|
Andrea K. Stein | I Need a Hero
Heroes β what do we all want in a hero? Letβs face it, psychologists tell us the
first thing that attracts a woman to a man is what she sees when her hero
appears on the horizon. Is he tall, dark and handsome? Or does he have that
indefinable something that sucks her in? Maybe she responds to a man whoβs
assertive, strong, and quick to figure out how to push her buttons. You know
what I mean.
This first meeting is the bread and butter of how an authorβs romantic tale
begins. The additional ingredients we carefully sprinkle into our hero guide the
rest of the story. Does he have a brooding secret? Does he carry a heavy family
burden that prevents him from committing to the heroine?
In my first two novels coming out this year, my heroes are entirely different.
In FORTUNE'S
HORIZON, Captain Jack Roberts is well above six feet tall and uses his
height to intimidate the heroine, as well as any of his crew crazy enough to
hesitate to obey an order. His icy blue eyes and long, silver blond hair
complete the forbidding look he presents to the outside world.
My heroine, Lillie, is attracted to how he looks in the Royal Navy officerβs
dress kit he first appears in. However, she quickly discovers the man behind the
uniform harbors the hurt boy thrust into naval service at thirteen because he
didnβt measure up to his familyβs high expectations. Jack is older than the
irrepressible Lillie and doubts the wisdom of becoming attached to a young
American heiress who is foolish enough to become embroiled in a master spyβs
machinations. He is certain of one thing. He will not allow her to come between
him and the safety of his ship and crew. He has to choose between honor and
love, for the first time in his life.
In my second novel, SECRET HARBOR due out in May, hero Jean
Blanchard is completely different from Jack. He is dark, compact, and wiry. A
smuggler in the Windward Islands during the Seven Years War, he steals from the
Royal Navy and sells to the French, when heβs not stealing from the French.
His life is devoted to smuggling and seeking revenge for the murderer who
destroyed his parents and made him and his sister orphans years before. Heβs
ruthless in his dealings with both his men and outsiders until he meets Marie
Galante, a widow trying to save her sugar plantation from the machinations of
the man who holds her late husbandβs gambling debt. When Jean forces her to
leave in the middle of her cane harvest to come with him to heal his ailing
crew, heβs overwhelmed by physical attraction. For the first time in his life he
has to become a man willing to put aside his own needs for another.
So β two totally different heroes. One has commanding physical presence, honor,
and devotion to a cause. The other is a ruthless trickster who is used to taking
what he wants. What kind of hero do you look for? In real life or in a fantasy,
getaway read? Do you gravitate toward the honorable hero or the bad boy? Does he
need to ooze heat, or do you crave a challenge? What trait do you most admire in
a hero? Let us know and you could win a signed copy of FORTUNE'S
HORIZON or the ebook version. Your choice.
About FORTUNE'S HORIZON
She risks everything to deliver gold to the Confederacy.
Lillie Coulbourne marks time in Paris while the Civil War rages back home. While
translating dispatches for the French Finance Ministry, she accepts a spy
mission through the Union blockade. When the captain of the only blockade runner
headed back to a Southern port won't deal with women, or spies, she sneaks
aboard as his cabin boy.
He refuses to risk his ship, or his heart.
Blockade runner Captain Jack Roberts has never been caught, and he's not about
to let a spoiled American heiress ruin his perfect record. After he discovers
her deception, he fails miserably at keeping her at arm's length and vows to
send her packing on the first mail ship back to England.
When she surprises him with her skill as a seaman and navigator, he grudgingly
allows her to finish the run. But ultimately, he has to choose what is closer to
his heart - Lillie or his ship.
About Andrea K. Stein
Andrea K. Stein is a native Ohioan, the daughter of a trucker and an artist. She
grew up a scribbler. The stories just spilled out--the pony escaped, the window
magically shattered. Not her fault. Twenty years as a journalist couldn't stifle
the yarns. Yacht delivery up and down the Caribbean only increased the flow. Now
those tales celebrate romance and adventure on the high seas.
She's a retired newspaper professional and sea captain living in the Rocky
Mountains, about fifteen minutes from the Continental Divide. As a sailing
captain and instructor since 1996, she's logged nearly 30,000 miles to
destinations around the world. Life at sea and the daring women down through
history who accomplished what "just wasn't done" inspire her romance novels.
Comments
24 comments posted.
Re: Andrea K. Stein | I Need a Hero
Sounds like a great book to read!
(Nyala Edwards 10:38am February 17, 2015)
The type of hero that I prefer is the honorable one most of
the time, but he doesn't have to come across as the strong
type in the book. If he's more of the silent type, I enjoy
reading about that type - the one that sort of moves in the
shadows, and shows his strength when necessary, would be the
best way to describe him. That's when he can ooze heat, as
you describe it. The bad boys are fun to read, too, but it
would really depend on my mood, since my reading takes me
"all over the map." If I'm in the mood for that type of
book, that's when I enjoy reading about bad boys.
Otherwise, I enjoy the simpler type of love stories. I'm
looking forward to reading your books, and have put them on
my TBR list. They both sound like good reads!!
Congratulations on both of them!!
(Peggy Roberson 10:44am February 17, 2015)
I like seeing different personalities come to life between the pages of a book... so I enjoy the many types of heroes out there.
(Colleen Conklin 12:22pm February 17, 2015)
Thanks for the feedback, ladies. Heroes are a romance writer's bread and butter.
I want to make sure mine become your favorites.
(Andrea Stein 12:24pm February 17, 2015)
I like the honorable hero best.
(Pam Howell 7:42am February 18, 2015)
Heroes need to be the strong, commanding type with a little humility and a humorous outlook on life.
(Linda Harrison 10:21am February 18, 2015)
Sounds like an interesting alternative to Regency or
Victorian England. I like heroes with a code of honor,
even though it may simply be their own. A rake ready to
be reformed is always my choice. Reliability and
unselfishness are important traits.
(Irene Menge 1:17pm February 18, 2015)
I'd perfer the one with honor.
(Nancy Luebke 5:27pm February 18, 2015)
Wow, sounds like you are having a very exciting life and we get to enjoy all the excitement in your books .Both books sounds really exciting, and I hope to read them very soon.
(Joan Thrasher 7:28pm February 18, 2015)
Any hero must also be honorable.
(Mary Hay 10:59am February 19, 2015)
This sounds like a great book. I like an honorable hero.
(Wilma Frana 11:18am February 19, 2015)
I liked your thoughts on heroes.
(cHARLETTE bOND 11:24am February 19, 2015)
In real life, I prefer the one with honor, but I enjoy reading about either type. Both can add excitement and adventure.
(Anna Speed 12:08pm February 19, 2015)
Very different kind of story combining my old love American
historical and European historical. A very intruiging
combination.
(Marie Scearce 3:19pm February 19, 2015)
Would love to win this book!
(Denise Austin 3:20pm February 19, 2015)
I prefer an honorable and steadfast hero.
(Seanna Yeager 3:22pm February 19, 2015)
True heroes are what is missing from the world today!
(Richard Burr 4:46pm February 19, 2015)
Thanks so much for sharing a little of your life & your so
talented writing!! I love an honorable hero ... seems most of
them are in historic novels for some reason! Thanks also for
the chance to win this great read!
(Kathie Banks 5:38pm February 19, 2015)
I prefer a hero who is both brave and honorable!
(Connie Saunders 6:49pm February 19, 2015)
So many traits should be in someone called a hero...honorable
is the main one.
(Glenda Hefty 7:31pm February 19, 2015)
Can't wait to read it!
(Amber Kuehn 11:03pm February 19, 2015)
All kinds of heroes are acceptable and welcomed. Depending on my
mood, of course. After all, I would be the owner of the book, their destiny, in
a way. Excuse my pettiness. Just my mood. But it seems that real heroes
and even rogues with a code of honor only exist in romance novels. The
real world is sadly lacking in these kind of people. I look for them because I
have read about them hoping to find one. No such luck yet.
(Kantu Malhotra 3:49am February 20, 2015)
Character is important in my hero---and he has to have a great speaking voice. I definitely want a masculine voice for my hero; not loud, but in the lower ranges.
(Flora Presley 4:20pm February 20, 2015)
Thanks for sharing with us. How exciting your real life is. :)
As long as there is compassion, humor and loyalty he becomes
my Hero. I like all kinds of heroes. I am also going to enjoy
reading your books because both of your Heroes appeal to me.
:)
Carol L
Lucky 4750 (at) aol (dot) com
(Carol Luciano 6:46am February 21, 2015)
Registered users may leave comments.
Log in or register now!
| 
© 2003-2026