Dark-haired, dark-skinned men with smoldering eyes that were bred for sin?
I’m such a sucker for Gypsies.
I don’t know exactly when my obsession started. I’ve certainly never met a real Gypsy, though to be honest, my interest leans more toward those Gypsies of old, the ones who invented the Flamenco, the ones who all looked like Antonio Banderas.
::sigh::
You know…romance hero Gypsies!
I’ve written several books with Gypsy heroes. The first was Viktor Savich, the Gypsy King (because really…if you’re going to write about a ultra-sexy hero, you might as well go right for the top of the food chain)…in my novella, “Surrender,” in the ESSENCE OF MIDNIGHT collection. In a lot of ways, this story was the precursor to my Phantom series, as Viktor was trapped by a curse and freed by a modern woman. Next, I wrote about Nicholai Vaux, in the Blaze, UNDENIABLE. Again, Nicholai had been trapped in the past, but he was released prior to meeting the woman he was convinced was the reincarnation of his wife. (As an interesting aside…is it an accident that I’ve literally LOST the authors copies that I had left of both of these books? I’m serious…entire boxes GONE. I have one or two copies of each book left on my shelves…the rest? Poof! And it’s not because I gave them all away, trust me!)
It’s funny how I keep revisiting similar themes…the book that I just finished, the third in the Phantom series, KISS OF THE PHANTOM, features a Gypsy hero who, after being trapped in a magical object, watched his wife murdered by the mercenary forces sent by the king to destroy the Romany colony I invented for the first book, PHANTOM PLEASURES. The heroes of the first two Phantom books (PHANTOM’S TOUCH comes out in December) were not Gypsy. But their half brother is.
So what makes me so interested in this character type? I mean, I couldn’t have been more excited when I realized that Cami Dalton’s Blaze, PLEASURE TO THE MAX (discussed yesterday) is hinged on Gypsy magic and the first scene is an uber-hot retelling of the sexual servitude of a uber-hot Gypsy king.
The stereotype of the Gypsy male is, I think, encapsulated in the flamenco (but I would, since you guys now how I love the dance.) Dark, smoldering good looks, mysterious, the ultimate bad boy, stomping his feet hard and whipping the women into a frenzy…Gypsies are RAISED to be bad boys by our gadje standards. The Gypsy male represents the macho version of forbidden fruit.
I say again, ::sigh::
So, my question to you is: What male character type really gets to you, and why?
And just for fun…
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Warm wishes for a Happy Birthday go out to Plotmonkey Pal Darla Ray today! We hope you have a fabulous, fun-filled day!
By all reports, Julie Leto was a sweet child once, somewhat shy, preferring to play quietly in her room making up stories. However, being raised with three brothers in a loud, primarily Italian household did have its influences and Julie discovered her inner tough girl. That’s probably why most of her heroines kick serious butt. Writing sassy heroines has worked out, as she’s sold over forty books to four publishers featuring strong, confident women. Julie lives in Florida with her daughter, a spoiled dachshund, a haughty lynx-point Siamese and a wide range of relatives all within driving distance.
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Happy birthday Darla Ray!
Oh yes, definitely love the gypsy hero. The dark hair, mysterious eyes, carefree, flirtatous ways. I don’t know that I’d want one in real life, but they sure do sound like a wonderfully romantic romance hero.
I’m also very partial to dark hair and melting brown eyes, a lean yet muscular body, not too tall but taller than me. A gorgeous smile and nice hands. The blue-collar man. Not big on suits. But put a hot guy in jeans and a t-shirt – oh yeah LOL. Now you’re talking.
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Tall, dark and handsome gets me every time, too, whether he’s dancing across the floor at a Regency ball or riding across the plains in a Native American epic, I am a sucker for him.
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Yep, gyspy heroes do it for me too!!!!!!
It IS interesting that you’ve revisited these themes. I don’t think I realized that before!
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With a last name like McInnis and the fact that I live in Nova Scotia AKA
“New Scotland” it’s pretty much a given that I love my
Highlanders, big, sexy men in nothing but a kilt~ yummy!
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I had to post on this topic because I love Gypsies too (or Rom as they preferred to be called) so much so that I wrote a story about a Rom cursed to live forever. It was nominated for Best Book of the Year back in 2005.
I love the whole history of the Rom and how secretive they are. I love everything about them!
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Happy Birthday Darla.
I go for the athletic hero. I love sports guys, the muscles, attitude, sex appeal. Of course gypsies do it for me too.
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I like them nerdy (but hot!). Think Vicki Lewis Thompson’s nerd series. I married one, so that probably why…lol.
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Happy Birthday Darla!
I have to admit that I love the dark, brooding vampires. *sigh*
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I LOVE an Athlete :wub: I love their good looks and muscles and their self confidence. That is why I loved the Hot Zone series so much and I love Susan Elizabeth Phillips and her Chicago Stars series.
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Carly, isn’t it odd? I don’t think I consciously explored the same theme, either. It wasn’t until I wrote the blog last night that I started to see the similarities between my Harlequin Gypsies and the ones I’m writing for NAL.
Sharon, clearly, judges like Gypsies, too! (I do call them Romani/Romany in my books…but for the blog, I used the more common term). My novella was nominated for a RITA.
The secretiveness of the Roma is probably another selling point for both readers and writers…there is so much we can layer into their history since there is so much that isn’t known. Which reminds me that Cami Dalton’s blend of Roma and Russian history is brilliant, IMO. My Gypsies mostly hail from Britain because my primary research book dealing with history and Shamanism of the Roma is by a British author. So I blended my Gypsies with British history and built my world there.
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Happy Birthday Darla Ray!
Gypsy heroes definitely get my blood pumping. I wrote a book called Sheriff in her Stocking and although my hero wasn’t a gypsy he was of Peruvian decent. Hot! Hot! Hot!
The hero that really gets me is like Susan Andersen’s hero, James Ryder in Present Danger who takes on one more responsibility–the heroine–even though its the last thing he wants to do. I read that book years ago and I can still remember scenes from it.
Have a great day,
Cher
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Ooops. I meant “descent” not decent. :yikes:
Cher
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Tall dark and broody… :wub:
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It seems that interest in the Romani is on the rise. I’ve noticed a lot of them in romance novels, but even THE LAST ORACLE by James Rollins that I’m currently reading focuses on them. The opening of the book has Russian soldiers going through small mountain villages looking for one specific group of Romani because of the savant abilities of some of their children.
As for the type of males I like, I have to go with tall, dark, and intense. I find a focused intensity irresistible, especially when it shifts to the female.
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Happy Birthday Darla Ray
Give me a man in uniform anyday.
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I finished my ARC of Phantom’s Touch and I LOVED :heart1: IT!!! In fact, I finished it in just 2 days and I was sad when it was over. I could read about your gypsies all day long. You write a really good hero. My favs are usually dark and intense. I like strength, mental and physical. I just need a character with substance as well as good looks!
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Give me cowboys! I read a bit of everything, but a good rugged Westerner makes my eyes light up and my heart go pitter-patter!
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I love Gypsies too! I also like the tall, dark, handsome, strong hero. Love men in uniform too.
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I LOVE GYPSIES–BUT I ALSO LIKE WESTERNS TOO.
ALICE IN TEXAS
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A uniform, a kilt, nothing. Works for me.
Happy Birthday Darla!!!
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I don’t discriminate. All HOT men do it for me whether they are tall, dark, and handsome or blonde w/ blue eyes. From Jason Momoa (from Stargate Atlantis) to Keanu Reeves to Matthew McConaughey – its all good.
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I am like Liz I don’t discriminate
man will do LOL
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I was here earlier but didn’t get to watch the video! It was worth coming back to watch! That man was yummy!
Personally I am attracted to tall, dark & dangerous add in intense & broody it describes someone in my past! Long ago past! When I am reading I love the men in uniform, most any man that knows how to treat a woman, someone with compassion, looks equally good in well worn jeans or a tux and is at ease in either! As long as the Hero in the book is a character that I can like I’m going to enjoy the story. Fun subject for the day & the extra bonus of the video.
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I like the dangerous type…I am a huge sucker for a hot guy with some tattoos. I don’t know what it is…but they call to me.
Happy Birthday!
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UNDENIABLE is my favorite of your romances (leaving aside DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS), so I’m hanging on to my copy!
I don’t know if I have a type. I used to think I liked ‘em dark, then I married a guy whose gene pool all hails from near the Arctic Circle. Oh well.
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Give me a warrior. Past, present, future. Man in kilt? Yeah, buddy. Man with an accent? *swoon* Hair color doesn’t matter but I’m a sucker for intense blue eyes. :wub:
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Someone that looks like Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond.