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Tortured Heroes

If you are a fan of books with tortured heroes, join us here and post your books with tortured heroes on the group shelf that you have read and enjoyed.

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  • Danielle The Book Huntress

    Read any new tortured heroes lately?

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    I finished Hostage to Pleasure by Nalini Singh. I would classify Dorian as tortured because:

    1)His sister was horribly murdered and he arrived minutes too late to save her
    2)He is a shapeshifter that cannot change
    3)he is tormented by his thirst for vengeance.

    I really loved this book.

    Danielle The Book Huntress started this discussion 4 years ago. ( reply | permalink )

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  • Attillian
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    Nope not this week anyway. Im still trying to finish Anne Stuart's The Devil's Waltz and although Christian's family was murdered in France when he was a child while visiting his Grandfather in England...I dont consider him tortured. Its a really good book but the hero just seems to have a past and nothing that pushes the envelope as far as a Romance Novel is concerned.

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
  • J. Monroe 

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    Yes. I finished Lisa Marie Rice - Midnight Angel - Douglas Kowalski

    He's is decribed as being ugly - but I beg to differ! Physically and emotionially crippled by the war scar on his face. Actually - they are both tortured with a great HEA! Here's a small description:

    Her nightmares don't stop when she opens her eyes... In one night, talented musician Allegra Ennis lost her sight, her father and her career in a brutal attack she can't remember. Now she's alone in a world of darkness, her only company the nightmares in her head...and a killer is stalking her every move.

    Scarred and disfigured by war, tough former SEAL Douglas Kowalski never thought a beauty like Allegra could love someone like him. He doesn't expect more thana one-night stand. But when Allegra's life is threatened, Kowalski realizes he will do anything to keep her safe - and by his side.

    I loved it!

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
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  • Danielle The Book Huntress
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    Both of the books you ladies mentioned are good. I just adore Anne Stuart. I love the scarred hero so I had to buy the LMR book.

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
  • J. Monroe 

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    Hey Dr. D!

    You will enjoy LMR. Please, tell me what you think when you're done. Would love to hear your opinion.

    Also, Shannon McKenna as a scared hero C onnor McLoud - Standing in the Shadows. A boat accident left him with a limp, walking with a cane, burnt hand and arm (if I'm not mistaken). Out of his brothers/series - this is the one I feel in love with!

    Here's a small desscription:
    Ex-FBI agent Connor McCloud can never forget the day he was set up to die at the hands of trusted friend and fellow agent Ed Riggs. Hard justice and loyalty to his badge have cost Connor what he wants most--Ed's shy, studious daughter, Erin. He can never have her now, but her beauty still haunts and torments his every waking hour and his most fevered erotic dreeams. But now that his old enemy, Kurt Novak has returned, Connor is prepared to do anything to protect the vulnerable young woman from a killer who has vowed a brutal payback . . . a killer with a predator's lethal patience.

    Erin has been harboring secret fantasies about Connor McCloud since she first laid eyes on him--but that was before his testimony sent her father to jail. Her world is falling apart and it's all she can do to hold her family together. But now Connor is knocking on her door, telling her she needs his protection, whether she wants it or not. He won't give up and he won't stay away. He's sworn to guard her life with his own and his fierce protectiveness awakens long-buried feelings--and a fiery sexuality deep within her soul . . .

    Enjoy!

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
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    • Danielle The Book Huntress
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      Oh. I think I have this book. Love the wounded guys. Thanks, J. Monroe!

      posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
    • J. Monroe 

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      Hey! Dr. D - my pleasure.

      posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Janon (Noni Fro)
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    I just finished A Marriage Most Scandalous by Johanna Lindsey. The hero Sebastian killed his best friend by mistake, was disowned by his family, and had to leave England and be on the run for 11 years. He was pretty tortured emotionally.

    I also just finished Passion by Lisa Valdez. This book was awesome, and I cried my eyes out the last 100 pages of the book. The hero was very tortured by his EVIL, WICKED mother his whole life.

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Danielle The Book Huntress
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    I loved Marriage Most Scandalous. Sebastian was soo sexy. I pictured Christian Bale as him.
    I have Passion in the tbr pile also.

    I am reading The Stone Prince by Gena Showalter. I don't think that Jorlan is that tortured, but I feel his brother the villian Percen is very tortured. He feels abandoned by his mother and has scars and a twisted leg. His part makes me want to try. I hope he's redeemed.

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Arch
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    Nash from Suzanne Brockmann's Troubleshooter series is a tortured hero.

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Danielle The Book Huntress
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    Which book has Nash in it?

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
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    • Arch
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      Nash is in Flashpoint and Into The Fire.

      posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Danielle The Book Huntress
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    I recently read a couple books with tortured heroes:

    Fire and Ice which is a short story by Sherrilyn Kenyon features a hero Adron who is physically and emotionally scarred. He suffered massive organ damage and lives a half-life until Livia comes along. It was really really good.

    Naughty or Nice by Melanie George has a hero who is an opium addict and who lost his whole family.

    Home for the Holidays by Johanna Lindsey has a semi-tortured hero. He is driven by revenge after losing his brother and he was emotionally neglected by his parents. I will add those to the group bookshelf.

    Currently I am reading Romance of the Rose by Julie Beard. Drake is somewhat tortured. He has unrequited love for the heroine Rosalind and is driven to seek revenge on those who ruined his father.

    I continue to soldier on in my search for the tortured heroes.

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Danielle The Book Huntress
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    I have Flashpoint in the tbr. Haven't felt motivated to read it yet. I'm more motivated to read Hot Target because I love Cosmo.

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Arch
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    I've read Flashpoint, 2 years after I had the book. I read it after I have read Into The Storm in 2006.

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Sam L
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    I know this is about tortured hero's, but here's a tortured heroine for you: Avery Daniels in Mirror Image by Sandra Brown. That is a fab book, right there!!

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
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    • Danielle The Book Huntress
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      Sam, you are more than welcome to post this here. FYI there is a tormented heroines group if you're interested. I love those too. What can I say? I like books with angst as long as they have a happy ending.

      posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Arch
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    Hey Sam L, is Mirror Image a book about a hero from Louisiana? I'm asking, because I know that Sandra Brown likes to write books about heroes from Louisiana. Mostly, New Orleans.

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Sam L
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    Hey Arch, I don't think it is. Avery Daniels is a reporter and is injured in a plane crash. She wakes up in a hospital, unable to speak, and finds herself mistaken for a future senators dead wife. Her face is transformed into the wife's face and she decides to keep her real identity secret for two reasons: she falls in love with him and someone is trying to kill him. It's one of my favorites by her.

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Arch
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    Thanks Sam L. I might check the book out.

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Christina T.
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    I just finished reading a paranormal by Gena Showalter called The Darkest Night. Maddox is one of the warriors who thousands of years ago felt they were mistreated and passed over for guarding a most important item, Pandora's Box. They opened the box and released the demons to the world. As punnishment they each had one of the demons put inside of them, housing them for eternity. Maddox and his demon, Violence, tend to wreck havoc where ever they go so Maddox is doomed to stay within the Buddist Temple the Lords of the Underworld live. I thought the book was just ok but the premise of the storyline is fascinating enough for me to continue reading the series.

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Danielle The Book Huntress
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    Christina I have the Lords of the Underworld in my tbr. I'm trying to finish up the Atlantis series first. One more book unless you count The Vampire's Bride.

    A recent tortured hero I would add is Simon from Any Duke Will Do by Sabrina Jeffries. He's more of the closet tortured variety. His self control and inability to have a relationship with a woman are the major evidence of his tortured roots. His grandfather majorly messed him up emotionally in ways that I don't want to spoil you on. Let's say it involved his interactions with women. It's part of the reason he was celibate for seven years. It's a really good book if you get a chance to read it.

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Sam L
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    I have just read Jacquelyn Frank's new book Ecstasy, a shadowdwellers series. The main male character is named Trace. He was a prisoner of war for 11 months, 6 of those months were in the hands of a sadistic woman. The woman he falls for is also tortured. She can heal, has since she was a child. Her mother called her a demon and a child of the devil. Her mother beat her and chained her in the basement for days. Made her brothers and sisters beat her as well. They both end up helping each other, falling in love and helping them forget about the past. It was a very good book and I can't wait for the second in this series, Rapture!!

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Danielle The Book Huntress
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    Wow that sounds really good. I'll have to pick up Ecstasy. Thanks for the heads up. I hope you will add it to the bookshelf when you get a chance.
    I recently read Blue Moon Rising by Simon R. Green. Rupert is tortured physically and mentally on his journey to save his kingdom from the spread menace of the Darkwood. He has emotional wounds from his time in the Darkwood, and also was emotionally neglected by his father as the second son when a second son was not desired. It's a really good book.
    Currently I am reading Never Romance a Rake by Liz Carlyle. The hero Kieran, Baron Rothewell was emotionally and physically abused by his ward, his uncle. He has become a rake and is drinking himself into bad health.

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Cindy ♥ W
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    Simon from The Duke and I by Julia Quinn.

    Simon has a stammer that made his father think he was stupid and abandoned at 4. He controls his stammer, but it still comes out when he's upset or angry. He grew up lonely, then meets Daphne Bridgerton! A GREAT GREAT story. A pretend courtship that turns into the real thing!

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
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  • Danielle The Book Huntress
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    I plan to read The Duke and I soon. I have head it in the tbr FOR EVER! Thanks Cindy.

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Cindy ♥ W
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    Got a new one!

    Broken Wing by Judith James. Absolutely AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    5++++++stars

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
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    • Heather D
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      I am reading this right now! I can't say that I have ever read a more tortured hero. It is an amazing book and I am not even half way done yet.

      posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Danielle The Book Huntress
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    Great to hear you liked Broken Wing, Cindy W. I heard about that one and bought it. It's in my tbr pile. Hopefully I'll get to read this one soon.

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
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    • Cindy ♥ W
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      Move it up!!! It's such a wonderful story.

      posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Danielle The Book Huntress
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    I'll have to do that, Cindy.

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
  • AVB

    AVB 

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    The Morning Side of Dawn. It's a contemporary and very good!! As an adult, the hero lost both of his legs at about the knee and when he was child his dad was a real SOB and severely scarred him emotionally. It's an awesome story, definitely one of my new favorites! The hero strongly believes that he is unlovable and keeps shoving the herione away so she will stop wasting her time.

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
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    • Robin M
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      Morning Side of Dawn is a great book. I have it on my keeper shelf.

      posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Danielle The Book Huntress
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    Wow that is really good one, AVB. I want to read The Morning Side of Dawn.

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Danielle The Book Huntress
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    I nominate all the Ghostwalkers that I have read by Christine Feehan. They were experimented on and given enhancements of their natural psychic talents that make it hard to live normal lives:

    Ryland Miller in Shadow Game
    Nicolas Trevane in Mind Game
    Gator Fontenot in Night Game (least tortured IMHO)
    Jack Norton in Conspiracy Game (second most tortured) --literally and also had to kill his father who was abusing him and his brother. Afraid to love because he feels he will be violently possessive like his father.
    Ken Norton in Deadly Game (Ding.Ding.Ding-Tortured Hero Award)--scarred on every inch of his body, even his naughty bits. Doesn't think any woman would want him. Oh, how wrong he is. I want him!!!
    So does Mari.
    Jess Calhoun in Predatory Game (third most tortured)--had his legs shot up and injured so badly when he was tortured by bad guys that he lost the use of his legs.

    So this group definitely wins the We are One Group of Incredibly Tortured Heroes Award.

    The heroines are very tortured too, but that's the other group. :)

    posted 4 years ago. ( permalink )
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    • Christina T.
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      Just finished Kaden's book Murder Game. When he explains what happened when he was 8 years old was heartwrenching. Definitely a tortured hero based on his childhood.

      posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Danielle The Book Huntress
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    Okay I just finished a book called Behind Blue Eyes by Pat Cromwell. I must nominate Michael O'Neal. He's pretty darn tortured, and it's made him a might diabolical. A must read.

    posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Rani G
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    I am just starting Karin Tabkes third book, "Master of Craving" in the Blood Sword Legacy. I loved the first two, it's a perfect midieval series. Karin Tabke does for Norman knights what JR Ward does for vampires, with hot alpha heroes and the fiery heroines who tame them. Check them out, you'll be glad you did!

    posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Gillybags
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    Wraith from Larissa Ione's 'Passion Unleashed' most definitely qualifies as a tortured hero in every sense of the word!

    posted 3 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Miranda O
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    "Untouched" by Anna Campbell - a historical. The hero is a peer but from the age of about 14 or 15 he's kept prisoner and sometimes tortured by his uncle and hired thugs so that his uncle can get his title/wealth. His uncle puts it out there that the hero is mad. Such a good book.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )
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  • Miranda O
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    I was in another Shelfari group - a reading challenge group - and one of the categories was "scarred hero". I found 2 interesting books of this list: http://www.librarything.com/tag/scarred+hero

    The ones I found and requested from the library are: "Never Call It Loving" by Gail Link and "Ravished" by Amanda Quick. They just came in today and I plan on devouring them. I'll post my reviews. :)

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Miranda O
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    I finished "Never Call It Loving" the same day I got it. It was good. The hero was a spy who was betrayed by a woman and got massive scars and a missing eye. It's a historical, arranged marriage, Scottish hero. The secondary couple was great to read about, and the pay-off at the end of the story was worth the read. You do sympathize for the hero because of went he's gone through, but he was totally the "I know what's best. I'll push her away for her own good" kind of guy. At one point the heroine is talking to her cousin and she says "May God spare me from people who would make decisions for others." I love that she said that, because that's how I always feel when romances have characters who do that.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Miranda O
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    "Ravished" by Amanda Quick
    I loved this book. Such a good "scarred hero" story. The hero is cool - even though he's scarred and gotten a bad rap by people he trusted, I like that he isn't cruel to the heroine as some "scarred hero" types can be. I really like the plucky heroine. She's kind, intelligent, and so unintentionally funny. She's interested in fossils more than catching smugglers - although the one thing leads to the other. Her rationale frequently amuses & baffles the hero. Great chemistry.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Miranda O
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    Malkhom from "Demon From the Dark" by Kresley Cole - he's a demon who was sold into slavery at a young age so he has trust/relationship issues. Very good book.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Christina T.
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    Its been so long since I posted here I almost forgot about this group. Shame on me. I have read a few books that I believe have tortured heroes in them.

    If You Deceive by Kresley Cole. Ethan MacCarrick was once a very handsome man that turned all the ladies heads. After being beaten and his face disfigured for a crime he didn't commit he finds his life forever changed and the only thing keeping him going is ruining the man who ordered him scarred forever. Loved this book so much.

    Unleash the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Loved Loved Loved Wren. Half snow leopard and half white tiger he is an outcast by both clans and treated as an animal most of his life.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )
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    • Miranda O
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      Oh I love Wren! Have you read "Outcast" by Cheryl Brooks? Normally I don't care for fantasy/sci-fi romances but I loved this series and this one had a tortured hero - he was abducted from his home planet and used to entertain a harem. It got old after about 10 years. It left him w/ physical/psychological relationship issues. They develop the relationship really well before the couple is intimate.

      posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )
    • Christina T.
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      No I haven't read Outcast. Sci-fi generally isn't my thing too because I think whole new worlds are hard for many authors to pull off in a single book. Too much back information required which takes away from character devolopement or the opposite is true. They don't give enough background information to fully explain their world leaving the reader confused. Of course this is just my opinion. I will check the library to see if they have Outcast though. I'm always up for a new to me author even in a subgenre that I don't normally like.

      posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )
    • Miranda O
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      That's usually what I don't like about sci-fi too. I'm big into character dev & relationships. But this series isn't that huge into description or too many names, and it's one of the few series that has me laughing out loud in spots. This had more serious & sentimental moments than funny moments, but still a great book.

      posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )
    • Christina T.
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      My library doesn't have it but I looked it up on amazon.com and noticed that Outcast is actually the 4th book in the series. So she must do something write for it to be so far into the series where you were able to pick it up and not get lost.

      posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )
    • Miranda O
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      I forget if I read it out of order or not - I prob did, because I'm that kind of a goof. But thinking on it, I think you can read them out of order & not be lost. The only diff is - you should read Rogue before Hero because each book is about a twin and some stuff happened w/ the guy in Hero that makes more sense if you read his brother's book 1st. But you can def read Outcast w/out reading others in the series.

      posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )
    • Christina T.
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      my library only has the first book Slave. I will read it and see what I think. Hopefully I can find the others at a used book store soon.

      posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )
    • Miranda O
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      I liked Slave - there was a lot going on in that book, but it was worth the read because that is the book with Jacinth (Captain Jack) as the heroine. She is so funny - I laughed out loud a few times. It's set in the future and everyone kind of scratches their head at her ancient earth references - like she names her set of triplets Larry, Moe, & Curly.

      posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )
    • Christina T.
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      That is funny! I will try to check it out when I go to the library on Wednesday.

      posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )
    • Sheri
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      I think all of the males in that series could be considered tortured heroes because of what happened to their species. I've only read Slave so far and I really like it. That is surprising for me because normally I don't care for books written in the first person.

      posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )
    • Miranda O
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      Yeah, and just about all of them were made slaves at some point but some had it harder than others. The hero from "Outcast" seems to be the one with the most trauma from his experience. It was a very tender story. I mean - I love Zadist and "Lover Awakened" but as I was reading "Outcast" I kept thinking "as much as I love Zadist, I wish J.R. Ward would have put the heavy-lifting relationship stuff that was in Outcast." Stuff seemed to happen so fast in "Lover Awakened" but you really get a sense of time in "Outcast" - the relationship is a slow build that grows with a beautiful result - without the story being miserable & tedious.

      posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Lori A
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    Just finished Jacob by Jacquelyn Frank...he fits into the tortured hero category. Jacob is a demon, known as the Enforcer, his job is to uphold the ancient law in his world. The most important of these laws states that no demon shall fall in love with a human. Jacob has been around for 700 years and never given in to temptation, until he meets Isabella. After saving her life he realizes he might end up breaking the very laws he was meant to uphold for a chance at his own happiness.

    I really enjoyed this one! Although it started off slow I found myself wanting to continue and see where the story was going. I really loved that the author paints a different portrait of demons in this one, they're not your usual dark, grotesque, evil creatures we are usually exposed to (with the exception of Ms. Ione's Demonica series of course!). The world building was elaborate, the action was fast paced and the romance was fiery and passionate!

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Miranda O
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    Just read "As You Desire" by Connie Brockway & the hero was a tortured hero. Harry Braxton has a troubled past, one that makes him ashamed and reluctant to confess his feelings of love for the heroine. He puts on a front of a charming, flippant, mercenary rogue for everyone to protect himself and, in his mind, others. The only thing that bugs me about these type of guys, is that it just completely goes against the grain for me to be self-sacrificing and hide my feelings. It makes it so difficult to relate to and understand these types of characters.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Sheri
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    I am now reading Dark Desire by Christine Feehan. I would definitely say Jacques qualifies as a tortured hero.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )
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    • Miranda O
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      Oh absolutely - Jacques is one of my fav tortured heroes.

      posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Ali

    Ali 

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    lord of the underworld men if they arent tortured i don't know who is

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )
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    • joanne s
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      I agree i feel for lucien the most though.

      posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Sheri
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    I would consider Jagr from Alexandra Ivy's Guardians of Eternity series a tortured hero.

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Sheri
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    I just read Vampire Mine by Kerrelyn Sparks. Although I wouldn't consider him physically tortured, he was most definitely mentally tortured. I just love Connor Buchanon!

    posted 2 years ago. ( permalink )
  • Sheri
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    I recently finished reading Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward. As with the hero I mention in my post above, I wouldn't really consider Rehvenge physically tortured, but mentally? Very much so.

    posted 1 year ago. ( permalink )
  • Sheri
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    Draven from Kinley MacGregor's Master Of Desire is very much a tortured hero, physically and mentally.

    posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )
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