Note: We’re kicking off March a little early with this post by Sarah Morgan 
~Amy
by Sarah Morgan, author of Bought: Destitute yet Defiant (Harlequin Presents, March 2010)
I love a strong man. I don’t necessarily mean muscles (oh go on then, if you push me I’ll admit that muscles are pretty good, too….) – what I really mean is strength of character; a man who won’t crumble under pressure and who keeps a cool head in a crisis. In our modern, politically correct world, it’s frowned on for a woman to admit she’d like a man to slay her dragons. We’re supposed to do it ourselves, while raising the children, emptying the dishwasher, sweeping the snow from the drive and earning a living. We’re eager to prove we can do it all ourselves and it can be really infuriating to find that a good looking, broad shouldered guy has already lopped the head off a dragon while you’re still reaching for your sharpest kitchen knife (that happened to me only yesterday and boy was I mad. The dragon wasn’t too pleased, either.).
The truth is that slaying your own dragon is just another thing to add to a woman’s ever growing ‘to-do’ list. Yes, we’re in the era of the kick-butt heroine, but the truth is it’s hard to walk and kick butt (especially if you’re wearing stilettos) and the problem with having the ability to do anything is that you invariably end up doing everything – which means you’re permanently stressed and exhausted. And there’s nothing like a little help around the place when things get tough.
So is there still a place for a Knight in shining armour in the modern world? I think so. This is a man who is willing to do anything to protect his woman, and who in their right mind would reject that depth of physical and emotional commitment? In Harlequin Presents, when an alpha hero focuses his strength on the protection of the heroine, it’s a demonstration not of power, but of love.
In my March release for Harlequin Presents, Bought: Destitute yet Defiant, the heroine Jessie has been using all her skills to survive in a rough, tough world but now she’s in real trouble and the only man who can help her face the danger is her greatest enemy, Silvio Brianza, the man responsible for the death of her brother. Silvio feels a fierce sense of responsibility towards this woman and nothing is going to shake him from his vow to protect her, even though she doesn’t want his protection. Allowing herself to reach out to him is the hardest thing Jessie has ever done, but she realises that the dragons in her life are just too big for her to slay without some serious help.
Do you have any knight in shining armour stories from your own life? Have there been times when you’ve been grateful that a man has stepped between you and that dragon? Or why not tell me about your favourite knight in shining armour movie moments. I love Daniel Day Lewis in The Last of the Mohicans, protecting Cora Munroe, and Daniel Craig risking life and limb to rescue the Camille from the fire in the most recent Bond film, Quantum of Solace.
A big thank you to Amy for inviting me here today, and if you have any stories to share, I’d love to hear them!
Sarah
x
Oh, unfortunately I still have none. But maybe in the future, who can know? In movies, my favorite Knight in Shining Armor is Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic, and If Only, because they gave their lives for thier loves. I know is sad, but i think it’s one fo the most loveproof that someone could give.
Bruna, how could I have forgotten Titanic – of course, such an excellent example of Knight in shining armour behaviour. Sigh.
Hope you soon have personal experience to share!
Sarah
x
Great post. I love behind the book stories. As for a knight in shining armour, I think I agree with Bruna.
Can’t wait to read your March release and hoping to do so sometime next week.
Marilyn, I know your tbr pile is groaning so don’t put too much pressure on yourself!
Now I’m off to rewatch Titanic.
What a fun post, Sarah! I love strong heroines like Jessie and I adore it when they are matched with a Knight in Shining Armour hero. Yes, I’m a real sucker for the protector hero and never more so than in this book. I thought Silvio was truly gorgeous (in fact I’ve just picked up my copy again to remind me exactly how gorgeous he is!) Robin Hood Price of Thieves is one of my favourite Knight (or outlaw!) in shining armour movies. Love it!
Hi Sarah, great post! I love kick-ass heroines. I do. But I love politically incorrect alpha heroes even more. (I heart James Bond) I’m all for women slaying their own dragons but sometimes just knowing a man is there to help makes all the difference – at least to me.
And I so enjoyed your book! Silvio was yummy and a true knight in shining armor. Gorgeous and strong and passionate.
Nicola, so glad you enjoyed reading about Silvio and Jessie. You’re right that Robin Hood Prince of Thieves is another brilliant example of a Knight in shining armour story. I love that scene in the waterfall – ‘take a bath for me, Robin’.
I’m re reading your Confessions of a Duchess at the moment and loving it as much as I did the first time. Dexter is truly gorgeous
Lee, I love politically incorrect heroes too – while it’s nice that a heroine can fight her corner when she has to, it’s also nice to have back up. It’s always good to have back up in this life!
So glad you enjoyed the book.
No, Daniel Day Lewis in The Unbearable Lightness Of Being, when he says: “Take off your clothes.”
Gulp.
Daniel Day Lewis in pretty much anything Sharon
Was that the film with Juliet Binoche? I’m going to have to track it down again, it’s years since I saw it.
Oops – seem to have lost the post I was trying to make. Hope this isn’t a duplicate. Silvio sounds a stunner, Sarah. Funny you should mention ‘Last of the Mohicans’ – there was a TV production of this way back, and I remember all we little girls used to dream about Uncas sweeping us off to safety. Very innocent at the time, but enjoyable all the same!
Oh yes Christina, I remember the lovely Uncas. Especially the scene where he rescues Alice. Sigh.
Sarah, can’t WAIT to get my hands on this book. And Daniel Day in Last of the Mohicans…sigh. My absolute favourite of all time. Am just going to go and drool for a bit now…
x
I have an old VHS of TLOTM. Daniel Day Lewis was the perfect hero, but then all the characters were superb. And what about that music!! It’s perhaps my favourite movie ever. Might put it on now!!
Thanks for a great post, Sarah!
Robbie
Abby, I think I’d agree that DDL in Last of the Mohicans is one of my favourites of all time, too. And Robyn, I used to have an old VHS as well, but I had to replace it because it became so worn out! The music is fantastic but not as fantastic as some of the music for The Lord of the Rings (I think Howard Shore won an Oscar for that score didn’t he?) and thinking about that, Aragorn is also a perfect Knight in Shining Armour. I love that scene in the caves where the King of the Dead says ‘The dead shall not suffer the living to pass’ or something, and Aragorn says ‘You shall suffer me.’ I always think ‘yes please’, any day:-).
My own favourite knight in shining armour? Has to be Richard Armitage as John Thornton in the brilliant BBC adaptation of North & South.
My God he makes me shiver in that! If I was ever in trouble and needed protecting, I would love him to be my local magistrate. (You would only know what I mean by that, if you’ve watched North & South).
Oh and Sarah, your book is fantastic, I adored Silvio, he is possibly your best here to date.
xx Karen
Karen, I certainly did watch North and South and yes Richard Armitage was absolutely completely and utterly gorgeous, and I thought Daniela Denby Ash was fantastic too. I’d forgotten about it. The more you think about these things, the more you realise that you could spend your life lying down with a book or a DVD given the time
I’m so pleased you enjoyed the book and loved Silvio.
Ah Sarah… what a fabulous post! If I had the energy I’d stand on the kitchen table, saluting you and yelling hallelujah, but it’s late and I still have school uniforms to iron so I’ll just raise my mug of tea to you instead. One of my favourite knights in shining armour (literally) is James Franco in Tristan and Isolde. (He was quite hot as a WW1 pilot in polished boots and a blue uniform in Flyboys too…)
Can’t wait to read Silvio and Jessie’s story – a new Sarah Morgan is always a treat to be eagerly anticipated and celebrated with chocolate! Will lay in the dark chocolate bounty and update my amazon basket… xx
India, there’s room to stand on your kitchen table? That means you’ve cleared up which is more than I have. Yes to James Franco, although being the mother of boys I associate him more with Spiderman
Sarah, I’ll say it loud and proud. I like MEN. Grrrr. I like a strong man, and that knight in shining armor, I’ve come to slay your dragons thing is one of the things I find appealing in a man.
My husband is, of course, my knight in shining armor, and he slays my dragons all the time. He’s worked a very hard, physically draining job for the past few years so that I could stay home with the kids and focus on my writing. And even when the dragons are just the dirty diaper dragons or the 3am feeding dragons, he’s there for me.
Sarah, I read the book — totally different from the usual HPs. Silvio was a fabulous alpha Hero. He remembered his past and strived to make things better for others. And Jessie had a lot of baggage to get past to actually believe in a future with Silvio.
I won’t post any spoilers here but the first chapter or two were unexpected – made me think that I wasn’t really ready an HP/M&B Modern book!
Maisey, well that’s my idea of a Knight in Shining armour:-) In your case he’s protecting you from the outside world (or the diaper dragons) to free you up to get your work done, so he definitely has to qualify!
Lidia – so pleased you enjoyed Bought: Destitute Yet Defiant. Yes, poor Jessie does have a lot of baggage but fortunately she has a man willing to step up and help her deal with it….
Hi sarah, Just read your latest book what a wonderful and different story … i like silvio a lot .. he is so mature and understanding and really lets Jess live her dreams
Bianca