Monday, September 10, 2012

I like my men “hot” and vulnerable


by Starla Kaye

I admit that there are plenty of everyday men who make great everyday heroes. I’m even married to one of them, what he refers to as “just another boring accountant.” But he is so much more than that. Still, even though he likes to tell everyone that he is the model for the heroes I write about, he really isn’t. I write fiction, stories in which my readers and I escape from reality. Stories where I create men that can excite and stimulate and …well, you understand.

Ian, my Scottish hunk of a hero, was going through that typical “I just turned forty, Oh My God!” moment in Maggie’sSecret Wish. He was floundering, questioning what he was doing with his life and what he really wanted to do. (Something many of us, myself included, have faced in our lives.) His life wasn’t awful as an erotica writer and as a professional Dom. But he wanted more. There had been a time when he’d hoped to one day settle down with a woman and have a family. After his years of living with his quirks, he didn’t think he was suitable husband material. He is depressed about his future and certain the one-night-stand arrangement he’d reluctantly agreed to couldn’t work out well. Yes, he could satisfy Maggie’s secret wish, but other than that… She deserved a better man than he.

In Starting Over, I had two strong, yet vulnerable heroes. Corbin is now divorced after many years of trying to make a marriage work, one that really never had a chance. Now he is struggling to begin a new chapter in his life, get back into the dating game…as a gay man this time. He is scared to death; especially about going through with a one-night-stand arrangement his ex-wife had more or less pushed him into. Matt is dealing with the pain of losing the man he’d been certain was his mate for life. His family had written him off years ago when he’d admitted to being gay. He’d searched for someone who love him and whom he could trust with his love, finding it with Henri. Now he goes home alone, has no one to share things with. Loneliness clawing at him, he decides to take a chance at finding a man much like himself…even if only for one night.

The CEO AndThe Cowboy also involves two very special, “hot,” and vulnerable heroes. Calhoun has just witnessed the wedding of the woman he’d been engaged to for five years and never could walk down the aisle with. He has had a secret longing that he has never acknowledged and is still afraid to embrace. He meets a friend of his ex’s husband at the wedding, a striking man with a sexually enticing scrutiny. The man unnerves him even as he arouses him. Daniel is immediately drawn to the ruggedly handsome cowboy, his “hot guy” inner warning system going crazy. But he’s not really on the hunt for a new man in his life. He’s still dealing with the hurt and betrayal of his last lover.

Do you have a favorite “hot” hero that haunts you with moments of “if only”? Share at least his name in a comment and take a chance at being the one lucky commenter to win a Surprise gift. The winner will be chosen September 12, but the gift won’t be sent until after September 27 (when I get back from vacationing in France).

20 comments:

  1. My husband tells people he's the cover model for my books. Ha ha - on the floor laughing hard at that!
    A favorite hot hero? I don't think I could choose. Of my books, it would have to be Charlie in Strangers - who's just perfectly flawed. In others books - well I like the regency romance heroes who conform in private but are bad boys at heart. So Julia Quinn's Bridgertons fit.I also like Jenna Black's minor character Adam - who's a Dom I'd like to be tamed by BUT I don't want to be whipped thank you very much. Oh and Vaughn in Unsticky by Sarra Manning. Darn it, no way can I choose, I'd love to spend a few days, weeks, years with any of them. No whip though1

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  2. Barbara, thanks for stopping by and commenting. I wonder what the percentage would be of romance writers whose husbands think or tell people they're the muses or models for their books. (even just teasing).

    You named some great heroes and I enjoy Julia Quinn's books, too.

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  3. Favourite? No – could never pick one. Any hero who has inspired me to pick up his book more than once makes it onto my shortlist though!

    I also like hot men in my books, but don’t usually enjoy it if there’s massive difference between the hero and heroine. I don’t like it when an author pairs a male supermodel with a plain woman who’s never attracted a man before – and then gives us no explanation WHY he has fallen in love with her at first sight. That’s taking the fantasy too far for me!

    By the way, I just finished “Cowboys in Charge” and really enjoyed it!

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    1. Basia Rose, thanks for leaving a comment. I know what you mean, it is hard to pick just one hero. If a book is well written, I tend to fall in love all of the heroes.

      I'm glad you enjoyed Cowboys in Charge. I do love my cowboys and I've got more coming!!!

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  4. I love heroes in books. Just about any also. I do have favs depending on the genre. In historical or regency, I love the rogue that is just looking for the good time and the women turns his world upside down. In contempory romance I love the guy that is trying hard not to fall in love and just looking for a good time, and then that women comes along and he falls for her, but she resists and is not looking. How much harder he tries to get her is the best part of the story. In paranormal, I love the guy that fights for what he cares about, the love & fighter character. I like them strong, a definate alpha male. I like all my males have that alpha character. My ultimate hero is Joe Manganiello-Alcide from True Blood/Sookie Stackhouse books. I use him for my wolf/alpha male characters when I read. That is who I picture when I read books for certain characters.
    This is a new author for me, but love the 1Night Stand series. I am also a huge fan of Julia Quinn, she made me fall in love with many Bridgerton men. Thanks for the giveaway.
    christinebails@yahoo.com

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    1. Chrisballs, thanks for leaving a comment. If you haven't read any of my stories, I hope you will at some point. Maybe you'll get lucky and win a copy of one of my Decadent books. And, yes, the 1 Night Stand series is wonderful.

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  5. Curran from the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. He's lion shifter. Besides being alpha and sexy, he totally understands and supports his lady. So, even though the sex in the series has been pretty PG13, he's my hot hero.

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    1. Anne, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I'm going to have to read that series.

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  6. Since I tend to write about hunky aliens, I don't think anyone truly inspires them, though my DH is always willing to help me work through a scene. ;)

    As for my fav "if only" heroes, it would be Daemon in Jennifer L. Armentrout's Lux series. Though I would have to be much younger. And in my own books, I would say Galan and Volan from Satin Sheets in Space.

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    1. Jessica, thanks for stopping by today. Yes, DHs always seem to want to "help" work through certain scenes.

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  7. HA! @Barb Elsborg--people as me ALL THE TIME if that's my husband on the Decadent Publishing logo.
    I say,"Yes, but that was back when he was out of shape." :)~

    I do love the Bridgerton's, some of my favorites of all times. And Lorelei James' McCays give you a new appreciation for ropin'. Samantha Kane's historical menage series has some fantastic vulnerable-yet-heroic types, AND burn-the-pages-up love scenes. Of course, any Kenyon hero has his wounded heart covered by a double bow and arrow.

    As far as Decadent books, the list is long and delicious. :)

    Heather Bennett

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    1. Heather, thanks for stopping by to comment. Husbands are such "fun". My husband could have modeled for that logo...about 30 years ago.

      I understand, there are a lot of great heroes among the Decadent books.

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  8. Gosh, this is such a difficult decision. But I think I'm going to choose Jacob from the Vampire Queen series books 1 & 2 by Joey W Hill. Jacob is delicious! And a sexy frenchman for me would be fantastic, thank you. :)
    luvfuzzzeeefaces at yahoo dot com

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    1. Julianne, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. This is another series I will have to check out, thanks.

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  9. Mmmm, if I had to choose it would be Wyatt in A Tall Dark Cowboy by Mackenzie McKade. He might not fight fires or take down bad guys but to Lacy he's a hero. Whether it's showing up when her car won't start or lending a shoulder to cry on, Wyatt is always there! I feel in love with this book last year and still can't stop talking about lol. Thanks for the giveaway and enjoy Japan!

    Heather
    chamblinh@gmail.com

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    1. Heather, thanks for stopping by. Here is yet another book and hero I will need to check out. I'm really enjoying learning about all of these interesting heroes.

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  10. Hard to pick just one! Gotta go with Bones from Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series. A smokin' hot vampire with a British/Australian accent. He can kick as but is very upfront with his emotions and feelings.

    Have a wonderful vacation!

    ehaney578 at AOL dot com

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    1. Elizabeth, thanks for commenting. A smokin' hot vampire with a British/Australian accent, hmmm. Sounds interesting.

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  11. I have so many favorites. I dont think i could choose one. I fall in love with nearly every hero i read. So everyday my answer would change. :D Thanks for sharing! Your books sound awesome! Thank you for the chance to win!
    shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Shadow, I totally understand the problem with choosing a favorite hero. There are so many.

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