Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. 
The actual topic this week is “Top Ten Characters I Would Crush On If I Were Also A Fictional Character”, but in my mind, I can’t help thinking of it as my Top Ten Fictional Crushes — or, as a friend and I like to say, our top 10 fictional boyfriends. Which makes us sound about 14 years old, but there you have it.
Since this is all make-believe, real-life considerations such as availability and age-appropriateness go right out the window. So here we go — the men of my book-bound dreams:
1) James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser, a.k.a. Jamie Fraser (Outlander). Because, seriously — is there anything better than a tall, red-headed Scottish warrior in a kilt, who’s also mind-meltingly tender and romantic? I don’t think so.
2) Matthew Clairmont (A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night). Sexy vampire with multiple PhD degrees? Check.
3) Emilio Sandoz (The Sparrow). I know he’s a priest — didn’t I say that this list has nothing to do with availability? Emilio is so gifted, so perfect, and so tragically wounded in body and soul. Makes me want to protect him from the world. Sigh.
4) Henry DeTamble (The Time Traveler’s Wife). I love his romantic streak and his punk-rock wildness. Totally miscast in the movie version, in my opinion, but Henry in the book? To die for.
5) Eric Northman (Sookie Stackhouse series). I’ve got nothing against Alexander Skarsgard, but book Eric is THE Eric for me. The version of Eric I see when I read the books is a big and beefy Viking, built more like a football player (with super long ultra-blond hair) than the lean and lanky (and totally hot) Swedish TV version of Eric. I truly, truly loved Eric through many, many books… until the last couple, when his character kind of fell apart. In my humble opinion, of course.
6) Sirius Black (Harry Potter series). Love. Just love. Sirius is noble, loyal, misunderstood, intense, and hey — he’s a Gryffindor!
7) Connal Maccon (The Parasol Protectorate). Another Scottish crush! Although this one tends more toward fur than kilts. Connal is a big, strong, devoted man, a fine husband and father, and one heck of a pack Alpha for his house full of werewolves.
8) Ned Stark (A Game of Thrones). Poor Ned. For the 1% of people who haven’t either read the books or watched the HBO show, let’s just leave it at that. But goodness, what an honorable man. And yet another dedicated husband and father — do we sense a theme here? Runners up from ASoIaF: Jon Snow and Khal Drogo. No explanations needed.
9) Harry Dresden (Dresden Files). A wise-cracking wizard who kicks butt, defies authority, and is fiercely loyal to friends and family. What a guy.
10) I got totally stuck coming up with a #10. Should I go with the ever-popular Mr. Darcy? What about underdog Sydney Carton from A Tale of Two Cities? Or Brandon Birmingham, dashing sea captain from The Flame and the Flower (my very first romance novel, which I read at much too young and impressionable an age)? Then again, I did love Jake Epping in 11/22/63, Adam Hauptmann in the Mercy Thompson books… oh, and Aragorn! How could I forget my king?
It’s hopeless. I’m doomed to always fall for my book heroes. But happily, they’re always right there on my shelves, whenever I want to spend time with them again. So let’s hear it for our fictional crushes!
Who’s on your list this week?
Bookshelf Fantasies 
Yes to Matthew! Although I didn’t include him in this short list. If I was working on a longer one, then yes he would be. Still he’s crush worthy. You have Ned! I have Robb. LOL!
Jessica @ Literary, etc
We could make a calendar — the men of Westeros! (Probably someone already has, I’m sure…) Thanks for stopping by!
Oh Ned~ he had the right intentions but yeah… Westeros is cut throat. Terrible pun, I know. Jon made our list. My TTT.
Jon is such a great character. Heck, I’d put Tyrion on the list if I didn’t have to stop at 10. Gotta love a man with brains!
I LOVE Sydney Carton. Seriously the BBC has to do a miniseries for The Tale of Two Cities. I refuse to accept that they’ll never do one lol. Sirius didn’t make my list and I’m disappointed in myself that I didn’t include any of the HP characters. Shame on me lol.
I almost went with Snape instead of Sirius. Snape is just so tragic. Then again, I do kind of have a thing for Dobby 🙂
Sirius and Ned are both great picks, rough but honorable men! 🙂 Great list.
My TTT
Thanks for stopping by! This is a really fun topic (although I felt the need to blush when certain family members asked me what I was writing about…)
“is there anything better than a tall, red-headed Scottish warrior in a kilt, who’s also mind-meltingly tender and romantic?”
No, no there isn’t.
Eric and Sirius – YES!
I have to say though…Ned? Meh. JON SNOW FTW.
Ned vs Jon Snow? I guess I have a thing for older men.:)
To be fair I mean Jon Snow in the show because Kit!! *fans self*
Well, yes, Kit is *special*. Whereas Jon Snow in the books is, what, about 14 when the books start? LOL.
I’m pretending that isn’t true! Also I’m only half way through book 1 😀
Wow, Sirius? Really? lol. 🙂
I really need to start watching Game of Thrones! 🙂
Nina@J’adore Happy Endings
Definitely start watching Game of Thrones! I’ve always adored Sirius — not the movie version so much, but definitely book Sirius.
Oh Yes, Mr. Henry DeTamble. I could write a novel-sized love letter to him. I agree with you– he was completely miscast in the movie, but his book character is so darn sexy *swoon*
I have read that book so many times. Love it!
Oww Matthew here too. Maybe it is a good thing I do not know about Jamie if he is really that yummie! (still have to read Outlander)
Ciska, definitely give Jamie — I mean Outlander — a try!
YAY Sirius! I love him too! Also Ned Stark is a great pick! Happy Reading!
My Top Ten!
I’m glad to find someone who appreciates my crushes! Thanks for stopping by.
Love seeing Jamie on here. 😀
I guess we have excellent taste!
I think my first 5 or 6 are about the same as yours though I added wesly from princess bride and a few others
Diana, I couldn’t find your list — link please? I love Princess Bride! I just watched it again over the weekend — never gets old.
Well, my ASoIaF crush was Jaime Lannister, so there’s that.
However, I completely agree with you about Jamie of the Many Names and Henry.
Well, Jaime Lannister of book 5 is not the same horrible person from book 1, so crush away! 🙂
Oh yes for Sirius Black. I totally agree with everything you just said 🙂
April Blog Hop
Top Ten Book Boyfriends
Waiting on Wedneday
Great list! Yeah, had I gone for more than 10 characters Ned Stark (and Jaime books 3+) and Matthew Clairmont would’ve made my list xD
Such a great list, Lisa! I do love me some Eric Northman, however, I had to pick Alcide Herveaux for my list only because of the TV version though. And OMG I can’t believe I forgot about Sirius Black! He’s the best! Well, him and Remus and their doomed fates still make me so sad.
Oh, Remus! It’s been years since the last book came out, and I still feel like crying whenever I think about Remus and Tonks.