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There is much to appreciate in the male physique. I am a connoisseur. I consider it part of my job and well, The Professor (my DH) understands, though he does require reminding at times – I tell him, it is my job to know what *other* women find sexy. I can’t very well write authentic to-die-for heroes unless I spend some quality time perusing the male form.
I’m sure you’d all agree.
I’m a big fan of a nice, strong back. Good abs are always nice. And a firm jaw, that certain gets my attention. I can’t forget the eyes, I’m always drawn to eyes (like Joseph Fiennes, not sure what I’d do with myself if those eyes were ever to look in mine…swoon…) Here’s where the confession comes in. I have a thing for thumbs. Yep, you heard that right, but don’t give up on me yet. Ever watched a good romantic movie and the man runs his thumb along the woman’s bottom lip? Or maybe he wipes away one of her tears. All with his thumb. I don’t know what it is about it, but damn it’s sexy. It can even transform completely innocuous actors like Tom Hanks and Billy Crystal into sexy men. I brought visual aids though to prove my case, if you’re still not a believer.
Consider the Peppermint Patty guy. I’m sure you’ve all seen the commercial.
Okay tell me that isn’t sexy when it nibbles that bite off his thumb. Whoa!
It’s a strange fascination, I’ll grant you that. Maybe it’s just an extension of my finding male hands attractive. They’re a great indicator of a man’s strength. Though perhaps it’s nothing more than a way that men in Hollywood pose, just like that common pose for Hollywood starlets to be walking away from the photographer and to look back over their shoulder. Why do they do that? Is it simply to show off the lovely backless part of their dress? Is it simply to look coy? But I digress.
I really think what this boils down to is the little things. You know how when you’re first attracted to someone, you notice those minute details that make them so much more enticing to you. That’s part of why we all love romance novels, isn’t it? To relive that first blush of falling in love (and of course knowing it’s the forever kind of love). To be mesmerized when the hero brushes a curl away from the heroine’s face or when he traces his thumb against the sensitive flesh at her wrist. Shiver! It’s intoxicating and how wonderful that we get to all relive it again and again. Romance readers and writers are quite lucky in that regard.
So how about you? What’s that tiny thing that always gets you going about the opposite sex? Do you agree with me about the thumbs? Or do you like earlobes instead? I have a digital copy of A LITTLE BIT WICKED to give away to one random commenter today!
And special thanks to the Goddesses here for hosting me today! What an honor to be among so many of my own favorite authors.
82 Comments on “Johnny Depp, confessions and peppermint patties”
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Hello Robyn, and good morning to you from rainy Belgium. What I find sexy in a man are his hands – they tell you so much.
Btw, I actually met Johnny Depp nearly three years ago. I was on a ski holiday in the Rockies and one evening my sister and I went out dining. We often went to this restaurant (the owner was Austrian) and we thought it strange he showed us not into the main dining room, but into another, smaller one. There were only three tables. One big one where 6 loud Texans were seated (who did nothing else but brag about their private planes and their oil fields, another one where two adults and two kids sat, and then us. While we were waiting for our entree to be served, my sister ‘whispered’ to me the guy at the other table was quite artistic, ‘he even looks a bit like Johnny Depp”.
It was true, the guy did look like Depp, and they way he talked to those kids was great. He told them all kinds of funny tales and while doing it, used his hands to illustrate. Just watch Depp, you often see him doing it.
When those rowdy Texans were finally paid and went, it happened. All of a sudden Depp jumped to his feet – I can best describe the scene as where he jumps onto the bow of the Black Pearl and greet the English at the quay – and apologized for the other one’s behavior. Vanessa looked surprised as well. He then started a talk and both he and Vanessa were quite friendly. Later on, when I went to the washroom, I almost came nose to nose with him. He gave me a big smile… which really made my day!
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 4:47 am.
Oh my, Nickie, I would have swooned for sure. Not that I’ve ever swooned, but to see those eyes in person.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:16 am.
Welcome to Mt Oly and TGB Robyn. For me it is a toss up between the eyes and hands. I fell in love with Harrison Ford because of his hands especially in the earlier Indiana Jones movies and the original Star Wars movies. To me hands need to have rough edges, long fingers, calluses and scars to not only be sexy but also interesting. Hands like that show that the person has lived and done stuff that makes for an interesting story to tell.
As for eyes, they need to be intense (think Michael T Weiss, Robert Redford or Shemar Moore *drools*) and maybe have those cute little laugh lines at the corners of them. Lines like that show that they have spent more time laughing and smiling than frowning and being grumpy. Eyes like that are sexy and make me want to do bad things to the guy. Bad, bad, bad things.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 5:56 am.
Oh yes! Laugh lines at the corners of the eyes are super sexy. It’s hard to consider Shemar Moore without thinking about those abs….
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:18 am.
H’lo, Robyn!
Not really sure if I have that tiny thing I would be partial to, but the closest that I could get is the bum area. I’m sorta jealous of a perfect bum (given that I have an imperfect one) so seeing a man who has a perfect bum…well, envy, anyone?
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 6:09 am.
LOL! Just remind yourself though that men lose their bums, they just slide right off at some point and end up with a long back.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:19 am.
A very interesting anthropological/anthropometric study you’ve got here going, Robyn. For me, it’s definitely the back. But not the “lower back”
as in E.R.’s case. More like the shoulders that are all broad and strong and how the back narrows to a slim waist. There’s something in that shape. I wonder what this preference says about me. That I’m always running after guys and therefore only see their backs 
???
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 6:41 am.
Nothing wrong with chasing men…er I mean appreciating them from behind. Shoulders are quite attractive, and necks, I like necks too. And you’re right this is purely anthropological.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:22 am.
I like a face with character. Think Sam Elliot. Flat planes of cheeks, deep laugh lines around his mouth and eyes, twinkling eyes. I am a sucker for it. I used to think I wanted a thin goth guy with black hair and green eyes and all that. Then I met my husband. Outdoorsy and athletic, muscular with broad shoulders, that same kind of face, tall, and quiet but funny. Now I know my real type.
And his hands are just what KellyProellocks would want them to be.
Wow. This was supposed to be about what characteristics you like in a guy and I’ve just described my husband. Oops. Well, we’ve been together 16 years and he’s still just what I like.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 6:55 am.
Oh Sam Elliot – for me with him, it’s all about the voice. Sigh.
And I love that you described your husband! That’s lovely.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:42 am.
well what I like in guys is mostly their faces. I like to see the looks of them including admiring guys having faces that look soo smooth from shaving. makes me want to touch them to feel their smoothness.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 7:35 am.
Oh yes, I love it when my husband is freshly shaven and his face is smooth and I can see his dimples. That’s the good stuff.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:43 am.
Hi Robyn! What an interesting topic today.
When I was in college, I actually broke up with a guy because his hands were too soft. It dawned on me that this guy, while smart and funny, couldn’t go out and do a hard day’s work if his life depended on it. Then I met DH who has great hands. Calloused, rough from work, and a nice shape. Thy’re also the perfect amount of rough for a back scratch. (Dang, now my back itches and he’s already left for work!) Anyway, I think hands can tell you a lot.
DH is perfect. After being together for 13 years he’s getting laugh lines around the eyes. I told him it matches my gray hair. DH has kept his physique, too. He can still rock a pair of Levi’s. Yep, I’m so lucky that I got the total package.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 8:45 am.
Sounds like you got a great package. It’s funny you should mention that about that other guy – a girl once told my DH she wouldn’t go out with him again b/c she thought his hands were too small. Of course this was before me. I love his hands, they’re bigger than mine and strong. His are not terribly calloused though b/c he’s a professor.
But they work for me.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:45 am.
HOLY CRAP, YOU’RE SO RIGHT! That ad – I need to get some cool air in here! I too have been drawn to hands but now that’s you’ve pointed out the come hither ness of the thumb you’ve articulated what I couldn’t express. And that, my new friend, is why you’re the writer.
Shout out to Julia whose recent FB post inspired me to buy my first Robyn DeHart novel. Can’t wait for a little R&R to read it. Welcome to the Mount. Hope you enjoy your stay!
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:08 am.
Right! He’s smoking. And thank you for your kind words! I have much love for Julia, she’s made of awesome. Hope you enjoy A Little Bit Wicked.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:49 am.
Welcome. For me it is the eyes. The late actor, Robert Mitchum is a very good example. I’ll watch him in any movie because I just love his eyes.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:17 am.
Hi Sandi! Nice to see a familiar face (er…name?) here. I love eyes. Love Johnny’s eyes. And Joseph Fiennes. And Jonny Lee Miller. and my husband, he has beautiful blue eyes.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:50 am.
Hi Robyn!
I’m so with you! It’s the little things, not the bulging biceps or rippling abs (not that they hurt!); for me, it’s the throat.
THROAT, THROAT, THROAT!
The long line of a man’s throat, the dark shadow of his beard beneath the skin, the thrusting adam’s apple, the hard line of his jaw, the rising surge of the trapezius muscle.
Wowsa.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:40 am.
Had to go back and watch the ad again to see your point. Research, you know. Yes, I can see what you mean about the throat. And the stubble. Shiver, indeed!
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:52 am.
Adding . . . that peppermint ad? It’s when he tips his head back, exposing his throat . . . shiver.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:42 am.
Welcome to TGB, Robyn!
I’m laughing at Claudia’s response, because I don’t have anything that will compare to that! I myself am an eyes and hands girl. When I have found someone that I may be interested in I end up looking at the hands. They do tell a lot about a person. And the eyes. Are they lively? Are they telling? Are they playful? Oh, sorry. What was I saying?
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:24 am.
Kelly, nothing wrong with being an eye girl. Eyes tell you so much about a person. I probably spend a lot time describing eyes in my books because they are so telling. And well, it’s easy to lose yourself in some beautiful, intense eyes.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:55 am.
Nice! My favorite guy.
I have a thing for calves. A runners calves, a hikers calves, all that muscle and a nice covering of hair. mmmmm
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:27 am.
Barbara this is too funny! My husband has wonderful calves but no hair on them! They are so muscular that the hair is rubbed off by his slacks. I still enjoy them.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:34 am.
Legs, great choice. I can certainly appreciate a pair of nice legs. I was never much a leg girl until my husband and he has nice long legs. They’re skinny legs, but still long and that works for me. Over here in Central Texas, we get a lot of guys with cyclists calves and those are very nice and defined.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:57 am.
Hi Robyn! Welcome to our little piece of the Goddess realm.
For me a man has to be strong enough to take care of me – even though I don’t need him too. Broad shoulders and well defined pecs are required. No sleek, sinewy men need apply. DH is a swimmer and I love his shoulders and arms, the man could move mountains.
Hands do come in a close second. Seeing a man’s hands holding a baby always makes me melt. Like Kelly I want a pair of hands that tells the man’s life story. Strong, calloused, with a few scars, those hands show the man has lived and is not afraid to work.
Your thumb fascination is new to me but oh so tempting!
Enjoy your day here!
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:32 am.
Thank you for the great welcome! Well, I knew my thumb thing was a bit unexpected, but I figured those of you here at Mt. Oly would appreciate it. Swimmers have great torsos! Now I’m thinking about shoulders….
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:00 pm.
I have to pick the smile and the crinkles around the eyes that say he smiles a lot.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:35 am.
Great choices, Maureen! You can never go wrong with a man who has a great smile. My husband’s smile still makes me all gooey.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:01 pm.
Hi Robin! This post made me laugh–yep. I love thumbs too. I’ve never identified it as just “thumbs”, but now that you pointed it out–I’ll be starting at every man’s thumbs!
Mine isn’t so much a body part…but if a guy can give a good hug he’s a keeper. Not a wimpy hug, or one that just kind of pats your shoulder–a HUG. I can easily turn in to a puddle for a good hug.
Happy Tuesday.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:38 am.
Yeah another thumb lover! We could start a club. Good hugs are the best, aren’t they? I like the full-on hug rather than the side hug, myself.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:02 pm.
I’m a sucker for killer eyes, and Johnny certainly has those. Also, I need a man who’s tall. The bigger, the better. Feel free to make assumptions. I also like a man who likes to laugh with me, and if he puts his arm around me and calls me, “baby”, I melt.
Welcome to Mt. Oly and I can’t wait to read your book! Keep up the research.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:43 am.
I was kind of late to the whole tall guy party. Not until my husband and I love that he’s taller than me. My family is full of tall guys though. My 20 year old nephew is 6’4″, he’s a beast! But I love to get his hugs!
Hope you enjoy the book!
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:04 pm.
Hi Robyn and welcome to TGB! I like tall men and killer eyes. Sean Connery comes to mind on that one. I also love a sense of humor a man who can laugh at himself. (Richard Dean Anderson and Colin Ferguson).
Hoping to win a copy of your book, otherwise I have to wait until it gets to my library so I can check it out there.
Good discussion today
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:56 am.
Listen, all I’m getting from your comment (aside from RDA) is Scottish men and now I can hear them in my head and I’m already feeling a little woozy. We haven’t even mentioned accents yet, but man, that’s sexy, isn’t it?
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:06 pm.
I definitely agree with you about the thumbs. I love reading about when a man spreads his hands wide and slowly rubs his thumb against the base of the heroine’s spine, or the nape of her neck, or the underside of her jaw, etc. I also really enjoy unshaven jaws. Of course, I understand that in Regency romances, they are usually clean-shaven, but I find it wonderful when the hero misses his chance to shave.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:58 am.
PS. Welcome to Mt Oly!
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:59 am.
YES! See, you totally get it. I also love a slightly unshaven hero. I find stubble super sexy, in theory, at my house though I prefer my husband’s face soft. But I have a tendency to have sexy 5 o’clock shadow heroes because it feels so rakish!
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:10 pm.
Robyn, Robyn, Robyn….Welcome to Mt Oly!
You think you know someone. I have never heard the thumb thing, but you make a good point. I am going to be crude and say the package for me. Like a man with a good package. hahahahaa
But hands are a big draw for me, too. Big hands, rough hands. Hands that look like they have done something other than tickle the ivories.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:02 am.
I should have known you’d go straight for the package! I can’t argue with you there. I must have a fascination with big hands though b/c I had a previous boss who had these well-groomed big hands – I mean BIG hands and I couldn’t help but stare at them. And well wonder if what they say about big hands is really true. I mean they were really big hands….
Ah Julia, see where you took my mind…
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:12 pm.
Oh, I totally agree, Robyn! Welcome to Mt Oly–it’s great to have you!
I have always liked the ruggedly handsome type, although the beautiful ones are not a hardship to look at either.
I have a thing for a man’s eyes and that little cleft in their chin….for example, Clive Owen, Sam Elliott, Gerard Butler, Hugh Jackman…. Those are the types of men that I absolutely drool over. *sigh*
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:07 am.
I hear you! I’ve actually used two of those men as inspiration for some of my heroes. Chin dimples are very sexy, aren’t they? Something so simple, yet very effective.
Hook ‘em!
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:14 pm.
Oh, now see there, I knew I liked you.
HOOK EM!!
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:30 pm.
Heh…my husband is a Longhorn. I’m a bobcat, but I still know which team to cheer for.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 1:47 pm.
LOL, luckily they don’t play against each other too much.
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:33 am.
I think the smile and the eyes are the first things I notice – a smile that makes the eyes twinkle and turning into a laugh is even better. Then I start to look at other things: hands, shoulders, arms, etc.
But hands down, the thing that gets me is a brain. A clever man can make me look twice and somehow elevate other things. Brains are hot.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:39 am.
Sheridan, you bring up a great point…I do love smart men – case in point, I married a brainiac. But you know the thing that drew me to him the most was his sense of humor. He totally makes me laugh. That’s the good stuff. Smart men are super sexy.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:15 pm.
Maybe that’s been my problem…
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:49 pm.
Ah-ha! Perhaps we should discuss this at book club…
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 1:48 pm.
This sounds like the kind of book club I would like to join! All we do in my book club is discuss books…
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 3:20 pm.
Welcome to the Mount, Robyn. Great to have you here. Interesting that the thumb is your go to part of a man’s anatomy. Mine is the mouth, nice sensual lips, with a fuller bottom lip. Not too fat, nor too thin. Good for kissing…
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:53 am.
Thanks for the welcome. Yes, we shouldn’t overlook a good mouth for kissing. That’s very important. And the mouth is so close to that jaw, I love good strong jaws. And you know when they put that thumb near their mouth….ahh….swoon.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:17 pm.
Welcome Robyn! While I might be um, checking out other body parts, what gets me, are the eyes. Color doesn’t matter, but they have to twinkle when they smile. It gets me every time.
What keeps me interested,though, is the brain. Conversation is important. My dh and I have been together for 20 years (married 17), and I still love talking to him.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:31 pm.
That’s so lovely! Eye twinkles rock too. That’s part of why Nathan Fillion is sexy, that smile and his twinkly eyes.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 1:49 pm.
Hi, Robyn! Welcome! I’m a corner-of-the-mouth gal. Do they smile a lot? Grimly purse their lips? You can tell a lot about a fellow by looking at the corner of his mouth. And that little quirk of amusement…mmmm.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:50 pm.
am endeavoring to not slobber all over you! You write my very favorite heroes EVER!!! So whatever you say is sexy, I shall nod and agree wholeheartedly.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 1:50 pm.
LOL, Robyn – thanks!! You made the corner of my mouth smile. And the rest of it.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 3:11 pm.
Welcome, Robyn! Thanks for coming.
I have always had a thing for hands. Which would include the thumb.
Gorgeous cover, btw.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 1:00 pm.
Ah, thank you! I’m loving my cover. I’m glad to see you’re another hand (thumb) lover as well! There seem to be a lot us.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 1:51 pm.
I love smiles and eyes. (And my Hubby has beautiful hazel eyes.) I never paid much attention to thumbs, Robyn. I’ll be more alert from now on. Thanks for the tip!
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 2:26 pm.
Glad I could bring this vital piece of information to your attention. Hazel eyes rock!
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 4:26 pm.
Eyes. Alway the eyes. Hands matter too but the eyes are what I see first. I wish you had not mentioned ear lobes, tho. I do notice them, but only in negative ways. Never “nice lobes.” Just when they are odd, I notice.
Welcome to our party, and great news about the new series!
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 3:07 pm.
Thanks, Madeline! And yes, he’s so very sexy. Really just everything about him.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 4:27 pm.
And may I add that is one sexy guy in that commercial.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 3:08 pm.
For me it’s the voice…nice deep baritone or bass. Also the forarms, you know with their sleeves rolled up to the elbows, sigh. Men have the softest skin on the underside of their forarms… But I get what you’re saying about the thumbs
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 3:45 pm.
Oh forearms, that’s not one anyone has mentioned yet today. Nice addition! I love voices as well. But there is a lot of strength you can notice just in that forearm.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 4:29 pm.
i do love a good thumb across the bottom lip hi robyn welcome i find strong forearms to be sexy. mot your tree trunk variety but tan, lightly haired forearms.
happy and healthy holidays to all!!!!
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 3:57 pm.
Another vote for the forearm! Woo-hoo. We’re getting quite the good collection. An ode to the male form as it were. Happy Holidays to you too!
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 4:30 pm.
I think of the eyes.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 4:51 pm.
You can’t go wrong with the eyes!
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:05 pm.
eyes and smiles
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 5:33 pm.
yes, when you put those two together you often get a combination you simply can’t ignore!
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:06 pm.
The eyes are what really draws my attention. After that I like a nice butt usually encased in a pair of nice worn Levis.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 6:26 pm.
LOL! One of my very good friends is a butt girl. I’ve had to pull her aside to keep from from following some nice behinds before.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:07 pm.
Sadly it isn’t one of hubbys best qualities. Ah well, what can you do (sneak peaks!)
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:55 pm.
Its the eyes for me although I love Sam Elliott’s voice that gets me, love this man
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 8:16 pm.
Another Sam Elliott fan. I agree 100% about his voice. Talk about shiver inducing. Nice to see you here, Quilt Lady!
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:07 pm.
Thumbs?! LOL! I can totally see that though.
I’m all about the voice–but there’s something about the eyes and a good set of shoulders too.
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:27 pm.
Good to have you here, Robyn, and welcome! Sorry I’m late to the table, but this is a great topic for a blog! I’m with you on the thumbs–I too love when the guy rubs his thumb over the woman’s lip. Or thumbs her . . . ahem . . . naughty bits.
Eyes are what get me, mostly, but I also like jaws. Strong, finely crafted jaws. If a guy has a weak jaw, I’m just not interested.
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 1:14 am.
Hi Robyn – do you need any help perusing the male form? A 2nd opinion could be invaluable! I love hands and especially the voice. Don’t you just adore a deep mellow voice?
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 3:39 am.
Eyes…it’s all in the eyes. They talk to me and speak volumes! Of course, it’s really all in how all of the components are put together. Some men are just better ‘put together’ than others!
Great post today, Robyn. Looking forward to your new series.
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 12:42 pm.