It's Bank Holiday Monday here (what that means, I have no idea -- besides a holiday!). And it's the Notting Hill Carnival! Time for some jerk chicken, lots of people, booming bass, crazy costumes...So, I recently took part in a survey for romantic authors on their ideal hero. I clicked my way through the questions, wondering what my fellow writers were choosing. Does height matter? Weight? Religious persuasion?
Well, as it turns out, there's one really important thing: personal hygiene. I had to laugh. Of course! Who can lose themselves in a romantic encounter when the hero in question smells like garlic, or reeks of last night's mackerel?
Ladies, what characteristics make up your ideal hero? And men, what's important in your perfect heroine? Any bad personal hygiene dating tales to share?
PS: I'm over at Christina Dos Santos' blog today! Pop by if you have the chance.
Nice curves. (You asked!)
ReplyDeleteOh that's funny. I once had my hero meet the heroine smelling of sweat, leather, and horses. She kind of liked it, what can I say?
ReplyDeleteCharacteristics that make up the ideal hero -- loyal, kind, and of course, that je ne se quois. (Pardon my French.)
Have fun at Carnival!! I so wish I was there!
ReplyDeleteHmmm...I like a guy with good manners.
Have fun!
ReplyDeleteI'd say that the hero needs to be brave and have a good heart. (Of course, he should probably look good too).
I LOVE Jerk Chicken, mon! Irie.
ReplyDeleteI hate to admit it but I've never tried jerk chicken!
ReplyDeletePersonal hygiene has to be the most important aspect, as well as a nice bum of course. Fickle, moi?
Personal hygiene...that's great!! I have to say, I've always been more about the inside than the outside, but the dude does have to have clean hands. :)
ReplyDeletePersonal hygiene is a necessity. I'm really liking Jacoby Ellsbury on the Red Sox. He steals bases, hits well, and excellent in the field. He's my hero. Not bad to look at either. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacoby_Ellsbury
ReplyDeletePersonal hygiene is most definitely a must!
ReplyDeleteReminds me of a teacher I knew who taught upper middle school. His hygiene was not impressive, yet he was trying to teach hygiene as part of the curriculum. The kids made lots of comments about him - outside of his hearing of course.
I like my hero's muscley and smart. Enjoy your holiday festivities!
ReplyDeleteCompassion and good manners.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
I want devotion.
ReplyDeleteI don't care if he's smelly and reeking of poo so long as he's Daniel Craig. That's my take on it.
ReplyDeleteAhem.
Yay for the carnival - I used to love going to the Sunday one - the children's events. We always had a great time!!!
Enjoy! Take care
x
Yes, personal hygiene is important and especially, for me, his teeth! If his smile reveals a 'gap' from a missing tooth he has never bothered to replace, and tobacco staining, and red gums..ughh..!
ReplyDeleteBank holiday?, i think i need to starting working at one instead of only keeping my small stash of cash there!. Richard
ReplyDeletei have to say, based purely on superficial qualities here, i like a strong back and a good set of abs.
ReplyDeleteMMMMMM
I don't mind some sweat...actually I like the smell of sweat, well not stinky B.O. sweat, but the...AGH! Why am I talking about sweat? Anwyay...my hero has to see into the heroine's soul. Hmm? Is that humanly possible?
ReplyDeleteYes!
I think a caring, kind heart is everything (oh, and reasonably good looking and the smell must be natural masculine!!
ReplyDeleteYou had to mention mackerel, didn't you. Made me laugh out loud in the office.
ReplyDeletePersonal hygiene is definitely important. Nice teeth, nice smell, clean nail help make up a nice package in a male.
Enjoy the holiday.
I like quiet strong MMCs myself :)
ReplyDeleteHmmm. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. More important is chemistry and personality. And the one thing the heroine falls absolutely in love with - could be anything from hair to toes :)
ReplyDeleteSomeone who works hard and doesn't want to talk about his feelings. A good smell doesn't hurt either.
ReplyDeleteMy ideal hero hangs up his clothes and wipes down the shower. He also occasionally runs the vacuum. Very sexy!
ReplyDeleteHave fun at the NH carnival!
The question makes me squirm a bit but I'll answer. I like a smart guy, one that I feel has something to teach me.
ReplyDeleteSomeone who cooks!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the carnival.
Serious answer: a man who has respect for women.
ReplyDeleteSilly answer: has to like my cat.
I took the survey too, and personal hygeine was at the top of my list. I don't care how hot or funny a guy is - there's nothing worse than a blast of death-breath to the face.
ReplyDeleteAs a survivor of teen discos in Ireland in the 70s and 80s, I would definitely say personal hygiene is up there at the top.
ReplyDeleteFor a real Hollywood hero, I would say Denzil Washington.
You are the 2nd blogger I've read today who has no clue what that holiday is, lol.
ReplyDeleteHmm.
Superficially? Skinny and tall.
Personality? Honest, with a side of smart-ass confidence.
Poor hygiene is definitely a no-go!
ReplyDeleteSmart, confident, and charming. Money and good looks don't hurt either :).
Well not stinky, sure, but I prefer a bit of a shadow--he certainly can't look like he obsesses about his looks--no super clean cuts (I HATE suits--they bring out my need to perform lingerie training on them)... yes... I prefer the bad boys... the rule breakers or artists... preferably long and a little on the lanky side. Atypical values are good (love a Robin Hood ethic). Anybody universally attractive is NOT my guy. I will hate him if everybody in the book loves him. I promise.
ReplyDeleteMy hero has to make me laugh. Plus I like a bit of rough... (well, you did ask)
ReplyDeleteLxxx
Lol, personal hygiene is very important, at every stage of the characters' romantic relationship :)
ReplyDeleteHaha, personal hygiene is definitely very important! But I suppose when I'm reading, I'm attracted more by a guy's personality than the description of what he looks like. Have a great time in Notting Hill!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, that would be compassion. Too few heroes have it.
ReplyDeleteYes, personal hygiene is pretty crucial. I went out with a guy once whose dreds smelled so bad that I could barely breathe when I was near him. Horrible. He was a white guy and I referred him to some of my black friends who knew how to deal with him. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a fun one! I love strength of character and confidence, though a bit of vulnerability is always a good thing too. And yeah, great abs never hurts.
ReplyDeleteThe carnival sounds like fun. How long does it last?
ReplyDeleteFor me, nice knees are very important Yes, I know it's weird ...
ReplyDeleteI always have wondered about those love scenes in which the hero has just killed a gazillion people to safe the day, bitten off the head of a dragon, is covered in gore and sweat and yet has the energy to make mad passionate love with a woman who apparently has no sense of smell and doesn't faint at the sight of blood.
ReplyDeleteMy ideal hero is just too perfect for words. :)
If he makes me laugh that's good enough for me. As long as he doesn't have bad breath!
ReplyDeleteNo spinach in the teeth, or furry, plaque-filled gums for me. Hygeine is definitely top of the list!
ReplyDeleteBad hygiene story? How about the guy who kicked off his shoes in the movie theatre and the smell wafting up was just horrendous...ugh.
ReplyDeleteClean, compassionate, faithful would do nicely.
Clean teeth :)
ReplyDeleteI once went out with a guy who didn't like to take showers (he surfed, so he believed the water washed him). Maybe it did. I didn't stay around long enough to find out. Hopefully he met himself a hottie surfer girl!
ReplyDeleteMy ideal hero is someone who is outgoing and straightforward without being arrogant. I don't have any bad personal hygiene dating tales to share, but I have to admit that I do like it when guys know how to wear cologne. Some guys practically shower in it, or they think that cologne is a good substitute for soap. But when they wear just the right amount of cologne and it smells good, that's definitely a plus.
ReplyDeleteShe needs to be handy with a blade :P
ReplyDeleteNotting Hill Carnival looks awesome. All we got here were more salesmen stopping you in the street to bug you :P
I like my heroes to be handy and to drive at night! Great job at Cristina's! Julie
ReplyDeleteSense of humour and adventure is so important. Honesty, integrity and a wicked gleam in the eye don't hurt either.
ReplyDeleteSense of humour for me!
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting! But it is important too. I'd have to say that I agree. :)
ReplyDeleteI use a couple personal hygiene matters in my next books, but its used in a humerous way to give the reader a break from the tension and suspense. And I read 505 more pages of Willow Watts yesterday!
ReplyDeleteIdeal hero - has a voice like chocolate. Who can read the phone book and I keel over just from the sound of him. (Tom Conti - he's no spring chicken now, but can still leave me drooling!)
ReplyDeleteOh yes. Personal hygiene must make it on there. Funny how it's never something you consciously insist on, but it's definitely something you want - favourite male heroes always smell good!
ReplyDeleteSense of humor never hurts! And nice eyes.
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah. Personal hygiene is important. I also like hair. I know, I'm a sucker for dark hair. It is what it is.
ReplyDeleteIt's got to be intelligence.
ReplyDeleteGotta have good breath and nothing stuck in the teeth. Ew! And having non-gnarly teeth is good--I love me some straight teeth! But yes, loyal and kind and all that inner stuff too. :)
ReplyDeleteAs much as some of us swoon at the Regency romances and such, apparently personal hygiene was a bit problem then! No 3 showers a day for those guys and no deodorant either. No wonder the ladies swooned!
ReplyDeleteD
It was a strange list in many ways! I'm happy with my guy who would do anything for me. But my 'ideal' romantic hero who only lives inside novels would be a Mr Rochester type: dark, brooding but ultimately sensitive.
ReplyDeleteWell the only man that comes to mind if Martin Shaw - I'm totally in love with him. In fact, I'm a little obsessed with him. Well, okay, in another life..... lol.
ReplyDeleteAs my husband isn't big on hygiene, I guess that's not something that would immediately spring to mind. The hero in Discovery at Rosehill is a priest. Not sure what they smell of!
CJ xx
That made me laugh, but I confess there's truth in the hygiene thing. In the recent Sherlock Holmes movie that thing that struck me was how dirty he always looked--crunchy even. Made me wonder what he must have smelled like (and it wasn't good). =D
ReplyDeleteI seem to be drawn to main characters who are slighty (if not more so) damaged goods. Maybe that says something about me...
ReplyDelete