Hey all! I’m tied up and so awesome author Jess Grainger is filling in for me this week. Jess is doing a contest today so everyone pay attention. 
Welcome Jess and thank you so much for blogging for me today.
Hi everyone! Thanks for having me here at the Bradford Bunch. I’m really excited to be here to talk about the release of my book, Beyond the Rain and hang out with my fellow Bradford girls. A couple of weeks ago, I saw an interesting discussion about Alpha males. They certainly are yummy, but today I want to talk about some of the heroes out there that defy categorization. What do we do with the complicated heroes? In Beyond the Rain, I have a hard time categorizing my hero Soren. Here is the blurb.
After five years behind enemy lines, Captain Cyani is ready to retire to her homeworld of Azra as one of the Elite — the celibate warrior sisterhood that rules the planet. But first she must complete one final mission to rescue her fellow Union soldiers. The last thing she expects to find is a prisoner, chained and beaten — but radiating feral power and an unbroken spirit…
Soren is a Byralen, an enigmatic people who possess a unique hormone that they use to bond with their mates — and that is sold as a sexual narcotic in the shadow trade. For years, he has endured torture at the hands of his captors as they leeched his very essence. The last thing he expects is to be freed from slavery by a beautiful warrior woman with radiant blue eyes.
Driven by her rigid sense of honor, Cyani frees Soren even though her life hinges upon the success of her mission. But after so many years in bondage, his hormones are so unbalanced that he will die if he does not bond with a woman. Can the lovely but distant warrior be the woman he needs to survive, or will the forbidden bond destroy them?
Read and excerpt (http://www.jessgranger.com/books/)
Order the book (http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Rain-Jess-Granger/dp/0425229262/)
Soren was an interesting character. I get a lot of questions about his role as a “sex-slave” then really throw people for a loop when I tell them he’s actually a virgin hero. And yet, in spite of having those labels on him, he’s a character that is very close to his animal nature. He is all male. While the heroine fights with disciplined grace, Soren fights with equal ferocity, but it is pure male instinct and power. He has been tortured for ages, yet he takes such pleasure in the small details of throughout the story. He surprised me in so many ways with the power of his conviction and the generosity of his spirit. I can’t call him alpha, because he doesn’t force his will on others. He’s lived a lifetime of subjugation. He’s not a beta. Every time he goes head to head with the heroine, he manages to get what he wants. If he gives, he does so with a free and open heart. If he sacrifices, he’ll sacrifice anything for the person he loves. That’s why he gives me chills.
I know there are a lot of heroes out there that don’t quite fit the stereotypes. Some of Elizabeth Hoyt’s heroes come to mind. (Ahem, Simon and Harry, cough). So what are some of the other heroes that make you scratch your head because they can’t quite fit in a nice neat mold? I’ll be giving away a signed copy of Beyond the Rain to someone who leaves a comment!
August 3rd, 2009 at 4:30 am
Hey Jess! Congrats on your release. I have Beyond the Rain and have been waiting anxiously to begin reading. Knowing you have a virgin heroes makes me want to read it even more. I have such a thing for virgin heroes.
August 3rd, 2009 at 5:56 am
I like virgin heroes too. I didn’t make too big a deal about it in this book, because I think for both characters did wasn’t an issue so much as it was a part of who he was and what he survived. It was an interesting perspective.
August 3rd, 2009 at 6:26 am
Hey Jess! kudos on your release! I can’t wait to read your book, it’s on order and I should get it by the end of the week! virgin hero? yum, how delicious is that…
August 3rd, 2009 at 6:27 am
Thanks Juliana!
August 3rd, 2009 at 7:32 am
Hi Jess- thanks for visiting with us today, and congratulations on your new release! I have to admit I’m very intrigued and interested in the premise of your new book.
I’ve been on an old school historical kick recently.
As for unique heroes that don’t quite fit the mold? Hm. Maybe Derek Craven from Dreaming of You? Or Nikolaus from Prince of Dreams…
August 3rd, 2009 at 7:42 am
As I said at Wicked Authors, huge congrats on release week, Ms Granger!
I love the idea of a virgin hero
Unusual heroes? Well, I’m not sure I can name many (I definitely need more coffee…) but Will Parker from LaVyrle Spencer’s Morning Glory is an ex-con in the early 1940s. I think he qualifies
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:13 am
Thanks guys! Those sound like some interesting heroes. Mmmmm, heroes.
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:26 am
Hi, Jess! Congrats on your release! Soren sounds like such an unusual hero–a virgin but definitely all man. Other don’t-fit-the-mold heroes? Wes Skelly, from Suz Brockmann’s Night Watch–he’s not your typical tall/dark/handsome. Or I’m trying to recall an example of one of those “regular guy” heroes–someone who isn’t a star athlete or a prince or billionaire, but an average guy who steps up when push comes to shove… I’ll have to think on that a little more!
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:43 am
Congratulations on your release! Are you partying every night?!
You’ve got me scratching my head with the hero that doesn’t fit the mold question. I think my the time I finished a book the hero has made their own mold! LOL Is that a cop out?
Does this date me? Bill and Ted pop into my head. They aren’t even from a book! LOL
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:00 am
I loved that movie! Wow, memories that are non-non-non-non-…non heinous.
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:01 am
And yes, I am partying every day on my blog. I’ve got a ton of giveaways and some fun posts. You can check it out at, http://jessgranger.blogspot.com
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:22 am
Fedora, I need your email deets and you must tell me which book you want? click on my name to take you to my website where you can email me!
Juliana Stone
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:55 am
Congrats on the release Jess! I love sci-fi/ futuristic romances, so I’ll definitely be checking out Beyond the Rain. One of my favorite heroes is Peter Jensen from Anne Stuart’s Ice series. Peter is introduced as an undercover agent who sometimes kills innocent people who are “in the way” and he has also slept with people for information- both men and women. Talk about complicated, LOL.
August 3rd, 2009 at 10:19 am
Congratulations on your release. Very interesting viring hero…last one I read about was Eloisa James’ Simeon from WHEN THE DUKE RETURNS.
August 3rd, 2009 at 10:20 am
Congrats Jess on the new release and I love the cover!
One of my favorite heroes is Richard Tiernan from Nightfall by Anne Stuart. He plays cat and mouse games with the heroine and he’s a convicted murderer of his wife and children.
August 3rd, 2009 at 11:34 am
One of my favorite unique heroes is Devlin from Joey Hill’s, A Vampire’s Claim. A strong hero both mentally and physically, he becomes the lover of a sexually dominant vampire. Their evolving relationship was fascinating.
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Congrats on the release, the book sounds awesome
An unique hero would be Lord Ian Mackenzie in The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley. have not read it but after everything I have read, yes
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Wow, these guys certainly seem to run the gamut.
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Congrats on the release. I just checked out your blog and saw that I must have been living under a rock caused I missed the first 2 days fof the party. But I have now caught up and I think this book looks awesome. Cant wait to read it.
August 3rd, 2009 at 4:07 pm
I have to agree with blodeuedd…I loved Lord Ian. I am looking forward to his brothers, but I think he will be my favorite. Definitely a keeper!
August 3rd, 2009 at 4:10 pm
I’m just so glad everyone is showing up for the party. It is such a thrill to meet everyone.
August 3rd, 2009 at 4:11 pm
I have always thought that alpha men tend to find thier own mold never forming to just one idea, even the savviest always leave me guessing
August 3rd, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Hi Jess~
I think that each alpha male has to have a bit of something that makes them “unique”. I am racking my brain to find one, but I am drawing a blank.
Good luck on the release!
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:28 pm
love this cover and the book sounds great.
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Sebastian from the Winter book in Lisa Kleypas’ quartet…he doesn’t fit the mold very well. I’m also very very partial to Rhage from J.R. Ward’s books…definetly no mold for him!
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:17 pm
I think Roark from the J.D.Robb books breaks the mold…He’s rich and hot sure but such terrible heartbreak in his background. Lovely stories!
This one looks GREAT!
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Congrats on the release. I like the idea of virgin heroes, I don’t know how it’s possible, but I like it. I
August 3rd, 2009 at 10:43 pm
In Soren’s case, I didn’t even discover he was a virgin until the first sex scene. I was writing it, and it dawned on me, he hasn’t had the opportunity to ever do this before. It shocked me a little, because he’s a very openly sensual, and a confident presence. That little discovery added a whole new layer to his backstory.
August 4th, 2009 at 10:19 am
This sounds amazing. Can’t wait to read it.
August 4th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Hi
Thanks for sharing a new (to me) author & book.
All the best,
twitter.com/RKCharron
xoxo
PS - The book sounds unique & intriguing!
August 4th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
I would say Lord St. Vincent from Lisa Kleypas’ THE DEVIL IN WINTER and Sir Alistair Munroe from Elizabeth Hoyt’s TO BEGUILE A BEAST defy categorization. Neither character is the typical alpha, with the former being a notoriously indulgent rake and the other a battle-scarred recluse; but nor are they betas either. Both are intelligent and used to having their orders followed, but they’re also removed from “conventional” society and it’s dictates. Oh and I harbor a distinct fondness for each character.
August 4th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
I really want to read Hoyt’s series about the soldiers. I loved the Prince books.
August 5th, 2009 at 5:47 am
This contest is now closed. Congratulations azteclady! Send me an email through the contact page of my website, http://www.jessgranger.com/contact and I’ll send you your book.
August 5th, 2009 at 8:51 am
:blink:
Seriously?????
*happy dancing ensues*
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
*off to email*
August 9th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
By the way guys…just got back from my vacation…congratulations to Azteclady! And my apologies for spelling Jess’s name wrong!! Yikes!
Denise A. Agnew
August 13th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
[...] The Bradford Bunch [...]
October 10th, 2009 at 9:19 am
I proved them wrong by not only attending university, but have been a great success in my professional life. ,
March 12th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Nice one! If I could write like this I would be well chuffed. The more I see articles of such quality as this (which is rare), the more I think there could be a future for the Web. Keep it up, as it were.