Reader Confession – Our very first intense book boyfriend crush… the one that had us daydreaming for days.

READER CONFESSION? I wanna know your FIRST book crush where you truly fell hard for the hero for days and weeks and months after he was still on your mind… Mine is the 2nd book in that Nora Roberts “Born In” trilogy (though it has since been renamed to the “Concannon Sisters Trilogy“) —-> “Born in Ice” (yummmmmmmy!!!)

He was my very first (although not my last 😉 ). I had been reading horror and biographies for years so this never happened to me before. I was so confused because I knew he didn’t exist but he felt so real and I would day dream of the scenes, and of him. Constantly. Mid discussion, where I was supposed to be listening and paying attention… I’d drift off to my Grayson-land of grumpy love. *swooooooooon* I would think of him and imagining me instead of the heroine… as I drifted off to sleep.

And you’d think that it would be harder to fall for a book boyfriend than an actor or character on tv because at least with the actor, even if he’s an impossible dream, he’s still real. And you see him in all his action and glory. But nope. I was able to envision Grayson perfectly. All of his face, his actions, his mannerisms, the way he spoke. All of him was 100% real to me.

And yet, I knew I would never meet him. *sigh*

I was delighted to be “in love” (oh how I was!!) and yet in pain, because my logic was being a buzzkill. LOL!

And just because I’m here, I will list my other huge book crushes (in order) that impacted me HARD. It’s hard to even call it a crush. It felt like true love. While I’ve had many book crushes over the years, these were my true book-loves.

Edward from Twilight <— I’d say this was my biggest book crush of all. It took over me. I couldn’t even eat, I was so in love. What’s the expression? I was “living on love alone”. Oh yes. I was delighted, floating on air, in constant dream-land, daydreaming (and night dreaming) of Edward. (I giggle as I say this. BUT! There was support, because all of my book-friends around me were doing the same thing, and this was all over Edward.) Though I loved that I wasn’t the only one, I was internally steaming at the fact that they were loving MY MAN. LOL!!!!! 😂 😝 P.S. Here’s my book review (I wasn’t reviewing books back then, but eventually realized I was devouring a book a day and needed to let me energy out, so this is the book that officially “started” my blog) and so I backtracked and wrote only one review for the Twilight series. This is a series that I need to re-visit and get the other reviews up. SO here it is. My 5-STAR Twilight review.

Eric from the Sookie Stackhouse series <— After devouring Twilight I was desperate to find more vampires and to fall in love again and again. Honestly, I never thought I’d ever find someone to love again after Edward, but Eric did it. He was moody, dangerous and oh so dark. So heartless, and yet so sexy. And then… he showed us his heart, and I melted into a puddle of goo. That was it for me. He was already my choice right from the start, but by book #4, I died and went to vampire heaven. P.S. Back then, I wasn’t reviewing books yet (HOLY MOLY!!) So I didn’t review any of this series. Crazy, I think I need to backtrack… and finally post them.

P.S. My Eric was 100% the True Blood version of Eric. OH YES PLEASE!!!

Zsadist from The Black Dagger Brotherhood <— Yes, another ruthless, angry, unlovable, furious vampire that rocked my world. Again… loved him from book #2 (that very last scene in that book… oh boy I was nervous and SOOOOOO intrigued!!!) and by book #3, there was no other man-vampire for me. He became my true one and only. Until Sherry (my BFF) tried to take him from me. Then give him to me with a promissory note... and then demand I prove the note existed so she could take him from me again. LOL!!!!!! What. a. BRAT! We had soooo much fun arguing over him (but he was mine and she even said so via that note)… Here’s my 5-STAR book review. And here’s an image of what I thought he might look like to me (but rougher & angrier than this. more like this…)

Untillllllll…..

Brian from Rock Me <— I was burning out and not finding another vampire to rule my world (you know… the whole “same battle, different dark alley” feel) and so I tentatively ventured out into human territory. At that time I was thinking… Ugh… but human males have no magic, no power, no super-strength, no hundreds of years of worldly experience, no deep dark anger, and secrets and no need of a heart to be healed. No over-zealous need to protect me at all costs!!! How can I possibly love a book-human? But OH HOW I DID!!!!!!!! Brian brought me back from the dead. <—- 😂 SEE what I did there? Tee heeeee!!! P.S. That cover is not what he looked like in my mind… back then, I was thinking more like the singer from Incubus, or even the singer from Revis. <— HOLY MOLY this guy. Swoooooon. Also, here’s my 5-STAR book review of “Rock Me”.

And then… there was:

Travis from Beautiful Disaster <— Yeah. Sure all the red flags that I should have heeded from the start (I know reading this book today would probably set me on a different kind of fire), and yet, back then? He took over my heart for years (yes YEARS!!!!) to come. He was the be all, end all of funny yet angry human heartthrobs that could only be healed by his true one-and-only (with a ton of mistakes, cumulating in deliciously painful angst throughout). Heartaches and my elated heart feels galore that lasted in day dreaming (and I mean DEEP intense day dreaming… even while I was working) for days. Weeks. Months. Maybe even years (though by now I was used to him as being a part of my “fake world” love life so I was able to get working and function again.) P.S. I was thinking he looked more like a big, ripped, tattooed, shaved-ish head glorious, intense staring, beast of a man. Here’s my 5-STAR book review of Beautiful Disaster.

So yessss… deep, slightly embarrassing confessions from me.

P.S. My “other” book boyfriends that I should not have left out:

• Kellan from Thoughtless <— This is the #1 book boyfriend of all (per our fellow book crew 😉 You’ll see below) He had me so nervous and swooning and the slow burn (and then HOT burn) intensity was off the charts!! They were being soooo bad and it was addictive. So much steam & so much heart. He should have been up there with my main guys since he was right after Travis, but I wanted to keep my main list to 5 and nobody beats Travis for me… Travis was the perfect way to end my main list, as there was nobody else for me. But I couldn’t help myself with an add-on to my list. 😉
• Tate from Sweet Dreams <— what a jerk!! And it was because of THAT, and I was hooked. And then I fell in love.
• Hawk from Mystery Man <— also a jerk that I ended up falling in love with but he infuriated me BIG time first. Over and over again.
• Barrons & V’lane from The Fever Series <— Barrons was a mega jerk and scary as all hell. But then he showed his soft spot for his “Rainbow girl” and yep… I was in love. Oh who am I fooling? I was in love with him from the start. And V’lane. Oh yes. V’lane was actually my favorite. GASP!!! Blasphemy but it’s true. He was so gentle and sweet and massively dangerous and cunning and wonderful and awful. V’lane was everything for me!!!
• Christian Grey from Fifty Shades <— That series consumed me even before it went main stream. It was the first thing of its kind that I had ever read. The stalker/Dom/Billionaire. Such an obsessive love.

Now it’s your turn. Tell me. So I’m not left here cringing about what I just told y’all… alone. 😉

Samantha: I can’t believe how many you listed BEFORE Travis!

Maryse: Ahhhhh but… these were in order. After Travis, there was no-one else. 😉

Maryse: LOL!! But YOU KNOW it was you ‘n me I was talking about with Edward. We couldn’t go to Walmart together without stopping and drooling over the posters and t-shirts. LOL!! Edward was my true love back then. Ahhhhh but… these were in order. After Travis, there was no-one else. 😉

Samantha: Edward is the reason I fell in love with reading again. Travis came second, though. The first time he called her Pidge

Kelli: Travis Maddox – 1st and only thus far!

Christine: There is a movie put now and the person playing travis does not fit the book image at all. Beautiful Disaster

Nikee: Travis Maddox. Kellan Kyle is a close second

Sheila: Travis Maddox and Kellan Kyle

Debra D: Archer Hale from Archers Voice….swoon 😍 Number 2 would have to be Travis Maddox and I agree SO many red flags but I FELT that book so hard ❤️

Angie: Archer…for sure. Ugh…love him.

Lisa: OMG – who said Archer? Archer is my all time favorite!! “Don’t walk away from me. I can’t call out to you”. Swoooooon.

Diana: Nancy Drew. My first book crush was Nancy Drew. I wanted to be her, but also date her!

Jasmine: Royce Westmoreland from A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught🩷🩵🩶

Anne: I am in love with Royce Westmoreland.

Dee: Knight Sebring from Knight by Kristen Ashley!

Mint: Knight… he takes care of me.. and he explains things… he wants me for me… I mean how many alpha males out there take their time to explain shit? None! But Knight… he does.. He’s honest.. And he will always explain.. He will even go shopping with me… (to branch out!) giggles….

I may have loved Jesse Ward and Deuce.. or Callum.. but no one beats Knight.. no one.. 🙂

Krystal: Knight was amazing !!!!!!! he is soooo my DADDY !!! **blush** i devoured the book !!!

Jessica: now…love the bad boys. I just finished reading Knight and it is amazing how such a bad boy can turn you on!

Jennifer: Shade from Desire Unchained by Larissa Ione

Danielle: Dex Forey from Experiment in Terror series by Karina Halle

Maryse: OMG DEX!!!!!!! YES!!!!! I need to add him up in my own list up there. I was totally in love with him for that entire series.

Kat P: I will name my top guys: Kellan Kyle from Thoughtless. Lucas from Easy. Dex Foray from Experiment in Terror series.

Hellokittyblanca: …cannot get enough of Dex Foray. He’s almost at Kellan Kyle status for me!

Nicole: Wow, so many, but i think #1 is going to have to go to one pervy, hot, Dex Foray- from the EIT series.

Claudia: Dex Foray!! Yes the one and only!

Cristina: Talk about sexy, witty, hilarious, HOT… I could go on and on about him! I get it Maryse… I TOTALLY get it!!!

Patrice: Dex is yummy, yet so aggravating at the same time. Love him, though!

Kelli: The guy in Whitney My Love. There is a scene where he puts her across his lap and spanks her for being reckless. And that explains some stuff

Lauren: Oh, that’s hard. Love Travis but I’m gonna have 2 go with Clayton Westmoreland from Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught.

Lauren: I’m pretty sure I have Whitney, My Love memorized. Once upon a time, before Travis or Christian or Gideon, there was Clayton Westmoreland….my first BFF.

Pamela: Whitney My Love – read it twenty years ago and several times since.

Vivianna: Edward from The Twilight Series. He is what got me back into reading.

Sue: same here!

Jessica: Same!

Katie: same!! I got obsessed with reading after that. I’d mostly stopped since high school before that.

Michaela: I think I have to admit that Edward is my favorite book boyfriend. Is always been an avid reader but once I picked up Twilight it spun me into a whole new world of reading!

Shannon: Edward, of course – he’s the reason I got back into reading. But then it was Kellan Kyle. No one can ever compare to either of them.

Nicole: omg I love Brian from Rock Me. I’ve read that book so many times.

Michelle: he is the top of the list for me

Nicole: it’s so weird cause I don’t know a lot of people who have read the series let alone the book. I have tried to get friends to read it but not everyone likes everything.

Maryse: He truly did Rock Me… I am SOOOO into that book!!! I should re-read it!!

Nicole: Now I want to read it again as well.

Erica: I actually loved Rogan from Born in Fire also Kellan Kyle!!

Anne: My first was Devin MacKade (Nora Roberts). My always and forever is Malcolm Kyle Preston Logan Saint (Katy Evans)

Renee: Raistlin Majere from the Dragonlance Chronicles.

Jennie: Aragorn from Lord of the Rings was my first book crush

Anne: I’ve never read LoTR but I love the movies! Seriously love! Just one word: Aragorn 😉

DG: If I was stuck in an elevator TODAY, it would definitely be Remy, Tack Allen, and Malcolm Saint! Over a LONG holiday weekend, no phone or reception! *fans face*

Jenn: I was a HUGE Remi fan but Malcolm Saint just knocked him out!!

Randi: First that comes to mind after all these years…….. Tegan – Midnight Awakening by Lara Adrian & Mercy – Fearless by Lauren Gilley.

Jennifer B: I love Tegan….he was all the fine qualities I love in man,,,Hardcore jerk, (with his wonderful tender moments) talk dark and scary,,,,i mean sexy..lol I love when those big bad a** ill never love again blah blah type shells start cracking,,,

Michelle: Fearless by Lauren Gilley….Oh Mercy!!!

MichelleS: ooh – Fearless – I loved that one. Mercy Mercy Mercy…. what a man.

Kandace: I can’t stop talking about my love of Mercy and I figured sooner or later my friends were going to put a gag order on me.

Sharon: Outlander will always be my favorite. James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser has ruined me.

MichelleS: Jamie Frasier any damn day of the week, in any century …And he’s my book husband.

Leslie M: I would never ever get bored with Jamie Fraser.

Sarah: Jamie Frasier is my ultimate book hero, and two years after I first ‘met’ him, I still think about him and compare other book heroes to him.

Carol: Jamie Fraser – Outlander I still love him.

Whitney: Jamie Fraser .. Loved him since 1992

My Harlequin Heart: Maddox from The Darkest Kiss by Gena Showalter

Debbie: I am with you on Eric if book 4 is the one I think it is! And Travis! But my very first book boyfriend is Rhett Butler (Gone with the Wind).

Elle: I may be old school… But my favourite bad boy is Rhett Butler. Probably because he was my first, and the way he fought the establishment with class and flair, and a beautiful heart hidden deep within…

LauraB: Rhett Butler from Gone with the Wind. It all started with him, really. 🙂

Debbie: I am still so in love with Travis… But lifetime, I have to go with the book that got me hooked on romances, Gone With the Wind and original bad boy Rhett Butler.

Sue: my first book crush was a Kathleen Woodiwiss character, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve settled on Nora Roberts as my first choice in writing the kind of men I like. I also really like her strong female characters.

Elin: Michael Skye from Sooner or Later/Waiting Games/Now or Never. Rex Smith...le sigh.

Paula: Michael Skye in Sooner or Later (yes, I’m that old!). Every young girl’s fantasy!

Michele: Ty from Lady luck

Anais: there should just be a list dedicated to Ty in Lady Luck – we need more like him from Kristen Ashley.

Diana: My most fav absolute coveted book memorabilia is my autographed copy of Lady Luck by Kristen Ashley because that is my fav book in the whole world so when that book was published I went bonkers.

Kirstyn: Ty from Lady Luck by Kristen Ashley. Makes me want to read it again right now!

Dawn: Holden Maxwell from The Gamble by Kristen Ashley

Takisha: OMG Holden Maxwell!!!!!

Kirstie: Holden Maxwell. Love him.

R. Renee: Edward for sure. Then Christian Grey. I’m so predictable. 😆

Maryse: LOL!! OMG I forgot to add Christian. SAME for me… also so predictable. 😉

Michelle: Micha from Ella and Micha by Jessica Sorensen

Missy: Deuce from Madeline Sheehan so wrong but so bloody good

Shawna: Deuce from the Undeniable series which is my absolute all time favorite.

Shannan: Favorite bad boy… Deuce West.

Angela: Love, love, love Deuce!!!!

Kim: Deuce was definitely my first “loved the bad boy that was really, really bad”

Sabrena: Ohhh… Deuce is #1

Allison: My #1 book boyfriend is God help me but Deuce!

Valarie: Gray Rouillard from After the Night by Linda Howard. *chefs kiss

bev: Linda Howard’s After the Night. Oh, I remembered this hero pissed me off something fierce. I really wanted the heroine to walk away sometimes.

Tessa: After the Night – She should have, yes. Multiple times.

Jessika: …how Gray treated her? After they first be together, what he says to her just blew my mind! But when he let himself feel for her? LOVED IT!

Linda: Jesse Ward from This Man Series and Gideon Cross from Crossfire series. Apparently I like the extremely dominate boyfriends

Leslie M: I LOVE JESSE WARD!!!!

Leila: This Man is amazing!! Jesse Ward (the protagonist) is soooo Hot and he’s full of secrets and surprises and the novel has a very good plot along with numerous steamy hot scenes. He had me hooked from start to finish. MUST READ!!

Linda: Jesse Ward. HAWT intense and dirty mouth alpha.

Ana M: Mr. Jesse Ward from This Man! I will take all of his crazy butt!

Lindsay: Your next book boyfriend will be Jesse Ward if you read This Man series–I guarantee it! 🙂

Evelyn: I LOVE JESSE WARD!!!! What man isn’t a little crazy for the woman they love. I mean he was extreme sometimes but who of us isn’t when we’re in love. I hate that I have to wait for the next book to be released. I need more Lord of the Manor!!!! And I need him NOW!!! Dang these fictional Men, they have become very addicting!!! 😉

Lisa B: Jesse Ward from This Man series; ended up loving him after having to put Kindle down a few times because I was so furious with him

Jan: Hmm. Who are MY book husbands? Lucas Hunter from Slave To Sensation. He’s a panther shifter. Rowrrr. Jamie Fraser duh. There’s something about a man in a kilt. Jamie’s a ‘tie’ with Ross Poldark (oh yeh, I haven’t read the Poldark books so I guess Ross is a TV husband.) Oooh now my dirty mind is imagining them tied together. No! Stop it Jan!

Also Wulfric Bedwyn from Slightly Dangerous, Lucas Kendrick from Heartless and Nathaniel Gascoigne from Irresistible. All Mary Balogh books. A theme happening there. I guess my CR book husbands are still Will Sumner from Beautiful Player and Joe Callahan from At Peace. Ahhhhh. A girl can dream. *happy sigh*

Grey: Oh God… are we claiming book husbands again? *rolls up my sleeves, takes my earrings off* No offense Jan… I’ve been here longer, and Will Sumner is MINE. I’m totally pulling a Finding Nemo seagull annoying gif here. MINE. MINE. MINE. MINE. Also mine are; Brother Vishous from BDB and Zach Easton from The Siren by Tiffany Reisz. Ok, carry on… LOL!

JulieO: AT PEACE (Joe is my all time book boyfriend)… Always loved him. All my life I’ve been the one who had to be in charge, make all the decisions, worry about everything. He’s the type that takes charge. And when he falls in love, he falls hard. Absolutely love ❤️ Joe. Yea he is a jerk but he’s my jerk. I feel about Joe like Maryse feels about Travis. Mine!!

Jan: *wrestles Julie O for custody of Joe from At Peace* Sorry Julie, he’s mine!

Kathy: My book unrequited crush is Joe from Kristen Ashley’s At Peace. He has stayed with me as one of my favorite heroes!

Elisha: The Sinners all of them by Olivia Cunning

Maryse: Brian (first book) was my favorite!!! He was my very first foray back into humans after my strictly paranormal days. I fell in LOVE with him and his sweet heart and his angst over falling for her…

Audra: Brian Sinclair (The Sinners on Tour series) by Olivia Cunning.

Veronica: I love Brian Sinclair, but Travis got me hooked back into reading so he will always have a special place in my heart

Ashley: Brian Sinclair 🙂 Really there’s about 50 million. But I do love me some Master Sinclair.

Angie H: I did finally get to a the sexy rocker book “Backstage Pass.” Do I have to say that I’ve since added Brian Sinclair to my Book Boyfriend list? HOT!

Sherry: Zsadist Always Zsadist

Maryse: Sherry, you’re a feature in my Zsadist section on this post.

Sherry: Yay!! I knew you’d bring that up I’m such a great friend and we definitely had a lot of fun with our Book Boyfriends

Jennifer: yall need to stop this. Im not having a decades old argument on who Z belongs too

Sherry: Sadly I turned Z over to Maryse on her Birthday I believe, quite a few years ago She’d bring out the proof in a heartbeat if needed

Jennifer: Now im really showing my age…as i read through the comments I realize that argument was about jericho

Maryse: Ahhhhhh Jericho. I forgot to add him. My list would have easily been 10 book-boyfriend’s long. But nope… you were right the first time. 😉 Sherry and I have been fighting over Z for years!!! A decade, even.

Jackie: Just flicking through this makes me smile so hard. Happy times – but Barrons is still mine!

Karon: yes!! Lol. I’m thinking I read Moning before Ward…JZB was first. But Z Wow!!

Manda: All this time I thought I was an odd duck lolol…. The first full book I ever read was Dark Lover and Z was my main focus from the first I was introduced to him in the BDB world I miss those days!

Maryse: Me toooooo. I’m still looking for THAT feeling.

Manda: surely it’ll happen for us one of these days lol. Not that other books and characters aren’t great, but THAT feeling…. I miss it so now I randomly go thru new to BDB reviews and live thru them

Katie: I loved the first few books in that series! Once she moved on to the newer characters, I stopped reading. Z will always be my favorite.

Wren b: Zsadist from the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Love that male to pieces.

Anita: If we are talking all genres then Zsadist … Lover Awakened by J R Ward.

Sarah: always had it for Butch, but he was close 2nd

Mary: for me it was V who came in a close 2nd. I adore Z. Always.

Terrie: Zsadist is my male too!

Liz: That man…. whew. Plus I just feel the amount of personal growth he’s had throughout the series has been completely astounding. His strength, his courage, his love… I love him!

Sweeta: I LOVE ZSADIST!!!!!

Brenae: ZZZZZZZZZZsadistZZZZZZZZZZZ…… Always!

Freedom: Andrew Ryan from the Temperance Brennan series then Eric North man from the Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampires series

Kelli: Jr high book for me- Adam Conant from The Secret Circle

Donna: Jake from the Mighty storm

Tori: ugh I forgot about Jake!

Tessa: Jake Wethers!! LOVE him 🙂

Cherine: Jake Wethers from the Mighty Storm of course.

Robin: Hooooooly Craaaaaap!!! I love me some Jake Wethers!

Bella: OMG, I have to choose just one??? I am going to have to go with Jake Wethers from The Mighty Storm. He makes my heart race, my palms sweat, and my skin tingle!! I really must mention runner ups….Travis, Gideon, Tack, Lucas, and my newest addition…Ethan!!

Tiena: I have 3…. Travis Maddox, Kellan Kyle and Jake Wethers

Martina: My all time favorite book crush is Travis (I’ve re-read the BD so many times now and I’m dying for book two) as well and the second runner up is Jake from The Mighty Storm. Actually both guys are equally amazing for me and they might as well share the first place…

Anita: Normal Romance – Cal (Joe Callahan) from At Peace by Kristen Ashley. I have different faves in each sub genre I guest lol

Carrie: Joe Callahan is HOT. I love me some Tate but lordy mercy Joe takes the win!

Nada: I’d so go with the one and only joe Callahan

Liz: Joe Callahan. I love how he loves. He is a complete sexy BADASS!

Tiffany: My favorite has to be Joe Callahan,”Cal” from Kristen Ashley’s At Peace. You went from thinking he was rude, emotionally disconnected and entitled, to falling completely in love with him.

Penny: Joe is the ultimate Alpha hot guy if I could bring any character in any book to life it would be him( and I wouldn’t leave the guy alone! I’d just hang off his arm marveling at his awesomeness ….he is an alpha hot guy he can handle it!)

Lisa: Joe aka Cal from Kristen Ashley’s At Peace will always be my true love. He is a tortured hero, sure, but his love for not only the lovely heroine but her daughters makes my heart putter patter!

Nikki: Rhage (Hollywood) from The Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

Mary: In love with Rhage ❤️

Carianne: My son’s name is Rhage

Tammara: Rhage…. Black Dagger Brotherhood

MichelleS: book husband …After all these years? Because mine is still Rhage!!! …Rhage! Rhage! Rhage! Rhage!
Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! He’s a BEAST & I love every inch of Hollywood!!!

Maryse: I LOVED Rhage tooooooo. But then… I got to Z, and it was ALL over for me. 😉

MichelleS: BOOM BOOM BOOM – that’s my heart – it just exploded….. *sigh* Rhage….. I don’t think I’ll ever get over that guy… I mean that BEAST!!!

Harper: Vishous. Forever.

Lisa: …my forever fav will always, always be Vishous.

Alesha: Vishous is my absolute favorite. Watching him transform and come out of his darkness and realize that he is worthy of being loved – and of giving love…Wow. Not to mention, black hair and blue (okay, white and blue) eyes…my weakness 🙂 I also love his interaction with Butch. That combination? Wow!

Ali:

• Kellan Kyle from Thoughtless was my first!
• North from The Bonds That Tie series is one of my top 3.
• Rhysand from ACOTAR has been my hardest crush though!

Grey: le sigh, Rhysand….

Janie: my alpha male crush would have to be Rhysand from ACOTAR. I know, such a cliche answer, but he’s just great lol.

Victoria: Rhysand and by how supportive my husband was at the time, I realized that I had my own Rhys.

Andrea: I love me some Rhysand 😍

Brooke: Evan from Southern pleasure by Kaylee Ryan.

Kathy: Southern Pleasure was definitely worth the read. You will fall in love with the Dad!

Carole: Wrath, son of Wrath, sire of Wrath, the Blind King

Lindsay: Wrath !!! Yum and then Z !!

Marianne: Wrath has and always will be my #1. 😎

Sasha: Wrath is so dreamy!

Emily: Wrath was my first love but I have a real sweet spot for Vischous! 😉

Amy: Wrath. Oh my. *fanning myself* How far we have come from the “vanilla” reading days of Edward… 😛

Janet: WRATH!!!! All the Brothers are drool worthy, but my heart belongs to WRATH.

Melanie: Encyclopedia Brown. I know, it seems silly but the kid was smart!

Susy: I started young. Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables and Jim Frayne from the Trixie Belden series.

Julie: Old school. Gilbert Blythe Anne of Green Gables.

bev: Oh, just heard that Jonathan Crombie passed away. He played Gilbert Blythe in the adaptations of Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea. As a young girl I had the hugest crush on his Gilbert. I’d still love to find a Gilbert. May be time to pull out the tapes, yes tapes, for the one millionth viewing.

Jennifer: Jackson Foxx from Finding Jackson! Love him!

Donya: Prince Caspian from Voyage of the dawn treader by cs Lewis. (Book, not movie) I totally had a crush on him.

Sherry: Besides Z My human book boyfriend was Ryan (Love Unscripted) A couple of mentions go to Bones and Terrible

Bonnie: terrible from stacia Kane’s series? I love him!

Maryse: OH YESSSSS!!!!! Terrible for sure (my heart ripped apart over him), and of course Bones, and Barrons, and Christian Grey & Kellan Kyle and…. oh I could go on and on. My list would have been TEN boyfriend’s long, but I really wanted to focus on the guys that had me daydreaming about them long after I finished reading… Terrible might have been among them for sure. Kellan Kyle for sure.

Stacey: My first crush was probably Bruce Patman from sweet valley high. That’s says so much about young me

Tessa: …Bruce Patman. I seriously had a crush on him when I was eleven, twelve… now…

*raises an eyebrow* Yep, I can raise one at a time. It’s a weird benefit from having Bruce Patman as a bbf as a tween. I kept practicing until I could imitate him. 😀

…Even at 11, I wanted the alpha bad boy…

Tessa: My first was Bruce Patman, but the first from an actual adult book was James Malory. 🙂 From Gentle Rogue. …*sighs* James was one of my teenaged self’s BBF. *swoons over James Mallory all over again*

Sarah: While there are a lot of newer book boyfriends tied for second on my list…..I would have to say that my number one is still James Mallory from Gentle Rogue. My first foray into adult (historical) romance novels…..22 years ago.

Shan: THOMAS “RAGE” CASE Guardians (Angels of Omnis series) by Lola stvil. Jared A.K.A Teague in unenchanted series by Chanda Hahn

Heather: Gavin Blake or Travis Maddox

Kelly: FlippinLOVE Gail Mc High’s writing!!!!!!! Still in love with Gavin!!! ;)))

Jeanette: Gavin Blake is my favorite book boyfriend EVER!!!

Amy: Gavin… *sigh* Such a sweetheart.

Adrean: GAVIN BLAKE is my ultimate bookboyfriend!

Stephanie: MY absolute fall in love, can’t get him out of my head, book husband is definitely Gavin from the Collide series!!!

Dawnee: Kellan Kyle … always. From the Thoughtless series !!

Maryse: This is the winner by far on today’s list!! SOOOOOO many have claimed him as their #1 of all time (whether in the comments or with a “like”). LOL!! I love him like crazy too (and swoooooned like mad at the intense slow burn – I had never read anything like that before!!). I ALMOST included him on my own list, but the only reason I didn’t was because I don’t remember constantly day dreaming about him once I finished the book. DURING Thoughtless, heck yeah my heart was thumping like crazy for him (and I was sooooo nervous) but after, I can’t remember if I was still thinking about him? Here’s my 5-STAR review of Thoughtless

I loved that book so much, I even went so far as to read the “alternate” ending of this book (back when it was super-indie, like not even on Amazon-indie yet, and yeah… don’t read that. LOL!! This is the better ending.)

Dawnee: He was just so broken and needed to just be loved. He had my heart. It was also the first book to get me back into reading after kids !!

Desiree: Kellen Kyle (The Thoughtless Series by SC Stephens)!! No one can ever come close to him even a decade later

Maryse: I almost put him on my list… so I’m right there with you.

Jeanna: I haven’t read Thoughtless since it was released. I think it’s on my nook, wonder if that thing still works Time to reread!

Christine: definitely reread! I think I’ve read the series over 5 times. He will always be my one.

Jo-d: best book boyfriend ever!!

Monica: Kellan kyle there’s really so many after him but my first always

Julie: yes I agree

Sherre: Always and forever Kellan Kyle

Linda: Kellan Kyle is it for me!

Susan: Kellan will always hold that position with me, too!

Danae: 1000% Kellan Kyle.

Heidi: I named my son Kellan because of those books!

Michelle: yes yes yes. All day long

Natalie: oh yes! Kellan for sure.

Rori: came to say this…. Now I must re read. so many people hated on these books but kellan will have my heart forever… Ryan Christensen too!

Michelle: Kellan Kyle : Thoughtless

Tara: Love Kellen.. I’ve read those books a million times

Graine: Kellan is definitely joint top with Gideon Cross for me.

Nancy: Kellan Kyle and Travis Maddox

Stacie: Kellan Kyle!

Angela: Tie between Travis Maddox and Kellan Kyle!!

Tiffany: Same!!

Kelly: Kellan Kyle !

Kathy: Kellan Kyle forever

Paula: Kellan Kyle.

Tessa: NO LICKING KELLAN! We all share him.

Sheryl: Still Kellan Kyle after more than 5 years and 300+ books later.

Heidi: Louis & Lestat. The very first paranormal book I ever read Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice. I found a copy at a thrift store when I was a senior in high school. Some of the goth girls saw me reading it and asked to read it after me. Pretty soon, that copy had made the rounds all around my high school lol.

Elle: I loved Lestat de Lioncourt, in the books of Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles series (not so much in the movie…).

Dora: Maryse, If you liked Eric that much, you should read Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, especially the first four or five books. You will fall on love with Lestat!

Diane: Definitely had a crush on Louis and Lestat in high school. Started my lifelong love for the vamps.

Heidi: same. Lol I think I loved them so hard it affected my choice in partners IRL. I either had the tragic cases or the asshôles lol

Diana: I just ended up dating a lot of people who enjoyed playing the Vampire role playing game. And lucky for me, I feel Hardee for Angel from Buffy… Also as one of those high school goth girls, WE STILL SEE YOU, FAM.

Heidi: I got a copy of Interview as a sr in high school. Was reading it on the bus when my goth classmate saw it. She asked to read it after I was done & that was all she wrote. I never got that book back because all the goths were passing it around

Ashlee: Caleb from Captive In the Dark ♡

Kim: Falling in love with Caleb, wrong but I did!

Kat P: Um I would have to say Caleb from the Dark duet series. I just can’t get over him… Caleb is so swoon worthy, and this was the books that got me to dark reads.

Jean: …never thought I would fall so hard for Caleb!!

Tracy: I have one from every series but it’s not always the main male character. There are just certain characters that click with you and at some times I have a hard time moving on to a next book.

Maryse: Oh I get that! Like Zsadist from BDB… in the first 2 books he was not the main guy but I was already laser-focused on him. Who was one of your favorites?

Mallory: same! I tend to go for the secondary guys that you know are gonna get a book down the road too

Ilene: Pony Boy from The Outsiders was probably my first boy crush in a book.

Melanie: My original love for bad boys came from almost every character in The Outsiders.

Tasha J: I swear The Outsiders was my Beautiful Disaster in jr high, I re-read that book so many times! And then after I read her other books. I discovered there was a movie and then preceded to watch it repeatedly for days. I had the biggest crush on Dally, lol

Chloe: …my favorite book boyfriend would probably be Johnny Cade from The Outsiders!

Julie O: …glad someone mentioned Johnny from the Outsiders. Need to read that one again, he was a good one!

Jenna: okay! The Outsiders, 5th grade. Ponyboy Curtis

Melonie: Ponyboy Curtis. Outsiders by SE Hinton.

Tara: Colton Donavan – Driven series

Tara: Colton Donavan – driven series

D.G.: it is awesome! Love Colton!

R. Renee: Colton is deliciously broken and that never gets old!

Stephanie: Colton from Driven series by K Bromberg

Leslie M: Driven by K. Bromberg. I fell so hard for Colton…and Rylee with her tragic past…and then – best epilogue ever…. major swoonage… Jesse Ward & Colton Donovan?!?! WHY CANT THEY BE REAL AND IN LOVE WITH ME?

Cristina: Ladies, if you have not checked out this series, PLEASE DO! I’m not a racing fan, but a HUGE fan of this series. It ranks high on my fav books of all time! Colton Donovan is an arrogant, rude, and snarky bad a%&! I still remember finishing the last sentence and then letting out a big sigh.. I looked at my husband and said, “I can’t believe it’s over.” And then the book hangover commenced…

Becky: Reed from Face on the Milk Carton. 13 yr old me was swooning and thinking naughty things.

Amy: The Face On the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney …Read that blurb and tell me it doesn’t sound intriguing. 😉 sounds sooooooo good. 😀

Stylo Fantome: omg yesssss! I was thinking purely adult romance, but oh my god, the scene where they’re raking the leaves!? I wanted that to be my future

Becky: I’m glad to see someone else wanted this to happen too!!!!

Bec: Oh book boyfriends, there have been many…. some that have stuck with me are Chase from Taking Chances by Molly McAdams, Liam from the Carnage Series Lesley Jones. Plus Kellan, Christian, Travis and i love Brian too, I reread Rock Me all the time.

Katelynn: Chase from taking chances. Kellan kyle

Jeanna: Dean Holder. I picked up Hopeless 10ish years ago and that book changed everything.

Heather E: Oh how I love Dean Holder.

Cynthia: My book bf is Dean Holder

Meg: I’m going to have to say Dean Holder. I love me some tattoo’d bad boys like Travis Maddox and Kellan Kyle – but the fictional character of my dreams at this moment is most definitely Dean Holder. So, one tattoo will have to do =)

Kathryn: Will from Slammed by Colleen Hoover

Tracy Lynn: Will Cooper. I wish he was real & mine…..I’d totally marry him, haha.

Julie: Will Cooper was my ultimate book boyfriend.

Jamie: Will Cooper was my first BBF. I love Will…

Kristin: Will Cooper just can’t be beat, as far as book boyfriends/husbands.

Jean: I am absolutely 100% in love with Will Cooper………

Anna: Will Cooper (Slammed, Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover). I love him. I love him a lot. A whole lot. Who needs to eat when you can live on swooning and slam poetry?

Faller: Will Cooper has given me unrealistic expectations for a guy I want to marry. Sigh. …

Tricia: Braden Carmichael On Dublin Street

Nancy: My most favorite boyfriend ever is Braden Carmichael!

Erica: Braden Carmichael…definitely

Samantha: Braden from On Dublin Street 😉 because who doesn’t love a sexy caveman?

Amy: mmmm….Braden

Author Tricia Daniels: Braden Carmichael On Dublin Street

Mary: Ok, showing my age… Steve Morgan. Sweet Savage Love. I was 14. He ruined mere mortals for me.

JulieO: My first romance was Sweet Savage Love. How I loved Ginny and Steve!!!

Jill: The first book that started it for me was Sweet Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers. It’s a historical romance i read in my teens and it was written in the mid-70’s. I’ve been reading ever since!

Frannie: Ughhhh too many lol

Jamie: this is SOOOO hard. I loved Braden Carmichael from On Dublin Street, but I also have a soft spot for Travis (Beautiful Disaster) and Gideon Cross and Trace Montgomery from Beautifully Damaged… oh and we all have a little love if not a lot for Mr. Grey… this list could go on for pages 🙂

Sarah: The very first was Ranger from the Stephanie Plum series, omg I was obsessed with that man lol!

Yvonne: absolutely!

MichelleS: I was a Ranger girl in that threesome.

Char: This is embarrassing to admit but I have an obsession with Ranger from The Stephanie Plum series. It’s been a year since I read the series I should be able to get this guy out of my head right? …Ranger tops them all. I know it’s sad. lol

Penny: …I still have a major crush on Ranger…

Sandra: edward was my 1st book boyfriend because I was 15 and that was softcore smut hahaha….book HUSBAND tho is Nixon from Captive by Rj Lewis, i discovered parts of myself i never knew existed

Mony: it is gripping, edgy…with a sense of mystery about the roles of villain and victim. Oh, and Nixon is hot, hot, hot – shades of Mystery Man but bad. This is longer than most books so be prepared…

Christine: Adam Wilde from “If I Stay/Where She Went” and Paul Hudson from ‘How to Kill a Rockstar”

Lisa: Rock star crush ….Kellen Kyle of course and Paul Hudson from HTKaRS.

Kimberly: Absolutely loved Paul!

MJ: Gideon Cross…then and now

DG: I have been in a Gideon fog *fans self*. There is NOTHING better than a hottie alpha, a little broken but oh so possessive!

Shannon: I absolutely LOVE Gideon Cross! He’s my go to guy!

Krysten: I agree with Gideon Cross as my favorite 🙂

Cinthia: GIDEON CROSS FOREVER!!!! HE´S MINE EVA

Silvia: Although I love Travis and how he loves so fiercely, my book boyfriend has to be Gideon Cross! Swoon worthy kind of male hotness!

Etsub: Gideon cross

Lorraine: So, the summer before high school i had to read A Separate Peace by John Knowles and i fell in love with Phineas it was so long ago but i always will love him

Maryse: Oh wow I’ve never heard of that one!! I’m going to look it up right now. Thank you!!

Lorraine: this is old school stuff, like right up there with A tree grows in Brooklyn or to kill a mockingbird (my fave of all time)!

Tammi: Tristan Vega from Bad Things series by RK Lilley

Kim: Lucas Stark, Rock Chick Revenge, Kristen Ashley

Mona: Acheron to this day is my number one. Then Tatum Jackson from Sweet Dreams even though a few times when he was controlling I’d want to punch him. Also Ehd from Transcendence.

Maryse: Ah yes Acheron. His book was the most intense ever!!! And Tate… my very first and favorite KA love. Ehd was a sweetheart. Another book I will never forget.

Samantha: Acheron from Dark Hunters

Tracy0330: Acheron (the love of my life ;P )

mica: I love Ehd, he is the ultimate alpha male.

Maryse: …he LOVES to cuddle. LOVES IT!! I miss my Ehd…

Amanda: Tate from Sweet Dreams…..sigh….

Maryse: My favorite is Hawk (from Mystery Man), and Tate from Sweet Dreams. *sigh*

bev: …I honestly Loved Tate even though he can be an ass. …The whole sweet dreams title is cause Lauren has insomnia. And one of Tate’s responses is, “You want sweet dreams, lose the attitude and you might find I’ll give you reason to have them.” Lol. He is such a jerk.

MichelleS: Sweet Dreams isn’t sweet… It’s classic KA. She’s older. He’s a big ole’ alpha jerk. One of my favorites of hers… …And be patient with Tate – would we give him so much love if he didn’t straighten his moody self out at some point?

Brenae: my first BBF was Tate Jackson-Sweet Dreams…. Tate Jackson, Sweet Dreams by Kristen Ashley….. Always Tate

Heidi: yessss, Tate!

Meghan: Tate Jackson from Sweet Dreams – though Travis is pretty high up on the list! 🙂

Anna: I have to go with Tate from Sweet Dreams. I was so pissed at him in the beginning, but absolutely loved him much of the rest of the book.

Alicia: Ok so it’s way too hard to name ONE favorite book boyfriend so I will give you 7 just cause it’s my fav number 🙂

1) Gideon Cross – way sexier than Christian… (Crossfire series)
2) Brian Sinclair – loosely modeled after Synester Gates of A7X, what’s not to adore??? (Sinners on Tour series)
3) Kellan Kyle – reminds me of Travis but he sings too! (Thoughtless)
4) Reyes Alexander Farrow – smoldering Son of Satan… Wow. (Charley Davidson series)
5) Zeth Mayfair – sexy, dangerous hit man in the bedroom with a knife? Can you say kinky? (Blood and Roses series)
6) Remington Tate – a sexy underground boxer struggling to overcome manic depression who communicates best through music. Love, love, love the music! (The Real series)
… And last but certainly not least…
7) JZB – The ultimate enigma…. There are no other words to describe him. Barrons sets the bar high for any book boyfriend to come! (The Fever series)

Madeline Sheehan: BARRONS

Mallory: Jericho Barrons “Fever” series – Karen Marie Morning. Second is Cassian, General of the Armies of the Night Court. “ACOTAR” series – Sarah J. Maas

Heidi: Barrons will ALWAYS be my #1

Brandi: My fav is Jericho Barrons from KMM fever series

Jan: Yesssss. I had a crush on Barrons too.

Nay: I was also going to say Barrons, Maryse. He’s just IT for me! I also love Reyes, Zsadist, and Bones, however.

bev: Oh, man. I remember when we all went crazy over Barrons.

Patricia: I also LOVE Jericho Barrons. He’s a total alpha, dark, mysterious, powerful, protective and dreamy lol!

Maryse: mmmmmmm Barrons… so angry, ferocious…..sexy 😉 I was team V’lane for the most part (even though I loved Barrons, V’lane brought some emotional relief, where Barrons was SO DARN MEAN!!!! I kind of wish we had another Barrons-type though). And I loved the V’lane reveal. That was crazy!!! So good.

Tessa: If you aren’t in love with Barrons… How can you not love Barrons? He’s a jerkface guy who’s bossy and you want to slap him, but is super hot and and and… Seriously, BARRONS!!

Patricia: Mine would be Rowan Whitethorn. He’s a great warrior, handsome, protective, secure in himself and loyal.

Christine: Mason Kade

Tessa: mine will always be Mason Kade. 😀 …He makes me swoon.

Amy: …just so we’re clear…don’t ever lick Mason Kade because he is Tessa’s book *husband*. 😉

Tessa: Wait. Now licking stakes a claim? *licks Mason Kade* Alright.

Tracy: I have a serious crush on Mason Kade from the Fallen Crest series. It’s embarrassing! …Mason Kade is in my top five book boyfriends. He just makes me insane!

Melissa: Sir Percy Blakeney from The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

Danielle: Beau Vincent (The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines)

Traci: the vincent boys/brothers by abbi. Beau is one of my fav book crushes lol. …no one has beat out Beau Vincent yet for me…

Bethany Lopez: The Vincent Boys… Oh, Beau… I think you know when, I don’t want to give anything away! 🙂

Meghan: The Vincent boys! I’m totally reliving my crush just typing!

Jillian: I just have to gush about how much I love the Vincent Boys. I was like so in love with Beau…

Lindsay: In real life, I’ve always been a jersey chaser. In my book life, I’m still the same 🙂 so Kulti and Garrett Graham from The Deal.

Jan: Ooh I forgot about Reiner Kulti. Yesssss.

Niki: Ahhh I’m in book love with Kulti!!!! I can’t keep the smile off my face

Michelle: Kulti, for a man of little words, had some goosebump-inducing, swoon-worthy moments!

Lesley: Ralph de Bricassart – The Thorns Birds by Colleen McCullough …. I read this back in the 80’s, I don’t know how I can forget. I named my daughter Meggie (Megan) after Ralph’s love ❤️

R. Renee: Gah yes! But from the miniseries. I read the book much later. 😍

Lesley: Definitely Roarke from J D Robb In Death series and also Gideon Cross Crossfire Sylvia Day

Mony: Roarke is 🔥. …Roarke, is so goddamn ___ (fill in all the wonderful things you’d like in H, and that is him + Irish lilt. I melt every time I read his lines. IMO, there’s way too much of the main plot & not enough Roarke. LOL…

Yvonne: I must tell you that of ALL the books I have read, of ALL the heroes, of ALL the billionnaires, Doms, military men I have read if I only had ONE that I can totally bring to life and be mine this is a no brainer for me. In a word, my IDEAL MAN IS: ROARKE!!!!! Thank you J.D. Robb. No one else compares for me.

Biate: @Yvonne I totally agree with you. Roarke is definitely my all time favorite book hero and so totally my dream man!

Karen: …Roarke is the perfect picture of the dream prince lover.

Carla: Roarke was my first alpha male.

Kelley: All I can say is “I WONNA ROARKE”. Just ordered a t-shirt with that on it, can’t wait to get it and wear it to see how many people will see it and agree.

Sara: I’m going with Roarke 🙂

Julia: I have been reading these books for years and no matter what when I start a new one there is the anticipation of when he will make his first appearance in the story.I can’t wait for her description….with his long dark hair, amazing blue eyes, body like a Greek god and his Irish lilt….squeeeeeee!!!!!!! He is my all time book boyfriend!

Rebecca: My first three and all back to back reads when I got back into reading after having kids.

• Christian Grey
• Lucas from Easy

HeatherChloe: …just as much as I loved Travis, I think I loved Lucas just a little bit more 🙂

Terra: Love Lucas!! Love the quiet reserved type! Ached to help him! Think it is as good as BD! A must read!

Cori: I also enjoyed Lucas more than Travis (much to my surprise too) He just treated her better, and was way sexier. End of story. 🙂

Nat: I liked Lucas more too! Lucas was more rational than Travis. I kept waiting for Travis to be arrested for randomly beating the crap out of everyone. Lucas was protective, but he was smart about it. Love Lucas! Now, the question is, do I like him more than Kellan Kyle. Hmmmm?!

Mahin: …while I’m all swooney over Travis…Lucas still has the firmest hold over my heart.

Sarah: OMG Lucas ! I wish he could be real ! Seriously, the guy is perfect!

• Travis Maddox

Jeanna:

• Z of course
• Edward from Twilight
• Parker Evans from Envy by Sandra Browns
• ROARKE from In Death series

Shaleen: Lol, here’s my list, in order as well, top 10, because why not 😂

• Will Cooper
• Atlas Corrigan
• Gerry from PS I Love You

Maryse: I can’t watch that movie without crying the whole way through LOL!! 😂

• LOUIS CARVARLHO from Requiem for the Devil (don’t judge😭)

Maryse: No judgement for me. I fell hard for “the devil” in Terri Garey’s “Nicki Styx” series)

• Christian grey
• Gideon cross
• Edward cullen
• Dean holder
• Travis maddox
• Marcus tandem from till death by Bella jewel

➔➔➔  Love learning more about our fellow readers? Browse more reader confessions on my blog. 😀

➔➔➔  Looking for more of my must-read recommendations? Check out more of our favorites lists! 😀