This week, Entangled Publishing is celebrating its new adult heroes! Today, we celebrate men who don’t mind getting their hands dirty – the working man! Entangled has all of the Embrace stories about Blue Collar guys on sale for just 99¢ today!
To celebrate, authors Candace Havens, Suzanne van Rooyen, Beth Anne Miller, Julie Particka, Tiffany Truitt, Erin Butler, Cole Gibsen, & Melissa West shared their thoughts on writing about The Right Man for the Job.
Is your hero inspired by a real-life person? If so, who?
Candace Havens (author of Branded): Oh, no. I’ll never tell. Let’s just say my late teen years were spent around a lot of very sexy cowboys. Shhhhh. Don’t tell my husband.
Suzanne van Rooyen (author of Scardust): Yes, there are aspects of my hero that are definitely inspired by real life people but he’s more of an amalgam than a fictional version of any one specific person.
Beth Anne Miller (author of A Star to Steer Her By): I participated in a semester at sea when I was in college, and have sailed on a few tall ships since then, so I would say that Tristan is inspired by all those deckhands and mates –male and female– that I observed, who work hard and tirelessly to keep the ship running smoothly and safely. There have been a few particularly hot deckhands that I’ve perhaps observed a little more attentively, who may have inspired Tristan a little more specifically. 😉
Julie Particka (author of Fall with Me): My family is blue-collar. The business run by Jenna’s dad is basically the business that my father ran. (And yes, all of us worked for him for at least a summer.) Sutton, however, was basically a combination of the fact that my first boyfriend ended up working for my father for a while (long after we broke up) combined with the idea of falling in love while under the watchful gaze of a parent. (So, while the *idea* of my ex-boyfriend was involved, Sutton is nothing like Dennis LOL)
Tiffany Truitt (author of Seven Ways to Lose Your Heart): The professional in me should categorically deny that any of my male heroes are inspired by real people…especially because I don’t want my friends or exes reading into anything…but, subconsciously, I am sure there is some sort of resemblance to men I have dated. I asked my friends if the hero, Kennedy, reminded them of anyone, and one set named one guy and the other set of friends named another. So, sure, yes, or maybe not.
Erin Butler (author of Last Wish): My husband. Out of any of the heroes I’ve written, Ronan is the most like my husband. He’s got a temper, but he’s also sweet, fun-loving, and LOYAL.
Cole Gibsen (author of Written on my Heart): My hero was inspired by every working, single, father, who works their ass off for their family.
Melissa West (author of No Falling Allowed): Yes, my husband. My husband is outwardly a white collar businessman, but on the inside, he is a handyman all the way!
What other kinds of heroes do you like to read about?
Candace: Any kind of alpha hero. I like a strong man who takes care of business. But I also like enlightened alphas who are strong, but also have a soft, mush heart.
Suzanne: Military heroes. I have a very soft spot for soldiers, for those who choose to sacrifice the people and things that they love to protect others and the greater good. There’s something so selfless and courageous about that.
Beth: On the whole, I like to read books with heroes who aren’t afraid of a little dirt. Cowboys or firefighters or law enforcement or military guys. I’m re-reading all of Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooters books right now, so all those military and ex-military guys are on my brain. 🙂 I tend to be more attracted to the jeans-and-a-tee-shirt guys than the Armani suit guys, to guys who work outside rather than in an office. That’s definitely not a hard and fast rule, but I would say that I pick those books up more frequently.
Julie: I love down-on-their-luck heroes, the kind that are a little exasperated with everything but still keep going no matter what goes wrong. These kind of guys tend to take life as it comes, and I find that really appealing because no matter how hard you try to build something nice and orderly, life comes at you. I love heroes who are ready to face that head on.
Tiffany: I would hate to pigeonhole myself into reading about only certain types of heroes. I like to think I am an equal opportunist. My enjoyment of a good romance book is less about the hero and more about the relationship between him and the heroine. I like a bit of conflict there, a battle of the wits. Doesn’t matter if the hero is a cowboy or an astronaut as long as he can hold his own.
Erin: I love a good hero. As long as he’s swoon-worthy, I don’t really care.
Cole: I have zero hero discrimination. I love them al!
Melissa: I like a variety. There are great heroes in all walks of life.
Playlist
Code:
Link: https://open.spotify.com/user/hollishter/playlist/6HvAK2mNlP6M6feOZAGP8K
Branded by Candace Havens
The last thing I need is a Texas princess like Callie messing with my head. But there’s something more to this spoilt little rich girl than the perfect image she works so hard to keep. There’s only one rule to keeping my job and a roof over my sister’s head: stay away from the boss’s granddaughter. But I’m not always great at following the rules.
No Falling Allowed by Melissa West
No Kissing Allowed #2
Twenty-four hours. That’s how long it took my life to flip upside down. Wake up in bed alone after the best night of my life? Check. Get fired? Check. Wealthy parents cut me off when I refuse to follow their path for my life? Check. Now I’m in Cricket Creek, SC—a place where no New Yorker belongs—disowned and broke, with a new job that I can’t mess up. Oh yeah, and staring at my one-night stand, who happens to be the complete opposite of my type. Southern. Cocky. Bartender. Who knew Mr. Wrong could feel so right…
Seven Ways to Lose Your Heart by Tiffany Truitt
In the span of seven days, Annabel Lee will lose her heart. Kennedy Harrison, as reckless with life as Annabel is obsessed with order, never could commit to anything. But he’s got a history with Annabel, and for once Kennedy doesn’t want to run. Determined to spend time with her before she leaves for college, Kennedy dares her to join him on a road trip to a music festival. And neither of them could ever say no to a dare. What follows is a dizzying week of music, shady hotels, comical dares, and a passion neither one knew existed. But when it ends, Annabel and Kennedy will realize the biggest dare of all might just be falling for each other.
A Star to Steer Her By by Beth Anne Miller
Ever since her last dive ended in bloodshed, Ari Goodman’s been terrified to go back into the water. But the opportunity to spend a semester at sea is too good to pass up. So is Tristan MacDougall. Rugged, strong, and with demons of his own, Tristan heals her with every stolen moment they share. But when a dive excursion goes wrong, their only hope for survival is each other.
Scardust by Suzanne van Rooyer
Dead Rock, Texas, 2037 Raleigh made a promise to his brother before he died, that he’d scatter his ashes on Mars. His plans are thwarted when a meteor near-misses him in the desert, and in its crater he finds a man with no memory of who he is—but whenever they touch it ignites a memory swap between them. As their minds and worlds collide, reality unravels and Raleigh must face a painful truth, one that could shatter his dreams of finding love, reaching Mars, and fulfilling his brother’s last wish.
Fall with Me by Julie Particka
Dumped by her college boyfriend for her best friend, the last thing Jenna Brandt needs is to be around her backstabbing-BFF’s hotter-than-hot brother, Sutton Bell. When he offers her a chance to get revenge on her ex, she can hardly say no—even if spending time with Sutton puts her heart in jeopardy all over again. Sutton’s determined to convince Jenna he’s not the player he used to be, but saving his sister from making an awful mistake might mean losing Jenna for good.
Last Wish by Erin Butler
Remembering Kyle #1
Nothing feels right. Not since my best friend died and I screwed up the one promise asked me to make. Now my life is empty. So goddamn empty. Then she walks into the bar, all bright beauty and sweet lips made for kissing. Em Stewart is a complication…one I need to avoid. No matter how hard I try, I can’t resist her, and our unexpected road trip sure as hell isn’t helping my cause. But I’ll be damned if I screw up my first chance at something real…
Written on My Heart by Cole Gibsen
Written on My Heart #1
It’s been six months since Ashlyn Daniels was kicked out of her home. Six months since she stood up to her abusive stepfather and got a busted rib—and seeing all her things set ablaze in a backyard bonfire—for her trouble. Never going back. She doesn’t need trouble…especially if trouble is tattoo artist Lane Garrett, who’s six-feet-plus of tattooed hotness and a complete ass. But while some secrets are as visible as ink on the skin, others must be hidden at all costs…
