There’s a Country song by Tim McGraw with the lyrics, “I’ll show you how a real bad boy can be a real good man.” I love that song. And I love Bad Boys. Maybe not so much in real life (although there are exceptions) but most women definitely love a Bad Boy hero in a Romance novel.
In a Historical Romance he’s The Rake, The Scoundrel or the Gunslinger. In a contemporary, he’s usually the Biker or the Player-the Serial Dater. But he can also be the CEO, the Sheik, the Cowboy, or the Navy Seal. Any man can be a Bad Boy. I’m a fan of the archetypes book, HEROES AND HEROINES by Tami Cowden, Caro LaFever, and Sue Viders. In their book they list a Bad Boy’s traits as: “Charismatic, Street Smart, and Intuitive.” They say he can be “The boy from the wrong side of the tracks.” or “The Rebel.” Tami Cowden, et al lists such examples as Johnny Castle from DIRTY DANCING and Jack Mayo from AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN.
Johnny and Jack are perfect examples, and if you have the chance I recommend this book for more insight into The Bad Boy.
My Critique partners and I were discussing Bad Boys from our own works in progress at our annual retreat one year and came up with a list of traits we would add:

1. He has a temper
2. He’s cynical, an outsider, doesn’t like rules
3. He’s not a big talker.
4. He’s aloof, acts as if he couldn’t care less
5. He never explains himself
6. He’s unpredictable, exudes an air of danger
7. He’s a passionate lover
8. He never admits he’s wrong
9. He’ll take the blame whether it’s his fault or not
10. He never runs from a fight and doesn’t mind picking a fight if he’s in a temper
11. His word is his bond
12. He never lets anyone see the goodness inside him, or his fears, or any feelings for that matter
13. He doesn’t believe in love
14. He’s possessive, won’t share his woman
15. He’s capable of pouring all his passion and love into a lifetime devotion to the woman who can love him and make him want to be a better man.

And that last trait is the fantasy. The end game. The reason we read Romance. We might all have a Bad Boy in our past somewhere. Maybe it worked out, maybe it didn’t. But in a Romance, the heroine always gets her man.

They say a reformed rake makes the best husband. And in a Romance the Bad Boy can be a real good man to love. So, any Bad Boy heroes you can’t forget? Any Bad Boy tales you care to share? Any true life stories of reforming a Rake?