You can find dozens of romance books with a billionaire mogul as hero,
never mind that most billionaire moguls aren’t young, handsome, or looking for
romance.
But here is where the rubber meets the
road, if you’ll excuse the expression. There isn’t one of you reading this blog
who hasn’t at least heard of E.L. James’ Christian Grey; there may be fewer of
you who have heard of Sylvia Day’s Gideon Cross. Nevertheless, there are multiple
books written telling their stories and the characters have captured the imaginations of
readers who desire more than a sweet romance with the boy next door.
Christian Grey
Gideon Cross
The men share similarities beyond
handsomeness and money. Both are the products of traumatic abuse in their
childhoods. Both are the heads of large companies with worldwide reach. Both
fund charitable activities with their wealth. Both are tortured by nightmare
dreams stemming from past horrors, dreams that threaten their relationships
with the heroines.
But the authors portray the heroes in
different lights; there is a disparity in their behavior. Christian seeks out
women with certain physical characteristics, and the heroine Anastasia Steele fits
that mold. Gideon has always been attracted and had affairs with tall, brunette
women, but the heroine, Eve Trammel, is petite and blond.
Grey reveals his Dom/sub
lifestyle to Ana almost immediately; Cross seduces Eve and holds back the
information of his dominant behavior until she has fallen for him. Christian’s
desires drive Ana away from him in the first book, and in subsequent novels he
is ever anxious that she will leave him if he goes further than their agreed
upon “kinky f***ery”. It is another man, a past lover, who Gideon fears will
tempt Eve from his side.
Who is the more appealing romantic hero?
Christian evolves into a protective, caring lover by the end of the series,
while Gideon accepts the fact that he will continue to battle his demons while
loving Eve deeply. Have you read both series? Which character do you prefer?
