Semper Fi !
I have a thing for the U.S. Marines.
The dress blues, the high and tight haircut, the great bodies, the matter-of-fact confidence that they're the best in the world at what they do—there's not much about a Marine that I don't find wildly attractive.
While I've always had a Southern girl's abiding love for the military, I think my passion for Marines in particular dates back a few years to a Moonlight and Magnolias writers' conference in Atlanta. What was a great conference to begin with became extra-special when we realized there were a few dozen Marines attending a seminar in the same hotel.
Marines and romance writers? Talk about your match made in Heaven! And the amusing part was, they were as fascinated by us as we were by them. Though probably not for the same reason!
The Marines we met that day behaved as true gentlemen, treating every woman there with a combination of respect and delightfully male appreciation. And they had a way of looking at you that made you realize just how lucky you were to be a woman.
So when I decided to make the hero of my August Harlequin Intrigue a retired military man, there was no question in my mind: he was going to be a Marine.
Luke Cooper is One Tough Marine, a former Marine Intelligence officer whose past has risen up to haunt him on two fronts, from the escalating threat from a drug lord with a blood vendetta against Luke to the sudden reappearance in his life of the woman he can never have--and can't forget.
Do you enjoy books with heroes in uniform? Or do you have a different kind of hero who revs your motor? Tell us all about it!
I will be giving away a $20 gift certificate, winner's choice, to any online bookstore that sells e-giftcards or certificates, to someone who comments.
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Comments
Uniforms
Those uniforms do it for me. Although, I married one who has never been connected to the service, I do love to look at those men who are. And yes, they're heros. All of my male family members have been enlisted servicemen, and in many branches. Nothing better than being in a room full of vets.
I'll never turn down a hero
I'll never turn down a hero in uniform. I like uniformed men right down to cowboys. Military, cowboys, Navy, police, etc.
I'm writing an ex-Navy hero right now.
He's the brother of the hero of One Tough Marine. He's the eldest of the Coopers, J.D., and he was a Navy aviator and mechanic.
In fact, all of the Cooper men have worn uniforms, either in the present or the past. Aaron is a deputy sheriff, Gabe and Jake are auxiliary deputies, Sam was a Marine Corps JAG lawyer, Luke was a Marine and J.D. was in the Navy. Even one of the heroines is a police detective. Oh, and the father of the clan, Mike Cooper, was a Marine Corps sniper in Vietnam.
love them they are so hot and
love them they are so hot and strong adn give their lives for others and our freedom
congrats on your books
I agree!
I try to follow blogs by military servicemen and women, and also journalists who embed with the military, to get a real perspective on what they're doing on a day to day basis.
One independent journalist whose online e-zine has been invaluable is Michael Yon. http://www.michaelyon-online.com/
Right now he's reporting from Thailand, covering the unrest in that country, but he's had previous dispatches from Iraq and Afghanistan (and also, if I recall correctly, Israel and Lebanon during some of the recent unrest between those countries).
I just love a good hero. It
I just love a good hero. It doesn't matter if he's in uniform or not. My favorite kind of hero is the one who doesn't want to be one, but is.
lenikaye@yahoo.com
Oh, a reluctant hero!
I love those too! One of my favorite recent TV heroes is James "Sawyer" Ford from the show LOST. He started out not at all a hero, but by the end, our reluctant Southern bad boy turned out to be quite an appealing hero.
I had a hero in my third book, FORBIDDEN TOUCH, who was trying to hide from life on a little Caribbean island, until the heroine literally stumbled into his life and sucked him into her dilemma. He was a reluctant hero, and he's one of my favorite heroes I've written.
(He was also a sexy Southern boy, which is my catnip).
I love men in uniforms,
I love men in uniforms, military or police. Those are my favorites.
They're my favorites, too.
I think it's because those guys (and girls!) are on the front lines almost every day, putting a barrier between the bad guys (here at home and across the world) who would threaten the rest of us. Who wouldn't find such bravery heroic?
Men In Uniform
Yes, there is something about a man in uniform, whether it be a military man or someone in law enforcement or a fireman. Hey, I could even appreciate a park ranger in uniform. I think most of them exude confidence and authority and make most people feel safe and protected. I have always been partial to military romances because they are usually very strong and have great physiques and know how to treat a woman, at least in the ones I've read.
seriousreader at live dot com
I have a real soft spot for men in uniform
Even park rangers, LOL! Or in my case, Alabama Conservation officers. Where I used to go fishing at Oak Mountain State Park, the conservation officer who manned the store where you bought your daily fishing license was very, very cute. We didn't know his name, so Mom and I called him Ted Trueblood. Hee!
Heck, I've been known to drool over a good-looking guy wearing an auto garage uniform coveralls. :)
Uniformly terrific!
The current military conflicts have made me more aware, and given me a new appreciation, of military fiction and romances with military themes. Most of the servicemen in my family served in the U.S. Navy. When I was a little girl, my mother and grandparents and I visited my uncle on "family day" aboard the USS Enterprise. I remember they served us lemonade. How handsome my uncle was in his uniform!
I am very empathetic to anyone who suffers the effects of wartime. Whether they served in the armed forces, or they are a loved one or family member, I keep them all in my prayers. World War II, The Korean War, Vietnam, The Gulf War, and the current War on Terrorism. I have friends and family from all of those groups who have so gallantly served our country. They all remain affected by their wartime experiences. Some hide it better than others, but the horror never really leaves. Please keep our armed service members and their loved ones in your prayers.
I pray for the soldiers, sailors, airmen & Marines all the time
You're right--they give so much, see so many horrific things, put themselves in the line of fire over and over. We at home have no idea, sometimes, what they see and experience.
I also salute the people left behind to keep the homefires burning--military wives and families who have to keep going with their lives when the ones they love are in harm's way. They're heroes, too.
Heroes
I do like military heroes. I'm not sure why but I think it has to do with the fact that they put themselves in harms way and give up a lot to be in the military
That bravery and sacrifice is very appealing
I agree with you completely Maureen. I think knowing how much they sacrifice to protect the country and their fellow countrymen makes them heroic to begin with. And the military training makes them physically strong and appealing. Great combination!
men in uniform
I love heroes that are men in uniform like the marines and navy because they're hot and I love the stories that are attached to them.
I do, too!
Julie Miller is another Intrigue author, and besides her wonderful Precinct books, she writes delicious military heros. I also love Catherine Mann's Silhouette Romantic Suspense books featuring sexy flyboys--have you read any of them?
I enjoy books about any type
I enjoy books about any type of man who enforces the law and this includes military men. But I also love cowboys.
I have One Tough Marine in my TBR pile and it's the next one in line. I have loved all of you books that I have read.
EllenToo
Congratulations Blog Winner!!
Congratulations EllenToo! You are the winner of the Paula Graves blog contest. Please forward your contact information to susan(at)writerspacemail(dot)com.
Thanks, Ellen!
I'm so glad you like my books. I hope One Tough Marine keeps the record going! Be sure to check the Intrigue Author's blog on Saturday--I'm posting a behind the scenes Q & A with Abby, the heroine of the book.
Men in Uniform
Last November during a Nanowrimo write-in at the now flood-damaged Opryland Hotel, a flock of military men landed near where my fellow (all female) Wrimos and I were sitting. (I think they were Army, though, not Marines.)
Sigh...
Not a one of us wrote a word until they were finished with their lunch and drifted away...
Double sigh with a slight drool...
Hee, Genia!
That sounds remarkably like my Atlanta experience.
How's the writing going these days with you?
I enjoy reading about men in
I enjoy reading about men in uniform: Marines, Navy Seals, firefighters, and police officers. There is just something so manly about them. They make you feel safe and protected.
Mmm, safe and protected...
I consider myself an independent woman who can take care of myself, so it's not that I feel I need protection. I just like knowing a man is willing to do it if I need it. You know, like if I break a bone and can't jujitsu my way out of trouble. ;)
And if that's the case, then I certainly want him to know what he's doing when he's playing bodyguard! So give me a Marine!
I love a hero in uniform.
I love a hero in uniform. They are sexy protectors that you know you can count on. One Tough Marine sounds great.
Thanks, Crystal!
I had a blast writing One Tough Marine. You should drop by the Intrigue Authors' blog on eHarlequin on Saturday--I'll be doing a "Q & A" with the heroine of One Tough Marine, Abby Chandler. What I do is "interview" my characters, letting them give you a little background about themselves that you don't necessarily learn from the book. Here's the URL for the blog: http://community.eharlequin.com/content/harlequin-intrigue-group-author-...
It's fun for me to do the character Q & As, too--I never know what my characters are going to say in answer to my questions! I learn something new about them every time.