I’ve been reading romance novels since I was eleven years old, and there have always been wealthy heroes who sweep the heroines off their feet. Back in the day, they were “just” millionaires, but in recent years, this type of hero has become a trope unto itself.
The heroes are now billionaires, and their storylines dominate the bestsellers lists, capturing the imagination of romance lovers with their opulent lifestyles and alpha personalities. The characters represent the ultimate fantasy figure of immeasurable wealth, almost infinite power, and enviable success in their chosen field.
But billionaire characters are more than the dollars in their bank accounts. Sure, these men are sexy and live extravagant lifestyles, but they didn’t rise to the upper echelons of society overnight. They tend to exhibit very specific characteristics we can learn from. They’re often ambitious, resilient, and prioritize self-improvement.
Ambition
I don’t think you can have a billionaire character without him having ambition. Even though they’re filthy rich, the characters are seldom satisfied with the status quo, always needing to acquire more. They’re goal-oriented, with a single-mindedness toward achieving whatever the author chooses to lay before them in the novel.
That’s exactly the kind of personality Dante Escarra has in my latest release, Handsome Devil. The novel is a marriage of convenience story between a Venezuelan billionaire and his ex-wife, a wealthy socialite from Texas.
Dante arrived in the United States with very little money but became one of the most successful commercial real estate developers in the country. He worked hard, not only for himself but to support his family back home, and in a short time his hard work paid off.
So what can we learn about ambition from characters like Dante? By setting clear goals and focusing on reaching them, we could unlock our full potential and achieve success in our business and personal lives.
Resilience
Sometimes the hero inherits his billions, but oftentimes we read about characters who worked hard for their money and started from the bottom. They used to drive a jalopy, but now they have a personal chauffeur. Off-the-rack clothes are a thing of the past, and only the best designers hang in their closets.
On the way to success, the character might encounter obstacles such as business rivals or some unexpected crises. But these billionaires don’t allow obstacles to deter them from what they want—whether it’s money and assets—or the heroine. If they did, they wouldn’t be where they are today.
In Handsome Devil, Dante exemplified this characteristic. At one point in the story, Annabelle leaves Dante, but he did not let her get away that easily. Of course they got their HEA, after he made his intentions known with one simple sentence:
“I’ve come for my wife.”
At another point in the story, a contractor tried to squeeze more money out of Dante after their contract had already been signed. Big mistake. Huge. The man paid dearly for that error in judgment.
Rumor had it, Dante marched into the man’s office himself, confronted him about the importance of keeping one’s word, and used a technical violation in the contract to yank his business. Other companies followed when they learned what happened. The man went out of business in six months.
So what can we learn about resilience from characters like Dante? If we hold firm through life’s challenges, we’ll emerge from tumultuous periods stronger and more successful.
Desire for Continuous Learning
This is probably my favorite lesson to learn from billionaires, because I consider myself a lifelong learner, continuing my education by gathering information from all types of sources.
In romance novels, the billionaire hero might be involved in research in his field or seeking a deeper understanding of the work his company conducts. If he doesn’t know something, you can bet he surrounds himself with a team that can fill in the gaps of his knowledge.
Dante was the kind of character who was always learning. In Handsome Devil, you find out that he’s an avid reader, indulging in a good book before he went to sleep at night, and spending hours on Sundays reading.
In fact, one night Annabelle comes into their bedroom with snacks and interrupts his pastime.
Dante looked up from the book he was reading in bed—a nonfiction title about time optimization.
He groaned. “What is that?”
“Don’t act like you don’t want any.” Annabelle climbed onto the bed and straddled him.
Sitting back on her haunches, she placed the small tray on his thighs. With a resigned sigh, Dante set aside his book.
So what can we learn about continuous learning from characters like Dante? If we embrace the idea, we can benefit from personal and professional development, which could ultimately lead to career advancement and other benchmarks of success.
Conclusion
If you love reading about billionaires, Handsome Devil will entertain you while you fall in love with Dante Escarra and Annabelle Buchanan. You’ll get the pleasure of extravagant parties, lavish mansions, and get to see Dante’s obsession with the heroine on full display.
Beyond that, you’ll also find a hero who has personality traits you can learn valuable lessons from—perhaps even beyond the ambition, resilience, and desire for continuous learning I mentioned.
Bio
Delaney Diamond is the USA Today Bestselling Author of more than 50 contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels, and dozens of romance short stories. Her latest release is Handsome Devil, a marriage of convenience romance between a Venezuelan billionaire and his ex-wife, a wealthy Texas socialite.
Delaney reads romance novels, mysteries, thrillers, and a fair amount of nonfiction. When she’s not busy reading or writing, she’s in the kitchen trying out new recipes, dining at one of her favorite restaurants, or traveling to an interesting locale. Enjoy free stories on her website at delaneydiamond.com/free-reads.
Buy links
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Handsome-Devil-billionaire-romance-Quicksand-ebook/dp/B0CS8WMY14
BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/handsome-devil-delaney-diamond/1144613058?ean=2940186061571
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/handsome-devil-5
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205297612-handsome-devil
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