Whenever I have a new book release, there’s always that anxiety about how readers will connect with my characters. Oh, I’ve had some input by this time. Critique partners, beta readers, editors. And they all have their unique opinions. Their perspectives.

As I’ve been enjoying the feedback of my early readers of A Song Unheard, I’ve found it especially fun to see how readers are responding to my hero–especially as contrasted with the first hero in the series, Peter. Peter was awkward socially, Lukas is at home in society and a bit of a rake. Peter stammers. Lukas is silver-tongued. Peter is a man of prayer and consideration. Lukas is a man just beginning to realize that his mother was right, and seeking nothing but his own pleasure will leave him empty.

I loved creating both of these heroes. All of my heroes. They’re each unique, different. And yes, I love it when people call them swoon-worthy. I’ve given that title to some heroes in my favorite books as well.

I’ve noticed lately that the term “book boyfriend” has been floating around, and that always makes me giggle. I personally won’t ever call a hero that–I’m married, thank you very much, and won’t have any boyfriends, be they real or imaginary. 😉 But that, in turn, has made me ponder what it is we love so much about a good hero. And why we sometimes wish they were real.

I’m going to start by saying that bits and pieces of my husband work their way into each and every hero I write. Maybe it’s his wit in one. His eyes in another. Maybe it’s his way of questioning everything. Or of loving me so wholly. Maybe the way he looks at me. Or the way he supports my every dream.

My husband isn’t perfect. He’s the first to admit it. We have our moments of frustration, of course, but when I look at this man living life with me, I know God blessed me beyond measure. And I consider it an honor to demonstrate in my books that a real hero isn’t necessarily a muscle-bound hunk that can make women fall at his feet with a mere flex of his biceps. (Not that I have anything against muscles, mind you.)

A real hero is a man who knows, or discovers, that love makes him stronger.

A real hero is a man who listens to and leans on the Lord.

A real hero is a man who will make a sacrifice, not to gain glory, but to protect those he loves.

A real hero is a man who pairs duty with honor, diligence, and passion.

A real hero is a man who can be vulnerable.

I’ve written a lot of heroes who aren’t the typical hero. Some who might even be called anti-heroes. I’ve had a few action-type ones, a few too-handsome ones, plenty of should-be-average ones. But they each become more than ordinary in the pages of a book, and that’s because…

A real hero answers the call of the Lord.

That’s usually what we see them doing in one of my novels, and in the Christian romances I so adore. They’re just ordinary men, living often ordinary lives, but living them in an extraordinary way.

And that, in my opinion, is what makes us love them…just as it’s what makes us love these wonderful, flawed men in our lives.