Book List | 4 Swoony Heroes to Keep Away the Social Distancing Blues

In times of social distancing and never-ending virus-related news, a good book can be a perfect refuge, especially if it has a swoony hero, a strong heroine, and ends in a perfect happily-ever-after.
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Because sharing is caring, I decided to share my top-four swoony heroes.  I’m leaving Fitzwilliam Darcy, and Jamie Frasier out of the list, because they are ‘hors concours’. ​

Use without moderation! Make yourself a cup of coffee or tea, get cozy and leave behind this crazy world we are trapped in.

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#1 Mr. John Thornton

About:

What can I say about Mr. John Thornton? He is a mill owner in the fictional town of Milton, England, circa 1850. His mother is a little possessive of him and his sister is annoyingly superficial. 
On the bright side, he is intelligent, honorable, compassionate, and why not just say it, gorgeous! 
Even when all evidence was against the heroine (Margareth), he kept her secret and defended her in spite of his own broken heart.

Where to find him:

Mr. Thorton comes in two wonderful packages: ​

Book: North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell 
The book is in the public domain and can be found on the Project Gutenberg website (https://www.gutenberg.org).

​Series: North and South – BBC
In my humble opinion, this is one of those very rare instances in which the movie is better than the book. Richard Armitage and Daniela Denby-Ashe are superb as John and Margareth. The end scene is one of the most romantic ever filmed!

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#2 His Grace the Duke of Bewcastle

About:

Wulfric Bedwyn is the cold and distant Duke of Bewcastle. As the head of his family, he is responsible for five trouble-seeking siblings, numerous tenants, and estates. He never raises his voice or gets openly angry. A paragon of English aristocracy. 
The thing is, behind his aristocratic mask, Wulfric is a real man, a caring brother, a good friend, a passionate lover, someone to trust. His prominent and slightly hooked nose only serves to enhance his charms.

Where to find him:

His Grace The Duke of Bewcastle can be found in a series of historical romance books (The Bedwyn Saga by Mary Balogh). His participation culminates in the last installment, Slightly Dangerous, where he finds his own HEA.

 ​If you enjoy audiobooks, this series is a great option. The books are narrated by the magnificent Rosalyn Landor. I lost count of how many times I listened to mine. ​

This is my favorite historical romance series and I cannot recommend it enough. Mary Balogh manages to engage the reader’s emotions on a deep level and, by the end, you feel like you are part of the family.

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#3 Sheriff Ignatius Burke

About:

Sheriff Ignatius Burke, aka Nate, is a traumatized cop from Baltimore who decides to hide from the world by transferring to Lunacy, Alaska. 
What a wonderful hero: hurt, confused, loyal, brave, persistent and competent. He also happens to be extremely sexy. The book is full of adventure and the heroine is a fearless bush pilot.  

Where to find him:

Sheriff Burke comes in two wonderful packages: 

Book: Northern Lights by Nora Roberts
The book is long but wonderful. Worth every page. There is also an audiobook version that I have listened to several times.

Movie: Northern Lights, 2009, Directed by Mike Robe
The movie is not as good as the book as lots of information and subplots are excluded, but I recommend watching it after reading or if you are more into movies than books. Eddie Cibrian as Sheriff Burke is very easy on the eyes.

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#4 – Rhys Winterborne

About:

Rhys Winterborne is a magnate and the owner of a huge Department Store in Victorian London. He is a self-made and ambitious man who believes himself incapable of deep feelings and love. 
It is beautiful to see what happens when, against his will,  he falls head over heels in love with the aristocratic Lady Helen. Rhys is powerful and intense but vulnerable at the same time. 

Where to find him:

Book: Rhys Winterborne makes a few appearances in other books of the Ravenel’s Series by Lisa Kleypas, but his HEA can be found in Marrying Winterborne.

Audiobook: The book is also available in audio.

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Who are your top-four swoony heroes? Share them with us in the comments!