10 protective romance novel heroes you'll LOVE

Look, I'm not saying romance novel heroines (or any women) need a big strong man to protect them. I adore ass-kicking, super self-sufficient heroines. But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy the fantasy idea of having someone looking out for me. That's what the heroes on today's list do--they put the heroine's needs ahead of their own and do whatever is necessary to keep them safe and happy. So, without further ado, here are a few of my all-time favorite protective romance novel heroes:   

Logan St. James

Why you'll love him: He's a strong, silent, I-can-kill-a-man-with-my-pinkie royal bodyguard, and his chemistry with heroine Ellie is BEYOND smokin'. He never ventures into high-handed alphahole territory, either, which is sometimes hard to find in bodyguard romance. And if all that wasn't enough to sell you on the book, you can check out my full, glowy review here.  

Brick Callahan

Why you'll love him: This great big ole grumpy teddy bear (and beef stew enthusiast) is  so ridiculously in love with the heroine, and it's just ADORABLE that he thinks he'll be able to resist her. But while he's doing his best to resist, he'd do anything to keep her safe and happy, and that's just a joy to read about.   

Noah Riddick

Why you'll love him: Here's another guy who would stop at NOTHING to keep the woman he loves safe. As this particular series goes on, it becomes super clear that Harper Hall doesn't really need protecting, but that doesn't stop Riddick from ALWAYS putting her first, and that's something I never get tired of reading about in romance. 

Reyes Farrow

Why you'll love him: Well, if I'm being honest, you'll probably love him for his supernatural hotness and intensity. But, he also falls into what I call the "scary protective" category. He'd burn the world down for Charley, to the point that sometimes he feels like more of an antihero than a hero (which is NOT a criticism), but no one can deny that he's not about to let anything happen to the woman he loves--not on his watch (and he's always watching...but not in a creepy way. Oh, just trust me, OK? He's awesome.)   

Nate West

Why you'll love him: Honestly, I could've put any Pamela Clare hero on this list. Protective guys are kind of her jam. But Nate will always hold a special place in my heart. He's just so sweet and genuinely good--a total cinnamon roll hero. He's the kind of guy who'd risk his life for strangers, so OF COURSE he goes all out for the woman he loves. Seriously, if you don't love this guy...well, you might want to look for book recommendations elsewhere, because I probably can't help you.  

Jude Ellis

Why you'll love him: Here's another crazily competent bodyguard who is willing to take a bullet for the heroine BEFORE he even falls for her--so, the lengths he'll go to when he DOES fall for her are way above and beyond the call of duty. He's charming in a quiet, sometimes awkward way, and sexy in pretty much EVERY way. Again, if you don't love Jude, I'm not sure we can still be friends. (I mean, I'll still give you book recommendations and all, but we can't be besties anymore. Sorry.) For more info, you can check out my glowy review here. 

Logan Hunt

Why you'll love him: Off. The. Charts. Hotness. I mean, that's all you really need to know with this one.  

Killian Morgan

Why you'll love him: Here's a heroine who can bench press a city bus, and still, Killian goes out of his way (like, way WAY out of his way) to keep her safe and happy and comfortable. All he wants to do is keep a smile on her face, and it's AWESOME to read about a guy who is so supportive of a woman who is physically stronger than him.  Never once is he threatened by her abilities, and that's the kind of hero I'll never get tired of in Romancelandia.  But if you're still not convinced, you can check out my gushy review here.  

Tyler Grace

Why you'll love him: Not only did he save the heroine, Holly, from a MONSTER, but he then very patiently helped her figure out who she was after the trauma and rebuild her new life. And all this while being a grumpy, antisocial loner. There's just something so swoon-worthy about a rough, gruff guy that the whole town thinks is scary falling ass-over-elbow for a woman and turning into a complete teddy bear--but only for her. *Chef's kiss* 

Mason Boone

Why you'll love him: When the prison transport plane goes down, Mason could've run on his own and had a better chance of surviving and being free. But he risked his life--and his freedom--by helping the heroine (who is FBI) survive. It's action/adventure romance at its finest, and Mason is definitely in the upper tier of protective romance heroes for the lengths he went to for the woman he loved. 

But those are just 10 of my faves. What about you? Who would you add to the list? Let's discuss in the comments!