With Valentine’s Day nearly upon us I’d like to celebrate four heroes with heart. These are the kind of men who don’t need to send a candy-gram to let you know they love you. No, these heroes will tear down walls, fight terrorists and rebuff the Ton for the women they love. I’m talking about heroes that defy convention and although they are alphas, when push comes to shove, they wear their heart on their sleeve.
1. In Cindy Gerard’s romantic suspense Last Man Standing, the final installment of her Black Ops Inc. series, the hero “Mean” Joe Green is the kind of man whose elegance resides in his strength, commitment and loyalty. He’s a stalwart and quiet man who doesn’t necessarily use words to convey his emotions. He’s not the kind of man who would send a Valentine’s Day card. However, he is the kind of man 
who will go to the ends of the earth and fight the very devil himself for the people he loves.
2. Sam Nolan, the hero of Lisa Kleypas’ new contemporary romance Rainshadow Road , is a man who needs to find his heart. A commitment-phobic ladies man who comes from a highly dysfunctional family and doesn’t believe in lasting relationships, is a ‘love ‘em and leave ‘em’ kind of guy. The gradual awakening of his emotions and sensibilities is profound and magical. Watching Sam embrace the idea that love can be a powerful and wonderful experience allows this hero to find his heart and to share it with the woman he loves.
3. Sebastian Easton in Lorraine Heath’s historical romance She Tempts the Duke, begins his life in betrayal and treachery. He is the very essence of a tortured hero – a man whose past is filled with tragedy and lives in a present that is consumed with thoughts of revenge. His courage is demonstrated by his ability to overcome his grief and self recriminations and continue living despite all odds. The ability to rise above and grab onto pockets of kindness and love despite his previous heartbreaks and misfortunes makes him a hero whose journey of self-discovery is nothing short of poignant.
4. Being a vampire isn’t always easy, just ask Sterling Chase of Lara Adrian’s Darker After Midnight (Midnight Breed Series #10). Once a respected member of the Order and now a warrior fallen from grace, his path has not always been an 
easy one. He wages an internal war between morality and bloodlust and after so many emotional and terrifying loses he’s about to lose the war. His struggle is wrapped up in politics, evil, family, addiction and his own sense of justice. Fighting his way through the minefields that abound takes courage, belief and of course love. His innate willingness to continue the struggle even when it’s the most difficult thing imaginable makes his hard fought journey to love that much more extraordinary.
This Valentine’s Day I’m giving kudos to the heroes who have triumphed over tragedy to find love. Each has an incredible journey and personal breakthrough making them heroes any day of the year.
I’m curious. Which hero/heroes are you celebrating this Valentine’s Day?
