Monday, March 26, 2012

WHY DO WE LOVE WOUNDED HEROES

Please welcome Julie Miller to our blog. She is an award-winning, nationally bestselling author of breathtaking romantic suspense--with a National Readers Choice Award and a Daphne du Maurier among other prizes.  In 2009 Julie earned an RT BookReviews Career Achievement Award for Series Romantic Suspense.  Many of her 45+ books have appeared on the USA Today, Borders and BookScan Top 100 Romances bestseller lists.  Find out more at www.juliemiller.org
She has graciously agreed to give away a copy of her newest book THE MARINE NEXT DOOR to one lucky person who comments the most on her posts this week. Come back tomorrow for her next visit.
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Wounded Heroes
Why do we love those tortured heart-breakers so much? They’re damaged physically and/or emotionally by life experience, scarred inside and out. Yet they often have an unshakable code of honor and loyalty that might be the same heroic quality that got them wounded in the first place. These men have been judged—by society, by someone they care about or respect, or even by themselves—and now bear a label that they often mistakenly think defines who they are. Some fight for redemption—others hide away from the world, reluctantly exposing themselves to stares and whispers, ridicule or fear, when called on to defend a person or cause. While there is much to admire about these heroes—these men are hard to love. They may feel undeserving of love, even. They may need to be taught how to love—or how to love again. These are the men who overcome extreme adversity. They battle unbeatable odds. And when they finally fall in love, they know only one way to do it—with everything in them.


The hero in my May 2012 release, John Murdock, is a wounded hero. This firefighter had his heart broken and went back into the Marine Corps to put distance between him and the woman he can’t have. But when the captain comes home from the war, his troubles are far from over. He might have a chestful of medals, but he’s been damaged inside and out. He understands fighting for his home and the people he cares about. But coming home, healing, opening up his heart again just might be the toughest battle he’s ever fought. So I knew he needed a very special heroine. KCPD desk sergeant Maggie Wheeler is a wounded warrior herself. With danger stalking her every thought and breath, can she trust the Marine next door to keep her and her son safe? And will they live long enough to heal each other’s wounded hearts?


In keeping with this theme, my local writers’ group, the Prairieland Romance Writers, just had a Roundtable discussion about our favorite wounded romance heroes. Representing a variety of genres and authors, here is PRW’s Top 20 list of wounded heroes. (Actually, we came up with far more, but we limited ourselves to 20 ;)


20 Stories Featuring PRW’s Favorite Wounded Heroes:


(in no particular order)


1. Beauty &the Beast
2. Land of Dreams by Cheryl St. John
3. Solitary Soldier by Debra Webb
4. Miss Emmaline and the Archangel by Rachel Lee
5. Broken Promise by Laura Landon
6. Jackson Rule by Dinah McCall (aka Sharon Sala)
7. Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer
8. To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt
9. Frisco’s Kid by Suzanne Brockmann
10. Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale
11. Candle in the Window by Christina Dodd
12. This is All I Ask by Lynn Kurland
13. BIG Temptation by Robin L. Rotham
14. In the Blink of an Eye by Julie Miller
15. Accidental Bodyguard by Julie Miller
16. Immortal Heart by Julie Miller
17. Forbidden Captor by Julie Miller
18. Lord of Vengeance by Laura Landon
19. Woman in Charge by Sherry James
20. Fugitive Fiancée by Kristin Gabriel

Who are your favorite fictional wounded heroes? Tell us his name, and the book title and author if you know it. Share why he was so memorable for you if you like. I’ll give away a copy of THE MARINE NEXT DOOR to one lucky commenter this week.


10 comments:

Avi J said...

Hi Julie my favorite wounded heroes of all time are Edward from Kansas City Christmas and Soren from His Enemy Daughter by Terri brisbin. What I loved about these two books are how they overcame their scars and didn't let it define them as well as the strength they showed in giving themselves a second chance at a normal life .

Caroline Clemmons said...

Bear with me when I say Beauty and the Beast. I believe that fairy tale is the basis for all the wounded hero stories we now enjoy. It's one I used as an example for my children of not judging people by their exterior. I also asked them the question: Did the beast change, or did the Beauty come to know him and look at the person inside? Which do you think is true?

Julie Miller said...

Hey, AviJ! Thanks for stopping by. Edward Kincaid was a wonderful, noble hero to write. He had a lot of overcome, inside and out. I'm glad you fell in love with him, too.

I haven't read Terri Brisbin's book, but I'll add it to my list. Thanks for the recommendation!

Julie Miller said...

Thanks, John!

Julie Miller said...

Interesting question, Caroline. I'd say it's a little of both... Beauty definitely had to change how she perceived the Beast--to see the man within the harsh exterior. But I also think the Beast had to change, too--on the inside. He had to get past that anger/resentment/arrogance/whatever emotions had hardened the shell around his heart so he could summon his finer qualities (honor, patience, being protective, etc.) and let them be seen by someone as perceptive as Beauty.

Definitely my favorite fairy tale, too!

Jeanne Guzman said...

My favorite fictional wounded heroe isn't a man, it's a woman, and that would be Eve Dallas from the In Death series written by J. D. Robb. The woman has been through so much in her life and came out stronger. She continuously fights the nightmare of her past, but fight she does.

Julie Miller said...

Interesting perspective, Jeanne. I've written some wounded heroines, too. And they really do make for some complex, wonderful characters to read. Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

I like several of Julie's books and their wounded heros. In The Blink Of An Eye is a fav and Beauty and the Badge. Rachel Lee also has some wonderful wounded heroes books. I just love wounded heroes. You really feel a part of them I feel and as they grow/change throughout the book, you can grow/change with them.

Denise

Julie Miller said...

Thank you, Denise! CSI Mac Taylor from In the Blink of an Eye and Detective Kevin Grove from Beauty & the Badge are two of my all-time favorite heroes I've written. Of course, I love that whole Beauty & the Beast/wounded hero theme.

Thanks for the shout outs!

Julie Miller said...

Remember, I'll be back on Friday with an excerpt from my upcoming release and Book GiveAway!

Thanks to everyone for stopping by!

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