Comments on: What Makes Damaged Heroes Hot?

By: Keira

Keira — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 02:05:21 +0000

I really dislike damaged female characters too because usually the damage refers to rape and rarely anything else.

By: Sharon S.

Sharon S. — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:31:33 +0000

great post! I love my damaged heroes. That need to be strong when they want to fall apart, swoon. i love them all, but had to go with the tortured. The strange thing is I don’t care for a damaged female character. I want her to be strong and confident and not take any crap from our hero.

By: heidenkind

heidenkind — Tue, 18 May 2010 20:24:44 +0000

If we’re talking Viggo Mortensen, it’s not the damage that makes him hot. He’s just hot!

Seriously, though, I think damaged heroes are great in books because they have a past, which makes them interesting. I also think they play into the fantasy of meeting The One will make everything all better.

By: Angie

Angie — Thu, 06 May 2010 20:13:58 +0000

I gotta go with either Burdened or Tortured because I’m a sucker for the solo warrior and for watching them come back to themselves from so far away.

By: Keira

Keira — Wed, 05 May 2010 15:04:23 +0000

Because I’m a meanie! lol I voted too and I understand how hard it is because I like them all!

By: Rossy

Rossy — Wed, 05 May 2010 04:51:20 +0000

Why must you make me choose only one?! It was hard, but i went with a tortured hero. Those are my favorite. *sigh* Like Z from the BDB!

Isabel, i have to agree 100% with your last response!

By: Isabel Roman

Isabel Roman — Tue, 04 May 2010 23:06:48 +0000

Magdelen said: “I think that all five categories have to be handled with a good deal of care and restraint for the romance to work.”

I agree, you can’t go overboard. Too little and it’s a plot device that can be taken out and ignored without changing the story. Too much and you wonder how he’ll overcome his past even with the love of a good woman.

Britta said: “My heroines are the only ones that can fix them.” Agreed! *G* But again, sometimes the damage is SO severe and deep that 400 pages just doesn’t seem enough to overcome it all.

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 04 May 2010 20:33:31 +0000

I love reading about tortured heroes. I like to see how the heroine “saves” him from himself.

By: Brita Addams

Brita Addams — Tue, 04 May 2010 14:03:14 +0000

Broken heroes are my favorites to read about and to write. My heroines are the only ones that can fix them. Even a strong alpha-male has to have his kryptonite (I know I must have spelled that wrong, sorry.) He’s in control of everything but whatever it is that is controlling him.

Makes for an interesting, full-dimensional character and quite fun to read and write.

By: Magdalen

Magdalen — Tue, 04 May 2010 13:36:07 +0000

Um, how about None of the Above? I understand the appeal of a romance that suggests love can heal these conditions, but a little goes a long way in making a hero vulnerable. Too much trauma and I begin to doubt that the guy has his stuff together enough to fall in love.

So I agree with Isabel, only I think that all five categories have to be handled with a good deal of care and restraint for the romance to work.