I’ll admit it—I have a major thing for Jack Bauer. The new season of 24 starts next month, and when I saw the preview and got my first sneak peak at Jack doing his gotta-save-the-world-again routine, I got tingles. But here’s the funny part: show me a picture of Kiefer Sutherland, pre-24 days, and I’d shrug and say, “Meh. Guess he was kind of bad-boy cute in Lost Boys.” (Sorry, Kiefer, if you’re reading this. Although I love that you hang out at Romance Novel TV. Now that’s the true sign of a sexy man— one who’s in touch with his sensitive side.)
Or how about Colin Firth? Never paid much attention to the man— big mistake— until I saw him as the proud, arrogant Mr. Darcy, one of my all-time favorite literary heroes, in the BBC miniseries Pride and Prejudice. Then I was smitten.
Which begs the question: what makes a man sexy?
Don’t get me wrong; great looks don’t exactly hurt a guy. I still oh-so-vividly recall that scene in Legends of the Fall when Brad Pitt first rides up on his horse, all blond hair flowing, blue eyes blazing. Whew. (Pauses to fan self) (Pauses longer to stick head in freezer when fanning self doesn’t cut it) (Returns to computer with bowl of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream that caught self’s eye while cooling off during aforementioned Brad Pitt digression) (Resumes typing)
But clearly, being sexy takes a lot more than a handsome face. I’m a big fan of the alpha hero—confidence is probably at the top of my list of sexy qualities. A man who knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. That certain something in his gaze that says he’ll stop at nothing to get it. What else? Someone who has interests, ambition, dreams, things he’s passionate about. A sense of humor. Wit and charm. Sarcasm is fine, condescension is not. And a killer accent never hurt anyone. Gerard Butler. Enough said.
On the other hand, he can’t be perfect— where’s the fun in that? Give me a flaw—stubbornness, even a touch of arrogance, these things I can handle. There’s probably nothing I like more than a good comeuppance and an alpha hero who meets his match. In fact, I can accept pretty much any flaw in a hero as long as, beneath it all, he’s completely, ridiculously head over heels for the heroine. Because, really, what’s more sexy than a man in love?
Then again, if he also happens to save the world six years in a row, well, I’ll take that too.
So now it’s your turn: tell us, what do you think makes a man sexy?
A lucky random poster will win an autographed copy of JUST THE SEXIEST MAN ALIVE.
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cyclops8
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 4:04 am:
Hi Julie,
Congrats on your debut release. A guy who is trustworthy, hardworking and has a sense of humor is sexy. He should be genuine and confident without being too arrogant.
Marisa
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 6:05 am:
Hi Julie, so glad you could be with us today! Congrats on “The Sexiest Man Alive”!
You’re so right, nothing is more sexy than a man in love – and when he IS ridiculously head over heels for the heroine I’m so there.
For me – right now, I’m thinking bald is sexy. So didn’t see that coming in my life, but there you have. I spot a bald head in a crowd and I’m definitely looking. I also think watching a man at his work is incredibly sexy. Seeing him doing something he’s really good at just gets my heart racing. And the sexiest thing of all for me – he’s got to be a good conversationalist. His flaws of course, should be little ones that we both find charming and amusing.
Maria Lokken
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 6:53 am:
Hi Julie – Great post – you’ve got a terrific sense of humor.
The qualities you mentioned certainly make a man sexy – and I’m sooooo into accents. But CARING is the sexiest quality a man can have. If he cares, if he’s kind, and if he goes out of his way to help…. he’s got me!
Wendy
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 6:58 am:
Hi, Julie!
I think a great sense of humor makes a man sexy, that’s a major must for me.
Gannon
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 7:22 am:
Hi, Julie. I love your post! I was equally smitten with Colin Firth after P&P. *sigh*
An accent is always sexy, and I’m a sucker for a man who can make me laugh. My husband always manages to make me laugh, even when I’m pissed off. He says it makes him happy to see me smile. Now that’s sexy! A man who loves and respects his wife or significant other scores big points with me. And a man holding a baby….makes me melt every time.
Stacy ~
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 7:51 am:
Hey Julie! Great to see you here
These ladies are some of the best around.
I am a huge sucker for a guy who has a soft spot for kids and/or animals. There’s just something about a guy who lets down his guard and lets in someone (or something) so innocent, you know? And a wicked sense of humor is always a good thing. I love it when he focuses all his attention on you, like you’re the only person around. That’s sexy, because it makes you feel good too. And when a man is confident in himself to let a woman do a “man’s” job and not feel threatened by her but instead appreciates that about her, well, that’s pretty darn sexy too.
Totally, TOTALLY with you on the Gerard Butler thing. He has a new movie coming out called “The Ugly Truth” with Katherine Heigl and his character comes off as a jerk, but you know what, I’m sold. I put the trailer up at my blog. That man is HAWT.
katiebabs
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 9:15 am:
A man who smiles with his eyes that light up makes for very sexy.
And of course a nice tight butt.
Laura
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 9:18 am:
When I went to my future husbands house and saw that it was freshly swept and half-hazerdly dusted, because he knew I was coming over for the first time; that was my first clue to how sexy he was. But then I saw him playing catch with his sons who at the time were 8 and 10. (He was divorced) He took all his time to spend with them, they lived with him full time, that was sexy to me too. But I think the real topper was his sense of humor. Yes ladies, I am married to the sexiest man I have ever encountered. So to recap, what makes a man sexy? If he can clean, love his children and laugh at himself, I say what more do you need?
Maria Lokken
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 10:03 am:
Well Laura, I say amen to that!
Kati
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 11:05 am:
Hi Julie – Congrats on JUST THE SEXIEST MAN ALIVE. The buzz is all over the internets about your book!
Did you know that on certain 24 fan sites, they call Jack Bauer’s voice “The Velvet”? As in, Jack applied “the velvet” just before he killed so-and-so. Isn’t half of what’s so delicious about Keifer that voice? Wow. I could listen to him read cookbooks and get the tingles.
You know, there are so many things that can make a guy sexy. Loving his kids, his ability to laugh at himself, being sweet to old folks, nice bod, great hair, great eyes. I guess I’m just equal opportunity when it comes to sexy. But the thing that hands down will always, always catch my eye about a guy and make me think he’s sexy? Tatts. I freakin’ love a man with a tattoo. Not all over his body, but one or two well placed tatts are just drool worthy to me.
Julie James
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 11:22 am:
Hey everyone! Thanks to Marisa, Maria and everyone at Romance Novel TV for having me here! What a fun discussion– definitely worse things I could be thinking about on a Monday… I completely agree with everyone on the point about being good with kids. Yesterday when I was doing some holiday shopping I saw a man with a diaper bag slung over his shoulder and thought, “oooh… very nice.” Luckily, this man was my husband. : )
Kati– I LOVE that Jack Bauer’s voice is known as “The Velvet”! I hadn’t heard that before, but it’s hilarious! And so true.
cheryl c.
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 12:21 pm:
What makes a man sexy? Beautiful eyes, a caring and protective spirit, sense of humor, confidence, being honest and trustworthy, a great smile, and a lot of intangibles!
Stacy ~
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 1:06 pm:
Oh yeah, tatts can be really hot. I don’t want them covered in ink, but one of those barbed wire tatts around the bicep is so sexy. Voices, not just accents but a deep voice can totally melt me. There used to be a guy who worked here that had the most amazing voice and I’d get goose bumps just listening to him talk. It was deep and smooth and set at just the perfect decimal level. Yum.
Buffie
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 1:40 pm:
:running in very late: Sorry I’m so late posting — this has been on heck of a Monday morning — don’t ask questions!
Julie, Julie, Julie!!!! I’m am SOOOOOOoooo happy that you are with us today. All the ladies here have heard me just rave about JUST THE SEXIEST MAN ALIVE. Loved, loved, loved the book and I totally can’t wait for the next one!
Hmm, right now I’m thinking that twinkle in a man’s eye makes him sexy. Let’s just say I have had an awful Monday morning. The hubby came and took me to lunch and that twinkle in his made just about made me cry with thankfulness that he is my guy.
Eric
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 2:24 pm:
Good golly! I’m all these things except: Julie’s husband, and good at cleaning… oh and if you want to watch me work you are more likely to catch me surfing or apparently writing on romance blogs… and I’m still working on the tight butt… oh crap, no tats…
Alright I like my kids. Usually. But I’m angling for a free book for my wife. And I seasonally have the Velvet when phlemmy… how’s that for sexy?
Kati
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 2:34 pm:
*melts*
Eric should win.
Goooooood hubby, Eric. Good hubby.
Laura
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 2:41 pm:
Don’t worry Eric, I think we can all agree that just being confident enough to right on this blog of mostly romance reading women makes you hot. And I don’t even have to know what you look like. And, I am letting my sexy husband read this, so that he knows I still think he’s the sexiest. Remember, he cleans!
heidenkind
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 4:20 pm:
Aw, I want a free book.
Hmm, what makes a man sexy… well, the way a man talks can make or break it for me. Like Alan Rickman–you know he is sexy just because of that voice! He can make even a character like Snape sexy.
Lisa
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 4:47 pm:
I’m first drawn to a guy’s eyes and smile. I think a guy is sexy when he has a great sense of humor and is confident in himself. Of course, a great voice and an accent don’t hurt!
Andrea
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 5:09 pm:
Hi, Julie! Welcome to RNTV! We’re happy you could join us today.
To me, hands down, a sense of humor makes a man sexy. That was what first attracted me to my husband (okay, that and the fact that he had a really nice butt). He can cut a joke and say a witty comeback instantly and can also laugh at himself.
Julie James
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 5:29 pm:
Aww, Buffy… your story about your husband made me smile.
Heidenkind: I’m kind of with you on the Alan Rickman-thing. Loved him in Sense & Sensibility!
Husbands who clean… hmm… I’ve heard of this rare breed, but never actually seen one… Ha– this is the part where my husband writes in, asking where one finds a WIFE who cleans. : )
Julie James
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 5:33 pm:
Oops, so sorry Buffie, for misspelling your name! Got it mixed up with the vampire slayer. : )
Marisa
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 5:58 pm:
My question is – does Eric have a brother?
Maria Lokken
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 6:09 pm:
Eric – if we were having a contest on sexy husbands – I think you might win. And all along I though Julie named her book after my husband – what cave was I living in?
Kimmy Lane
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 6:10 pm:
His eyes and his smile.
azteclady
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 6:20 pm:
Hi, Ms James!
Intelligence, sense of humor and self confidence make a man sexy, even if he is not traditionally good looking. True, looks don’t hurt, but looks alone make a man ‘pretty’ not sexy, IMO.
Maria Lokken
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 7:04 pm:
Now that the day is wearing on – I can be shallow. Money, I find lots of money SEXY.
Buffie
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 7:25 pm:
LMAO, Maria! Yes, that can lead to attraction!
heidenkind
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 7:34 pm:
LOL Maria.
Money definitely adds a certain je nais se quoi… 
Stacy ~
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 9:09 pm:
Maria, so true. Money is very attractive, especially when it’s being spent on you. I like money *g*
Eric
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 9:33 pm:
Alright alright… hopefully forbidden is sexy, too, because I have 2 (also happily married) brothers. Any guy would get a kick out of this crowd, but I’m keeping this to myself, to keep my man card AND keep a good thing under wraps.
Maria Lokken
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 9:53 pm:
Eric – don’t you know one of the sexiest traits there is – is sharing?
Maria Lokken
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 9:58 pm:
In case we have people who are about to retire for the evening – Marisa and I would like to thank Julie for spending the day with us. We’d also like to blow a big kiss to Eric.
Julie – we wish you tremendous success with your new release!
Ladies you can find out more about Julie James by visiting her website http://www.juliejamesbooks.com
And if you haven’t read Buffie’s review of Just The Sexiest Man Alive – check it out.
Hugs,
Maria and Marisa
Karin
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 10:18 pm:
I feel so sad that I missed today’s discussion. It made me laugh and smile. Unfortunately, today was just not a good Monday and my usual internet time got cut off when I had to leave work so I could pick my nephew up from school (both my mom and sister were without cars) and take him to the doctor for a problem with his ear.
Anyway, I have to agree with what Maria said at the beginning of the day. For me, Caring is the absolute sexiest thing. A man who cares just seems to stand out a bit more. Of course, a great sense of humor is a very close second with confidence coming in third.
Eric, I give you major kudos for stopping by and posting. Now if I could only find someone like you for myself… lol
Donna
on Dec 15th, 2008
@ 11:32 pm:
A man who is confident in himself and doesn’t think he is sexy is sexy too me I hate big headed men who think they are too good for us ladies
Donna
Maria Lokken
on Dec 16th, 2008
@ 8:45 am:
Congratulations – Lisa is the winner of an autographed copy of Julie James’ “Just the Sexiest Man Alive”.
Lisa, please send us your snail mail address to alphamail@romancenovel.tv
Thanks everyone for stopping by.
azteclady
on Dec 16th, 2008
@ 9:51 am:
*applause* Congrats, Lisa!
Thank you, Ms James and all of Romance Novel TV’s peeps!
Karin
on Dec 16th, 2008
@ 1:19 pm:
Congratulations, Lisa!
Sara
on Dec 16th, 2008
@ 8:15 pm:
How can one describe the sexiest man ALIVE? For me, the sexiest man would have to be a Christian. He would have to be intelligent and a touch sarcastic, and be able to make me laugh. Him having good LOOKS or tight abs wouldn’t hurt, but I would not date or marry a guy who did not have a deep sense of God’s calling and a personality.
soupy
on Jan 11th, 2010
@ 12:46 am:
I totally agree. Take Colin Firth for instance – although I find him incredibly attractive (even now when he’s pushing 50….and I’m only just 20) I know he isn’t the best looking guy out there. There’s something more to him. Maybe it’s because he’s realistic or maybe it’s because he DOESN’T think of himself as a sex symbol (and has readily admitted to really not wanting to be a sex symbol – he actually fled to Canada after Pride and Prejudice because he was scared of the fame!). That alone displays enough humility for me to see past his looks (however awesome they are) and see his true personality. It’s the whole “reluctant sex symbol” thing. I think that’s why people still find him so attractive to this day even though he’s no longer the young “head-turner” he once was. I’ve noticed that people who once found Firth attractive just purely because of his looks no longer find him that attractive since he’s getting older, but those who were attracted to Firth due to his Mr. Darcy and other similar characters he’s played, are still majorly attracted by the man – showing how his personality outshines his looks to a great extent (although I think he’s still one of the most handsome actors around from the late 30s to 50s age group).
Brad Pitt, on the other hand, is universally considered absolutely gorgeous but, personally, I don’t find him attractive since I feel he’s too unrealistic and his personality just doesn’t shine through his roles and his good looks (although I’m sure he has a great personality).
twitterpated
on Apr 1st, 2010
@ 8:38 pm:
My husband from head to toe is sexy…….every single thing about him. But I think what sells the most about him, is he has a very strong, comforting, aura about him that just oozes “you gotta have him!” He is very quiet, very nice, is soooooooooooooo handsome and has the most beautiful, piercing blue eyes. He’ll just melt your heart looking at him! I think it’s definitely the eyes and the way a man carries himself that really gets me! I’m not one for Hollywood-ish glamour, or those “pretty barbie doll” boys, but I will always love Johnny Depp. A 100% pure image of sex, charm, class, and yummy deliciousness!