u/takvertheseawitch

Hero protects the heroine the first time they meet

So I read the book Salvation by Noelle Adams and what I really really REALLY liked about this book is that scene 1 the hero and heroine meet each other for the first time and he immediately tries to protect her from a dangerous situation. It was extra good because there was nothing really in it for him, she's just a random woman to him at this point but he still chooses to help and protect her the best way he can because that's the kind of person that he is.

I would like to read other books like this. He could be protecting her from another person/people or maybe just a situation where her safety is at risk (blizzard/storm, broken ankle while hiking, car broke down in the middle of nowhere.)

I'm not looking for the type of MMC who regularly does horrible monstrous things and decides to make an exception for the heroine because he feels drawn to her. I'm looking for a hero who is a decent person and helps her because he's constitutionally unable to just walk away from a woman or vulnerable person in trouble if he can help.

Extra special bonus points if she is wary or afraid of him at first and he reassures her that he wants to help her, not hurt her. I wish every single romance novel had a scene where the hero gently tells the heroine "I'm not going to hurt you."

Not looking for abusive heroes or hero-on-heroine noncon (but I'm fine with villain-on-heroine noncon (which happens in Salvation just FYI in case you decide to look up the book)) OK if he's grumpy/reluctant as long as he protects. Edit: It's also OK if he tries but fails to protect her due to being outnumbered or for some other reason.

Especially love suspense, survival, and contemporary romance. I don't like anything with non-human characters. Thank you!

EDIT: I realized I myself actually already another book that fits this and it's only right to share since others might be interested. Moonshine: A Post-Apocalyptic Romance by Kat Bostick. At the beginning of the book the heroine is spotted by two men with bad intentions. While fleeing from them she runs smack into the hero, a total stranger to her, and begs for him to help her, which he does. Slow burn.

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u/takvertheseawitch — 18 hours ago