Looking for insecure hero (wallflower hero?)

ragg2 · Joined: 06 Dec 2010 Posts: 50 Location: Netherlands

I am looking for a book where the hero is NOT certain that the heroine will be attracted to him or wants to share a bed with him, and is maybe even reluctant to take his clothes of or have sex. Normally this would be common for the heroine, but not the hero.
I am so sick of these alpha males with very high self esteem who are just so certain the heroine will fall for them after one look in their direction.
The heroine should not be simpering or helpless.
They might be thrown together by fate (snowstorm?) or marriage of convenience.
The secondhand wife fits this for example, but I didn't like the book because they didn't talk to each other for most of the book.

ChrisReader · Joined: 05 Sep 2009 Posts: 685

Are you looking for historical or modern novels?

Oddly enough "Lord Of Scoundrels" by Loretta Chase fits- the hero is convinced he is so horrible looking he is unlovable and the heroine is no shrinking violet.

In "Ravished" by Amanda Quick the hero thinks of himself as a beast because of a scar and past betrayal.

In "The Surgeon's Lady" by Carla Kelly the hero is from a very modest background and humble. The widowed heroine is beautiful, well off and has a title so he does not think he is on her level. (He's not at all wimpy though).

I'm sure I can think of more.

JaneO · Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 755

More historicals:
The Chance by Edith Layton. The hero thinks of himself as homely and tongue-tied.
The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt. The hero is pockmarked and not exactly charming.

Viking Princess · Joined: 22 Jan 2010 Posts: 144 Location: Castle In Norway

Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spenser
The hero Will is a drifter just released from prison...for a crime he didn't commit.
http://www.amazon.com/Morning-Glory-LaVyrle-Spencer/dp/0425229289#_
Texas Destiny by Lorraine Heath.
The hero Houston has severe facial scars from the war and very low self esteem.
http://www.amazon.com/Texas-Destiny-Lorraine-Heath/dp/1568654650/ref=pd_sim_b_6
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Sapskull · Joined: 27 Jul 2010 Posts: 42 Location: New Zealand

England's Perfect Hero by Suzanne Enoch might fit if you're okay with the European historicals.

I'm actually rather interested in this as well so I'm going to check out some of the other books in here. Maybe it's because I'm a guy that I often find myself thinking I would prefer it if various books had the genders of the hero and heroine swapped. Laughing

jaime · Joined: 23 Sep 2011 Posts: 359

I am sure there is a Mary Balogh title that fits into this category, though I don't remember the title. I recall the hero is plain looking and shy and not the typical romance stud. The heroine is beautiful and has had a bad experience with a man in the past and she likes the hero because he is so nice. She also mistakes the hero for a commoner and when she finds out he is titled there is some hand wringing on her part.

Does that ring any bells with anybody?

PatW · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 614 Location: Central Maryland

dick · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 2255

It sort of fits Balogh's "The Proposal."

TerryS · Joined: 07 May 2011 Posts: 36

How about Monica Burn's novel, Pleasure Me? The hero, Baron Garrick Stratfield, is a 29 year old virgin with a physical impairment that he believes would make him unattractive to women. The heroine is 41 year old Lady Ruth Attwood whose self confidence has been shaken after she is dumped by her lover for a younger mistress.

The sensuality level is rated "hot" but there is something very sweet and touching about their romance.

You can read the full view here:
http://likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookReview.pl?BookReviewId=8285

jaime · Joined: 23 Sep 2011 Posts: 359

ragg2 · Joined: 06 Dec 2010 Posts: 50 Location: Netherlands

sorry for not answering this earlier, the whole family was down with the flu...
Thanks a lot for your suggestions!! However, I have read quite a few of them, namely:

Lord Carew's Bride
England's Perfect Hero by Suzanne Enoch
Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spenser
Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt
Lord Of Scoundrels" by Loretta Chase
Ravished" by Amanda Quick

all of them I liked, apart from Elizabeth Hoyt, I just find the language esp in the sex scenes too crude.
The scene where they both lie in bed together the first time in the mornig glory was just so funny and emotional, I really liked that.
Same with the Lord of scoundrels, he keeps evading her to avoid the sex. Smile

I am hoping for more suggestions from you!

There is also a book I just remembered where the hero is the ugly brother, being called the gargoyle, and his sister the gargoylette, was that a Balogh, I can't remember.

I have found that quite often I read a book where the hero is sort of shy and reluctant, but when it comes to going to bed with the heroine suddenly, and for my taste completely out of character , becomes the assertive confident male initiator, as if the authors can only write theses scenes in the standard way. Not that I am necessarily looking for warm or hot romances, but it annoys me when this happens. I find that if I have a warm or hot romance in hand I tend to get bored with the sex scenes and just skip them nowadays.
Any thoughts on that?

JulieR · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 179

Eliza · Joined: 21 Aug 2011 Posts: 718

ChrisReader · Joined: 05 Sep 2009 Posts: 685

I would definitely recommend "The Surgeon's Lady" by Carla Kelly. If you haven't read her before you are in for a treat as no one writes decent and honorable heroes like she does. Her sex scenes, when she has them are always very tender and in good taste. There is a sweetness (without being gooey or cloying) to her works I think you would enjoy.

Nana · Joined: 02 Apr 2007 Posts: 893