Today kicks off a new feature for us on EverAfter, Swoon-Worthy Hero Spotlights! Each week author Codi Gary will be sharing her favorite Swoon-Worthy Heroes across multiple mediums. First up is Kiernan MacLean from Lost in Your Arms by Christina Dodd!

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Kiernan MacLean from Lost in Your Arms by Christina Dodd

Swooning over fictional heroes is my favorite pastimes. Before I could read, I would watch cartoons, and I fell hard for such heroes as Robin Hood the Fox from the Disney Cartoon and Justin the Rat from The Secret of NIHM. They were my very first crushes on fictional characters, and I will never forget them.

But then I discovered the written word. I consumed children’s and YA so fast my mother kept threatening to stop buying book if I didn’t slow down. Nothing seemed to satisfy my romantic soul, until I started reading Sweet Valley Middle School, Sweet Valley Twins and Sweet Valley High. All of these books had Todd Wilkens, my first book boyfriend, and I fell hard.

Todd wasn’t perfect, of course, but he had all of the markings for what I would come to look for in my future book boyfriends; rough around the edges and flawed, perhaps, but let’s be honest, all good heroes have their flaws. From Mr. Darcy’s arrogance to Noah Calhoun’s stubborn streak, we still adore every inch of them.

Which is why I wanted to tell you all about some of my favorite heroes…starting with Kiernan MacLean.

Not familiar? That’s okay, I’ll catch you up. Kiernan is mistaken for his scoundrel of a cousin, Stephen, who was in Crimea acting as a double agent for Russia and England in 1843. When the Russians planted a trap for Stephen, a bomb took his life and Kiernan was left badly scarred and suffering from amnesia. When Kiernan is brought to England, he is near death and his friends call on Stephen’s wife, Enid, who is a nurse, to care for him. Enid believes he is Stephen, and when he awakens, despite the feeling that something isn’t right, he is so drawn to Enid that he wants to believe she is his.

Amnesia? Conspiracy? Spies? What could possibly go wrong?

Now, a few things that are rather obviously scrumptious about Kiernan:

1. He is Scottish. (YUM!)

2. He is tall, well over six foot.

3. He had arresting green-gold eyes and auburn hair.

4. He is covered in rippling, defined muscle.

5. He is the Laird of his clan (kilts and authority, hubba hubba.)

Those, however, are just his physical attributes and pedigree. What shines through in Kiernan (and makes the reader along Enid, fall for him) is that, despite having no recollection of who he was, all of his amazing attributes are still there. Even what some would consider flaws.

For Example…

1. He is bold and demanding, but does it in such a way that the reader will be charmed by him. All of my favorite historical heroes have a bit of a cave man mentality, and Kiernan is no exception.

2. He has a wicked sense of humor and is an outrageous flirt. So many times his one liners had me chuckling throughout the book. I’m a sucker for a funny guy.

3. Kiernan reminds me of the Beast; he barks, snarls, and snaps at everyone at first, but beneath all of that, there is this incredible man that draws people to him and earns their respect.

4. He is incredibly protective. Even when he was badly hurt, he put himself between Enid and any perceived threat. *Sigh*

5. He is smart, intuitive, and kind. When Enid is grieving for her friend, Kiernan lets her yell and rail at him before drawing her into his arms and comforting her. It’s one of my favorite scenes and gives the reader major insight into the type of man Kiernan is with the woman he loves. Especially these lines.

“No matter how many times you pull away, I’ll still be here to hold you.”

“I hurt for you when you cry. I wish I could make everything better for you.”

At this point in the book, I’m silently yelling, “Jump him! Jump him, now!” 🙂

6. As we discussed flaws earlier, Kiernan has a bit of a temper, but once he begins to heal and fall for Enid, he tries so hard to be patient with her…even when she just won’t let him get a word in edgewise.

…and then this happens.

“For God’s sake, woman, would you clabber your maw?”

I still give him credit for trying.

Which Beastly Hero makes you purr?

Thank you so much for joining me for the first Swoon-worthy Hero Spotlight. If you want to fall in love with Kiernan yourself, just pick up a copy of Lost in Your Arms!

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An obsessive bookworm, Codi Gary likes to write sexy small-town contemporary romances with humor, grand gestures, and blush-worthy moments. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading her favorite authors, squealing over her must-watch shows, and playing with her children. She lives in Idaho with her family. Codi can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and CodiGaryBooks.com.