I'm sneaking your post in here on Sunday night so a few people might pop in early, since I will be busy Mon morning, but I loved your blog, and those covers are GORGEOUS.

I have to go get these on my Kindle, for sure.

When I was reading your blog, I had a semi-humorous moment (in retrospect) of feeling so sorry for young women today, because of the backward hat/pants thing, and just because a lot of young men don't aspire to be mannerly and helpful (though I'm sure some are). But not in that way that maybe influenced older men, probably due to a lot of the movies, etc that you mention (though my husband was raised with several very strong women, and so he and his brother learned to do things right, LOL).

I don't know about old-fashioned or old movie heroes, but I know one of the things I admire about the men in my family, especially my husband and BILs. They really have that class and style, though they aren't "formal" all the time, but they know how to be gentlemen and stylish, they don't grouse about dressing up (I do that, LOL), etc. Open doors, put their hand on the small of your back when you walk through the door (love that one). I see so many young men who don't like to dress up (or their idea of dressing up is new jeans and a sport shirt), or dance, etc. I'm not huge for dancing, but I like dancing with dh. :)

They are also men who work hard, read, can carry a conversation. Are generally charming. :) Of course, I'm biased. In thinking about it, though, most of the husbands of friends I know are that way, too... I think it could really be a generational thing. I mean, seriously, look at MTV or whatever, and you can see what role models they have. And fashion? Yeah, well.

Ah, well. Just one more reason I am glad to be in the generation I'm in! ;)

Sam

The young men of today (Well, most of them atleast) don't have a clue what charm, or gentlemanly manners are.
I love having the door held open for me, niceties like "Excuse me" or just anything like that.
I can't stand the baggy pants around the but, my step-son does that and he has no but anyway so they're always falling off. He's not real fond of coming around us, because we make him pull his pants up so i dont have to see his nasty boxer shorts. So not cute, or sexy. I dont care what rap star is doing it. Ugh!
As for the old movie stars that i miss well lets see:
Tony curtis, charming and a hottie
John wayne, tough but charming to the lady folk
Clark Gable, true he didnt give a damn, but he had manners

Okay this one i not an old movie star, but Pierce brosnan, sexy as all get-out and very charming, the young men could learn alot from him huh.
cool post,
your books sound great
jody

I certainly like a hero with charm and manners. It seems to me there is definitely a lack of it in society today. Although I see a LOT more of it now that I live in a small town in the middle of nowhere. It is very refreshing to have people - men and women alike - hurry ahead to open the door for me when I'm carrying the baby. Or smile and allow me to go first when getting on the airplane with an infant and a stroller...

Who do I miss? Hhmm...I don't know. Most of those silver screen stars are before my time, sadly. I can't think of any one recently that has the "charm" I think you're talking about. I'll have to think about it, though, as surely there has to be someone out there!

In answer to your questions, Yes I definitely miss the days of the suave, sophisticated, silver screen heroes. Cary Grant was a big favorite of mine. That man could fill out a suit like no other , and he was one of the sexiest stars of his time. He oozed class and style. Even today, when you mention Cary Grants name, women will say that he had a class and style all his own. Some of my Mothers generation, still do an old fashioned swoon, whenever you mention his name. To be perfectly honest, my heart still flutters, whenever I watch one of his movies.
Another favorite of mine is Fred Astaire. I used to watch his movies when I was a little girl, and dream of one day dancing with him. I would watch him glide across the floor, with his beautiful dance partners, and as young as I was, I could see that the man had both class and style. I wanted to be one of his partners. I think it's the reason why, I enrolled in dance classes at a very young age. Fred Astaire was one of my very first romantic heroes.
I guess those days of the suave movie heroes are gone but, thank goodness, we can still live the fantasy of those byegone days in books. As long as there are Romance books, there will be Romance heroes. Thank you for being one of the romance writers, who keeps our dreams, and fantasies alive.

Have a great week, Mads:)

Welcome, Dana!

I love old-fashioned heroes (In fact, I love ALL heroes, LOL). I just love watching those old movies with the Cary Grant types and just swooning over them. I think great men come in all types, shapes and great lines :-) I love that line myself--glad you left it in!

Shirley

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author
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Hi Dana--Add me to the Loves Old Fashioned Heroes club! Jimmy Stewart, Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable. And I agree, Pierce Brosnan is a class act, too. Also, I'm going to order all three of your books and get up to speed. It sounds like and excellent series.

Jeannie

I'm in agreement here! What I miss is the clear expectation I could have of courtesy and respect, not just for the heroine, but as a general attitude towards other people. You've all mentioned some great examples of suave and courteous heroes :) It isn't just muscles that makes a hero, but some thoughtfulness, too!

Oh, oh! I just bought a copy of Royal Protocol this past week. It sounds fabulous and the cover was so gorgeous, I couldn't resist. It's on my TBR pile, so I can't wait to read it now!

I do miss the old-fashioned heroes, and if a man pays attention to the small things, like opening doors or waiting for me to precede them, it means a lot. I work with a number of military officers and have to say that the whole officer-and-a-gentleman thing is pretty much ingrained in them. During a luncheon or dinner, they half-rise to their feet when a woman approaches the table or rises to leave a table. They're good at conversation and making you comfortable, and the full dress uniforms...*sigh*. Enough said.

Great covers, Dana!
I miss men like Carey Grant, Clark Gable and David Niven. They were really classy guys.

Hi Dana. I know if I don't read each day, I too feel so lost! Its really the only way I love to relax is by my reading. I know I mentioned before around but its so true, it does let me forget about physical pain I deal with until I forget about it and know this works as a great relaxation for me! So I do understand feeling antsy if you can't write too!

You know, I love reading those variety of heroes even beta ones and silent type cowboys and just about any heroes! I do have some favorites of Desire books from I think the 1980's or so? One of my favorites is a hero that was injured and he falls for the heroine who is a physical therapist. I think the author was a Linda Howard book, a earlier one of hers. He was a rich man, very stubborn and I loved how she tamed him! Now I remember the title, COME LIE WITH ME from 1984. That book is what I thought of when you asked this question because I was not liking him in the beginning of his mood when he had so much materialistic around him but then realized what he was missing, love.

The winner of the free book is Mads. Congratulations!!!

Please contact me at danamarton@yahoo.com with your mailing address.

Thank you,
Dana

www.danamarton.com

Thank you, Sam, for having me! And thank you, Ladies, for visiting. I had a lot of fun hearing what everyone thinks about heroes. This helps me when I write my books. Hope to see you online again soon.

Dana

www.danamarton.com