Characters I'd Let My Daughter Date

Let's set aside the fact that I can't believe I'm old enough to actually have a daughter on which to muse about this topic (though she is years and years away from dating--thank goodness) and focus on the possibilities. Yesterday I ran across PW's Shelf Talker post on this subject and was delighted with several of the literary characters mentioned in the comments as being approved daughter dating material. I mean, they included pretty much every Tamora Pierce and Robin McKinley male lead, as well as Aragorn from Lord of the Rings and Colin from An Abundance of Katherines. I love all of these men. Though, as much as I love Colin, the hapless boy really does have a rather bad track record and I like him where he is right now, thank you very much. Equally interesting were the characters people said they would warn their daughters away from, having had experience with them, so to speak. Anyone else surprised Heathcliff handily topped that list? I didn't think so. Holden Caulfield and Alexei Vronsky also made appearances that made me grin. I would probably add George Wickham (Pride and Prejudice) and Arthur Huntington (The Tenant of Wildfell Hall), myself. Rakes all around. A little prior knowledge would have saved Lizzie (and Lydia) and Helen (and me) buckets of heartache.

When I started listing names, I was surprised to see it grow rather quickly. I mean, these aren't just Nice Guys. These are potential sons-in-law. Still, who knew I could come up with that many worthy guys off the top of my head? But in the interest of time and space, here's my quick and dirty shortlist of fictional dudes I'd let my girl see socially:

The Five:
• George Cooper, the King of the Thieves from the Song of the Lioness series by Tamora Pierce--What can I say? He's got a crooked heart of gold and he makes her laugh. He's in.

• Brigan, the Dellian war commander from Fire by Kristin Cashore--He's about as upstanding as they come. And he gets props for the single father gig. And for taking restraint to an art form.

• Adam Hauptman, alpha of the Columbia Basin Pack from the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs--There's something sort of fine about Adam. He knows when to go all wolfy and shred the enemy to bits and when to stand back and let Mercy do her thing.

• Calvin O'Keefe, basketball-playing future marine biologist from the Time Quartet by Madeleine L'Engle--Tall, red hair, blue eyes, freckles, and a talent for picking the smartest, most interesting girl out of a lineup. He knows what family means, despite having had a sucky one himself.

• Eugenides, the Thief of Eddis (two thieves on the list . . . interesting) from The Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner--He's deceptive. In the best (and every) sense of the word. She would be safe, entertained, loved, and filled with laughter. Also her patience would undoubtedly be tested to the back of beyond. But what's love without a little . . . challenge?

Honorable Mention:
• Cammon, former indentured servant turned Secret Weapon of the Realm from the Twelve Houses series by Sharon Shinn--He's goofy, kind, and a mystic extraordinaire. If you don't love Cammon, well, you have my pity.

So what do you think? Yay? Nay? Which ones would make your list?