Friday, February 8, 2013

Heartbreakers Blog Hop




[UPDATE: The winners of a print copy of one of my backlist books are K. April Holgate and Mary @ SweepingMe.  I'll be emailing the winners with instructions, and thanks to all for stopping by!  Remember, you can sign up for the newsletter to get book release news.] 

Today I'm part of Carrie Ryan's Heartbreaker's blog hop, where literally hundreds of romance authors and bloggers are talking about heartbreakers in their favorite romances.  You can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win.  Yep, you can enter over 200 times. 

And there are THREE grand prizes, plus the one I'm offering here: your choice of a signed print copy of any of my backlist books, all of them hot, sexy medieval adventures!

So start hopping, and have some fun! (Grand prizes listed below)

The Anti-Resumé 

Why are so many heartthrobs also heartbreakers?  

I think it's because when you throw your lot in with a confident, powerful man on a mission, you'd better be ready for the ride of your life.  Prepared or not, you have no choice but to throw yourself, heart and head, right over the cliff.   Be ready for anything.

But that doesn't make it a fun ride, right?  (Well, for us readers, yes, but the characters must suffer.  A lot.  In other words, heartbreak.)

The heroes in my historicals can be truly brutal in their heartbreaking potential.  I don't think these guys could actually ever land a job as a hero, if there were, you know, an application process somewhere.

I mean, with resumés like this, who would be crazy enough to trust any of these guys to save a desperate woman, a breaking heart, a barren life, a war-torn country?  I mean, who?

Oh, right.  Readers do.  :)


THE CONQUEROR
Hero: Griffyn 'Pagan' Sauvage
  •  Sneaks into England to foment rebellion against a king;
  •  Leaves a bedraggled woman at a muddy hut with Saxon villagers so he doesn't have to take her with him on his Super Secret Spy Mission.  After kissing her silly (Note: she catches up with him later);
  •  Lies to the daughter of the enemy he's vowed to destroy.  Then takes things further than either of them ever meant to go.  In an abandoned fortress.  Leaves her the next day.  Oh, sure, he promises to come back.   But first there's a stint in prison, then a country to reclaim and castles to conquer...including hers....


The Irish Warrior
Hero: Finian O'Melaghlin

  •  Plans inventive ways to kill a member of the English peerage (okay, yes, he was being held in chains in the man's prison...);
  •  Flees across the Irish countryside with the English woman who helped him escape from prison--some might say "kidnapped" her.  Wait. Some DO say that.
  •  Hesitates barely a second before indulging in overt sensual advances from the woman who saved him;
  •  Shows no compunctions about having hot, reckless sex on their flight across a war-torn countryside, teaching the heroine things no proper Englishwoman should know;
  • When it comes to a choice between his people and his woman, he...well, you’ll have to read.


Defiant
Hero: Jamie Lost
  •  Favored lieutenant of King John of England.  Yes that King John.  What more do you need more on an anti-resumé?  But just in case;
  •  Ruthlessly determined;
  • Capable of disabling people who get in his way with minimum fuss and maximum effectiveness, violently or otherwise, such as when he;
  •  Binds a woman in ropes and throws her on the back of his horse (true, it's to prevent her from lying or tricking him again.  Also, since she knows a lot more than she’s saying, she poses a grave threat to his mission, but still, he tied her up, so it goes on the anti-resume.  I don’t make the rules, I just follow them.  Oh.  Wait... )


Deception
Hero: Kier

  •   Irish con man;
  •   Former ‘piper’ for a powerful criminal lord, drawing in rich new partners to engage in dirty deals;
  •   Stole money as a youth to impersonate a knight (Note: did exceptionally well in tournaments);
  •   Falls head-over-heels in love with daughter of a corrupt judge who's on the take;
  •   Abandons her;
  •   Returns five years later to wreck revenge on the men who betrayed him;
  •   Takes her into his schemes  (Note: Bad idea.)


So, tell me: if you were on the search committee, which anti-resumé above would tempt you the most?  And how much would you pay him?  (Kidding!)  :)

Any other romance heroes with anti-resumés you just can't resist?  
Spill.

Two commentors win their choice of one of the above print books (Sorry--US/Canada only.)

Sign up for my Book Release Newsletter (sent 1-2 x's/yr) 
 and double your chances to win!

(Please, please remember to leave your email addy in your comment.)

Oh, and about those GRAND PRIZES, given to 3 randomly selected commenters across the entire Heartbreakers blog hop?
  • 1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet
  • 2nd Grand Prize: A $100 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
  • 3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!  (Sorry, swag pack is for US/Canada only)

38 comments:

girlygirlhoosier52 said...

I'll go with Defiant as it is one I've not yet read... It just plain appeals to my personal style..

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
sheila said...

That would be Kier....hot Irish con man.....

gamistress66 said...

all sound pretty yummy but if have to pick just one, i'll take jamie lost even if he does work for king john
gamistress66(at) aol(dot) com

Meghan said...

Probably Jamie Lost... I like Scotsman!
Thanks for the giveaway and participating in the hop!
I think that Christian Grey from "50 Shades of Grey" is a good example of a heartbreaker. He used and abused Ana at first, but then came to his senses by book two.

mestith@gmail.com

Swordlily said...

Jamie Lost, my choice definitely :D
Thanks so much for participation!
swordlily_girl(at)yahoo(dot)com

Sylvia said...

Kier sounds fascinating! Yum.
sylvieargirakis@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

For me the heartbreaker is a bad boy who goes kicking and screaming into love! When he falls he falls hard!

The only heartbreakers I have encountered are literary! And my all time fav is Mr Darcy! Although, I am currently crushing on Zadist from the Black Dagger Brotherhood!

Oh boy Jamie Lost would get the job with me!! You had me at binding in ropes!

grapeapril75(AT)gmail(DOT)com

laurie said...

I'll go with Defiant as it is one I've not yet read... It just plain appeals to my personal style..

parisfan_ca@yahoo.com

Julie said...

I think I'd go with Jamie. He certainly sounds...capable. ;)

Veronika said...

I love reading about heartbreakers! They are usually bad-boys, they’re witty, funny and sexy and the female population is drooling after them lol

verusbognar (at) gmail (dot) com

Stacey said...

thanks for participating

staceyprice(AT)gmail.com

Cassandra said...

The Irish Warrior with the Defiant a close second lol
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
cassandrahicks1989@yahoo.com

VampedChik said...

They all sound good but I'll go with Kier. Thanks!
-Amber
goodblinknpark@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

My hero is Finian! Loved this story!

Mary @SweepingMe said...

The Irish Warrior for sure!
Thanks for the great giveaway!

Mary
mary_reiss @ hotmail.com

Subscribed to newsletter with same email!
=)

http://kriskennedy.net said...

Ladies, it's been so terrific to hear from you all!

Nicole, wanted to let you know THE IRISH WARRIOR is available in French! (With the most beautiful cover in the world. :) ) I don't know what sites are best for her, but here it is (print) at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Guerrier-Irlandais-Aventures-Passions-Edition/dp/2290034525/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_6 and B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/le-guerrier-irlandais-kris-kennedy/1107440788?ean=9782290034521

Natasha said...

Finian! Thanks for the chance to win!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com

Anonymous said...

We all want to love a Heartbreaker. Maybe its because of his chiseled good looks, his bad boy attitude, or the mysterious nature of him. Some Heartbreakers are just that, they know what they got and how to use it to get what they want. Then there are those Heartbreakers that don’t even realize that they are doing it. The best part about a Heartbreaker is that there is always a woman that turns their world upside down until they realize it is love. I have read many Romance Novels over the years and have run into many memorable Heartbreakers and my favorites are usually the ones that don’t even know they are Heartbreakers! Some of my personal favorite Heartbreakers are :

Kade Jamenson (Werewolf) from An Alpha’s Path. Kade is a sexy werewolf that will make you burn but a mishap with a potential mate makes him not think he will find love.

Ian MacPhie (Vampire) from All I Want For Christmas is a Vampire. Ian is a heartbreaking Highland Vampire that was frozen in his immortality when he was only 15. With the help of his friend he is given a drug that helps him age to 28 so he could look like a man instead of a child after hundreds of years. He has no idea that he looks of a warrior and the lover.

Lothaire Daciano (Vampire) from Lothaire. Lothaire is definitely a heartbreaker and his cocky attitude proves it! Thinks he’s a gift to women! Its just the sucker punch from a woman he doesn’t realize is his equal that brings him down a notch.

Marius Parker from His Contrary Bride. Marius is every part the gentlemen but doesn’t realize he could also easily be the rogue!

Benjamin Gateway from To Win His Wayward Wife. Benjamin doesn’t realize that he is a heartbreaker because the one woman he loved, he lost….or did he?

Fury North (Human with Canine DNA) from Fury and Valiant North (Human with Feline DNA) from Valiant. Fury and Valiant are strong New Species and gorgeous to boot, but because they are damaged they doesn’t think they can hold onto to the women they love.

Sigimor Cameron from Highland Conqueror. Sigimor is every bit the Highland Laird and warrior but can he hold onto to the beautiful English lady?

Joshua Striker (Werewolf) from Alexandra’s Legacy. Joshua is a scared and battle hard enforcer for his pack and he thinks that he doesn’t have what it takes to make the women melt.

I like the Hero - The Irish Warrior
angelheart618@gmail.com

Liese2 said...

Definitely Kier!
Thanks for the chance!
sqwalker2@hotmail.com

strawberryrose said...

My favorite Heartbreaker is the one that your heart can’t live without. One of my best is Lucas from D B Reynolds book “LUCAS” (Vampire in America series). Strong mind, well put together and tender when he wants to be. And loves horses.

Judy Peterson
strawberryrose@earthlink.net

veRONIca said...

I think Jamie Lost would quite fit into my imaginary company haha

xo_veronica16[at]hotmail[dot]com

Shadow said...

One of my favorites is Justice from Justice by Laurann Dohner. Thank you for the awesome hop and giveaway!!! :)
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Thank you Kris! I started to read your books in french : Le guerrier irlandais (The Irish Warrior) and Le Valeureux Guerrier (The Conqueror). I fell in love with with books by readig those two. Then I switch to english because I could not wait for the french version to come out! I just love your books and YOU are my favorite author! My grand-daughter read those two and loved them. But I wish that the others were also available in french for her. I can't wait to read your next book.

magic5905 said...

I think The Irish Warrior
Hero: Finian O'Melaghlin
Thanks for the giveaway.
magic5905 at embarqmail dot com

Unknown said...

Jamie Lost... Tied up the lady on a horse lol...hooked me right there... Lol... Thanks for being part of the hop.
j.m.platt83@gmail.com

Kaylyn D said...

I'd go with The Irish Warrior. Thanks for the giveaway,
kaylyndavis1986@yahoo.com

http://kriskennedy.net said...

Loving hearing from everyone. And pleased by how many of you like the idea of Jamie tying his heroine up. ;) (She returns the favor later.)

Nicole~ Okay, let's see. DEFIANT sold French rights back in 2011, but I don't know when the book came out--if it even has yet. I'm checking on that now.

Booklover Sue said...

Jamie in Defiant looks like my type of heartbreaker hero.

susanmplatt AT hotmail DOT com

doxymom said...

The Irish Warrior for certain!

AnnaM
doxisrcool at aol.com

Carla said...

I don't know that I've met a heart breaker, but I've read about quite a few. My current favorites are both Lauren Dane characters. One is Shane from Fated and the other Todd from Laid Bare. I think the redeeming thing about them is that when they realize how wrong they are they are quite good at communicating their understanding and groveling.
planterofhope at aol dot com

Unknown said...

The one that would tempt me the most would be Griffyn 'Pagan' Sauvage. If I can imagine him as that exact guy on the cover I don't care about his resume at all. Thanks for the chance to win and I am a new subscriber to the newsletter. sbereza22(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

Def Jamie.

damafia1113@gmail.com

Ashley Applebee said...

Can I pick all?! Well I guess I probably can't so I will pick Jamie, Griffyn or Finian. And I'd pay them ANYTHING and I do mean ANYTHING they wanted!!
Thanks for the great giveaway!! So many great prizes!! Happy Valentine's Day!
Ashley A
ash_app(at)hotmail(dot)com

BookLady said...

All sound tempting, but I'd pick Griffyn "Pagan" Sauvage. Thanks for the giveaway. Happy Valentine's Day!
bhometchko(at)hotmail(dot)com

jmcgaugh said...

I'd go with Finian!
jmcgaugh (at) semo (dot) edu

bn100 said...

Zsadist
Thanks for participating.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

http://kriskennedy.net said...

Hi ladies!

I'll be picking winners later today, but just wanted to take a moment to say thank-you muchly for dropping by.

Even if you don't win a copy of one of the stories, come by and sign up for the newsletter if you want! (http://kriskennedy.net/subscribe-to-newsletter)

It only come out 1-2x/s yr, w/ release information on my books, & sometimes a few suggestions on other authors--writing both historicals AND contemporaries--who you might love.

And if you follow the blog, you'll get release info too!

(Also, you might get sexy pictures. Just sayin'....)

I hope to see you around!!