Sizzle & Swoon: Our Favorite Heroes

Today's installment for Sizzle & Swoon involves one of the best things about ANY romance novel - the heroes. For the most part, I've had great experiences with the heroes in my favorite romances. They're not just one-dimensional alpha males. No, no, no! The heroes I love are the ones that pop off the page with their sheer maleness and their personality. Sure, most of them happen to be extremely good-looking (in my mind). But what I adore most of all is the intelligence, complexity and surprising vulnerability that exists beneath the surface. There's a whole variety of heroes out there waiting to be discovered! In case you wanted some suggestions, check out the list the three of us came up with! (Anytime you see a +A/+R/+S, that means more than one of us endorses the choice.)

ALEXA'S PICKS

 

Sebastian St. Vincent (Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas) - Does this really require an explanation? Sebastian is one of those good-looking bad boys, the kind who gets into all sorts of shenanigans and debauchery. But his redemption as love slowly transforms him is mesmerizing. He starts demonstrating his feelings and that leads to a ton of completely swoon-worthy moments. (+R)

Chaol Westfall (Throne of Glass & Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas) - I realized fairly recently that I have a thing for men in uniform. Chaol, who is Captain of the Guard, happens to be the number one example. He's a wonderful person. He's strong, tough, gruff and serious; but that's all balanced by his capacity for vulnerability, enjoyment and relaxation. What makes him even dearer is witnessing just how much he cares about the people he loves, particularly Celaena, whom he knows and understands and accepts completely. *swoons*

the Bridgerton boys: Anthony, Benedict, Colin & Gregory (The Viscount Who Loved Me, An Offer from a Gentleman, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton & On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn) - Yes, I totally cheated on this choice but I don't really care because all four of them are AWESOME. I really was trying to pick one, but it was just not going to happen. The four brothers are all good men. They exhibit a strong relationship with their mother and among their siblings, plus they're quick to entertain, comfort and protect. My favorite thing about each of them, however, is how besotted they become with their heroines. 

RACQUEL'S PICKS

 

Derek Craven (Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas) - Lisa Kleypas hero, surprise, surprise! I love ALL of Lisa Kleypas' heroes, but Derek Craven stands out because he's not a duke/earl/rake or anything super popular in historical romance. He's a self-made, hard-working man that used to live on the streets; he has the Cockney accent to prove it! (+S)

 

Owen Armstrong (Just Listen by Sarah Dessen) - I know the spotlight is always on Wes from The Truth About Forever and I LOVE Wes, but Owen, with his straight-up talk and easy friendship and how he's such a great big brother... *cries* Owen is perfect. (+A)

 

Hardy Cates (Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas) - Greatest hero EVER? I think yes. BIG FAT YES. We meet Hardy Cates when he's 17 in Sugar Daddy. We see him care for his family, love a girl, grow up and fuck up royally. But in Blue-Eyed Devil, he redeems himself and grows up some more. Lisa Kleypas' dedication in Blue-Eyed Devil says it all. (+A) (+S)

SHARON'S PICKS

 

Jericho Barrons (The Fever series by Karen Marie Moning) - I really have no words. I can't really explain it unless you've read the books; he is just so mysterious and enigmatic and freaking sexy. I love that he uses words like "pernicious" and that he owns a bookstore (HELLO, sexy points right there) and that he calls Mac "Ms. Lane".

Kev Merripen (Seduce Me At Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas) - Merripen is just about as Alpha as you can get. He is a little primitive, more than a little possessive, and a whole lot sexy. His care and devotion for Win are exponential, and you know he would do anything for her.

Carter Maguire (Vision in White by Nora Roberts) - On the opposite end of the spectrum from Merripen, we have Carter, the ultimate Beta. I love SO MANY things about Carter. He wears tweed, is totally clumsy and awkward and adorable. To quote Mac (the heroine), "Grandfathers wear tweed. Old guys in old British movies wear tweed. Why do I find it sexy that he wears tweed? This is a question that haunts me." Also, he is an English teacher. So, there's that.

These heroes all sound hot, hot, hot and adorably easy to fall in love with! I'm familiar with quite a few, but there are a couple of names that really make me curious. Apart from the fact that you'll certainly find one hero to swoon over with us, please note that Lisa Kleypas is clearly the queen of writing lovable heroes as she appears on each of our lists (and for different books)!

YOUR TURN - Do you recognize any of these heroes and agree? Who are your favorite heroes? What is it about them that you love (or hate to love) (or hated at first, but fell in love with)?

For more Sizzle & Swoon, head on over to The Book Barbies!

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Siege and Storm - Leigh Bardugo (Review)

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
Series: The Grisha #2
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Publication Date: June 4, 2013
Source/Format: Bought/Hardcover
More Info: Goodreads || Amazon

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land. She finds starting new is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. 

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm. (from Goodreads)

I’ve read my fair share of fantasies, but I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a novel quite like one of The Grisha novels. While the concept of light and dark has certainly been done before, the way Bardugo manages to make it her own is quite admirable. The way she tackles it in Shadow and Bone is fascinating, but the way that it’s developed in Siege and Storm was incredible. This novel took elements introduced in book one, and wove them into a story that was definitely more interesting and a whole lot stronger than its predecessor. I enjoyed it tremendously, if you can’t tell.

Alina may have experienced growing pains in the previous book upon discovering that she was Grisha. But that’s nothing compared to how she battles with herself in this novel. She mentally debates about everything - her magic, her feelings, her loyalties, her plans. While it’s certainly trying to witness her argue with herself repeatedly, I appreciated that it felt authentic for her to do so instead of just accepting everything or being led in one direction or another. In the end, her strength and her sense of right and wrong prevailed, and I admired her for that. 

Mal has a much stronger presence in this story, which I absolutely loved. His relationship with Alina is sweet, in spite of the trials they face. His bravery and his strength come into play during this story, and his quiet resolve often felt like a good foil for Alina’s confusion. This is not to say that he didn’t have his own share of insecurity, because that was certainly present too. I loved that he felt more well-rounded to me in this one, with good traits and bad. And seriously, it was just hard not to swoon over him.

As for the Darkling, if I thought I loved him at all in the first book, that’s been (nearly) destroyed. It’s hard to fight the attraction to his commanding presence and his mysterious looks, however. Reading about him felt like a delicious, forbidden thrill, even though he doesn’t appear all that often in this book.

My new favorite is Sturmhond, a new character. He’s easygoing and funny, but strong and intelligent too. I enjoyed seeing him demonstrate his abilities in handling politics, and seeing him tease his friends. He added a lighthearted atmosphere and a sense of humor to the novel, and I really wish he existed in real life because we would totally be friends. 

This book ran the gamut story-wise, going from really intense highs to surprisingly average moments. I mostly enjoyed the combination, though there were certainly times that I felt my attention would waver as I read. Still, the exciting, action-packed scenes really got my attention whenever they happened! Bardugo was able to craftily make it so that there was a balance of sorts between the action-heavy and dialogue-heavy scenes, though my favorite part has got to be the latter third. I adore that she was able to shock and delight me at many turns, and I totally did not expect how things would play out.

There are many questions left unanswered for me in this novel, and that leaves me eager for the next book. Bardugo’s development of this novel, and all the intricate, tenuous relationships in it, is very well-done. I won’t be able to tell you what will happen next, but I do know that whatever it is, it’s going to be a grand adventure. Bardugo has yet another strong novel under her belt; Siege and Storm has certainly proven that this series is unique, interesting and one that’s definitely worth taking the time to read.

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Frigid - J. Lynn (Review)

Frigid by J. Lynn
Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary
Publication Date: July 30, 2013 (e-book)
Source/Format: Publisher, for review/ARC
More Info: Goodreads || Amazon

For twenty-one-year-old Sydney, being in love with Kyler isn't anything new. They'd been best friends ever since he pushed her down on the playground and she made him eat a mud pie. Kyler puts the 'man' in man-whore. He's never stayed with a girl longer than a few nights, and with it being their last year in college, Syd doesn't want to risk their friendship by declaring her love. 

Kyler has always put Syd on a pedestal that was too high for him to reach. To him, she's perfect and she's everything. But the feelings he has for her, he's always hidden away or focused on any other female. After all, Kyler will always be the poor boy from the wrong side of tracks, and Syd will always be the one girl he can never have. 

But when they're stranded together at a posh ski resort due to a massive Nor'easter, there's nothing stopping their red-hot feelings for each other from coming to the surface. Can their friendship survive the attraction? Better yet, can they survive at all? Because as the snow falls, someone is stalking them, and this ski trip may be a life-changer in more ways than one. (from Goodreads)

Frigid is a story where you know what to expect from the start - a romance (!) between two best friends(!). It's true that there's nothing very new about this. But this novel had me grinning like an idiot, sighing with frustration and getting flustered with all the hot and heavy action. While it isn't an earth-shattering read, it was diverting and fun and just the thing for a Saturday afternoon.

There's something compelling about two people who know each other so intimately realizing that they want more than just friendship from each other. It's a tried and tested trope, and one that's a particular favorite. It's really no surprise that I adored witnessing Sydney and Kyler's friendship and their progression to something a little bit more. There's a sweetness, a tenderness, a hesitance when it came to taking their relationship to the next level, which made me both go "Awww" and want to yell at them to "HURRY THE F**K UP!" Of course, I totally cracked a smile when silly, awkward things would happen and grunted in annoyance when things didn't happen. And I totally blushed and grinned like an idiot when sweet, naughty things took place!

My only reservation lies in the random side story about someone stalking them, as mentioned in the summary. It felt too random, and the actions were incredibly dangerous over something that seemed a bit too petty. (Then again, who am I to judge?) It certain created opportunities for Kyler and Sydney to get closer, which was nice. But I'm still skeptical as to the real purpose it served in this story.

I've never read a novel by Armentrout before, but Frigid was a pleasant surprise. It was fun, quick and easy, which was perfect for when I need a break from my hard-hitting fantasy and dystopian reads. Even though it read a little like fan fiction, I still found it a pleasant enough ride - filled with enough sexy times and swoons and insanely attractive people to make it worth my while.

For more Sizzle & Swoon, visit The Book Barbies!

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