A strong male protagonist in the context of fiction is a good thing.  The reading public seems to like strength even if it is wrapped in a cloak of flaws – the heavy drinking P.I., the once-successful attorney spiraling downward toward failure.  So what makes a hero a hero?  Arrogance.  Not arrogance because he’s just a surly, misogynistic prick, but arrogance borne out of accomplishment.  Which brings me to a guy I think embodies all the qualities of a quintessential romantic hero.  Gordon Ramsay.  Yep, TV chef of BBC and now FOX fame.  Yes, he’s harsh and doesn’t mince words.  BTW, one of my all time faves is his continual use of the bullocks (Brit for testicles). Maybe that speaks to my inner Monty Python junkie.  But I digress . . . so why do I think he’d make a great hero?

1.       He’s tall.  Anyone think Mickey Rooney is hot, even 50 years ago before he looked like a charpe?  ‘Nuff said.

2.       He’s rich.  Yeah, yeah, I know IRL this isn’t a criteria but we’re talking fiction here.

3.       He’s smart.  Does anyone ever think ‘Gee, I’d like to find a man to love who is as dumb as a bag of hair.’

4.       He cares.  Beneath all the bluster, he actually cares about the people he works with.

5.       He’s driven.  You definitely won’t see Gordon on the sofa in a wife beater tee shirt watching reruns of cops.

On to the 25,000 people . . . I awakened this morning to live shots from south Florida of rain-dampened throngs on people who’d been camping out in Sunrise since Monday.  Hoping for Springsteen tickets?  The tween dream of meeting the Jonas Brothers?  American Idol auditions.  Nope.  The opening of IKEA.  That’s right, the Scandinavian store is due to open this morning and apparently that’s waiting in line worthy.  Hey, I like loganberries as much as the next girl, but pleeease.  You’d think a few of those 25,000 folks would have Googled IKEA and figured out that you can order online.  Obviously not.

Final plug . . . THE Heather Graham is guest blogging over at www.BabesinBookland.com; you don’t want to miss her open, honest posts on everything from family to fame.

Have a great day,

Rhon

Okay, I have to wrap my brain around the Gordon Ramsay-as-romantic-hero suggestion. He's handsome, I'll agree, but appears to be a little too frenetic. On the other hand, if villainous cretins broke into his kitchen intent on murder and mayhem, Gordon could disembowel them with one toss of a cleaver from ten yards away.