Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Hot Summer Heroes Blog Hop and Giveaway!



What makes a hero hot?

For me, it's that mystical combination of loyalty, masculinity and a sense of understanding that make a hero complete. What can be hotter than a guy who truly understands his woman, who would go to the ends of the earth for her, and who would make a Greek god cry in shame when he takes his shirt off? Yeah, that's just a bit that makes a hero hot for me. And here's a snippet of what makes the hero of my book, Sloane Wolf, hot to me:


Shiloh nearly leapt off the sill as his hand touched her knee. It took every ounce of willpower she possessed to remain seated and appear undaunted by the gesture. “I am…much better now…thank you,” she said, becoming more unnerved by the presence of his hand by the minute. Oh, this was not good, not good at all. The longer it remained there, the stronger her impulse to bolt became. Oh, no…

What was it about this man that rattled her so and with so little effort on his part? Sharing the same air with him was enough to send her pulses to the moon—and her mind somewhere else, something new for her. Being this attracted to a man was beyond her realm of experience. She didn’t know what to do with it—or about it. Should she do anything? Should she pretend indifference? And why wasn’t he so deeply affected? It wasn’t fair.

Still confused, she gave him a weak smile, intent on backing up her previous claim with the gesture. She feared it failed miserably. When Micah returned her smile and lifted his hand from her knee, she felt precisely one second of relief before he shook her world again by caressing her face in parting. She stumbled
back against the frame of the window, her lips parting on a startled breath as a lightning bolt shot through her at his touch. Something flickered in his eyes at her reaction—pain, perhaps—and he retracted his hand, balling it into a fist as he turned away from her, preparing to depart.

In an instant, she realized her mistake. Along with it came the knowledge she couldn’t let him go away angry or upset. After everything he and his family had done for her, she owed him that much. She grabbed him by the shirtfront to stop him, and a shock of awareness shot from her hand directly into his heart, just beneath it. She could see it in the gaze he leveled on her then, could hear it in his breath trapped within his lungs, feel it in the missed beat of his heart. But then, all sense abandoned her, and her heart skipped a beat as he held her hand firmly to his chest with one of his own and lifted the other to her head, anchoring it against the window frame. Slowly, his eyes never straying from hers, he leaned across the space separating them. His lips brushed hers, like a whisper, before he withdrew, tilted his head to the side, and advanced again. This time the kiss was fuller, penetrating her every defense, both physical and emotional, but still not long enough for her. He retreated once again after a fraction of time and hovered before her, scarcely an inch away. Watching her. Waiting.

Her heart beating a frantic tempo now, Shiloh abandoned all of her reservations and her good sense to swoop in for a more vigorous kiss. So vigorous, in fact, she knocked him off his perch through the open window. Only quick reflexes honed to perfection at the Institute prevented her from tumbling after him.
Bracing herself against the sill, she leaned out the window as far as she was able and watched his descent from the slanted roof to the ground below. She lost sight of him the moment he slid beyond the reach of the light from her window. But then she heard him land with a thud —and a howl—on the ground in front of the back porch when he failed to catch himself on the roof edge. She clasped a hand over her mouth to silence her reaction and waited. When he didn’t rouse right away, panic shot through her and she leaned out another few inches.

“Micah? Are you okay?”

“Fine,” he answered after a few moments, appearing beyond the overhang of the roof as if to prove it to her. “Nothing hurt but what’s left of my pride.”

Relief coursed through her at his statement, and she allowed herself the laugh she’d literally held back before. Her mirth was cut short, however, by his next words.

“Hey, Shiloh! We’ve got to stop falling for each other like this.”

His laughter followed her as she ducked back into the room. She could still hear it even after she closed the window, though not as well. Oh, Lord. She rested against the cool pane of glass and touched her still-tingling lips with shaky fingers. Was she? Falling for him? Was that what this crazy-mad feeling inside of her was?

The question plagued her long into the night.


Sound interesting? Then enter for your chance to win an e-copy of Sloane Wolf! Just leave a comment with your email. Extra entries for following my blog.

Thanks for stopping by!

Don't forget to follow the hop for a chance at a grand prize of $100 gift card to Barnes and Noble! More details here: http://www.bellamediamanagement.com/hot-summer-heroes-blog-hop-going-on-now/

21 comments:

  1. Woohoo! Loving this hop! All those HOT sexy hero's to drool over!
    A hero is HOT when he’s an alpha; (shifter, human, or vamp) tall, handsome, sexy, with a sense of humor, loyal, and a BAD ASS! He doesn’t want anyone to know that he is soft on the inside, especially for his woman.
    <^_^>
    Thanks for being part of the hop and for the chance to win.
    reneebennett35(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. GFC=Kassandra

    Hrmm, alpha males do it for me. I like my heroes protective, possessive, passionate ;)

    Kassandra
    sionedkla@gmail.com

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  3. My ideal hero is someone that is more dominate! I like a guy that knows how to take charge! I love Cabal from Lora Leigh’s series Breeds.

    Thank you for the giveaway!

    jessharrison78@yahoo.com

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  4. I love the flawed hero's, if he has an accent or tattoo's all the better. Thx for giveaway.

    blinkysthebest at aol dot com

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  5. My hero is someone that is very masculine but still romantic. My favorite hero is Nathan (KGI series)! I loved that he never gave up on his love! Great contest! Thank you so much for the chance to win!

    carol.byles at yahoo dot com

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  6. Love, love, love the excerpt! I want/need to read more. Thanks for being part of the blog hop and for your giveaway

    cms72023(at)gmail(dot)com

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  7. Thanks for the great excerpt!! I do want more!

    I love a hero who isn't afraid to show their soft side and still be strong willed.
    Mel
    bournmelissa at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. A hot hero is strong in mind and body, that has strength as well as compassion..

    ronnkelly3(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. A hero is someone that knows what to do when it gets tough! I like when they are somewhat protective and gorgeous…of course!
    Lucan rom Kiss of Midnight is my absolute favorite hero… and a vampire to boot! SO SEXY!
    Thanks so much!!
    donnasing777@yahoo.com

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  10. Funny and sexy excerpt.
    A hero who is not afraid to show his vulnerability is hot to me.
    bituin76 AT hotmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  11. well i can say the hero are any one who care enogut to help someone who need it frie man and then vamp or gay or a guy or women

    desi the lbonde at msn dot com

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  12. I love a Take Charge Alpha!! raynman1979 at yahoo dot com

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  13. I really go for the guy that has just a little too much testosterone LOL but has the lady that he allows to kick his ass back inline! Kresely Cole is great at those characters! Conrad is all badass in her book but Neomi kicks back! Love them! Great contest! Thanks!

    evelynmoly@yahoo.com

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  14. Thanks for the amazing excerpt & giveaway!
    elizabeth @ bookattict . com
    GFC: BookAttict

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  15. Sexy, strong, loyal and fearless! Ian from Killer Secrets by Lora Leigh emobodies this. He fought for what he wanted and would not give up! Ian is one of the best hero’s that I’ve ever read. He had flaws but used them for good. His courage was inspiring.


    Love the contest. THANKS!

    prettyunicorn78@yahoo.com

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  16. I really like Alpha males as my Hero’s! My ALL time favorite hero’s are Blay and Quinn in BDB. They have not had their “HEA” YET but it’s soon!!!!!! AND I CAN’T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!
    Thanks for the great hop and all the chances to win great prizes!
    forettarose@yahoo.com

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  17. Thanks so much for the giveaway! I do follow by GFC: June M. And I have to agree with your "what makes a hero hot" list :)
    June
    manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com

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  18. A hero is honest, strong, handsome, and protective.
    sqwalker2@hotmail.com

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  19. Feirce protectivnes, loyalty, honor and willingness to show his love without shame! Right now I am reading Kresley Cole’s IAD series. There are some amazing men in that series! Bowen and Lachlain are my favorite two. Thank you for the amazing contest!
    mandicounter@yahoo.com

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  20. I love a hero that has a sense of humor, is protective and faithful.

    jmesparza821(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thank you all for stopping by and reading my entry. Love the comments and I'm so happy you like the excerpt! I'd love for you all to be able to read the whole thing, but the lucky winner is:


    Book Attic!

    Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete