Allie Pleiter on Tough Heroes with Soft Centers

One of my favorite types of romance heroes is the tough guy who struggles with “a soft center.”  I love a man of strength and honor who can never quite figure out how to shoulder the depth of his caring.  And I love the woman who brings that affection out from under his crusty exterior.

My hero for The Rancher’s Texas Twins has just that dynamic.  Lone Star Cowboy League President Gabe Everett is a serious man of duty.  The two mischievous little girls who end up staying on his ranch, however, don’t see “Mr. Boots” that way.  Their non-stop onslaught of “tiny pinkness”  opens this cowboy’s heart in a way that is sure to melt yours. Children have such a gift for tearing down the walls we build around ourselves, don’t you think?

It was great fun to wrap up the popular Lone Star Cowboy League: Boys Ranch series with this book. Gabe, and the lovely young mother Avery who holds the key to saving the boys ranch, are a perfect match—even if it takes a pair of adorable twins to convince them.

What about you?  What heroes are your favorites?  If you’ve enjoyed the Lone Star Cowboy League: Boys Ranch series, which books have the heroes who have won your heart?

Allie Pleiter on Heroes

Heroes

Some heroes are dashing, take charge men who need a woman with spine enough to show him he’s incomplete without an equal partner.  Other heroes are dark, brooding characters who need the love of a good woman to restore them to wholeness.  Many heroes are complex guys who fall somewhere in between.  The best heroes take character traits we know and love and give them a unique, creative twist—we wouldn’t love Indiana Jones half as much if he weren’t queasy about snakes, would we?

Me, I tend toward the dashing types.  James Bond, Indiana Jones, the larger than life heroes.  John Gallows from Homefront Hero was among my favorite of my dashing heroes, as was Matthew Covington from Masked by Moonlight or my upcoming hero Max Jones from August’s A Heart to Heal.  I love to take their bravado and crack it a bit until we see the loyal, loving man underneath all that high-visibility heroism.

I’ve written my share of brooding heroes, too, such as Clint Thornton in my current release The Lawman’s Oklahoma Sweetheart, Chad Owens in Falling for the Fireman, or Gil Sorrent from Bluegrass Hero.  I like peeling away their crusty shells until I find the soft center (wow—sounds rather culinary, doesn’t it?) that enables these men to love deeply.

Either way, a good hero is a joy to read—especially when he meets his match in a great heroine.

What about you?  Do you go for the dashing or the brooding hero?  Who have been some of your favorites from books or movies?

Poll for Love Inspired Suspense readers

Camy here! I was thinking about new stories for my Love Inspired Suspense books set in Sonoma, California, and I was curious about Love Inspired Suspense readers--what kinds of story elements do you like in your Love Inspired Suspense novels? What kinds of heroes and heroines? What kinds of plotlines? What types of spiritual arcs and romantic arcs? I know I’m not the only Love Inspired Suspense author who’d like to know your tastes and preferences, so chime in!

More about Heroes...and Conflict

Missy Tippens, here. I saw that y'all had a fun discussion the other day when Jenna posted about different types of heroes. I love all of the many types you discussed! Jenna mentioned bad boy heroes, and that describes my hero is in my February release, A House Full of Hope.

Mark Ryker got in a heap of trouble (and dragged the heroine's sister into trouble with him!) when he was in high school. He was grieving and miserable and finally just left town. Now, years later, he's a changed man, successful, a new Christian...and he heads back to town seeking redemption.

Of course, no one, not even his own father, wants to welcome him. Especially not the heroine, Hannah, who holds a grudge against him.

I had so much fun writing this story! A tortured hero. A woman with a grudge who's four children fall in love with the guy. How can Hannah ever forgive him and admit she's falling for him herself?

Sometimes it's hard for me to write conflict in stories since in real life I tend to avoid conflict at all costs. :) But I really had fun writing this story. What do y'all think about conflict in the books you read? Do find yourself really rooting for a character who comes up against trouble at every turn?

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A House Full of Hope is Missy Tippens' fifth book from Love Inspired.

Read an excerpt by clicking here.

FROM BLACK SHEEP TO FATHER OF FOUR...

Before becoming a Christian, Mark Ryker ran with a bad crowd and broke hearts. Including his father’s. Now a successful businessman, Mark has come home to Corinthia, Georgia, to make amends. But no one will forgive him. So when the widowed mother of four renting his dad’s run-down house needs help fixing up the place, Mark gets to work. Pretty Hannah Hughes and her sweet kids have him longing to be part of the clan, but Hannah isn’t ready to let go of the past. Still, they are working together on a house full of hope—and that’s all Mark needs.

Hometown Hero

Hi! Charlotte Carter here.
I don’t often make reading recommendations, but Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (author of Seabiscuit) is extraordinary. It is the story of Louie Zamperini, former juvenile delinquent, Olympic athlete, and survivor of World War II in the Pacific where he endured 27 months of daily beatings in a Japanese POW camp. Never once did his optimism falter.

His post-war struggles, PTSD, led him into alcoholism, poor financial decisions and the threat of divorce.

Then he met Billy Graham, who led him into redemption.

Graham had set up a circus tent in downtown Los Angeles. Louie’s wife cajoled him to go. The first time Louie walked out in a rage. But the second time Graham’s words touched him. Louie remembered his promise to the Lord when he and his B24 pilot floated helplessly in the Pacific Ocean for 47 days. He’d promised if he survived, he would spend his life serving the Lord.

The next morning, Louie woke feeling cleansed.

In the interest of full disclosure, Louie is a hometown hero in Torrance, CA where I live. My husband Chuck wrote a book about the Torrance Municipal Airport, which is now named Zamperini Field. Louie wrote the preface; Chuck considers Louie not only a friend but his role model.

Louie, still incredibly energetic on the cusp of his 95th birthday, finally gave up skate boarding around the age of 89. But he still works with at-risk teenagers, taking them skiing in the local mountains. Louie’s neighbors had to put a halt to him climbing a ladder to trim his trees; they didn’t want to call 911 if he fell.

Hillenbrand’s research for Unbroken, a 7-year long project involving hundreds of contacts, not only tells Louie’s story but encompasses details of the men who served with him and the incredible cruelty of Japanese POW guards.

But it is Louie’s redeeming faith that is most obvious in his life now.
Do you have a hometown hero or heroine you admire? Tell us about him or her.

Visit my blog:
http://www.charlottecarter.com/

To all my heroes

I just wanted to say to all the soldiers serving the world over and to those who've served in the past, we have not forgotten you. Our hearts and our prayers are with you. If you're sitting there in the desert, hot and tired and lonely, know that we are with you. If you're missing your family, know that we're hugging our close because you have fought for our freedom. You are all in my prayers and I will never forget your sacrifices. That is a promise. And everyday, I will lift you up in my prayers--stay safe and remember you are very special.

Lenora Worth :)