19 Comments
Leave a Comment
Share:
To me, character is story.
I’m drawn to a certain type of personality in my reading and writing tastes. My heroines may be down on their luck, but they are strong. They can hold their own when push comes to shove.
The heroes? Ah, I love the loner, the rebel, the self-made man. Add the twist of him being a second son and his personality become more hard-edged. More dangerous. More unyielding.
For eons, second sons were the spare heir in case something befell the first born. They were thought to be second best, and often that stigma haunted them all their lives. They were never expected to amount to as much as the hero. Some men accepted their lot. Many rebelled in their own ways.
In my December releases, my heroes are worlds apart, yet share the fact of being second sons.
Dade Logan was born the eldest son, but raised in a foster home where he was the second son. Instead of caving to the eldest brother’s wishes, he simply became more determined to forge a life on his own for himself and his lost sister. He was looking for a way to recapture his family, and in essence, his true self.
Prince Kristo Stanrakis was the second son – the spare heir in the island kingdom of Angyra. He embraced his playboy image for it allowed him freedom to pursue his own dreams — to escape the demands of royal life if only for a while. He never thought he would have to assume the duties of king or end up paired with the woman his mistrusted above all others.
Readers, like authors, are typically drawn to enjoy certain types of characters. What are your favorites as far as heroes go? Is there one type of man you absolutely love to read about? Is there a type you just can’t force yourself to read?
I’ll give away an autographed copy of In a Cowboy’s Arms, and an autographed copy of Captured and Crowned to two people who comment on this blog. Also, please tell me if you’ve a preference for a western hero or contemporary one. Winners will be announced Dec 5.
Filed in: Janette Kenny
Nov 30th
2010
7:16 am
kris Said:
the books sound great, can’t wait to read them!
-
Nov 30th
2010
8:29 am
Virginia C Said:
Hi, Janette! Happy Holidays : ) Very interesting insight into second sons! As with the “middle child”, the one who is not the oldest (or heir), or the youngest (the adored baby), the second son may feel superfluous. No one should feel that they are unnessecary, unwanted or without purpose. I love Western Heroes! A hero can be a rascally rogue, but he must still have a deep-seated respect for women–even if it takes a while to surface. A man who takes care of his family with his wealth is a provider. A hero is a man who takes care of his family in all circumstances, especially when wealth is unavailable or unattainable. A man with a compassionate heart, strong principles, honor and humor will always be heroic to those who love him. Money cannot buy those qualities. What makes a man most attractive is a quiet confidence, a definite masculinity, that shows itself in thought and action. Handsome men are sometimes merely “pretty”, nice to look at, but not always substantial in personality. When you find a man who is strong, smart and sensitive, sweet and sensual, you don’t want to look at anyone else.
-
Nov 30th
2010
8:32 am
Kristan Higgins Said:
I don’t like the unrepentant bad boy, personally. Bad boys are great, but they need more than the (ahem) magic woo-woo to reform. That is, for me, there has to be more than wanting to bed the heroine that drives this guy to be a better person. I love the idea of second sons, Janette…birth order has so much to do with who we are!
-
Nov 30th
2010
8:39 am
Laurie G Said:
I dislike heroes who are cruel or violent to people or animals.
I like heroes to be self reliant, courteous, caring, honorable and responsible. I like heroes who eventually allow the love of a woman to enter into their lives.
I like both western and contemporary heroes. Recently I’ve been on a western streak reading books from Linda Lael Miller, Jodi Thomas and Patricia Potter.
I’d love to read your western “In A Cowboy’s Arms”! The cowboy code epitomizes a hero.
-
Nov 30th
2010
10:02 am
Catherine Kean Said:
I enjoy reading alpha male heroes, as long as they have a tender heart under all that tough exterior!
Congratulations on the book releases! They sound like great reads.
-
Nov 30th
2010
10:18 am
eap Said:
I prefer western heroes but will read anything with the crush that has lasted for years theme especially on the hero’s side.
-
Nov 30th
2010
11:02 am
Shana Said:
I do like books about second sons. The eldest always have to be responsible. The younger brothers can be much more fun.
-
Nov 30th
2010
11:18 am
CrystalGB Said:
Your books sound great. The heroes I enjoy reading are cowboys, men in uniform, and any alpha hero with a heart.
-
Nov 30th
2010
11:44 am
Kay w Said:
I love a western hero, addicted to the whole western setting actually! The idea of a second son being the hero is great as they are allowed to be more carefree (“wild”), your new books are on my readinglist for sure, can’t wait!
-
Nov 30th
2010
12:12 pm
Quilt Lady Said:
Hi Janette, first off let me say I love your books. I love the western heros myself. Lately I have been so hooked on cowboys and I am reading every cowboy book I can get my little hands on. I also love the idea of the second son being the hero,its usually the first son so this will be different. Thanks for sharing your books with us today and please enter me.
-
Nov 30th
2010
1:41 pm
catslady Said:
I too am going to go with the cowboy. I like the idea of the younger son too – seems like they usually get the short end of the stick all the time. I do like the bad boys (in my reading lol) but only because they’re usually really tender hearted down deep.
-
Nov 30th
2010
2:36 pm
chey Said:
I like most heroes, as long as they’re not controlling.
Some times I read about western heroes and other times contemporary heroes.
-
Nov 30th
2010
7:13 pm
Janette Kenny Said:
Thanks, kris!
I agree, Virginia C. And of course I love western heroes! Happy Holidays to you as well.
Kristan, I’m a sucker for the bad boy with redeeming qualities. Those stories can be really emotion and satisfying reads.
I can’t tolerate any fictional or real person who’s abusive to kids, animals or women, Laurie. That’s a major turn off for me too.
Hey, thanks, Catherine! Love my alpha men with heart, even if they hate to admit it at first.
Eap, I like those loved from afar themes too. I’m doing another where the heroine fell for the hero years ago, and he was attracked to her, but it just didn’t work then. It’s fun to revisit those plots and see how much the characters have grown, and how much the past impacted their present.
So, so true, Shana! The second sons can be such wicked fun to write.
Just the type I like to read and write about, Crystal!
I think so too, Kay. And thanks so much!!!
Aw, thanks Quilt Lady! I fell in love with westerns long ago and still have a very soft spot in my heart for those cowboys.
Catslady, the third book in my western trilogy is about the youngest son, and it was the first time I’d written one. Loved delving into his emotions, which were a major jumble.
I like controlling if there is a need for the hero to be that way, chey. If he’s just a bully for the sake of being tough, no way.
-
Nov 30th
2010
10:56 pm
Linda Henderson Said:
I read both western and contemporary but I probably read more contemporary. I like alpha heroes, I always tend to read more of those. I like the ones with baggage, scars, both physical and emotional, I think it makes them more real. I love sheikh books, I read all them that I can.
-
Nov 30th
2010
11:17 pm
Janette Kenny Said:
Linda, I love characters with inner scars the most. It makes the emotions and conflicts so much more intense. Ah, shiekh books. I’m working on one now.
-
Dec 1st
2010
7:08 am
Fran Said:
Mine heroes have to alphas
I like them rough but with a sensitive side that only heroine knows about. For me it doesn’t matter from what time period or part of the world hero comes as long as I can understand and like him 
Your books sound very interesting, can’t wait to read them.
-
Dec 1st
2010
8:35 am
Minna Said:
I like to read about all kinds of heroes, but my favorites are the ones with a geeky side.
-
Dec 1st
2010
12:20 pm
Karyn Gerrard Said:
I do love western heroes, and squeeee Nathan Kamp is on your cowboy cover! (one of my fav cover models) I like Alphas, but I agree with others, there has to be that deeply hidden tender side.
All the best for your releases!
-
Dec 3rd
2010
9:36 pm
Denise Said:
Hi Janette, congrats on your two December releases!! I love heroes who are outwardly bad or tough boys who have overcome difficult childhoods, yet are really sweet when it comes to the heroine and will do anything for her. They just make me melt!! I definitely prefer contemporary heroes, though…I know western heroes tend to fit the outwardly bad boy type but for some reason they just don’t appeal to me!
-