Heartbreak: intense and overwhelming grief, especially through disappointment in love.
Heartbreaker: a person, event or thing causing heartbreak.
When I looked these words up, I was surprised to find out the first one dates back to 1575; the second one came into usage about a hundred years later.
So we’ve had heartbreakers for more than 500 years! That’s a boatload of bad boys for sure!
And in the 16th and 17th century they had another word for heartbreaker–rakehell. A licentious man who is sexually unrestrained and immoral. Yes, just because it’s history doesn’t make it boring. These guys were anything but! They lived the high life, going from woman to woman and leaving heart break in their wake.
The Rake’s Progress: The Orgy by William Hogarth
During the English Restoration rakes were quite popular and dashing aristocrats, witty fellows who were sexually irresistible. My favorite Restoration rake is Jack Horner from Wycherly’s play The Country Wife. Horner, a charming and notorious rake, puts the rumor about that he’s now a eunuch due to the “French pox” (syphilis) in order to put suspicious husbands off their guard and give him access to their wives. What ensues is a steady stream of women into Horner’s chambers and a series of very funny encounters. You know that heartbreak is just around the corner for these women, but who can blame them for their folly?
There’s nothing so irresistible as a bad boy!
I have a bad boy of my own making in my historical romance, Only Scandal Will Do. Duncan Ferrars, Marquess of Dalbury has a hellacious reputation as a rake (rumor has it he’s slept with over 500 women!). Out for another night of sport, he tries to charm one more woman–and finds he’s met his match!
Blurb for Only Scandal Will Do:
He has the woman of his dreams, but what price will he have to pay to win her heart?
Kidnapped and sold at auction in a London brothel, Lady Katarina Fitzwilliam squelches an undeniable attraction to the masked stranger who purchased her, pits her wits against him, and escapes him and the scandal that would ruin her life.
Unable to resist temptation in a London brothel, Duncan Ferrers, Marquess of Dalbury, purchases a fiery beauty. She claims she’s a lady, but how can she be? No lady of his acquaintance in polite society is anything like her. Then he discovers she is who she says, and that this latest romp has compromised her reputation. He knows how that is. One more scandal and he’ll be cast out of London society, but he needs a wife who’ll provide an heir to carry on his illustrious family’s name. He seeks out Katarina, intending only to scotch the scandal, but instead finds his heart ensnared. He’s betting their future he’ll capture her heart, but does he have what it takes to win the wager?
WARNING: A blade-wielding heroine who crosses swords with a master of sensuality.
Only Scandal Will Do is available at Amazon, Lyrical Press and Barnes & Noble, as well as other e-retailers.
Leave a comment telling me who your favorite heartbreaker in romance is and you’ll be entered to win my prize of a $10.00 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card and you’ll also be entered for the Grand Prize Drawing!
We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!
Now what are those prizes?
1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet
2nd Grand Prize: A $100 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!
So be sure to write your comment below
WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
and be entered to WIN!
Now, to continue on the Hop, click the button below. Thank for stopping by!
Jenna Jaxon Romance--because passion is timeless. 
Zsadist
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
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Eric Northman is my favorite at the moment 🙂
dreammie_angel at yahoo dot com
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I may not have much experience in the whole love department, but I have had my heart broken. Being considered a Heartbreaker can come from various actions that you do. I am a newbie when it comes to reading romance books but what I have learned is that it is not bad to have a chiseled body or an amazing personality. If you look at it over all, if you never put your heart out there, you may never have a chance at true love and happiness. I may get broken once in a while but only you are strong enough to pick yourself up and try all over again. One of my favorite Heartbreakers is Taylor Qualls the Earl of Sandlin from the book His Impetuous Debutante. Lady Phoebe kinda reminds me of myself, accident prone and finding trouble in every corner. Taylor doesn’t think he is good enough for Phoebe, so he’s a heartbreaker and doesn’t know it.
ifightforlove36@gmail.com
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Eric Northman from charlaine harris’ novels
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One of my favorites is Justice from Justice by Laurann Dohner. Thank you for the awesome hop and giveaway!!! 🙂
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
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Thanks for the definitions and the history lesson. Fascinating. 🙂 Personally, none do it better for me than Jericho Barrons. That man is wicked and just how I like ’em. (In fiction anyway, I’d never put up with that crap in real life) :p
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My favorite heartbreaker is Eric Northman from True Blood. Thanks for the giveaway. Happy Valentine’s Day!
bhometchko(at)hotmail(dot)com
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Thanks for the chance to win! My e-mail is Sapphirekande@hotmail.com
Kande
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My favorite is Rhett or Edward. Thanks! katieamanda1(at)yahoo(dot)com
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Broderick from Ransom by Julie Garwood
magic5905 at embarqmail dot com
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My favorite heartbreaker is the one that your heart can’t live without. One of my best is Lucas from D B Reynolds book “Lucas” (Vampire in America series). Strong mind, well put together and tender when he needs to be.
Judy Peterson
strawberryrose@earthlink.net
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That is so hard there is so many good ones to choose from but there is one true heartbreaker i think all women fall in love with Rhett Butler… Thanks for being part of the hop
j.m.platt83@gmail.com
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I love Mr Darcy, a classic heartbreaker
fencingromein at hotmail dot com
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I love reading about rakes too 🙂 (but I don’t think I can choose an absolute favorite heartbreaker)
Thanks for the giveaway!
aircdrewood at gmail dot com
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my favorite heart breaker is rhett butler from gone with the wind angelwolfmystic@yahoo.com
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My favorite heartbreaker is Barrons from KMM’s Fever series.
anasmith1919 at gmail dot com
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Thanks so much for participation in the hop!
swordlily_girl(at)yahoo(dot)com
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Thank you for the chance to win!
verusbognar (at) gmail (dot) com
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Eric from the Sookie Stackhouse series.
Thanks for the chance to win!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com
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Thanks for the chance to win. Great post, contest, and hop!
Kenny-jeanne@hotmail.com
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Eric Northman totally!! Thanks for the great giveaway!! So many great prizes!! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Ashley A
ash_app(at)hotmail(dot)com
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What a great tease from your book. Keep writing so I can keep reading. Thanks for being in this super blog hop.
roya-clan@sbcglobal.net
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Always and forever Rhett Butler.
ocanana@gmail.com
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My favorite part of having a heart breaker is the world class groveling. Todd in Lauren Dane’s Laid Bare is my perfect example.
planterofhope at aol dot com
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i love Jamie, but he could never be a heartbreaker. Eric Northman, knows what he’s doing and does it anyway.
jennirv4967 at gmail dot com
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