From Kris: Buongiorno, Bellas! While apparently unrelated to the notion of ‘Getting Conquered' by a romance hero, I still have to start with this . . .

We have a new president, and it reminds me of romance. Because however we voted, here is our chance to begin again, with each other. Here's hope, here's a strain of deep, joyful connection between people that hasn't happened for a long time. And if that's not what romance is all about, at its core, then it isn't about anything at all.

So, here's to new beginnings, and a new kind of heroism, maybe one we find within ourselves.

And hey! Funny you should mention heroes . . . .

What conquers YOU in a hero? What makes you willing to swoon or risk everything? What kind of man does it to YOU?

Me, I'm a fan of an alpha hero. A RELUCTANT alpha hero.  Why?

I think, in part, it's because he's acutely insightful & self-aware. He recognizes the danger he's facing, the trouble looming on his horizons, and he doesn't want it. Rejects it entirely.

It's like a fairy tale, where the hero rejects what's coming. At some deep level, they know what it's going to mean, and they don't think they're up to it.

Their motives are often selfish. At first.

But then, they rise to the occasion. Blow it out of the water. For some really amazing, honorable reason. The break-your-heart kind of reason. You know, love.

They stand at a distance from the world, yet protect the world. They totally, -totally steal my heart.

They embody the values of both worlds (the ‘part of the world' and ‘separate from the world' worlds), and they rise above each. They give something necessary to the world (make the world a better place) without sacrificing their individuality and freedom.

They have their cake and eat it too! Now, that's a Happily-Ever-After.

This is the romance hero who conquers me. Alpha, with more. Because he's ABOUT more. He's torn. I love torn. Heroes, I mean.

And I do believe one of my favorite almost-anti-heroes, my favorite reluctant hero, who conquers me, in fiction is . . . Aragon. "Lord of the Rings." I mean the books, although they did a superior job with this aspect of his characterization in the movies. Oh, and I love Indy too. (As in Indiana Jones.)

So . . . what kind of hero ‘conquers' you? Any other fabulous reluctant alpha heroes who are gentle with their women and savage about the awful ways of the world? In fiction, in the movies, in your life.

Ain't It (A) Grand! -- There's more romance fun to be had when you sign up for Michelle's NEW RBTB Newsletter List
here (NOT in the myLifetime sidebar). That way you'll be able to keep utd on the RBTB dl when Michelle and RBTB move from myLifetime Jan 31.

Posted in: sex, love, michelle buonfiglio, nora roberts, guestblog, romance b(u)y the..., historicals, kris kennedy, the conqueror

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