I know we’re not supposed to play favorites, but sometimes I just can’t help myself. 🙂 So I have to confess, I have a favorite hero that I’ve written. He is Sir Geoffrey Longford, hero of my medieval trilogy, Time Enough to Love.
Sir Geoffrey is a knight at the court of King Edward III of England in the year of Our Lord 1348. He has fought for the king for 10 years, since the age of 18, and is an excellent warrior. He’s recently been betrothed to a girl he’s never met, but whom he intends to woo because he likes her and wants her to like him in return before they marry.
I love Geoffrey because he’s the perfect hero–a strong, skilled, loyal warrior with a soft, passionate side. He wants his marriage to be more than just an arrangement–especially after he meets Alyce. And he’s willing to change in order to make this happen.
I’ve been thinking about Geoffrey a lot recently because I’ve been revising the first book, Betrothal, and he looms large in the book, in several ways. I think of him as a “gentle giant,” and his description in chapter one will give you an idea of the “giant” part:
Alyse (the heroine) sees him across the Great Hall:
Though she could not judge the stranger’s features, his sheer size was appalling. Beside Thomas Knowlton, who was not a small man, this newcomer seemed massive, dangerous.
And moments later, when he stands before the king, only a few feet from her:
The broadest shoulders she had ever seen tapered to an impossibly narrow waist and hips; she was amazed they could support such a torso.
As Sir Geoffrey knelt before the king, suddenly dark chestnut hair, cropped close to his head, came into view. It framed a face ruggedly handsome with surprisingly intelligent eyes, long aquiline nose, and a strong, square jaw. His mouth was generous, as she had seen across the room, with firm red lips now curled upward in an easy smile. Attired in a rich, dark blue damask coathardie, Geoffrey Longford might have been any woman’s ideal.
The “gentle” part becomes apparent throughout Betrothal, though he is given to jealous fits at times. To me, he is the perfect Knight In Shining Armor (literally).
Now, why don’t you tell me about your favorite hero? Decide which of your heroes you’d like to introduce everyone to, and choose a snippet about this character (preferably no more than 200 words) to share about him. (A snippet from your manuscript would be awesome, but if you’re not comfortable with that, you can choose to do a character sketch–something to show us your character and writing.) And if you’re not an author or just can’t decide, tell me about a favorite hero you’ve read. Can’t wait to see you playing favorites!
Jenna Jaxon Romance--because passion is timeless. 
My male character who’s always been #1 in my heart is Maxwell Stanley Seward, Jr., of my Atlantic City books. I created him when he was only 11 years old (later went back to write a short prequel series when he and his friends were even younger), have taken him into his early senior citizen years to date, and literally grew up with him. I loved him so much I decided to make him and his unusual family the stars of their own spin-off series.
He’s a bit of a cocky playboy and womanizer, and expresses some chauvinistic attitudes, but deep down he’s a big softy, with a big heart, and devoted to his first and only real love, Alexandria Kate Scots (Al), even when he’s putting her heart through the wringer by some of his immature behavior. He’s a huge fan of the classic comedians of his era (as am I), and idolizes Groucho Marx in particular. After the devastating loss of his cousin in 1956, he steps up and helps to raise her young daughter Mary Julia, and later comes to Mary Julia’s rescue when her rather distant father Jules tosses her out of the house because of her out of wedlock pregnancy. He and not Jules walks her down the aisle at her wedding a few months later. Right now, in 1998, he’s fighting to protect his cousin’s memory from a horrible act of desecration by her villainous son Luke.
Here’s a typical Max scene from June of 1942. He’s going to get in quite a bit of trouble for this, but he sure has fun along the way, including his father’s resulting public humiliation when he goes to the beach to confront Max! (I haven’t done that much work on editing this since converting and reformatting my older files last year, so this probably won’t be the final version.)
Max was stoked about the delay in vacation plans. He had gotten up at six that morning and unlocked the boathouse to get out Bambi’s cruising yacht. He then went into the garage for his favorite of his father’s cars, a shiny red Duesenberg made during the car company’s final year of production, 1937. Full well knowing what would happen to him if he put so much as even a scratch on that car, Max hooked up the yacht to the back of the Duesenberg. He then climbed into the car, started it up, and drove it down the hill and the grassy parts of the path to the beach. He had promised to take Nan out yachting today, and she wasn’t about to be disappointed. Al was fuming over the affair, but he hadn’t gotten enough of it at home and now was going elsewhere, even though he knew it would take quite a bit of work to get Nan to give it up.
“I’ve been waiting the last hour for you to get here, Maxie!”
“Someone’s an eager beaver. Help me push it out into the water, then climb aboard.”
“You certainly dressed the part of the sailor today, darling.”
“Yep, I did. And you even wore a two-piece bathing suit!” His blue eyes danced as he took in Nan’s body, ignoring the fact that she still didn’t have a very prominent bustline.
“My folks think I left the house wearing this.” She spilled out the contents of her flowered denim beach bag, revealing a hot stuffy dress. “Not even ever-modest Sparky would go around in the Summer wearing somethin’ like that!”
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I’m not sure I have a permanent favorite, but right now I like Huntley a lot. This scene takes place right when they are being forced into marriage.
His cousin nodded. “I must. There is no choice. Lady Berkley heard what I told your marquis, and she will spread it to all her friends. Some of them are bound to have seen Lady Caro.”
Myriad thoughts ran through his mind, chief of which was what his father would say about this harem scarem marriage. But Caro’s fears beat down thoughts of the old man. “Give us a few minutes, if you would.”
Everard went to the door. “I’ll be right outside. Huntley, I need to have a few words in private with you.”
Caro’s face was still pale when she gazed up at him. Tears glistened, and her beautiful turquoise eyes darkened. She shook her head. “You can’t marry me. It would be a disaster for you.”
His jaw clenched. Now was not the time for her to turn missish. “I must. It’s the only way I can protect you, your reputation and mine.”
She closed her eyes, and her voice shook. “Huntley, you don’t understand. You’ll need an heir, and I—I can’t do…”
He dropped to one knee next to her and took her cold fluttering hands in his. “Other than marry me, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. I will never, never force you.”
Lord, he wanted to take her in his arms, but he made himself be content with her hands.
She shook her head slowly back and forth. “You need an heir.”
He forced himself to smile. “I have a younger brother.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks and a great sob wracked her body. “Oh, it’s impossible. I have no reputation to protect, I’m—I’m not a virgin.”
He took out his handkerchief and dabbed her cheeks, “But no one knows, so you do have a name to worry about.”
Now he knew what had happened. Some blackguard had raped her. Rage for her burbled up inside and he pushed it back down. The time to avenge her was later. Now he needed to safeguard her as best as he could. “That’s not important. Caro look at me.”
When she met his gaze, the pain in them broke his heart. “The only thing that matters to me is to keep you safe, from Italian marquises and from Polite Society. We’ll work the rest out in our own way.”
“But you don’t want to marry.”
Huntley tried to keep his countenance neutral. “It wasn’t what I’d planned, but must needs.”
She sobbed and closed her eyes. “I really have no choice do I?”
Her voice was so small his throat ached.
“No. Neither of us does. But we were both raised to do what is necessary, my lady.” He prayed that the reminder of her breeding would overcome her dread.
Caro swallowed and nodded.
Once she had herself under control, he stood. “Give me a moment. There’s one last thing.”
He went to a small desk between the windows. Pulling out a drawer, he found paper, ink and a pen that needed sharpening. After he’d trimmed it, Huntley started to write.
Caro came up behind him. “What are you doing?”
“Drafting our marriage settlements. I have some funds of my own and a house. I cannot, of course, commit my father, but I can make provisions for you from what I have and enable you to keep your property.”
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This sounds delicious, Ella. Cannot wait to read more! And I see your attraction to Huntley. Heroes do what they must, damn the torpedoes. Plus he seems to have feelings for her. Maybe the good guy will finish first? 🙂 Thanks for coming by!
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Jenna, I don’t know Geoffry but I would love to get to know him on a more intimate level–by reading his story. And 1348–a year after the Great Plague, lol.
My favorite hero is Mel the hero of my debut novel, Love’s Prophecy.
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It’s actually the year the Black Plague swept Europe. I’ve dubbed Time Enough to Love as “Romeo & Juliet meet the Bubonic Plague with a happy ending.” LOL I’m hoping you’ll be able to read the whole story by the end of the summer. 🙂
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It’s late and I didn’t bring a favourite but Sir Geoffrey up there in that photo – looking mighty fine!
Didn’t realize they had cameras in the middle ages.
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Amazing what you can find out from Wikipedia! LOL Thanks for coming by, Daryl!
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Oh, these are fantastic!
This is something brand new, not even titled yet…
He sat on the edge of the bed and let his hands hang between his knees. “Eden, this isn’t helping. It’s not going to bring him back.”
“I just want to sleep.”
He fought his building frustration and edged around on his hip so he faced her back. “I know you’re hurting. You think I don’t know that? But this isn’t doing you any good…”
Silence met his ears.
He placed a hand on the unfamiliar edge of her thin hip. “I miss him, too.”
She shoved the pile of blankets away and rolled over to face him. With her honey blonde hair a dirty, tangled mess and black circles around her eyes, she looked like hell warmed over. “Do you, Adam?”
He recoiled as if she’d punched him. “You know I do.”
“Then leave me alone.” Tears filled her eyes and full lips trembled. “Stop badgering me.”
Guilt filled him. All this was his fault. If he hadn’t wanted a son so badly… if he hadn’t made her pregnant she would still be the warm, funny, life-loving girl he’d married. Not a shell of her former self. “Honey, let me help.”
She grimaced. “Nothing can help. You can’t bring my baby back.”
Her accusing words cut through his skin like a lash from a bullwhip. He’d give her the stars and the moon if he could. And he’d damn well make sure their son was born alive.
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Wonderful scene, D’Ann! Another tormented hero who needs to help, but can’t. Love Adam. Great start! Can’t wait to see how this WIP plays out. 🙂
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Great post, Jenna! You’re hero sounds yummy.
As for my favorite hero, it usually ends up who I’m writing at the moment…although, I do have to say that each hero has a bit of my heart.
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Mine do too, Stacey. Gotta love those boys! Thanks for coming by!
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My favorite hero is Dylan from Gambling On a Secret (Lyrical Press Jan 2013).
Dylan is a man’s man. He’s also a broken/tortured hero. Having served 13 yrs in the Army, starting in the Corps of Engineers, then going to Airborne, and eventually becoming a commander of a Delta Team in the Special Forces. But he never quite felt like he measured up with his father who is a retired general. All he ever wanted out of life was to run his maternal grandfather’s Central Texas ranch, but circumstances made that impossible so he joined the Army.
But this wasn’t all of his bad luck… While serving his 5th tour in the war (this time he was in Afghanistan and his team is assigned with the dubious mission of helping the Navy Seal Team 6 hunt down Bin Ladin) his wife sends him a Dear John letter telling him she’s prego with another man’s baby 2 days before the important mission. He blames himself for the failure and the deaths of 4 of his men. He doesn’t come out of the battle uninjured…His hip was blown away and it replaced. And he suffered PTSD.
He moved in with his sister in his hometown where he becane an alcoholic…who might only be saved by the heroine.
But what I love most about this soldier turned cowboy is his candor and his dry sense of humor…. Here’s and exchange between him and the heroine (Charli) which speaks volumes of Dylan’s character….
The instant fire climbing his neck had him breathing hard and his gut turning cold. He growled at the image of Charli and Leon together. “I can tell you what he wants.”
She put her fork on the plate and narrowed her cat-like eyes at him. “You aren’t going to insist he wants my land again, are you?”
He shook his head and unlocked his jaw. He picked up his glass of cola to keep from fisting his hand. He kept his tone as blase as he could. “Not at all. I’d say first he wants you in the sack as naked as the day you were born.”
Her mouth fell open and she spread her hands over the tabletop. “That is the most vulgar thing you’ve ever said to me. Whatever happened to the officer and a gentleman attitude among you military types? Because no Texas gentleman would ever speak to a woman that way.”
“First of all, I’m not a ‘military type.’ Second, I never proclaimed to be a gentleman of any kind. I just like the facts straight up. There’s no bullshit to wade through to get to the truth.”
She looked out the window beside them and jutted her chin a notch. “Sounds like you’re just a jerk to me.”
“You don’t think it’s true?” After taking a much-needed gulp of his soda, he set the glass down with a thud. “Fine, in nicer language here’s what I think. Leon wants you. He’s wooing you, and you’re falling for his crap hook, line, and sinker. And once you’re reeled in, he’ll take that land and leave you high and dry.”
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Boy, you really gave Dylan some hurdles to overcome. Talk about a tortured hero! But i can see how you’d have to love him, want to fix him. Charli’s got her work cut out for her, but I know it will be worth it in the end. Great excerpt! Can’t wait for this to come out. 🙂
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Ha, sometimes I feel confident enough to leave a snippet. 🙂 Here’s mine. Still working on it and all.
Arabella gawked at the scarred giant blocking her path. Panic surged through her and her body stiffened. She sat, frozen in Devlin’s saddle, petrified.
One side of the man’s face bore an unrefined scar along his cheek near his ear that traveled down his neck and disappeared under his linen shirt. Her gaze tracked the length of his massive body. Thick muscles jutted from his arms, legs and broad shoulders. The light from the torches caused his raven hair to glow with a dark blue sheen. Midnight whiskers couldn’t hide the sharp planes and angles of his face. Waves of authority poured from him. Had she a weak constitution, she might’ve fainted.
He stood immobile, his gaze fastened on hers. His icy, blue stare, joined by that baleful grin, arrested her. By all that was holy, why was he smirking at her? A hysterical laugh nearly spilled from her throat. I’ve survived the mossy wall of doom only to face down the Devil.
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Great description, Melissa! I sure can see him. But what’s his name and what’s the name of your work?
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Oh! Ha, sorry.
His name is Calum Macgregor and I’m sort of stuck on the title My Reckless Love. I’m sure it’s a bit generic, but it seems fitting.
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I’m going to fool you Jenna. As much as I love Gideon, though you may want him more lol, my real fav is Joey. We meet him when he’s about 17 or 18, I haven’t decided. He thinks he’s a real tough guy. Most recently you can find him here
Joey and 5 others hang out at Nate’s deli in the late 50s.
This is from Nate and still draft status.
Joey, mall and thin with a tough guy exterior and prone to, outside the deli, hanging around with the wrong crowd. Every so often when Joey didn’t appear he overheard one of the kids, a different kid each time it seemed, say that Joey was in jail, again. The rest of them would give up a deep sigh at the news and carry on. Nate wondered how Joey ended up in jail. He seemed like a nice kid and had himself observed Joey’s many gestures of kindness toward other members of the group. He was never loud and had an expressive way of speaking and exuberance that was contagious to the others.
His home life
As he was leaving the house to meet his friends at the bar, he glanced at his parents; his father scrawled and passed out on the recliner, his mother flopped on the couch, her hand hanging off the edge, drool spotting her chin, unconscious.
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Sounds like Joey’s had a rough time of it. But if he’s a good guy, and he must be if he’s your favorite, then he should land on his feet when all’s said and done. Can’t wait to read all of his story! Thanks for posting!
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Well, Jenna, I could hardly come to visit and not bring Ace. I think he likes you better than me. 😛 Here’s a refresher from Ace-High Flush. Poor Gabby doesn’t stand a chance.
Ace got out of a cab a few feet from the deli door. He wore a well-tailored brown suit, a bolo tie with something glittering at the throat fastening, and a buff-colored cowboy hat. His sun-touched, dark hair was a little longer than she remembered, and he’d grown a moustache, but otherwise, he was tall and broad-shouldered, with a purposeful stride in his pointed-toe boots, like she remembered him. Exactly like she pictured him when she went to bed sometimes. She fell asleep imagining him without his shirt, his biceps rippling and chest solid and broad. Those mental images made for restless dreams, though, and she shook her head to clear it.
“Hey there, li’l girl.”
She looked up and he was there. Her lungs froze up and she had to gasp before she spoke. “Ace.” She stood and offered her hand.
He looked at her hand for a moment then took it and pulled her in for a hug. She tried not to get lost in his warm embrace. She tried hard.
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And I’m betting she didn’t win! Yes, hands down, Ace is my fave of your heroes, Patricia. Just something about that tall drink of water that makes my heart go pitter-pat! LOL And I think he likes Gabby a whole lot more than either of us. Lucky girl! 🙂 Thanks for bringing my favorite cowboy by.
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I love Geoffrey too, and if I’d met him first he might have been my favorite of your heroes, Jenna. But, alas, my heart was taken before he got the chance. So sorry, Geoffrey. You’re a great guy and all but…
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Yeah, I know which one of my heroes makes your heart go pitter-pat, Kary! LOL But who’s your fave of *your* heroes? (I’d make a guess, but not 100% sure. Either him or his son. LOL)
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No secret – My first and favorite hero is Avant. Always. God, I love that man! I’m sure I’ll have some wonderful edited snippets soon — no matter what the title of his story is.
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Love Sir Geoffrey! Fun post, Jenna! My favorite hero that I’ve written was Murphy. He was so lost, so wounded. Former Army Ranger. Here’s a snippet from Murphy’s Law:
“I’m not the man you’re looking for,” Murphy growled before he gripped the nape of her neck with one hand and crushed his mouth to hers. His lips were hard and demanding as they moved over hers, the battle raging still.
Thanks, Jenna!
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*Sigh* Oh, yes. I remember Murphy! Total heartthrob. Hot excerpt!
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I have to say my favorite hero is Nicholas from Agent in Training. He is young and blunt.
“Afraid of being alone with me?” He grinned from ear to ear. “I know you find me hard to resist.”
Shiloh snorted in a very unladylike fashion at his comment, then stepped inside, refusing to allow him to goad her or reveal she was intimidated by this surfer-boy.
On the ride down she focused her attention on the door. She wouldn’t hand him any more fuel to throw on the fire.
He cleared his throat behind her. “I wanted to thank you for the sewage plant assignment. Finally a stakeout where I can dig right in and get my hands dirty.”
She heard the smile in his voice. Shiloh rolled her eyes. The man was insufferable.
She turned her head slightly to look at him. “I thought it would be perfect for you, a man who smells of something foul.”
“What? You don’t like my cologne? You could have just said something.”
Shiloh clenched her fists in anger. “You are unbelievable. Is everything a joke to you?”
“No, but you might want to lighten up a bit before that starchy, agent protocol manual gets stuck up your ass.”
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Oh, I do like him! 🙂 I’ve seen blurbs for this book and it looks fantastic! I can see why you’d like this bad boy. Great excerpt!
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I think my favorite hero is Alex Juran from Obsession. He loves his wife and knows he hasn’t been the best husband ever, but he’s incredibly hurt and confused when she not only asks for a divorce but actually goes through with it. Alex is a modern day warrior–a police officer.
Tess, his wife, is just as hurt and when the two are thrown together against their will, they’re forced to confront what tore them apart in the first place.
What I like about Alex is that he’s a man’s man. He doesn’t understand women, but he knows he loves Tess. He doesn’t understand her feelings, but he’s willing to try.
I would give you a snippet but its on my other computer.
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He seems very real, Sharon. Many men don’t understand women or their feelings but I think only a few will admit that and still try to make it work when times get tough. Alex sounds like a complex guy with issues, but someone you’d want to give a second chance to. Sounds like a great book!
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