanks a lot for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. by.evie at yahoo dot com dot br

      Delete
    2. All good qualities, Evie. Sensitivity is important--or else the confidence can get to be too much. :)

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  31. Roarke. I love him, strong, sexy, caring and completely capable of holding his own or stepping back when needed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Donna. Roarke is a good one. I also like the air of mystery about him.

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  32. I like a hero that is intelligent, confident, and has a sense of humor. One that is also respectful and caring.
    June
    manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi June! I think you've just described everyone's dream man. :)

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest!

      Delete
  33. Tall, strong and kind is my type of hero.
    magic5905 at embarqmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Joy. *sigh* Mine too.

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  34. My hot hero is an alpha man who enjoys the small things in life. And has a good sense of humor.
    mel
    bournmelissa at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Mel, those are good qualities too, and I think often overlooked. :)

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest!

      Delete
  35. My favorite hero is tall, dark, blue-eyed and has a great sense of humor.

    Dovile

    spamscape [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Dovile. You're making me think David Gandy, the inspiration for my hero Enrico. *big sigh*

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  36. I can't name any favorite heroes specifically because that would be a very, very long post, lol. But I do love my military heroes. They have a lot of the character traits we usually love in our heroes, and my personal favorite - tattoos. I love a tatted hero.

    Thank you for the giveaway!

    msromanticreads at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Michelle,

      My list would be forever long too! One of my recent favorite military heroes is Zane in Trish McCallan's "Forged in Fire." Hot!

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  37. Thank you for the giveaway
    Rose
    roseannh95(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Rose! Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  38. I love heroes who are strong, loyal, trustworthy, and most of all, funny! Thanks for the giveaway :)
    laceyblossom1(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lacey! I love a guy who cracks me up. In Kristine Cayne's "Deadly Obsession" and "Deadly Addiction," I just loved how all the guys joked around with each other. I really fell for Remi ( the hero of the second book, but intro'd in the first) because he had me in stitches from the start.

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  39. I love my heroes strong, smart, with a sense of humor, who believes his lover is the missing part of his heart.

    Cathy m
    Caity_mack@yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Cathy! Aww... that was so romantic, how you put that!

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  40. I love the alpha hero that is strong and compassionate.

    mythic021@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  41. My favorite hero is tall, dark, strong, smart, and confident

    s2s2 at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Susan,

      LOL--we sure do like them tall, dark, and handsome around here, don't we? :)

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  42. I love the ultra-protective nature of heroes. Thanks so much for the giveaway!

    Laura
    BookcaseLaura (at) gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Laura,

      Me too. I love that too. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  43. I like my heroes Alpha, protective, intelligent, amusing, damaged and redeemable! I love Terrible from Stacia Kane's Downside Ghosts series, Atticus from Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid series, Severn from Michelle Sagara’s Chronicles of Elantra series and Curran from the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews.
    Thanks for the amazing giveaway!

    elizabeth @ bookattict . com
    GFC: BookAttict

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Elizabeth! Ooh, thanks for all the recommendations! I just read a book of writing advice by Stacia Kane this week, and was planning to check out her books, so thanks for giving me a place to start!

      Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete
  44. thanks for the contest.
    r.d1@myfairpoint.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Renald! Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :)

      Delete