Fresh Fiction Blog | Zoë Archer | A New Type of Romance Hero

Romance heroes come in all forms. From cowboys to SEALs to billionaire sheiks.

But when many readers think of a historical romance hero, often they tend to

think of dukes, earls, viscounts and occasionally barons. Or, if they envision

a historical romance hero, at the very least, he's fabulously wealthy, perhaps a

landed gentleman or even a self-made man.

In SWEET REVENGE, the

first book in my new Nemesis, Unlimited historical romance series, the hero is

the exact opposite of all this. It's not a spoiler to say that the book opens

with "Diamond" Jack Dalton escaping from prison. And he wasn't falsely

imprisoned, either. He's there because he tried to kill someone and got caught

before he could finish the job. (Of course, the man Jack attempted to kill was

the nobleman who murdered Jack's sister, so there are extenuating circumstances.)

Jack is certainly not a nobleman. He grew up on the rough streets of Bethnal

Green, a London slum. His mother was a prostitute, and he has no idea who his

father is. While Jack can read and write, he's no scholar. At an early age, he

was a thief, but when he got older and bigger, he became a bare-knuckle brawler

in underground boxing matches. And then when Jack was approached by a nobleman

to become his bodyguard, he took the job. His value was only in his size and

fighting ability. But when the same nobleman that hired him wound up killing

his sister, Jack tried to take the law into his own hands. But he got caught,

and was sent to prison.

Five years of hard labor later, Jack is bigger, meaner and more bent on revenge

than ever. Which is why the secret group Nemesis, Unlimited enlists Jack's aid

in ruining the same nobleman who murdered his sister. And when I say

enlists, I mean blackmails.

Naturally, a hero as rough as Jack can't have a milquetoast for a heroine, and

he certainly meets his match in Eva Warrick, a tough-as-nails Nemesis agent.

There's a lot of mistrust between them, but the attraction is as undeniable as

it is unexpected. Together, they must navigate London's seedy underbelly, as

well as its glittering ballrooms.

So, my question for you is: how do you like your heroes? Polished and refined?

Or rough around the edges? One commenter will win a copy of

HREF="http://freshfiction.com/book.php?id=59309">SWEET REVENGE (US and

Canada only).

SWEET REVENGE: A

Nemesis, Unlimited Novel

Book 1

The first in a breathtaking new series about the dangerous business of

undercover revenge—and the undeniable pleasure of passion...

In the business of vengeance

When Jack Dalton escapes from Dunmoor Prison, he has only one thing in

mind—finding the nobleman who murdered his sister and making him pay. But

when he reaches the inn where the Lord Rockley is rumored to be staying, three

well-dressed strangers are there to meet him instead. And the pretty blonde is

aiming a pistol right at his head ...

Desire is always dangerous

Joining Nemesis, Unlimited has made Eva Warrick much more than the

well-mannered lady she appears to be—one who can shoot, fight, and

outsmart any man in the quest to right the injustices so often suffered by the

innocent. She's not afraid of the burly escaped convict, but she is startled by

their shared attraction. She and her partners need Jack's help to get to

Rockley, but Eva finds she wants Jack for scandalous reasons all her own...

Zoë Archer is

an award-winning romance author who thinks there's nothing sexier than a man in

tall boots and a waistcoat. As a child, she never dreamed about being the

rescued princess, but wanted to kick butt right beside the hero. She now applies

her master's degrees in Literature and Fiction to creating butt-kicking heroines

and heroes in tall boots. She is the author of the acclaimed BLADES OF THE ROSE

series and the paranormal historical romance series, THE HELLRAISERS. She and

her husband, fellow romance author

href="http://www.nicorosso.com/">Nico Rosso, created the steampunk world of

THE ETHER CHRONICLES together. Her new gritty Victorian romance series, NEMESIS,

UNLIMITED, launches this Spring. Zoë and Nico live in Los Angeles.

Excerpt

Website,

target="author" href="https://twitter.com/Zoe_Archer">Twitter,

target="author" href="http://www.facebook.com/zoe.archer1">Facebook,

target="author" href="http://zoearcher.tumblr.com/">Tumblr

To buy: Amazon,

target="author" href="http://bit.ly/17TeDeN">Barnes & Noble,

target="author"

href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sweet-revenge/id580902850? mt=11">iBooks,

href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/home/books/sweet-revenge-a-nemesis- unlimited/9781250015594-item.html? ikwid=zoe+archer&ikwsec=Home&gcs_requestid=0CMjD95OD- LYCFchw5wodySgAAA">Chapters

Indigo,

href="http://www.booksamillion.com/ncom/books?isbn=1250015596">Books A Million

Comments

Sounds interesting and different. Congrats!!!
(Vicki Hancock 3:33pm June 3, 2013)

Your idea for a hero sounds interesting, but I've never read a historical romance unless the hero was rich. I'd like to try it once.
(Carol Woodruff 4:05pm June 3, 2013)

This sounds tasty! :)
I like my heros rough around the edges. Those pasty viscounts and genteel
aristocrats don't really do it for me. Give me a bad boy any day.
(Debbie Burdeen 4:23pm June 3, 2013)

I like my heroes to be rough around the edges. Makes for a better story. Can't wait to find out what happens after Jack escapes from prison.
(Linda Luinstra 5:58pm June 3, 2013)

I like all sorts of heroes, rough or refined. It depends on
the story. They all must be loyal, protective and a hero to
their heroine though. This, like all your stories sounds
delightful.
(Lenna Hendershott 6:07pm June 3, 2013)

Love kick butt heroines but like the tight rope of them having
a bit of vulnerability too. Love historical romance too
sounds like a read I'm going to have to check out!
(LaRonda Atchison 6:12pm June 3, 2013)

sounds like a great book i love the heroine being strong i
love teh historical romance also i love the heroes that are
strong and sexy i would love to win this
(Denise Smith 8:12pm June 3, 2013)

Yes, desire can be dangerous and I like a hero that is rough
around the edges and then later on he can become polished
and refined after going through lots of adventure and trials
in his life. I like the London look and book cover on SWEET
REVENGE and would love to win and read your new book too.
Thank You very much. Cecilia CECE
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 8:20pm June 3, 2013)

The book sounds really great; I look forward to reading it.
(Janie McGaugh 8:42pm June 3, 2013)

I like my heroes a little rough around the edges!!
(Martha Lawson 8:44pm June 3, 2013)

That's an interesting question a little rough, then I think of
James Bond.
(Theresa Norris 8:54pm June 3, 2013)

I like the sound of this book!
I like my hero rough around the edges.
(Cheryl McEwen 9:25pm June 3, 2013)

This definitely sounds like a book that should be on my summer reading list.
(Christine Schultz 10:45pm June 3, 2013)

I love my heroes to be rough around the edges. Take ky favorite hero,
Eric Northman of Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire/Sookie
Stackhouse novel. In books 6-14, Eric is Sookie's hero and protector in
any way possible; usually by employing his bad boy ways.
I mean, who doesn't love a bad boy?
(Jess Bair 11:34pm June 3, 2013)

this sounds like a great book to read and share with my friends when i'm done...thanks
(Kimberly Hoefs 12:01pm June 4, 2013)

SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD READ! THANKS FOR THE GIVEAWAY!
(Shelley Summers 2:15am June 4, 2013)

I like my heroes rough around the edges...I have a thing for bad boys...I like them majorly damaged but ultimately redeemable!

Sweet Revenge sounds like an amazing read!
(Elizabeth Hyatt 7:24am June 4, 2013)

Jack sounds like an interesting character and look forward to reading the book....thanks!
(Bonnie Capuano 8:52am June 4, 2013)

Sounds like a good book. thanks for the chance to win.
(Mary Hay 9:48am June 4, 2013)

I like it when a hero is a little rough around the edges, because he always needs a woman to "polish him up a little bit." She's always there to buff out those rough edges, and make him shine, the way he deserves to be. I love the story line of your book. It sounds like a real page turner, and I'm looking forward to reading it. Anything set in London catches my eye, as well. Congratulations on your book!!
(Peggy Roberson 9:56am June 4, 2013)

Many types of heroes work for me, as long as the author makes them compelling and gives them room to grow. I'm looking forward to Sweet Revenge.
(G S Moch 12:08pm June 4, 2013)

Jack may be the direct opposite of Lord Rockley, but he sounds like a terrific hero.
(Anna Speed 12:36pm June 4, 2013)

I actually like both kinds of heroes depending on the plot.
(Kim C 12:42pm June 4, 2013)

It doesn't matter to me if the hero is polished or rough. It just has to be well written. I have to be able to get into the book.
(Laura Gullickson 2:58pm June 4, 2013)

Self-made men are always more interesting! With a diamond in the rough you never know what you're going to get.
(Janis Milford 3:23pm June 4, 2013)

Sounds like a great book. I would love to read it - even if I'm not a lucky winner. Best of luck with it.
(Nancy Reynolds 4:57pm June 4, 2013)

This sounds fantastic! I love heroes with a past. It makes
them more believable.
(Karin Anderson 7:59pm June 4, 2013)

Jack sounds like he's more than just a little "rough around
the edges"! LOL. I have mixed feelings about it. I used to
always joke that I liked my men "big and stupid"--the rough
around the edges guys; but, now I have more appreciation for
the refined, gentle sorts. I like to mix it up in my reading.
(Catherine Lee 9:46pm June 4, 2013)

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