Character Spotlight with Emily Carrington: Wanderer’s Rest/Wanderer’s Haven, two halves of the same story

 

Please give a warm welcome to Agent Garrett Redpath, a spy/hunter/executioner from Wanderer’s Rest/Wanderer’s Haven by Emily Carrington today as we sit down and see what makes him tick. 

What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not saving (the world, clients, your mate)?

In all honesty, it’s having fun in the sack, but I’m not sure I’m allowed to say that in a “nice” interview. This tendency of mine to enjoy others’ company actually caused most of my problems in Wanderer’s Rest/Wanderer’s Haven. 

What is it about your love interest, Michael Brighton, that makes you crazy in a good way?

There’s just something about a person, man or werewolf, trying to do the right thing in spite of all the challenges he’s facing that really turns me on. Michael runs this little storefront operation that helps the poor in Buffalo, New York. His heart is as “big as all outdoors” as the song goes.

Do you sometimes want to strangle your writer? Thrash her to within an inch of her life? Make her do the stupid crap she makes you do?

Sometimes, yeah. Emily is disabled too but not in the way I am. You see, I lost my lower legs decades ago, and Night Wanderers, which is the species I belong to, don’t always heal like most werewolves or dragons.  We’re sometimes stuck with the injuries that happen to us. Anyway, before I get too frustrated with her for putting me in a wheelchair, I have to say that at least I have prosthetic legs so the wheelchair isn’t always necessary.

However, that’s just the backstory. For putting Michael in danger, for making him carry the burden of another’s love without help… yeah, I’m angry with her. If I could, I’d… No, I wouldn’t seek revenge. I’ll just wait until there’s another book about us. Then I’ll get her back.

Do you have a favorite food?

I know this is a “nice” interview, so I’ll say… Tortillas. The kind an old Hispanic grandmother, una abuelita, sells from the back of her car. 

Tell me a little bit about your world. What are your greatest challenges in that world?

SearchLight is my world, a place populated by common magical creatures, like werewolves, dragons, the grand fae, and vampires but also full of the less-common folk, kelpies,, genies, and Night Wanderers. Who capitalized our name? Blame Emily.

My greatest challenge up until I met Michael was convincing able-bodied people that I can do the jobs they can, just differently. Even with the prosthetics, you see, I struggle against prejudice. Also, I’m not white, so there’s that added level of discrimination.

Well, dang, I didn’t mean for that to come out. My current greatest challenge is finding time between my job and Michael’s to make love to my mate every chance I get. 

Describe yourself in four words.

Hunter, lover, horny bastard

What do you do for a living?

I’m a tracker, which is a combination in the SearchLight universe of hunter, spy, negotiator, and, when necessary, executioner. I’m an expert in how diverse poisons harm different magical species as well as humans.

What do you fear the most?

Of course you’re going to go there! I don’t fear being without my legs or wheelchair; I can turn into a hawk, just with no talons, so I always have a means of escape. What I fear the most is losing Michael. He’s not my reason for living but he’s my joy, my warm fire in the midst of winter.

 

Wanderer's Rest (A Pack of His Own 3)

Amazon

https://amzn.to/3eVQd9X

Changeling Press

https://bit.ly/3mFTL5M

BN: http://bit.ly/3a5wAvK

Kobo: http://bit.ly/3jD8b3H

 When Michael has sex with a lusty hawk shifter, he thinks they’re mated for life. However Garrett isn’t one of Michael’s people, and he doesn’t understand the traditions -- and very real consequences -- that go with having a good time in bed.

Will their forced mating ruin their lustful desires, or feed the flames instead?

Wanderer's Haven (A Pack of His Own 4)

Amazon

https://amzn.to/2W42QXW

Changeling Press

https://bit.ly/3FB6dLs

BN: http://bit.ly/3rLfARv

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2MRX1fy

Trapped in what he is convinced will be a loveless mating, Garrett’s only consolation is that he lusts after the wolf he’s mated to. As another wolf threatens the safety of the Tilthos pack, Garrett must put aside frustration and lust to protect the wolf he might just love against all odds.

Thanks for the rough interview. I’ll let an excerpt from Wanderer’s Rest  speak for me. 

Let me introduce you to how I first met Michael… 

once the door was closed and the wind was outside, Ethan said, “But you’re welcome. Please find a place among the pack.”

Pack? Singular? It seemed to Garrett there were enough vehicles outside for two groups of wolves. Especially considering that most werewolf groups numbered less than twenty members.

He followed Ethan into the room guarded by the three-foot-high wolf toy, and slipped into an empty place by the wall as Ethan went to join…

Jeremy? Is that really Jeremy Redpath? Of no blood relation, Jeremy Redpath was a former lover. But “former” was definitely the right word; the two of them hadn’t walked together as a couple since the mid nineteen-forties. A lot had changed since then, and Garrett having prosthetics was the least of it. Last time he’d seen Jeremy, he, Garrett, hadn’t worked for SearchLight.

It was obvious right away that Jeremy and Ethan were together; Ethan fit perfectly into the circle of Jeremy’s arm. Their similar black-blue hair -- Ethan’s Japanese heritage and Jeremy’s Native American appearance -- blended together like a woven blanket.

Jeremy turned his head, and his mouth formed a perfect “o” of surprise. Then he blinked, shook his head, looked again, and at last seemed to accept Garrett’s presence. His gaze dropped to the place where Garrett’s shorts ended, the spot where his legs of plastic, metal, and other materials started. Then he met Garrett’s eyes and mouthed, Welcome. After which, he turned his attention back to the center of the room where two wolves stood alone.

Well, one wolf and one half wolf. Charles stood with his feet wide apart and his hand on the shoulder of a kneeling figure with black hair -- duller, somehow, than Ethan’s or Jeremy’s. The guy on the floor raised his head and blazing blue eyes shone forth out of a creamy-complexioned face.

Black Irish. And handsome as hell. Garrett wished fervently that this was the beta of the Rowan pack. He wasn’t above mixing business with pleasure.

“We are so joined,” Charles was saying. “Michael, beta of the Rowan pack no more, rise.”

Michael did, and then cast a half-frightened glance at Jeremy that Garrett didn’t understand.

“There will be time for a test of dominance later,” Charles said. “For now we have a guest, and also preparations for tomorrow to make.”

As if these words were a signal, the tightly organized group of wolves broke up into smaller contingents and began leaving the room. Garrett kept his eyes on Charles and the attractive black Irish wolf.

Character Spotlight with Marie Lavender

 

Please give a warm welcome to Lance Franklin from Chasing Ginger by Marie Lavender today as we sit down and see what makes him tick.

 

What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not saving the world or your girl? 

(Chuckles.) Well, I run a large tech company, so I guess I’m doing my best, or at least doing my part at saving the world. As for Ginger, yes, she has gotten herself into some iffy situations in the past.

Anyway, if you’re asking about a hobby, I spend some of my free time making furniture. My lady wants me to start selling it since I have so much of it stored away, but I just haven’t had a chance to think about that yet.

 

What is it about your love interest (Ginger) that makes you crazy in a good way? 

She’s such a sweetheart, a lovely person, inside and out. When she does something kind for the most random individual, all I can think is how lucky I got. And damn, I could just stare at her for hours and be happy. She is so beautiful.

 

Do you sometimes want to strangle your writer? Thrash her/him to within an inch of their life? Make them do the stupid crap they make you do? 

Hmm…no. But I’ve wondered about some of the stuff she got my girl into. I’m still not happy about that nightmare.

 

What's your Favorite food? 

Anything Mama cooks. She’s a wonderful cook, and she just loves cooking for big family gatherings. I miss being back in Georgia sometimes.

 

Tell me a little bit about your world. What are your greatest challenges? 

Well, it’s not easy being a CEO, running a company. But I have a great team to support me, and I make sure to delegate some things so I’m not spreading myself too thin, you know? My greatest challenge is that we’re doing some big expansions right now, getting into other markets and regions, and setting all those locations up is intensive and time-consuming.

 

Describe yourself in four words. 

Focused, ambitious, innovative, and generous. Well, at least I hope I’m generous enough with my employees, and the people I love.

 

What do you do for a living? 

I’m the CEO of IMT, a tech giant in the Silicon Valley. I started out coding and launching different apps, but we’ve since gotten into other types of media and technology.

 

What do you fear the most? 

That Ginger might change her mind about us. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me.

 

Chasing Ginger 

Book Genres: Steamy Romantic Comedy, Adult Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, BBW/Curvy/Rubenesque Romance, Billionaire Romance

Tagline: With more attention than she ever imagined, how can she tell if this is real or a fantasy?

 

Chased by a group of angry men. Saved by quite a hunk.

This is not the résumé Ginger Halloway ever imagined having. But thanks to a miracle pill, which makes her size 22 body instantly sexy, that’s what happened.

Yet, now Lance Franklin is showing interest in her, and she can’t figure out if he really likes her for her, or if it’s just because of a bizarre drug.

And her wild bunch of friends, The Misfits…well, they’re always getting her into some interesting situations.

So, yep, business as usual. Except for the guy. What the hell should she do about him?

As for Lance, he believes he’s lucky to have found Ginger. But can he convince her they should go for it?

With some new attention from the hottest guy she’s ever met, Ginger can’t help but wonder…is this all too good to be true? 

(CONTENT WARNING: Watch for foul language, steamy scenes, and a pesky yet messy ability to choke on your dinner while laughing. If you’ve come expecting just a lighthearted, slapstick romance, you may not get that here. The author approaches sensitive topics in the best way she knows how. Just be prepared for all the feels to be deeper than usual for this genre – an emotional romantic comedy. No unruly cliffhangers, HEA guaranteed.)

 

BUY LINK 

Universal reader link: https://books2read.com/ChasingGinger

 

EXCERPT

 

Trembling, Ginger nodded when he whispered, “Still okay?”

Then he drew her into his embrace by degrees, and she looked in his eyes and at his lips. By the time she was desperate to have him, he settled his mouth on hers. She groaned at the gentle sweep of his tongue, and clenched her fingernails onto his suit jacket. Oh, to hell with the fear of inexperience, or the fact this might be a dream on its own. It felt too good.

“I love kissing you,” he muttered after a few moments. But then the man stirred her up again.

She got lost in his dark yet pleasant essence, the way he held her. His fantastic scent as it surrounded them in the close confines of the car. Ginger moaned. “I…love it when you kiss me too.”

He smiled, then lowered his mouth to hers. Soon enough, they both grasped at each other, angled their bodies closer. The soft leather seat pressed at her back, and she became breathless when he trailed his mouth down her neck. But suddenly, his lips were on hers again, stole her breath until she didn’t care where they were, or who else was around.

When they came up for air at last, he said, “Just a sec.”

Worried, she nibbled her lip, sure he was having second thoughts. Oh God, what if he wasn’t attracted to her the way he’d claimed? If this was some awful trick. So embarrassing…yeah, stuck-in-the-pool-because-your-bathing-suit-malfunctioned kind of humiliation. But then, why would he even bother with a kiss if none of it was real? Or saying these words which meant so much to her? That she was wanted, not only as a person, but as a woman. She’d never realized how much it mattered to her, until now.

Observing as he flipped a switch nearby, she caught the grin on Owen’s face before a black divider went up, which blanketed them in total privacy. Before she could even digest what happened, Lance reached for her.

 

About the Author:

I’m a hybrid author, having dabbled in both traditional and indie publishing realms. I’ve been writing for over twenty-five years. From the tender age of nine, I knew I wanted to be a novelist. I spent most of my life trying to fulfill that dream. I began publishing in 2010, and was fortunate enough to be discovered when a publishing company picked up and released my first historical romance novel, Upon Your Return (book one of the Heiresses in Love Series), in February of 2013. By June of 2019, I was looking for a new home for UYR, as I just got the rights back from my former publisher. In January of 2020, I signed a contract with Foundations Books for the book’s second edition release. The release date is scheduled for November 23, 2020.   Foundations is also eager to take on the rest of the book series…

The sequel to Upon Your Return, Upon Your Honor, was released in April of 2014 through Solstice Publishing. Now the rights have been handed back to me, and it’s contracted through my new publisher. I also have a lighthearted contemporary romantic fantasy, Magick & Moonlight, which released in March of 2014. The second edition came out in April of 2020.

Second Nature, a paranormal romance/urban fantasy and book one of the Blood at First Sight Series, was released in December of 2014 through Solstice Shadows. A children’s fantasy titled A Little Magick, book two of the Magick Series, was released in July of 2015. A contemporary romance, Second Chance Heart, was released in October of 2015. Blue Vision, a science fiction romance and book one of the Code of Endhivar Series, was released in November of 2016. The second edition came out in December of 2019.

In February of 2017, Upon Your Love, book three of the Heiresses in Love Series, was released, along with The Missing Piece, a short new adult romance. The final book of the Heiresses trilogy is currently out of production, as is the boxed set, and my new publisher plans to take that on as well. The second edition of The Missing Piece was released in February of 2020. In July of 2017, Directions of the Heart, a modern romantic drama collection, was released. Blood Instincts, a futuristic paranormal romance/urban fantasy and book two of the Blood at First Sight Series, came out in May of 2018. Additionally, Chasing Ginger, a romantic comedy and book one of The Misfits Series, was released on March 10, 2020. I’m also tackling a romantic mystery collection titled First Target; as well as several other collections and series projects, which I’ll release in the future.

I have published 21 books under various pen names: Marie Lavender, Erica Sutherhome, Kathryn Layne and Heather Crouse. I plan to relaunch them all under the same author name. In the past, two of my short stories were published in a private university publication.

Check out their author website at https://marielavender.com/

Character Spotlight/Interview with Author Torie James

Please give a warm welcome to Mordred Lothian from Timeless Surrender by Torie James today as we sit down and see what makes him tick.

Q: So tell us about yourself. What got you in the crosshairs for your author? Bad timing and her penchant for the underdog. Little known fact, I was actually supposed to get iced in another book but she threw a Hail Mary and kept me around. To get on my last damn nerve. That sums it up nicely.

Q: What was it that drew you to your mate? Roleplay. Of the online gaming variety. I met her on a forum dedicated to a fairly popular online RPG, not unlike War of Worlds. Bet you weren't expecting that.

Q: A little naughty fun, where was the wildest place you seduced your partner(s)? The Spinning Tea Cups at Disneyland. Let that sink in.

Q: Boxers, briefs or Commando on a man? Call me Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Q: If your partner wants to seduce you, what's one sure fire trick they can do to seduce you? Cross stitching. I can't explain it well but I think it's something to do with sharp objects and hands.

Q: What is the one place on your partner's body that you know will drive them wild-in and out of bed? Her nose. Whether I'm booping it, pinching it or trying to get it out of my business, she gets a bit crazy.

Q: What was one of the most embarrassing things your author did to you in Timeless Surrender? She wrote me into some very uncomfortable situations, each one more embarrassing than the one before it. She mentioned 'peeling me apart like a buff onion.' All things considered, I'd say the biggest 'red faced' moment was being mistaken for a stripper in my uncle's sex club. Yes. You read that right.

Q: Anything else you would like to add? If you can't blind them with brilliance, baffle 'em with bullshit.

Thank you Mordred for joining us on 'Meet the Character' day here at Dawn’s Reading Nook Blog. You can find all of Torie James's books at her Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00CTBYH0M

Timeless Surrender

New Camelot Book 3

History branded him a coward. Prophecy labeled her his destruction. Some legends are born of lies. Others begin when the lies end. And not everything remains myth...

"If you could live forever, what would you choose to live for? I chose power..."

Born of darkness and raised on revenge, Mordred Lothian spent an eternity fighting for the honor of a woman who had none. Free of her hatred, his only goal is to pick up the pieces of betrayal and attempt to forge a new life in a world that never wanted him. 

Raised by one of Hollywood's most scandalous actresses, Jenalyn Rhodes knows true illusion begins when the end credits roll. Damaged by the one person who should have protected her most, she is determined to have no master and only one mistress: Herself. 

Thrown together to stop an ancient evil hell bent on vengeance, can the sacrifice of one be the salvation of the other? 

Timeless Desire

New Camelot Book 2

Trust hides the truth and spans eternity when one secret-born of treachery and upheld by honor-stands between a broken heart and shattered soul. 

If you could live forever, what would you choose to live for? I chose honor... 

Awakening to a new world, Gawain has high hopes that the last 500 years have cooled the fires of hatred burning in the heart of his wife, Nimue. Cruelly betrayed by the one person she put all her faith and trust in, Nimue hasn't forgotten the lone cowardly act of one of King Arthur's greatest knights. Together again and yet forever apart, can they heal the past when a new enemy rises to threaten the foundation of all they hold dear?

Welcome Becky Flade and Meet her Main Character, Jayson.

Please give a warm welcome to Jayson from A Love Restrained by Becky Flade today as we sit down and see what makes him tick.

What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not saving (the world, clients, your mate)?

A:    My favorite thing to do is ride my motorcycle. But I don’t think I’ve actually ever saved anyone. I tend to lean toward the more shadier, illegal side of life. Kylee arrested me once; that’s how we reconnected so many years after high school – she busted me after witnessing a hand-to-hand drug buy.

What is it about Kylee that makes you crazy in a good way?

A:    Her moral compass. It points due north, no wiggle-room, right is right, wrong is wrong, and there are no gray areas in between. It’s what makes her exactly who she is and I love her for exactly who she is but more often than not I’m on the wrong side of that line she’s drawn.

Do you sometimes want to strangle your writer? Thrash her to within an inch of her life? Make them do the stupid crap they make you do?

A:    You have no idea. The shit – can I say shit? – that she put me through. Put Kylee through. She, Becky, is a sadist. No question. She tortured us and all we wanted was to be together and be happy. I guess in the end if two people can stay in love after all that they’ve got something real and everlasting. But I still want to wring Becky’s neck for making us suffer.

Favorite food?

A:    Cheesesteaks, of course, I am a Philly-boy after all.

Tell me a little bit about your world. What are your greatest challenges in that world?

A:    I live and work in northeast Philly almost the same neighborhood I grew up in. But that’s more my location than my world. My world is dangerous. Gangsters, drug dealers, cops, and feds. And it’s hard, nearly impossible, to find love and understanding in that world. It’s challenging to let yourself be vulnerable, to let people in, to tell them your secrets, trust them with your truths, because when you do, you’re literally putting your life in their hands.

Describe yourself in four words.

A:    Complicated. Guarded. Hopeful. And angry.

What do you do for a living?

A:    I’m the right hand to the most powerful drug dealer and successful gangster in Philadelphia. Told you – I’m complicated.

What do you fear the most?

A:    Losing Kylee.

Enjoy the following excerpt from A Love Restrained:

Spring in the city brought people out of winter hibernation like a siren song, but as the temperature rose, so in turn, did the crime rate. Cops had  to be sharp as they walked the streets of Philadelphia. In her ten years on the force, on these streets, she’d seen a lot of crazy and often stupid  criminals do a lot of crazy and often stupid things. But to be so brazen,  or so plain dumb, as to do a hand-to-hand drug buy right in front of two uniformed officers rode high on her list of top ten.

“Tell me you saw that?”

“Saw what?” Hunks of half chewed soft pretzel fell from Sherman’s mouth.

Pete Sherman’s not a bad cop, just not an observant one whose paunch  portrayed his love of all things fried and his reupholstered recliner. He hadn’t seen a thing in the last six months. But he took direction well, despite the fact he had seniority.

“There, across the street.” She pointed. “The junkie walking east just scored off the guy in the leather bomber heading west. I swear the dealer looked right at us before the exchange. Call it in, Pete, and grab the junkie. I’m going after the dealer.”

Sherman didn’t argue. She took off into a quick lope, kept her footsteps light so as to not alert the man she pursued. The spring day had drawn people out and the complaints of the pedestrians she weaved through grew loud. The guy glanced over his shoulder, and the edge of his mouth tipped into a grin before he sprinted around the corner.

“Cocky jerk.” She turned the corner, and shouted, “Stop! Police.”

She ran clean and fast, closing the distance between them with little effort. The dealer ducked into an alley she knew to be a dead end. She slowed and put one hand on the butt of her service pistol as she approached. He had his back to her, his hands on his hips as he stared at the brick wall in front of him.

“Philly PD, you’re under arrest. Slowly put your hands above your head and against the wall to your left.” She closed the few feet between them, using her free hand to release the handcuffs from her belt, the other remaining on her weapon. She cuffed him, with practiced efficiency, and then read him his rights before leading him out of the alley, preferring to do the pat down with her partner present.

“Kylee Parker, I’ll admit I daydreamed a time or two about you cuffing me, but it was never in this context.”

A LOVE RESTRAINED

A romantic suspense

by Becky Flade

Philadelphia police officer Kylee Parker is dedicated to protecting and serving. She sees the work in absolutes: right and wrong, black and white, good guys and bad guys. That is, until she chases a drug dealer into a dead-end alley and finds the bad boy she had a painful crush on throughout her teen years has turned into a more dangerous and more attractive man.

Jayson Donovan knows he doesn’t deserve someone as good as Kylee Parker. As the right hand man to a local drug-pushing mobster, he’s solidly on the wrong side of Kylee’s moral compass. But he can’t help reaching for her time and again when he knows he shouldn’t.

Even when his secrets threaten them both.

Where to purchase A Love Restrained

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | iBooks | Kobo

Add to Goodreads

About the Author:

Home is where the heart is and Becky makes hers with her very own knight in slightly tarnished armor, their three daughters, son-in-law, two grandsons, and their psychotic cat Jaxon. When she's not busy living her own happily ever after, she's writing about someone else’s.

Contact Details:

beckyfladeauthor@gmail.com

http://www.beckyfladeauthor.com/

https://www.facebook.com/BeckyFlade

https://twitter.com/beckyflade

http://www.amazon.com/Becky-Flade/   

http://www.goodreads.com/Becky_Flade   

sign up for Becky’s quarterly newsletter here à http://eepurl.com/7WDZj

Chatting with Three Bad Boys of Romance with Kelli A. Wilkins

Today we’re chatting with three of my “bad boy” heroes and finding out what makes them tick. Say hello and give a warm welcome to: Ashton Bailey from Dangerous Indenture, Deke from Killer in Wolf’s Clothing, and Rothgar from The Viking’s Witch.

Hi guys! It’s good to meet you all. Let’s start with a simple question: What makes you a “bad boy” hero?

Ashton: Am I bad? Well…I suppose so. Compared to other young men in Pennsylvania Colony, I am rather naughty. I do all the things “respectable” heroes of my time period shouldn’t: get drunk, gamble, fight, curse, and go to bed with loose women.

Deke: I’m right there with ya, except for that “woman” part. I’m an Alpha male, the alternate personality of Greg, who’s a lameass loser. I drink, curse like a sailor, eat whatever I want, and have one goal in life—to get laid. I don’t care where I find a guy, as long as he’s ready and willing to be dominated.

Rothgar: Like Deke and Ashton, I’m also a fighter. I have a solid reputation as a fierce Viking leader and have been in many battles. I don’t suffer fools lightly and I’m not afraid to take charge of a situation. I expect to be obeyed, not challenged.

When Kelli wrote your stories she had to make sure you weren’t “too” bad, otherwise you wouldn’t be heroes. We know how tough you are, so tell us about your weaknesses and vulnerabilities.

Ashton: I have the need to defend anyone who is having a rough time. Shauna left Ireland with nothing and came here to start over. I helped her adjust and protected her at Stewart House. I try to do the right thing where people are concerned and help out if I can. Once, I had to choose between paying a girl for her services and getting a meal. I felt sorry for her and gave her the money she deserved.

Deke: My soft spot is buried pretty deep. Years ago, I lost most of my friends in a fire. My need for revenge is fueled by the fact that they deserve justice, and I also feel responsible because I wasn’t there to help them. That makes me protective of Larry (Greg’s boyfriend), too.

Rothgar: I can relate to that. My wife and son died in a fire while I was out raiding. I never really forgave myself until I talked it through with Odaria. After the fire, I stopped raiding because I didn’t want to cause other people heartache and grief. Seeing Odaria in danger brought out my protective nature. I wouldn’t know how to go on without her, and I would fight to the death to keep her safe.

What was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome? What lessons did Kelli make you learn while telling your story?

Ashton: I learned many lessons… one of which was how to grow up and be responsible, and not to stay out all night drinking and gambling. I think my biggest obstacle was my lack of self-respect. I had to prove to myself and my father that I’m not the failure he always considered me to be. With Shauna’s (and Kelli’s) help, I changed dramatically over the course of the book and I’m much happier for it.

Deke: Learn my lessons? Obstacles? Please. (Rolls his eyes.) Kelli gave me nothing but hardship and obstacles from the minute I woke up on the page. I was kept prisoner in a basement and then when I was finally freed, I had to follow Larry around like a puppy while looking for a killer. I’ve never liked restrictions or being told what to do, and I resented the fact that Kelli made life very hard for me. But when Larry went missing I realized that I cared for him and it was my fault he got captured. I learned that life isn’t just about me. I had a duty to rescue him and make things right.

Rothgar: I had to overcome many obstacles in my life—a major one was learning to carry on after my first wife died. For a few years after that terrible tragedy, I gave up raiding and traveling and was considered “soft” by many warriors. (Laughs). I’ve certainly overcome any reluctance to show them my stronger side—and many of them still have the bruises and scars to prove it! Sailing to Scotland and meeting Odaria renewed my strength and self-confidence and gave me a second chance at a happy life. Kelli taught me many lessons, but the most important one was have to love and trust again.

How does your partner handle your “bad boy” attitude? Some people might consider it a turn-off.

Ashton: Shauna understood my drinking and womanizing… but she didn’t approve. With her help and support, I turned myself around. However, I’m not entirely reformed. I’m still notoriously improper when it comes to certain activities in the bedchamber. Shauna has confessed that she likes it when I take charge and get a little forceful between the sheets.

Deke: Welcome to my world! Larry is the same way—now. At first, my gruff attitude and demands turned him off. Or maybe he was just surprised because I’m so different from Greg. After a few hours with me, he learned how much fun it was to be dominated. He doesn’t complain.

Rothgar: Odaria never tolerated my attitude for a second. When we met, we fought like cats and dogs. She was my “prisoner” for a while (I kept her with me to keep her safe) and argued with me every minute of the day. She’s a strong-willed, confounding woman who insisted I was a brute and said she hated me. But I knew from the way she kissed me, that deep down she was glad I was there.

Why do you think “bad boy” heroes are appealing to readers?

Ashton: I think readers are attracted to heroes who have faults, bad habits, and don’t always make the right choices. And despite all this, their women love them anyway. Outside of romance novels, real men aren’t perfect. Everyone has flaws or something in their past to overcome. Perhaps readers find these heroes appealing because there’s always a happy-ever-after ending, no matter what.

Deke: People want to read about “bad boys” who do, say, and think what’s not considered “polite” or “right” and still come out of the book a hero. Readers can lose themselves in a down-and-dirty fantasy about a bad boy who just might come home horny and bend their lover over the dining room table. Think about it. On “Happy Days” who was considered cool? Drippy Richie Cunningham or the Fonz? “Bad boy” heroes have an extra sharp edge to them, and they don’t care what other people think. They stand outside what’s considered “acceptable”—maybe that’s why they’re appealing.

Rothgar: A “bad boy” or not, who wouldn’t like to read about a hero who is brave, loyal, and can take charge of any situation? When readers lose themselves in a book, all their real life problems fade away. They become involved in the story, and even though things might seem bleak for the characters, they know that by the end of the book, the hero will rise to the occasion and everything will be fine. Heroes have to jump off the page, carry the book, and face down their nemesis; otherwise they’re not doing their jobs.

If your mate could describe you in one word what would it be?

Ashton: Sensitive. Caring. And sometimes a bit naughty!

Deke: Strong. No doubt. And intense, very intense.

Rothgar: Sexy? Strong? Virile? Brave? Bold? (Laughs.) Although all of those are true, knowing Odaria the way I do, if you asked her the question, she’d tell you: “Mine.”

Thanks for sharing your insights. We appreciate first-hand opinions and insights from our heroes!

Readers, what are your thoughts on the subject? Do “bad boys” appeal to you more than other types of heroes? Or can they be a turnoff? Does it matter if they’re staring in historical romances or contemporaries? Please share your thoughts with Kelli.

Happy Reading!

Readers and other authors can get in touch with Kelli via these social media links:

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 19 romance novels, and 5 non-fiction books. Her romances span many genres and heat levels.

Her trilogy of erotic romance novellas, Midsummer Night’s Delights, Midwinter Night’s Delights, and Ultimate Night’s Delights was released in spring 2017.

Loving a Wild Stranger was published in January 2017. This historical/pioneer romance is set in the wilds of the Michigan Territory and blends tender romance with adventure.

Kelli's third Medallion Press romance, Lies, Love & Redemption was released in September 2016. This spicy historical western is set on the Nebraska prairie in 1877.

Her writing book, You Can Write—Really! A Beginner’s Guide to Writing Fiction is a fun and informative guide filled with writing exercises and helpful tips all authors can use.

Kelli posts on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and Twitter: www.Twitter.com/KWilkinsauthor.

She also writes a weekly blog: http://kelliwilkinsauthor.blogspot.com/.

Visit her website, www.KelliWilkins.com to learn more about all of her writings, read book excerpts, reviews, and more. Readers can sign up for her newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/HVQqb.