A Tale of Two Heroes

I’m going to try not to be unbearable over the next few months as I gear up for SO MANY RELEASES ZOMG #(*%^&49Y!!!

As it is, I have two books hitting the M&B UK site on June 1st. (Stores in the UK June 15th, and 1st of July…then I have an August re-release of my debut in the UK in a two in one with Lynne Graham…and a Presents EXTRA coming in the US…and a Sexy in Australia and and *ded*)

It’s interesting, the two books that are coming out in the UK right now. They are very different books with very different characters. Okay, the heroines are both processes. But in PRINCESS FROM THE SHADOWS (Santina Crown book 6) Carlotta Santina created a pretty major scandal and has spent the years since with her head down, raising her child on her own, and staying out of the spotlight. While Evangelina Drakos in A ROYAL WORLD APART is actively courting scandal in order to deter potential suitors!

In spite of her best effort to keep out of the center of the spotlight, and her family’s issues, Carlotta is dragged right back in when her sister runs off before her engagement to Prince Rodriguez Anguiano is announces…and Carlotta’s father suggest that she will make an excellent replacement.

Eva, on the other hand, has Makhail Nabatov forced on her after giving one too many security guards the slip. Mak is put in charge of keeping an eye on the scandalous princess. After all, his reputation is impeccable and to Mak, honor and duty trump everything else.

The heroines are quite different from each other, although, deep down I think what they both want is something of a normal life outside of the expectations of others. Eva is trying to shake the bonds of responsibility by forcing her father to wash his hands of her. And Carlotta has already experienced what it is to make a mistake and fall out of favor, and now all she wants is to be left alone.

Rodriguez and Mak on the other hand were two VERY different men. I think these two blurbs from each book…sort of sum it up. Here we have Rodriguez, talking sex with his new fiancee Carlotta:

“And lust? What are your feelings on lust?” The teasing light in his eyes was gone again, replaced by something dangerous, that intense darkness she’d sense in him earlier.

“Lust is unnecessary, certainly nothing to overturn one’s life for.”

“Lust keeps things interesting,” he said.

“And what’s the point of lusting after a husband who intends on taking other women to his bed?” she asked, her words clipped.

“That’s only sex. Sex is cheap, Carlotta.”

She laughed. “Sex has always been very expensive for me. But then, I suppose that’s how it is for women.”

And a scene with Mak talking to Eva about the same subject:

I’ll bet you say that to all the women,” she said.

He felt his muscles tense, his fingers curling into her back. There was no easy way to have the conversation they would have to have tonight. But she was owed his honesty. She was giving him her body, and she deserved to know.

This was the conversation he’d never wanted to have. And yet, somehow, with Eva, it didn’t seem so impossible.

“There have been no other women.” He watched her face, waiting for his words to sink in, for her to understand. Waiting to see if she would be horrified. If she would want to stop.

Her dark eyes widened. “That’s not possible.”

“It is. When you’re married for over ten years to a wife who is incapable. And when you refuse to violate your marriage vows, no matter what.”

“And for the past year?”

“I haven’t been ready to seek anyone out. I haven’t wanted anyone.” He touched her face, traced the line of her brow, her nose, her lips. “Until you.” 

As you can see, two very different guys with very different takes on life and love and lust. And I have to say, I ended up loving them both. Mak is my kinda guy for sure. A man with a serious streak of honor, who tries to protect everyone and has sacrificed everything for the needs of others. Rodriguez was a continuity hero, so he came to me with a bit of his background already written. He’s NOT the kind of hero I normally gravitate towards. If you’ve read my books, you know my heroes aren’t often playboys.

But the thing is, I ended up loving Rodriguez. I loved getting in his head. Understanding this man who had come from a childhood filled with so much pain that he’s spent his adulthood escaping it by chasing shallow pleasure. He loves women, he respects them, even, but he’s afraid of having meaningful connections.

So I have two very different offerings for you. I have Untouched Hero, and I have Hot Rod. Whatever tickles your fancy. Or hey, you could even have both. Variety IS the spice of life.