Month of Love Guest Blog & Giveaway: Confidence is very sexy, don’t you think? by Thea Harrison
Everyone please welcome Thea Harrison to Paperback Dolls! Thea’s debut paranormal romance in her Elder Races series, DRAGON BOUND, will hit the shelves May 3rd.
I’m afraid I never much liked the actor Jack Palance. Do any of you remember him? He starred in a ton of movies, a lot of them westerns, from 1950 onward. Actually he enjoyed quite a successful acting career, so I must have been in the minority.
He seemed to disappear for a while, at least in my movie- and TV-watching. Then in 1991, he starred as cowboy Curly in City Slickers along with Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern and Bruno Kirby. And Jack was back.
I still didn’t like him. I didn’t have anything against him, mind you. I just didn’t care for him much. I found his acting style overblown, his villainous characters overplayed, and he just plain rubbed me the wrong way.
After he starred in City Slickers, Jack enjoyed a resurgence of popularity. One day when I was watching TV, he came on the screen. He was doing a commercial for a Mennen aftershave, and because I was in the middle of a show I wanted to watch, and because in the early 90s I didn’t have a DVR and the ability to fast forward, I sighed and watched it. And much to my surprise, and very much in spite of myself, I fell a little bit in love with Jack. I looked for that commercial. I laughed and clapped when it came on. I was sad when it was no longer aired.
So what was it about that pesky aftershave commercial? What did Jack do? What does this have to do with my blog on love and romance, you ask? I’ll tell you.
I love a ripped guy as much as anyone else, the washboard abs, a pretty face, to-die-for hair flopping in dark sensual eyes. But I only love it all up to a point. Then I get bored and wander off, unless something else grabs me. That something else has got to be the non-physical part.
That’s where the love and romance come in. There’s the surprise of it, the catch of the sigh in those washboard abs, a face that becomes arresting because of the stamp of personality and the force of emotion behind it, the intelligent twinkle that sparks like fire in those dark sensual eyes. The love and romance—at least for me—is only as good as the heart of the man, whether he is the tortured or the sunny hero, or the passionate villain who is, in spite of himself, redeemed at the end. That’s when I fall in love and what I look for when I read a romance, and that’s what I try to write into my stories.
As far as I was concerned, Jack had almost nothing going for him. I wasn’t attracted to the man in the slightest, until suddenly I was. Until he appeared relaxed in that commercial, accomplished, and he turned to face the camera full-on with a smile in the very last seconds. And then there was the surprise of him that made me laugh out loud, that had nothing to do with his acting history or his age or his looks, but with what he said and the fabulous, mischievous heart with which he said it.
Because confidence is actually very sexy. Don’t you think?
ONE lucky commenter will have a chance to win a signed ARC of DRAGON BOUND! To enter, leave a comment below answering the following question: What is your favorite type of hero with heart? What’s a literary or media example of your favorite?
Passion heats up as dangers and desires clash in a brand-new series. Half-human and half-wyr, Pia Giovanni spent her life keeping a low profile among the wyrkind and avoiding the continuing conflict between them and their Dark Fae enemies. But after being blackmailed into stealing a coin from the hoard of a dragon, Pia finds herself targeted by one of the most powerful—and passionate—of the Elder races.
Giveaway is International.
More ways to win:
+1 for each place you post about today’s contest on your blog, social network, or anywhere you can. Digg it, stumble it, twit it, share it with the world. Wherever you share it, make sure you add a link to it along with your comment.
Giveaway ends March 7th and the winner will be chosen by random.org on March 8th. We ask the winners to post a review of the novel someplace. Whether it is on their own blog, Amazon, GoodReads, LibraryThing or wherever, it doesn’t matter. Just help get the word out. Also, we will try to contact the winners, but we ask that you check back to see if you’ve won.
About Thea Harrison
Thea Harrison is the pen name for author Teddy Harrison. Thea has traveled extensively, having lived in England and explored Europe for several years. Now she resides in northern California. She wrote her first book, a romance, when she was nineteen and had sixteen romances published under the name Amanda Carpenter.
She took a break from writing to collect a couple of graduate degrees and a grown child. She experienced waitressing as a teenager, has worked as an activist for a non-profit consumer rights organization, has been a receptionist, an office manager, a penniless graduate student, a director of development and research, and a single mom. Her graduate degrees are in Philanthropic Studies and Library Information Science, but her first love has always been writing fiction. She’s back with her paranormal Elder Races series. The release date for her first paranormal, Dragon Bound, is May 3, 2010.
Day said…
Totally agree! Confidence and intelligence is incredibly sexy!!!
Thank you for the guest post and giveaway!
I think confidence comes with age. Maybe that’s why I find so many senior men sexy… Robert Duvall, Tommy Lee Jones, Clint Eastwood, James Garner, Sean Connery….*SIGH*
February 9, 2011 7:13 AM
Virginia C said…
Wow! What an absolutely delightful post! Jack Palance was very unique–in every way. He had a great voice. He used to host the “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not” TV show. When he said “believe it…or not”, he said it with “the fabulous, mischievous heart”! Jack suprised everyone with terrific portrayal of “Dracula” in a very well-received TV movie. He was also noted for his poetry.
I love big, gruff, tough men who have even bigger hearts and an inner core of compassion. I also appreciate intelligence and humor, but kindness is the essential quality. Vulnerability is sometimes the key to an alpha male. What he may consider to be his weakness is actually the inner force which makes him an alpha.
US Resident, GFC Follower, Subscriber
gcwhiskas at aol dot com
February 9, 2011 7:39 AM
Lindsay Cummings said…
I love a hero who isnt afraid to be both tough and and sensitive.
Would love to win this!
February 9, 2011 7:47 AM
Natasha said…
Awesome Giveaway!!
+1 Tweeted:
I follow!
natashajennex(At)gmail.com!
February 9, 2011 9:07 AM
Victoria said…
I love the alpha male who sticks to his convictions. I think Bones from The Night Huntress Series is a very good example of my hero.
Jack Palance scared the crap out of my now 22 yr old when he was very little. He hosted some “strange stuff” TV show and just his voice would send my kid running to hide.
Tweeted:
vsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com
February 9, 2011 10:45 AM
BLHmistress said…
I love a Hero that is strong on the outside, a bit dark but once you find his heart of gold= My example and I know I use him alot but I just love him and thats Acheron from the Dark Hunters series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. He has been through so much but still finds in his heart to care about his DH’s and will do anything for them and their women.
vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com
February 9, 2011 11:51 AM
Barbara E. said…
I love Tommy Lee Jones. He’s played quite a few characters that are gruff and a stickler for the rules, but have a soft heart when it comes down to it.
Barbed1951(at)aol(dot)com
February 9, 2011 4:44 PM
JenM said…
I’m often attracted to guys who are not conventionally handsome but who look like they know who they are and are comfortable in their skin. Tommy Lee Jones is a perfect example of that. My other major crushes are on Bono and Sting – neither one of whom would ever win a beauty contest, but you know that with them, what you see is what you get. They have an inner core of steel that I love.
jen at delux dot com
February 9, 2011 7:20 PM
Sheree said…
Confidence is ultra sexy! For men and for women.
ironss[at]gmail.com
February 10, 2011 12:11 AM
Di said…
confidence is sexy; arrogance is not. The line is subjective, but it’s not attractive when it’s crossed. maybe when Jack was relaxed, he crossed that line back to the confidence side.
salllans d at yahoo dot com
February 10, 2011 7:30 PM
Meredith said…
Good looking, confident, but definitely not arrogant or conceited! I can’t think of any examples right off hand, but not ever hero in a book is my dream guy.
meredithfl at gmail dot com
February 10, 2011 8:14 PM
Bamafever said…
A strong man but one who isn’t afraid to show his feelings, is a man that’s sexy to me. Of course I like to look at the smexy men but when it comes to who I would choose I would go for the man who makes me laugh. Someone earlier said Bones and I have to agree. He is sexy but loves with all that is in him. He never gave up on Cat even when she deserved for him to just move on and forget her.
February 11, 2011 10:13 PM
Danielle Gorman said…
One of my favorite characters of alltime is Zsadist from the Black Dagger Brotherhood. I love him because there is so much more to him then everyone sees. They look at him and just see a scary guy. But he has layers. The love he shows to the ones that are close to him is profound. He’s deep and dark.
blog follower
February 12, 2011 4:35 PM
linaramz said…
I agree, confidence is super sexy but they have to have a soft spot in their manly hearts. One of my fave confident males is Curran (The Beast Lord, Baby!) from Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews.
Thanks for the chance to win Dragon Bound. It sounds awesome!
February 13, 2011 7:58 PM
Asylumgirl said…
Adrien Brody & Nic Cage are two examples that come to mind. They seem confident with themselves and they are totally sexy in their own way, though neither is traditionally good-looking.
Deidre
February 17, 2011 9:33 AM
JoAnna said…
I agree confidence is sexy. I also think humor is sexy. So my example would by Ryan Reynolds.
Tweet:
sidebar: beckerjo.blogspot.com
beckerjo(at)verizon(dot)net
February 21, 2011 6:09 PM
mbreakfield said…
I think intelligence, confidence, and humor are very sexy. I really liked Jack Palance.
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
February 22, 2011 8:20 AM
Sara M said…
I like a man with a sense of humor, like Jim from The Office.
I’m a follower.
Sara M
sara_UFblog [at] yahoo [dot] com
February 23, 2011 5:59 PM
Aik said…
I like my man intelligent, confident and caring.
aikychien at yahoo dot com
February 24, 2011 7:05 AM
Amy said…
Confidence and intelligence is sexy to me, as long as it’s not overbearing to arrogant. I am such a sucker for alpha males. I really like Barrons from Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series and all of the heroes from Pamela Clare’s I-Team series.
angeldream3[at]gmail[dot]com
February 24, 2011 9:25 PM
June M. said…
Confidence and intelligence are definately sexy…love alpha males who know what they want and go after it.
manning_j2004 [at] yahoo [dot] com
February 28, 2011 7:48 PM
Stella (Ex Libris) said…
For me a hhero has to be brave, courageous, passionate, generous and warm-hearted. That says everything I need to know about him :-)
Thank you for the fantastic giveaway!
stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com
+1 tweeted:
+1 posted on Facebook:
March 2, 2011 8:21 AM
She said…
I always liked Jack Palance. Maybe it’s because he came from my neck of the woods. No, he wasn’t handsome but there is something to be said of confidence and intelligence. I also love a man wearing Mennen’s. I hate all the strong colognes so many men wear but he’ll always get me with Mennen’s skin bracer–it’s clean and refreshing. The hero with a heart of gold–probably Ranger in Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series.
March 2, 2011 1:15 PM
Tyraa said…
Great giveaway
March 6, 2011 3:14 AM
JerseyGirl22 said…
I love paranormal heroes, such as angels,vampires, werewolfs. It’s amazing to see how dark creatures have hearts and feelings.
petra_socaciu(at)yahoo.com
+1 tweeted :
March 6, 2011 7:06 AM
My name is Patricia said…
I love the broading ones who’s life mission is to right the wrongs they have done.
Tweeted:
PelicanJL[at]hotmail[dot]com
March 7, 2011 8:29 AM
Jolene Allcock and Family said…
Yes, confidence is very sexy. I love coming across a hero who may not be Mr. Handsome, but who is ver self confident and it’s so heartwarming when he get’s the girl. I loved T. laurence in Jennifer Skully’s Drop Dead Gorgeous.
june111(at)att(dot)net
March 7, 2011 10:01 AM
winnie said…
I love reading paranormal romances so of course I love heros with heart because most of the time, they are paranormal beings with certain natural instincts and such. So if despite all that, he tries to be ‘good’ especially for the heroine, that just melts my heart :)
chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com
March 7, 2011 2:12 PM