Dangerous Hero Addict Support Group discussion

When I say good looks, I mean drop dead, Prince Charming handsome. How do you sit when it comes to that scale of looks?

What is your definition of 'smoking hot' or 'sexy'? Do you like pretty boy heroes or rugged guys?

Feel free to post pics of guys who you consider pretty versus rugged, but nothing over PG-13.

I've read stories with hero's who are physically flawed or are described as not "handsome" but have a ruggedness about them or a characteristic(s) that scream HOT.. These guys lure me in faster than flawless beauty....but I'll take GQ alphas, too. If an author can make you lust after a character who is not GQ, then they've got some powerful writing talent.

Smoking hot or sexy to me is all about the "actions" and "behaviors" of a character more so than looks. Could be just an "aura" about them that draws me in.

My all-time favorite scene in any love story is the scene where the H and h first set eyes on each other. Yes, this is about physical attraction but the best scenes, for me, are when the authors can described the action that is happening behind the eyes...the emotions behind the stares...what they discover about each other from just a glimpse into each other's secret window .Phew!, Good stuff!!

The looks that an author uses to describe her hero's have no standing with me. I always change their looks in my head anyway. Far more important to me is how they treat their loved ones.

I think rugged is way hotter in the long run, simply because most books center around pretty/perfect males. It's a nice change of pace to hear a character is not physically perfect or a model, makes them more substantial. Also, I think the ruggedness is just hot in general, it's hard to find RL guys who still got it goin on (I know you asked about books, but thats my scale,lol). ;)

No, the hero doesn't have to be drop dead gorgeous but sometimes it sure is nice :) As long as the heroine feels some sort of attraction to the hero then it'll work. I remember the hero in Lord of Scoundrels was not attractive but it worked.

I don't like the hero to be too pretty or perfect. My obsession is David Gandy. I would do anything for this man.

Anything....?

lol

I get the attraction Andrea

it seems to matter a lot to the heroine. I don't care if he's eye candy.

No, it's not a requisite for me, as long as he's an Alpha with a persona strong enough to rock the heroine's world!

I like a hunky alpha male. But he doesn't have to be drop dead gorgeous. I like my bad boys with psychical imperfections from time to time. It adds to the danger and just being manly.

I once knew this guy in college who had a scar from his eye brow to cheek. He had all the girl dying. Lol ...for some reason I can't remember his name. But I sure remember that scar!

Yes David Gandy is always great to image as I read. He's so luscious!

I think it depends on the story that the author is trying to tell. THe hero doesn't have to be drop dead gorgeous for me to love him. I am more drawn to personality anyway. Some of the actors that I swoon over aren't necessarily handsome in a classic sense it is there charisma that makes them handsome.

Sexiness is a must. He can't be average or overly flawed. He doesn't have to be a pretty boy (which I like also), but he has to have that "thing" every woman is drawn to. He can have a scar (love a Beauty and the Beast theme)or something, but the fundamentals of attractiveness have to be there.

Yes, Kamaga...ANYTHING! lol Pinterest has pages of him portrayed as a Black Dagger Brother or Dark-Hunter or other things. A couple of them are mine.

I tend more towards rugged looks or unusual looks. I don't tend to care much for pretty boys, although some of my actor loves might be a bit on the pretty boy scale. My current and very persistent obsession, Benedict Cumberbatch, can be funny looking at times, but there is something about the man that is super-duper fine to me. And I am not alone. But I'm starting to think my type is tall, lanky guys with odd looks, and British. And Tom Hiddleston is another favorite.



I find Prince Charmings boring, honestly. Not sure why, but I do.

Daniel Craig would be my example of rugged but fine. His looks aren't even, but man, that man makes me swoon. I'm not even partial to blonds. But this man....



And then there is Idris Elba....

I don't really care for looks. I like to imagine my version of a hero and heroine, no matter how they look on the cover or how the author describe them.

I define a dangerous bad boy by his attitude and not his looks.

Yeah, Mr. Elba gives off that rugged, dangerous vibe even in a business suit. Those eyes penetrate your soul.

And Idris plays conflicted and damaged wonderfully. Have you seen Luther?

Danielle The Book Huntress (Angels Weep For Goodreads) wrote: "And Idris plays conflicted and damaged wonderfully. Have you seen Luther?"

Yes! I like him but can't get into the show too much.

It's pretty dark. I still need to get caught up. His acting is phenomenal though, and he has great chemistry with Ruth Wilson.

Richard Armitage does it for me, though he might not be considered pretty.


Then there's Physical Perfection Personified:

To answer the question... I get really excited when I read a book where the hero or heroine has some sort of physical "imperfection". Not just 'cause I get off on the angst of insecurity, but because it's a welcome change from the playboy man-whore or the sexy siren who has every male character wanting her. I don't object to perfection, but I like a change. And even when the author describes a hero a certain way, some times I can't help but imagine him as Richard Armitage. Blond? I don't care, he's Richard Armitage. Swarthy Greek? Nope. White englishman--Richard Armitage again. LOL

Love the pictures! Definitely a fan of Armitage and Cavill. I love a flawed main character, looks or otherwise.

This is hard to explain, but I think it's sexy when a guy looks like he's been through some stuff.

Hard eyes, intense stare... Calloused hands and bronzed skin from working in the blazing sun. Crow's feet when you can actually get him to smile his crooked smile.

Also, Michael Fassbender. Mmm--I do love the Fassy.

I completely agree. I love Benedict's eye, nose, and brow crinkles.



And yes to Fassy!

It's not about looks though. It's about how the heroine sees the hero and describes him. Like his delicious attitude. His naughty or inspiring banter. How he may not be the best looking guy but his charm is irresistible. Or there is something completely unrelated to looks but something about him that just makes you want to climb him/your heart throb/make you want to look after him forever/marry him/make him look after you/have babies with him/spend the rest of your life with, ect. He's just someone you won't let go of because he equals happiness. My book hubby is Barrons and even if he wasn't handsome, the way Mac describes his animalist behavior and Barrons' own fuck you attitude and sexyass banter and actions just makes me love him. I could give a fig what he looks like because to me he's perfect without ever having set eyes on him. That's why personally I don't care to stick pictures of real guys' faces to my book characters. They look like how the author and other characters reveal. Doesn't have to be handsome to win my heart, their attitudes, personality, person, beliefs, ect is what matters and how I see a character.

Pat wrote: "I get the attraction Andrea

it seems to matter a lot to the heroine. I don't care if he's eye candy."

He doesn't have to have the looks he can still be eye candy. Even if he's the not-perfect-looking-one if in your opinion he's the sexy body you want to tap. He's eye candy in your eyes.

I used to like this guy. He wasn't perfect looking but he had adorable dimples, an annoyingly addictive smile, I loved his hands, and he could fling me everywhere. His smile and strength made him eye candy in my eyes.

Goge (BARRONS) le Moning Maniac, wrote: "Pat wrote: "I get the attraction Andrea

it seems to matter a lot to the heroine. I don't care if he's eye candy."

He doesn't have to have the looks he can still be eye candy. Even if he's the not..."

completely agree, we all have something that does it for us even if/when no one else gets it. we don't all like the same candy.

My mother always said, a handsome man never hurt a story. Her daughter's prorsus requiritur is height. Romancia writers,you may scar and peel, gouge and blind, chop a limb or burn the whole right side, but you cannot, asbolutely cannot, shorten, for I shall have you horsewhipped. I like me a tall man (and you writers of contemps. please note, 6ft IS NOT TALL), and the taller the better. Also, although not mandatory, a reference to his best friend's size would never fail to delight this reader, but it must be worth referring to. In short, when done with the tasteful and the sublime, leave some room for the profane.

Goge (BARRONS) le Moning Maniac, wrote: "It's not about looks though. It's about how the heroine sees the hero and describes him. Like his delicious attitude. His naughty or inspiring banter. How he may not be the best looking guy but his..."

Well said! I think the attitude and personality always trump looks. Although I admit I am not fond of short guys. There's always an exception though!

Please don't ban me, but who's Barrons?

Shannon wrote: "Please don't ban me, but who's Barrons?"

JERICHO ZIGOR BARRONS. He is the love of my book life, my book hubby, and the manifestation of the wondrous author goddess KAREN MARIE MONING. He's the main character in the series Fever: . He's just.. the perfect blend of everything good and bad for you. You should give Moning's a book a read :) It has fae, paranormal creatures, (view spoiler)[an apocalypse (hide spoiler)], tough heroine, 3-D world building.. Some of the things I love about this series: the world, the characters, the hero (you haven't met someone with attitude till you've met Barrons. He should be an adjective. He personifies things. Things like adjectives don't capture what he is.), the heroine, the issues that come up, the life lesson quotes, the storyline, the amazing originality, the writing, the Main Characters' banter, the atmosphere of the story (it can be pretty heavy stuff), the magic in the story, the development of the characters throughout the books, the romance/love stories, the chemistry, the love-making!!;) , and ect.



For example, here are some quotes to showcase a bit the world of Fever:

Mac's (Ms. Lane) mentality:

“Time heals.

No, it doesn't. At best, time is the great leveler, sweeping us all into coffins. We find ways to distract ourselves from the pain. Time is neither scalpel nor bandage. It is indifferent. Scar tissue is not a good thing. It is merely the wound's other face.”


“Call me anything you like—I sleep fine at night. But you will look at me when you say it. Or I'll get so far in your face you'll be seeing me with your eyes closed. You'll be seeing me in your nightmares. I'll scorch myself on the backs of your eyelids. Get off my back and stay off it. I'm not the woman I used to be. If you want a war with me, you'll get one. Just try me. Give me an excuse to go play in that dark place inside my head.”

Barrons's mentality:

“Dying is overrated. Human sentimentality has twisted it into the ultimate act of love. Biggest load of bullshit in the world. Dying for someone isn't the hard thing. The man that dies escapes. Plain and simple. Game over. End of pain... Try living for someone. Through it all-good, bad, thick, thin, joy, suffering. That's the hard thing.”

“I'm sorry your pretty little world got all screwed up, but everybody's does, and you go on. It's how you go on that defines you.”



Who Barrons is:

“Barrons has something the rest of us don't have. I don't know what it is, but I feel it all the time, especially when we're standing close. Beneath the expensive clothes, unplaceable accent, and cultured veneer, there's something that never crawled all the way out of the swamp. It didn't want to. It likes it there.”

“I'm not the hero, Mac. Never have been. Never will be. Let us be perfectly clear: I'm not the antihero, either, so quit waiting to discover my hidden potential. There's nothing to redeem me.”

Their banter:

“Then why was his tongue in your mouth? Was he conducting a clinical test of your gag reflex?" He smiled, but not nicely. "How is your gag reflex, Ms. Lane? Are you a hair trigger?"

Barrons likes to use sexual innuendo to try to shut me up. I think he expects the well-raised southern belle in me will think eew and back off. Sometimes, I do think eew, but I don't back off. "I'm a spitter, if that's what you're asking." I flashed him a too-sweet smile.

"Didn't look that way to me. I think you're a swallower. His tongue was halfway to China and you were still taking it."

"Jealous?”



"Well done, Ms. Lane. Just when I think you‘re all useless fluff and nails, you show me some teeth."

“You want more of me, don't you, Barrons? I got under your skin deep. I hope you got addicted to me. I was a wild one, wasn't I? I bet you never had sex like that in your entire existence, huh, O Ancient One? I bet I rocked your perfectly disciplined little world. I hope wanting me hurts like hell!"

Two of the many quotes I find memorable

“Those who were so long imprisoned in ice and darkness seem to find the sunlight jarring, painful. The longer I walk around with this grief inside me, the more I understand that. It’s as if sunshine is a slap in the face that says, Look, the world’s all bright and shiny! Too bad you’re not.”

“Some people fall apart when they get hurt. Puddle into apathy and despair and never recover. They wait all their lives for someone to come along and rescue them.”


I could go on forever. :p

Pat wrote: "Goge (BARRONS) le Moning Maniac, wrote: "Pat wrote: "I get the attraction Andrea

it seems to matter a lot to the heroine. I don't care if he's eye candy."

He doesn't have to have the looks he can..."

VERY TRUE. My eye candy is mine, yours is yours, we like different flavors ;)

Elizabeth wrote: "My mother always said, a handsome man never hurt a story. Her daughter's prorsus requiritur is height. Romancia writers,you may scar and peel, gouge and blind, chop a limb or burn the whole right s..."

"Romancia writers,you may scar and peel, gouge and blind, chop a limb or burn the whole right side, but you cannot, asbolutely cannot, shorten, for I shall have you horsewhipped. I like me a tall man" LMAO I love how you worded that! XD

Danielle The Book Huntress (Angels Weep For Goodreads) wrote: "Goge (BARRONS) le Moning Maniac, wrote: "It's not about looks though. It's about how the heroine sees the hero and describes him. Like his delicious attitude. His naughty or inspiring banter. How h..."

Thank you:) I think short guys can be very cute! And manly! And since I'm short anyways (5 feet and half an inch, my height's always been short) guys who are short are tall to me LOL I read this one story once of this short hero and tall heroine. OHMYG- I LOVED IT SO MUCH! There-ever-after I was into short heroes.

i dont need the hero to be absolutely perfect and blah blah. someone like Xander Corvus would mighty fine.

To me looks are important to my hero. But what is good looks?

I think I would rather describe my perfect hero as masculine, fit, muscular, tall, brunette, smart, sense of humor. I also have a thing for men with crooked noses???? go figure.

To me what is sexy might look to you as...well....not so sexy.

Goge (BARRONS) le Moning Maniac, wrote: "Shannon wrote: "Please don't ban me, but who's Barrons?"

JERICHO ZIGOR BARRONS. He is the love of my book life, my book hubby, and the manifestation of the wondrous author goddess KAREN MARIE MONI..."

Well, my goodness Goge! You DO love him! I have to read this now. It sounds amazing!

Elizabeth wrote: "My mother always said, a handsome man never hurt a story. Her daughter's prorsus requiritur is height. Romancia writers,you may scar and peel, gouge and blind, chop a limb or burn the whole right s..."

I don't like short either, though six foot is good enough for me. One of my biggest peeves of the Anita Blake series are the overabundance of short men that I'm supposed to find attractive. It reminds me of the exact moment my Prince crush ended: I found out my 12 year old self towered over him. Even in real life, I am not that attracted to men shorter than my 5'7". It takes me out of a story when the romantic hero is too short.

Paganalexandria **wicked juices bubbling over** wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "My mother always said, a handsome man never hurt a story. Her daughter's prorsus requiritur is height. Romancia writers,you may scar and peel, gouge and blind, chop a limb or burn..."

I'm almost 5'7'' myself (in my bare feet), so a guy would have to be over 6'2'' to be considered really tall. Since Romancia is about the handling of erotic fantasies, you can imagine how put off I get by heroes who are 5'10''-5'11''.
I have liked romances where the hero was not tall, but had he been that, I would have liked them even better. I must also confess that I have put aside romances, which started promisingly, for the sole reason that I hit a paragraph where the hero was described as not tall. One cannot predict when the fantasy's demands will override the enjoyment of a story or writing style.

Shannon wrote: "Goge (BARRONS) le Moning Maniac, wrote: "Shannon wrote: "Please don't ban me, but who's Barrons?"

JERICHO ZIGOR BARRONS. He is the love of my book life, my book hubby, and the manifestation of the..."

I DO!!!! XD Barrons and I need to do this!

It doesn't hurt but it's not that important to me.

Two of my favorite "fangirl fantasy book boyfriends" were not considered handsome. Zsadist (Black Dagger Brotherhood Series) and Rochester (Jane Eyre)!

hmm.. i'm not on the perfect looks either.. i'm more on the rugged guys as my hero.. it's how they exude their sexuality is what i'm more after.. those with tattoos looking extreme on the outside but with a sweet heart.. :)

I think we all have standards on how our hero should look. Obviously, we wouldn't want a 5'2" humpback hero with a bad case of dandruff with bad allergies and wipes his nose on his sleeve constantly. But we are willing to forgo the Hollywood good looks at times. ☺

With all this talk of a hero's height It got me realising that their height is never really something I have thought about or considered while reading! I know authors will often say that a hero is 'tall' or 'nearing 7 ft', but for me it doesn't matter. It's the essence, presence, sexual intensity, just that 'something' the hero has that does it for me. It's this quality I find attractive - the power of their personality. That something about them which captures you, not necessarily their classic handsomeness (or lack of).
On a physical note I actually prefer pretty boy heroes, though handsomely rugged will do it for me too ;-) and though some of my fave heroes are very well muscled, in general I just prefer a well toned, fit hero than too sculpted and pumped up.
I like a wide range of very different dangerous heroes, but all have that 'something' that draws me to them and that doesn't have to be their looks.

A book Hero with wingy ears and knobbly knees but who has super intensity, presence, courage and loves the heroine loads? ...I've never read one but it could just work!

I like my heroes rugged, I'm not exactly opposed to a perfect handsome, gorgeous, pretty guy, what-have-you, but I'm more likely to be attracted to the one described as having a harsh face, or a sharp planes, or 'craggy' or, lol, I'm not sure how/what I'm saying, but hey. I like em big and rough looking. Tall, definitely. I definitely don't go for short guys. 6 ft at least, preferably a little more. I'm 5'8" so he's gotta be taller than me. I'm more apt to go for the ones described as built like a brick wall as opposed to lean and lanky too. And I like some hair on em. Don't need a Grizzly Adams type beard or anything, but some scruff on the face, and a furry chest is appreciated ;) My imagination's 'hero' when I read is usually always this guy lately: (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]

Natalie wrote: "With all this talk of a hero's height It got me realising that their height is never really something I have thought about or considered while reading! I know authors will often say that a hero is..."

AGREED!! Lol. A hero's height has never never been a big deal to me or made me toss a book aside or, as far as I can recall, like a hero less.

Kit★ wrote: "I like my heroes rugged, I'm not exactly opposed to a perfect handsome, gorgeous, pretty guy, what-have-you, but I'm more likely to be attracted to the one described as having a harsh face, or a sh..."

Who is that Kit?

Danielle The Book Huntress (Angels Weep For Goodreads) wrote: "I tend more towards rugged looks or unusual looks. I don't tend to care much for pretty boys, although some of my actor loves might be a bit on the pretty boy scale. My current and very persisten..."

Loki, why I might go see Thor 2

That's Till Lindemann, singer of the band Rammstein :D