Cinnamon Roll Heroes in Historical Romance
(Reader’s advisory: this is not a recipe! This is about romance novels!)
If you’ve been following my writing and/or book recommendations for any amount of time, you probably know that I am a fan of the cinnamon roll hero. Leave the rabid alpha heroes at the door and give me all the gooey emotions of a lead who already knows he has a heart!
The biggest question I hear from readers is: what does “cinnamon roll hero” mean? So let’s get into the nitty gritty before I make some recommendations.
I would like to caveat this whole blog post by calling out that these labels are usually used on cis-het male main characters (aka characters who are straight men), and they end up defining the character on how he expresses/relates to his masculinity. This is not useful when categorizing people in real life because we are all so much more than our labels, but it is perhaps helpful to understand why some characters scratch an itch for readers.
What is a cinnamon roll hero?
The “cinnamon roll hero” label comes from author Olivia Dade, who in 2017 saw an Onion article about a cinnamon roll being too sweet for this world, and asked for heroes who fit that description. In short, she defined the cinnamon roll hero as heroes who are “supportive, kind ones who tried their best, even when they made mistakes.” Read her original blog post here.
Since then, I would argue that the term has morphed to mean a hero who wears his emotions on his sleeves. Yes, he has layers, but all of them are gooey and delicious.
Is a cinnamon roll hero different than a beta hero?
Another label a lot of readers use to describe non-alpha heroes is “beta hero.” This is probably pulled from pop psychology where we label people’s behavior as “alpha”—aggressive leaders—and “beta”—passive followers.
In this episode of Fated Mates, Sarah MacLean, Jen Prokop, and Andie Christopher spend a lot of time teasing out the meaning of cinnamon roll hero and what makes the label distinct from others. What makes a cinnamon roll hero different from others is that he can identify his emotions and communicate effectively about them.
With that meaning in mind, I would argue that either cinnamon roll heroes can show up on top of other labels, like alpha or beta.
The Cinnamon Roll Hero vs The Alpha Hero
Alpha heroes have long ruled romance books. They are your stereotypical hero. They know what they want, they pursue it selfishly, and only by the end of the book do they realize they care about someone else’s feelings (namely, the heroine’s).
While I’m sure it is possible there is an alpha hero out there who is also a cinnamon roll hero, I think right now, the alpha hero delivers a very different reader experience. An alpha hero is taught how to love, whereas a cinnamon roll hero knows about love and is learning how to love a specific person.
That’s why I personally love cinnamon roll heroes. They don’t require emotional labor of their partner. Instead of a story about a love interest realizing he can be vulnerable, it explores all the various ways that vulnerability can show up in a relationship.
(Arguably, in The Viscount Without Virtue, my hero Max is an alpha hero, and in his sequel The Countess Without Conviction, he is a cinnamon roll alpha hero, because by then he has been married for a decade and has learned a lot about his emotions!)
Cinnamon Roll Hero Romance Books
As a self-professed fan of cinnamon roll heroes, I have dozens to recommend to you. I’m limiting myself to just a few of my favorites so that you aren’t overwhelmed!
5 of My Favorite Cinnamon Roll Heroes in historical romance
My Fake Rake by Eva Leigh
Average Goodreads Rating: 3.59
Average Storygraph Rating: 3.57
The Hero: Sebastian Holloway - a nerd who just wants to help his unrequited crush get what she wants
Lady Grace Wyatt is content as a wallflower, focusing on scientific pursuits rather than the complications of society matches. But when a handsome, celebrated naturalist returns from abroad, Grace wishes, for once, to be noticed. Her solution: to "build" the perfect man, who will court her publicly and help her catch his eye. Grace's colleague, anthropologist Sebastian Holloway, is just the blank slate she requires.
In exchange for funding his passage on an expedition leaving London in a few months, Sebastian allows Grace to transform him from a bespectacled, bookish academic into a dashing—albeit fake—rake. Between secret lessons on how to be a rogue and exaggerated public flirtations, Grace's feelings for Sebastian grow from friendship into undeniable, inconvenient, real attraction. If only she hadn't hired him to help her marry someone else...
Sebastian is in love with brilliant, beautiful Grace, but their bargain is complete, and she desires another. Yet when he's faced with losing her forever, Sebastian will do whatever it takes to tell her the truth, even if it means risking his own future—and his heart.
Unclaimed by Courtney Milan
Average Goodreads Rating: 3.92
Average Storygraph Rating: 3.91
The Hero: Sir Mark Turner, an avowed celibate who is ready to fall in love
Her only hope for survival…
Handsome, wealthy and respected, Sir Mark Turner is the most sought-after bachelor in all of London and he's known far and wide for his irreproachable character. But behind his virtuous reputation lies a passionate nature he keeps carefully in check...until he meets the beautiful Jessica Farleigh, the woman he's waited for all his life.
Is to ruin the man she loves...
But Jessica is a courtesan, not the genteel lady Sir Mark believes. Desperate to be free of a life she despises, she seizes her chance when Mark's enemies make her an offer she can't refuse--seduce Mark and tarnish his good name, and a princely sum will be hers. Yet as she comes to know the man she's sworn to destroy, Jessica will be forced to choose between the future she needs and the love she knows is impossible.
Fair as a Star by Mimi Matthews
Average Goodreads Rating: 4.07
Average Storygraph Rating: 3.93
The Hero: Mark Rivenhall, a curate who is in love with his brother’s fiance and just wants to help her be happy
A Secret Burden…
After a mysterious sojourn in Paris, Beryl Burnham has returned home to the village of Shepton Worthy ready to resume the life she left behind. Betrothed to the wealthy Sir Henry Rivenhall, she has no reason to be unhappy—or so people keep reminding her. But Beryl’s life isn’t as perfect as everyone believes.
A Longstanding Love…
As village curate, Mark Rivenhall is known for his compassionate understanding. When his older brother’s intended needs a shoulder to lean on, Mark’s more than willing to provide one. There’s no danger of losing his heart. He already lost that to Beryl a long time ago.
During an idyllic Victorian summer, friends and family gather in anticipation of Beryl and Sir Henry’s wedding. But in her darkest moment, it’s Mark who comes to Beryl’s aid. Can he help her without revealing his feelings—or betraying his brother?
The Rakess by Scarlett Peckham
Average Goodreads Rating: 3.84
Average Storygraph Rating: 3.85
The Hero: Adam Anderson, a widower who knows his heart needs protection
She's a Rakess on a quest for women's rights…
Seraphina Arden's passions include equality, amorous affairs, and wild, wine-soaked nights. To raise funds for her cause, she's set to publish explosive memoirs exposing the powerful man who ruined her. Her ideals are her purpose, her friends are her family, and her paramours are forbidden to linger in the morning.
He's not looking for a summer lover…
Adam Anderson is a wholesome, handsome, widowed Scottish architect, with two young children, a business to protect, and an aversion to scandal. He could never, ever afford to fall for Seraphina. But her indecent proposal—one month, no strings, no future—proves too tempting for a man who strains to keep his passions buried with the losses of his past.
But one night changes everything...
What began as a fling soon forces them to confront painful secrets—and yearnings they thought they'd never have again. But when Seraphina discovers Adam's future depends on the man she's about to destroy, she must decide what to protect…her desire for justice, or her heart.
An Affair by the Sea by Erica Ridley
Average Goodreads Rating: 4.15
Average Storygraph Rating: 3.95
The Hero: Mr. John Sharp, who tries to outrun his own perfectionism by making Allegra happy
Orphaned pianist Allegra Brown is a poor relation with nothing much to recommend her, save a minuscule dowry and a very big imagination. She has spent the past several years as governess to her younger cousins, who are now ready for their come out—and want Allegra to marry, too. Specifically, they eagerly await the return of Allegra’s dashing, handsome, swashbuckling, conveniently absent and secretly fictional fiancé, the dread pirate Captain L’Amour.
The only place Mr. John Sharp strikes fear is in the courtroom, where his neat, ordered mind is renowned for winning every case he presents. John loves predictability and longs to be a chef. Unfortunately, every time he puts on an apron, the entire kitchen catches fire. Much like passion burning between him and a certain wildly unpredictable spinster, who seems to have confused him for a dashing, exciting pirate. By fulfilling her fantasies, can his dreams come true…together?
September 2024: Nice Guys Finish First Collection
For the month of September 2024, I’ve teamed up with other historical romance authors to round up cinnamon roll heroes in the “Nice Guys Finish First” collection!
Check out this round-up of over 20 historical romances with cinnamon roll heroes. I’ve included three of my own books (that are also on sale this month for only $2.99!), plus you’ll get nice guy heroes from historical rom-com extraordinaire Courtney McCaskill, golden retriever hero lover Charlie Lane, Edwardian sweeties Ginny B Moore, and many other fantastic stories!