What makes Wes Murphy of my latest release Just One Taste a hot hero? Well, as someone who spends a good portion of her life in the kitchen, developing and testing recipes for my contemporary culinary romance series, I think the best way to understand a final dish is to study the ingredients.
So. We take a basic guy, and add smoldering good looks. Not necessarily a prerequisite for hero hotness; some famously wonderful heroes have scored more on the “Beast” end of the spectrum. So let’s say he must be striking, with a strong presence that immediately catches the heroine’s eye””as Wes does, when he challenges substitute food chemistry professor, Dr. Rosemary Wilkins, on her first day in class.
To our attractive man, we stir in a heaping helping of charm, to aid Wes in his quest to seduce the awkward, nerdily lovely Rosemary. And let’s not forget the whiff of “bad boy” rising up from the mixing bowl, because Wes is struggling to deal with the after effects of a childhood running cons and scams with his dad. The lies he tells might add a little bitterness to the flavor of the dish, but it’s balanced by Wes’s sweetness with the mutt he loves, his sense of humor (often directed at himself), his unwavering determination to be a better man than his father raised him to be, and his ability to accept and adore Rosemary for exactly who she is.
And then let’s not forget the final ingredient””and this is the one that marks Wes Murphy as one of my hot heroes””he can cook. I mean, really cook. From culinary student to extern at Market restaurant, and beyond, Wes’s kitchen talents are rivaled only by his skills in the bedroom. And in both venues, what make him special are his generosity and his attention to detail.
So there it is, my recipe for a hot hero, a recovering bad boy with charm, a striking presence, the ability to laugh at himself, and a generosity of spirit that instantly captivates his heroine. And, oh yeah . . . the chocolate-dipped strawberries he feeds her don’t hurt!
What’s your recipe for a hot hero? I have an autographed set of my Recipe for Love novels for one of you!
Gosh, any guy who knows his way around the kitchen is my hero.
I like my heroes to be tall with a nice smile and a sense of humor. They must also have honor and commitment to a cause.
My hero has to have a tortured past. He must also be built. I’m little and I want to snuggle into my HE-MAN ;). I think of Gena Showalter’s Maddox when I picture what my hero looks like.
Gosh, any guy who knows his way around the kitchen is my hero.
I like my heroes to be tall with a nice smile. They must have honor, a sense of pride, and be committed to a cause.
I love it when a hero can cook . maybe even a little light cleaning cause then I feel he’s not with the heroine cause he need a maid 😉
meandi09@yahoo.com
A guy that understands family is important. That stands beside you in life and not try to overshadow you. Plus it wouldn’t hurt if he looked good in wranglers.:lol:
Tall, dark, handsome and CAN COOK !!
Judy
magnolias_1@msn.com
Mmmm…your hero sounds like quite a dish. I like all of your ingredients but am particularly fond of more than a whiff of bad-boy. Then we get the satisfaction of watching him become a better man and, of course, his rise to the occasion of finding the woman who is worthy of him…and him of her. This is a dish best served hot.
CONGRATS Louisa on the release of Just One Taste! It sounds fantastic and one I’ll be putting on my wishlist:) My recipe for a hero?… he has to be an Alpha male (for sure, no sissies allowed, lol), but he needs to have a sense of humor as well (don’t want him to be too serious, because that’s not fun). Cooking is always a nice trait for a hero and not often found in the majority of the books I read, but for me it’s not a prerequisite. Of course if you could throw in tall, dark, and handsome… then we’ve got a winner!
yadkny@hotmail.com
Some of the characteristics my hero would have are strong, handsome, intelligent, loyal, generous,honorable, and loving.
Hmmm…my recipe for a hot hero is unique. It is while I am trying to cook up another hottie that this one sneaks up and adds some zest to a new recipe. He will be gentle where the other one was egotistical. Humble where the other one was a bragger. Intense where the other one was shallow. But the kicker was he was there for me 100% of the time while the other one could have cared less. That is and was my recipe for my husband. Together now for 14 years, married for 12. Grin…it is definitely one of those recipes that sticks to your ribs and makes you feel satisfied.
My idea of a hot hero is a guy with good looks but not conceited, has a good sense of humor, can cook and fix things and has a kind heart.
My recipe for Damian Xeres, the hero in my October 29 release from The Wild Rose Press, Hot Spanish Nights: Take one handsome, sexy bullfighter, stir in charm and strength of character and give him a mastery of horses. I am a horse nut, by the way, so when he walked on the stage, he was a hot hero to me!
I have a guy who can cook and it is nice when he makes his special recipes. 🙂
I’d like someone tall and dark, with a mischeivious twinkle in his eye. A partner to cook up something Sweet & Spicy in the kitchen, and share cleaning up the mess with.
Stephanie
DragonStar1974@aol.com
My hero has got to be tall, dark, handsome and tortured! A real bad boy with a heart of gold. He’s got to be willing to go out for the heroine!!!! 😉 😉
mlawson17 at hotmail dot com
Talk, dark, handsome and very ruch with secrets and a tortued past. And he brings me breakfast in bed! 🙂
I’VE HEARD OF LOUISA BUT THANKS TO SCROOGE, I’VE NOT READ ANY OF HER BOOKS.
A guy who can cook, clean, has a sense of direction and a sense of humour.
Wes sounds like a great hero. Congrats on your latest release Louisa.
A bad boy in need of redemption, has soft spot for animals, a good sense of humor, creative, and confident just short of being cocky/overbearing.
pams00 @ aol.com
Hi Louise,
Congrats on your newest release. Wes sounds just like my kind of Hero. I like a bad boy or tortured soul who becomes a better man. Alpha male of course. Loyal, compassionate, a sense of humor and who stops at nothing for the Heroine. And last, Loyal.
Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com
Taller than me (5’9″ or more) sense of humor, likes cats, cooks, cleans, enough “heft” so I can sit on his lap without worrying about squishing him. Oh, and if he can do laundry too that would be wonderful! A little body hair is okay too.
kk
Sorry I’m late checking in! Was traveling all day yesterday. But thank you to everyone who commented! I loved reading through them this morning.
Joye – You and I have very similar tastes in heroes!
Viki S. – If we’re honest, I think we’re ALL thinking about Maddox right now. Yum!
Jennifer Mathis – Sure, while we’re fantasizing! LOL
Sheila – The wranglers cracked me up!
Judy Cox – Amen!
Little Lamb Lost – There’s truly nothing more romantic than a reformed bad boy.
Yadira A – An alpha male with a sense of humor? Hard to find! You might enjoy Adam from my first book, Can’t Stand the Heat…
Marlene – Good list!
Danielle – There’s nothing like a good contrast between two guys to show which one is truly the perfect match.
Crystal – I like that addition of a kind heart!
Bianca – Horse books are so much fun! Sounds like a great read. : )
Sapphire – Yum–sounds like a great guy!
Stephanie – A guy who’s willing to share in all parts of life–now that’s a true hero!
Martha – Good addition: willing to sacrifice and work hard to get his girl! I love it.
Marilyn – I second the breakfast in bed bit, for sure.
Hotcha – Hope you get a chance to read my books soon! Check out your local library…maybe you can get them to order a copy, if they don’t have it already!
Chey – Perfect list.
Pam S – Your list sounds just like Wes! I bet you’d love him. LOL
Carol L – Oooh, loyalty is a good ingredient to throw into the mix.
Keatonkat – LOL, you’re pretty specific! It’s good to know what you want.
I like my heros to be bastards. Real assholes who end up being kind and loyal, but more importantly fiercely protective.
A man who is sexy, can cook and clean, intelligent, accepting of others and of course devoted to me.
lenikaye@yahoo.com
A guy that is kind, but not a push over. A guy who is generous and protective but not clingy. A guy that can pull off leather pants… and then get me out of mine 😉
Ginger – Nice! Let’s be honest, we all love that. It’s like finding the gooey nougat at the center of a bitter dark chocolate!
Leni – You’re 100% right–there’s nothing sexier than devotion.
Lela – Leather pants, rowr!
hero should be kind of nerdy sometimes when trying to figure out his girl and her likes, is honest, loves her above all others, treats her with respect except sometimes in bedroom is overcome with emotion he has never felt with another woman; is handsome but doesn’t really flaunt it, cares about who the girl cares about! That is my hero’s qualities!
I like my hero’s to be strong alpha’s but are not afraid to show emotions. He has to overcome some kind of problem and be devoted to his lady.