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When I was young and single, it seemed to me that love happened when I was least looking for it, coming out of left field at unexpected moments and often with unexpected guys. My current release, The Surrender of Miss Fairbourne, has that kind of “least likely” situation between its characters.
We all have our favorite types of heroes. Bad boys are popular with a lot of us. I will confess that I also have a thing for heroes who are very “together”— they understand their world, and expect things to work out as they want them to work out. They may appear to be paragons of propriety to people who don’t know them well, when in reality they are merely very discreet. They are not so much arrogant as confident in themselves and in their places in the world. Georgette Heyer wrote a number of these heroes.
Not much ruffles this guy’s feathers— unless someone comes along that challenges all those well ordered notions of how his life will be lived.
Darius, Earl of Southwaite, the hero of The Surrender of Miss Fairbourne (on sale today!!), is such a hero. And Emma Fairbourne is the intrusion into his life that throws him for a loop.
It isn’t just that Emma is not of his class. It isn’t only because she speaks plainly and says things he does not expect women to say, least of all to him. Her intentions regarding her father’s auction house are not enough to turn his world upside down either.
Rather it is her inexplicable appeal that confounds him. Attraction is not an adequate word for the way she affects him. There is no good reason for his bedazzlement either, and that really irritates him. She is not gorgeous. She is not the kind of woman he anticipates he will marry. She isn’t even the type of woman he has his discreet affairs with.
Worse, she outsmarts him from the outset. It takes him some time to realize she has the intelligence to do so and his being outflanked isn’t just a coincidence. Even when he suspects differently, he tries to explain it away. However, deep inside he knows the truth— she is just as smart as he is, and she is not above using his preconceptions about women against him.
He is hooked long before either of them knows it, least of all Emma who never even casts a lure in his direction. It isn’t that she does not find him attractive. She just has bigger fish to fry at the moment.
I was almost finished writing this book before I understood why I enjoyed these characters so much. They sort of remind me of my husband and myself. He was and is that solid, confident guy who is comfortable with his world and has things structured and comprehensible. And I was the unexpected intrusion that caught him off guard and, ultimately, got myself caught too.
Do you like romances where the hero gets confounded by the heroine, and gets a kind of come-uppance too? Can you remember any of your favorites?
Did you ever have a relationship with someone who was not at all what you thought you were looking for? Did it work out?
A confounded hero does sound like fun. We can’t let them have it too easy or all their own way.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 4:03 am.
Oh, he doesn’t get his own way, much to his astonishment. He does start giving as good as he gets, though. He isn’t stupid either, lol.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:04 am.
CONGRATS ON THE NEW RELEASE!!
Yes, I love a hero who thinks that he has it all under control and then WHAMMO! She strolls in. Those are a favorite for me.
I can’t think of any titles right now (um, its 5:25am), but I will try and come back if I can.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 6:44 am.
I was thinking of Heyer’s The Grand Sophie myself. In that case the hero is very disapproving. But hooked.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:06 am.
Congratulations, Madeline! I wish you much success. I like romances where the hero gets confounded by the heroine. I have had a couple of those relationships. They were good relationships, but they just
didn’t work out. Your book sounds great! Again, good luck.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 6:50 am.
I think they only work out if the guy ends up enjoying the ride and not resenting it. Some of them find it refreshing to break out of the mold. Others do not at all.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:07 am.
Love a gobsmacked hero! Congrats on the release, it sounds great!
I think I did something similar to my dh. Snuck in there while he wasn’t looking then, wham, it was too late. He couldn’t do without me.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 6:51 am.
Exactly! My dh is still a bit gobsmacked at times, after all these years. He thinks it is fun (when he is in a good mood. He would not mind if I suddenly became a bit more organized like him, though.)
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:08 am.
Congratulations on the new release.The only cofounded abd confused hero I can think of Mr.Darcy from “Pride & Prejudice. He was confosed about his feelings for Elizabeth but she set him straight.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 7:26 am.
He is a good example of a guy who is befuddled by his fascination with the wrong woman who is definitely “not his type.” He even tells her so!
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:09 am.
Happy Release day, Madelaine!
I do like a confounded hero though I can’t think of any examples at the moment. I love it when a man’s life is thrown out of whack by a woman.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:09 am.
Thanks, Lori! These release days are still exciting, aren’t they? Same nutsiness as the first time.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:11 am.
Happy New Release Day! Love the premise. I’ll be downloading tout de suite. Merci.
I agree with Gail, Darcy is the ultimate confounded hero.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:17 am.
Thanks for downloading, Fresh!
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:12 am.
I love heroes the way you describe them. I love when a woman throws them completely off and has them running around in circles. I think that’s why I’m still single. I haven’t found that. I want a man who challenges me, makes me think and who gets me. Doesn’t have to understand me but who gets me. So a cofounded hero is a lot of fun to read. My example would be Eve and Roarke from the J.D. Robb books. He’s an ex-thief who loves the grey areas and she is so very much black and white. There’s no way the two of them should have worked but they did. The best part is though that they don’t work all of the time anyway but they figure out enough to keep it going.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:18 am.
I think it is important to wait for someone who does get you and does not expect you to change into his idea of what you should be. That is disasterous, and never happens. We adapt to each other in this world, but some basic parts of us really can’t change too much.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:14 am.
I LOVE novels where the hero is completely confounded by the heroine and is fighting rear-guard action the entire book, until he finally throws in the towel.
One of my favorites is Lord Marcus Westcliff and Lily Bowman, from Lisa Kleypas’s It Happened one Autumn. He can’t understand why he is so drawn to her, because she is everything is *doesn’t* want in a countess. she’s brash, bold, stubborn, loud, opinionated….and worse of all, American! It great to watch him just being sucked in.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:49 am.
Yes, that is a perfect example! I had such heroes in some of my prior books too, like The Saint. (she was American in that one too.) But the hero takes one look at her and knows she is nothing but trouble landing on his doorstep.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:15 am.
Happy Release Day!
I won an ARC of The Surrender of Miss Fairbourne here at TGB, so I have had the pleasure of reading it. I gobbled it up in a day and very much enjoyed it. I loved the way Emma’s forthright honest nature made Darius squirm, especially during the Outrageous Misconception.
I can’t think of any other examples of confounded heroes at the moment.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:47 am.
Maybe by the end of the day you will have a little list of other confounded heroes. And I am so glad that you enjoyed the Outrageous Misconception! He tries to turn the tables, only to have them turned again on him.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:17 am.
The best are those confounded men. It takes wit, banter, and a wonderful dialogue between the heroine and hero. That takes me on a great emotional adventure with them. I find I will laugh more in books like that. I can’t recall one off the top of my head, but aren’t “..senior moments” fun
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:52 am.
I had great fun writing this one’s dialogue, because of what you say. And I hear you on the senior moments!
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:18 am.
I love that capable, unruffled kind of man. Can’t wait to read the book!
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:57 am.
Happy Release Day, Madeline!
I love the spunky heroines that turn the world on its ear for a hero in a novel. One thing about reading these novels is that they take place when women were not nearly as independent as they are now, and so I like the heroines that bring a bit of today’s spunk with the romanticism of those bygone eras.
I cannot think of one off the top of my head…it’s already been a long morning.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:19 am.
My heroine is in part unmarried because, as one man tells her point blank, her plain speaking is not conducive to romantic notions.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:53 am.
Well, she gets him ruffled pretty fast, lol. From the start he is saying “things will now work like this” and she is responding “well, no, I don’t think they will” and he is mystified at her boldness.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:20 am.
Happy release day, Madeline! THE SURRENDER OF MISS FAIRBOURNE sounds like a lot of fun! I do love a hero who is taken by surprise by a heroine who challenges him at every turn. I adore the moment when he discovers that he *likes* it – that any woman who didn’t challenge him intellectually would bore him to tears.
“Confounded” describes the hero of WISHES, one of my favorites from Maureen Child, which I re-read recently after Maureen put it up as an ebook. A lot of fun!
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:31 am.
I will have to check that book out! Thanks for the rec.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:54 am.
Happy Release Day!! The type of hero in your new book is my favorite kind of guy. I appreciate that his world is orderly and he generally has his “stuff” together. I just got done with Jillian Hunter’s “Duchess Diaries” (which I enjoyed very much), and her hero fell in to this category as well. The heroine took him completely by surprise. What’s nice about that story is the heroine wasn’t a flake either. She generally had her “stuff” together too. It’s just that they both weren’t quite ready for each other.
Happy Release Day!
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:35 am.
It is good to see these guys poked a bit, and fun. They do not change so much as adapt and enjoy the stepping out of the mold.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:56 am.
Happy New Release Day! I prefer a hero who is somewhat tortured by his past. I have no idea why though but there is something about a hero like that that appeals to me.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:38 am.
I guess the most famous confounded hero is Mr. Darcy. He and Elizabeth read a lot like this. She is his match in wit and can maintain a feistiness with him when other women just swoon away, act imperious, or cow-tow to him. I am looking forward to this new book, Madeline. I know it will be impressive. You always breathe in such historical detail that makes me feel immersed in the story. You are on of the few romance novelists I’ve read that truly keep me interested between the love scenes. Thanks for your work!
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:38 am.
Thank you, Rebecca! I think you will like what happens between the love scenes in this one (and what happens in them too!)
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:57 am.
Oh, Madeline. Have I ever had a relationship with someone who was not at all what I was looking for? hahahaa….Almost all of them. And no, I have to say it hasn’t been particularly successful for me. But then again, the heroes in my tale did not get the Madeline Hunter treatment. I can’t wait to read your latest.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:49 am.
It does help that an author can bend the guy to her will and fix everything, huh? If only life worked that way.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 10:57 am.
Happy Release Day!!
I definitely like confounding and challenging heroes. Especially when they are kind of buttoned up and are sure they know how things need to be. Kind of like Captain von Trapp. I always loved how Maria challenged him.
I can’t wait to read this book!
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:07 am.
Captain von Trapp really was a stuffed shirt, wasn’t he? But that countess knew when that game was up, well before he did.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 2:26 pm.
Happy Release Day!! Looking forward to reading your latest! I really can’t think of any other confounded heros other than those already here.. Ok.. well maybe in My Fair Lady.. even though he had a hand in her transformation…
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:26 am.
Higgins has that wonderful song “why can’t a woman be more like a man?” in response to Eliza, and to women in general. He was a great character.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 2:27 pm.
Happy Release Day Madeline!! Pride and Prejudice, of course. And I can’t recall the titles, but Amanda Quick wrote some really fun books where the heroes are confounded by the heroines. I believe the classic, Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught, fits into this category.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:31 am.
I think Almost heaven does too. I had forgotten about that one. Thanks for reminding me. Actually, I may have to go find it now and reread it.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 2:28 pm.
Almost Heaven is one of my faves, too.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 3:59 pm.
I much prefer my romance novel leading man to be confounded rather than tortured…and their heroines are most likable when they are smart, composed and confident.
Happy Release Day Ms Hunter. I will be hitting the bookstore later today for this one.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:39 am.
Thank you so much for hitting the stores, Amy. I hope you enjoy the book!
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 2:29 pm.
Really excited about your new release, Madeline. Can’t wait to start the new series. The only book I can recall off the top of my head about a confounded hero is James Malory in Gentle Rogue and that was only for about a minute in the book when he thought Georgina was a boy. He found her attractive in her male getup and doubted his manliness. It wasn’t too long before he discovered her ruse, but it made for a good laugh on him.
Can’t think of any ‘confounded’ men in my life although I’ve been confused a time or two myself.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:47 am.
Ah, being confounded is rather fun too. I try to hide it when that happens, but in the past the guys always knew and seemed to pour it on more.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 2:30 pm.
I need my heroes to be self assured and confident. It makes their confounding attraction to the unlikely heroine so much more satisfying. Imagine the boredom of a man who immediately gives in to his feelings without questioning their convenience in his already well planned existence. I need him baffled by his weakness; I need him to fight the gripping attraction.
What could be a truer love than one that is inconvenient and out of the blue? My hero is the man who must overcome his plans and expectations in order to experience that true love.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 11:56 am.
Wow, I could use most of that as the back cover blurb for this book. How well put!
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 2:31 pm.
Congrats on your new release.
I personally love self-assured heroes who are confident that they know their place in the world and have a detailed plan for their lives, and then BAM, their world is totally shaken up by a woman! Those are some of my favorite heroes.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 12:11 pm.
Yep, they are kings of their own little kingdoms, then BAM. Such fun to write those characters. What? Huh?
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 2:32 pm.
I’m so excited to know Miss Fairbourne is on its way to me!
As to your second question: Yes, and I married him. Tempestuous sometimes through the years, but oh, so worth it.
I think my favorite “thrown for a loop” character is Lord Lyons in Julie Garwood’s Lyon’s Lady. He didn’t know what was what for quite some time. That book still makes me laugh.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 1:26 pm.
What fun that you had that in your relationship too. My dh managed to figure me out enough to know what was what, but I like to think I still confound him sometimes.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 2:34 pm.
I love that kind of book. Plus I love the whole auction house thing, so I’m definitely looking forward to this one!
When I met my husband, I was working on my Ph.D., and he was a civil servant with a B.A. I confess I was a bit of a snob about it, so I really didn’t think we’d work out. Except that I was insanely attracted to him. It didn’t take but a couple of weeks for me to realize that he might have been an underachiever in school, but he is really, REALLY smart. I can talk to him about anything, and he “gets” it, immediately. I love that about him. I’m so glad I didn’t listen to my silly prejudices, since we’ve been married 28 years this summer.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 1:58 pm.
I think that in my book Darius is also attracted to the fact Emma is smart and doesn’t hide it. he hasn’t spent a lot of time thinking about women in complicated ways. He doesn’t understand what is going on with his sister, but Emma guesses one possibility almost at once.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 2:36 pm.
Happy release day to us all, Madeline!
I don’t know what it is about me, but I have always had a solid sense of who I am. Of course I have met several men who threw me for a loop but I learned (sometimes sooner, sometimes later) to tie myself to the mast so to speak. I ended up with a man whose sense of self is highly developed to the point that he would overwhelm someone who wasn’t able to stand her ground. So here I am standing my ground and so forth for almost 36 years. Marriage always takes an effort, but so does everything that is worthwhile.
Darius sounds delightful and so does Emma. WooHoo!
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 2:54 pm.
I think the effort put into a good marriage is more than worthwhile. I am picturing you tied to a mast, chin high, lol.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 3:45 pm.
Congratulations on your new release. I think most of Judith McNaught’s heroes eventually get their comeuppance. In Almost Heaven, the hero had to do some serious grovelling.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 3:38 pm.
It was very satisfying when that particular hero grovelled, I thought. I remember that really well, and I read the book many years ago.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 4:22 pm.
I’ve never read this Almost Heaven and only read 1 J Mc book and it was a labor. I’ll have to give her another chance apparently.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 7:58 pm.
Just be aware this guy is almost too perfect. His house has a gazillion rooms. He is a math whiz. etc etc.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:45 pm.
I do like romances where the hero gets confounded by the heroine. It’s interesting to see how he reacts to not being totally in control of everything.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 6:01 pm.
hee hee. Yeah, that is the fun part. Dag nab it, when I do x, y should happen. Why does this woman not understand that?
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:46 pm.
I think all good things happen when you least expect it. Romance included.
My Guy is totally not like me in so many ways but in the ways that matter we’re like two peas in a pod. Or like Peas and Carrots as Forest would say.
He wouldn’t be caught dead dancing down the aisles of the grocery store, but likes the fact that I’m comfortable enough with myself that I do it.
He’s military in his neatness in the bathroom…so I gotta move stuff around…It’s my moral imperitive. We were together a year and he gave me a drawer in the bathroom, so I’d be more comfortable. Let’s be honest, my stuff out on the counter was driving him nuts, but he didn’t say anything…
But we’re kind to one another and try to make each other’s lives easier when we can. We fight fair when we fight, and when we dont we apologize, and we mean it. So we get along.
I love stories where the Hero and Heroine are smart, and work together.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 7:30 pm.
I love the part about the drawer in the bathroom. See, that is romantic to me, especially that your stuff was driving him crazy, but he never said so, just figured out how to not go crazy without making a big deal about how you are not doing it his way.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:48 pm.
I love these kind of books. I probably have over 200 books on my kindle and I don’t want to even attempt counting my paperbacks so there is no way to pick favorites, it would take too long.
Mu husband and I were so mismatched that nobody thought we would last. He went for the petite blond with long straight hair. So not me. My hair is brown and curly and I am a little taller than he is. I don’t know if I really had a type but usually I dated guys at least taller than me. I’m 5’6″ so that wasn’t hard to do. Guess it worked out since we will be married 32 years this July.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 7:41 pm.
I think it is cool when someone falls hard for someone who is that his (or her) type. I think it is probably liberating to do that too. Like “wow, there is a whole different world out there if I just look with my eyes and mind open to it.”
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:50 pm.
I love a hero that is kept on is toes by the heroine, especially if she is prone to getting into mischeif and he happened to be where ever it happens.. That kind of hero that get exsaperated with heroine, but that pull of passion he just can’t stay away from her…
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 8:19 pm.
In this book his exasperation finally gets the better of him and he goes into a long scold, only to realize that something has just happened to her that makes her emotionally fragile in ways he has never seen before, and that she is actually upset with something that has nothing to do with him or his exasperation. This is all dawning on him as he is ranting on. It ends up being a major emotional turning point in the book for both of them.
Posted on March 6, 2012 at 9:53 pm.
Sounds a little like Sailor Moon’s relationship with Tuxedo Mask
Posted on March 7, 2012 at 3:46 am.