Maggie Monroe is reeling from the death of her beloved husband and infant
daughter on an icy road ten months ago. And while each day without them has been
hard, the holidays (with all their hopes and dreams) are a million times worse.
She tries to put up her tree, tries to decorate, but it's simply too painful.
The life she always wanted is gone.
Rory O'Brien is a carpenter in the inn where Maggie has fled to heal. While
honoring a promise he made to his boss, Rory delivers a gift to Maggieβs room
and finds the heartbroken woman. Despite the raw pain in her eyes and the scars
on her arm from the accident, heβs drawn to the light heβs convinced is buried
somewhere inside Maggie.
Convinced the key to reaching Maggie is to find her, he sets about the task of
helping her live life. And he does it by granting wishes—wishes she never
even realized she had.
When I sat down to write
MIRACLE BABY, all I had was
a silver ornament known as a Wishing Ball. But that was enough. Because anyone
who has ever lost hope in something or someone knows that wishes are the first
step in reclaiming that hope.
Yet even as I say that, I realize I had something beyond the Wishing Ball when I
started this book. I also had that fairy tale hero that has hovered in my own
dreams since I was a little girl. Only my fairytale hero was never the type to
slay dragons and toss me over the back of a horse as we galloped out of town
together.
No, my fairytale hero was (and is) the type of guy who truly sees rather than
looks...
He sees the beauty inside the girl thatβs caught his fancy.
He takes the time to learn about her hopes and dreams and wishes.
And helping her reach those dreams and fulfill those wishes are as important to
him as reaching and fulfilling his own.
It was these traits, these wishes that Iβve always had for my own fairytale hero
that enabled me to create Rory OβBrien—the kind of hero that gives you
hope and makes you believe fairytales can, in fact, happen.
Iβll be honest, Rory made me cry in a few places. The tenderness he shows for
this woman at the inn is nothing short of breathtaking. Sure, heβs attracted to
her, but itβs so much more than that. He
sees her. He sees the light
thatβs buried inside her and heβs willing to do whatever it takes to bring it to
the forefront...even if heβs not the one to benefit at the end.
He is, in the truest definition of the word, a romantic hero.
He is the face, the very embodiment, of that fairytale hero Iβve dreamed of my
whole life.
And his name is Rory. Rory OβBrien.
So tell me, what does your fairytale hero look like?
~
Laura Bradford
Bio:
Laura Bradfordβs first three (ever) romances came out with Harlequin American
this year. Two of those books—
KAYLAβS DADDY and
MIRACLE BABY—were
just nominated for the 2010 REVIEWERβS CHOICE AWARD from RT Magazine. When sheβs
not penning romances,
Laura also writes cozy
mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime under the name,
Elizabeth Lynn Casey. For
more information, visit her
website.
MIRACLE BABY is on sale
right now wherever Harlequin books are sold!
Laura, I was so touched by your hero. The quality I would most like to see in a man [or a woman for that matter] is honor. It seems like an old fashioned term, but I think this world would be a lot better if we had a few more honorable people.
(Robin McKay 4:57pm November 17, 2010)
Rory O'Brien is the kind of hero a book should have. He is the kind of person who makes the world a better place. Congratulations to you for creating Rory O'Brien and may his tribe increase!
(Gladys Paradowski 5:06pm November 17, 2010)
My fairytale hero looks ordinary for want of a better word - no chiseled chin for example, but inside he is extraordinary.
(Mary Preston 5:08pm November 17, 2010)
My fairytale hero is the person takes care of me in little thoughtful ways all the timel
(Linda Pillow 8:07pm November 17, 2010)
Your column brought tears to my eyes, and I have to get my hands on your book!! My hero would have to be someone with that "something special" in his eyes, that lets you know he understands. He'd have to have a great smile, and know how to make people laugh and feel good. He'd also have to be there to not only be there for me, but to help others when they need a hand. He would need both inner and outer strength. He'd also have to have some spirituality. Just a well-rounded person with a little sensuality thrown in.
(Peggy Roberson 8:56pm November 17, 2010)
Wow I send Peggy Roberson's comments! I can't come up with a better answer for my fairy tale hero because she just put it into words for me.
Thank you Peggy!
(Brenda Rupp 10:00pm November 17, 2010)
Your book sounds and Rory sounds great and I am adding your book to my TBR list but my hero is my Dad (he's gone now)He was to best person ever and I loved him dearly.
(Vickie Hightower 12:10pm November 18, 2010)
My fairytale husband can be cranky, over-bearing, and hard-headed at times but he is also a commited husand, father, helpmate and willing to go out of his way to help others.
He may night "work up to his potential" but always thinks of others before him self. He may not be a chef but can fend for himself in an emergency and is always there to handle any crisis.
I know, I've been married to him for over 40 years!
(Jeanne Miro 10:06am November 18, 2010)
My fairy tale hero is the character in the next book I read. I'm always projecting and falling for characters.
(Alyson Widen 6:30pm November 19, 2010)
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