Top 5 Dark Heroes

Top 5 Dark Heroes

When I wrote Flirting with Chaos, I wanted a dark hero. He needed to be broken and tortured, good more than bad, but definitely bad too. I needed to give the reader this hopeless hero and see if I could convince the reader that he was deserving of the heroine's love.

Creating this guy takes balls. Big ones. I'm sad to say that at the beginning of writing the novel, I didn't have huge testicles. They were just little tiny ones that barely hung low at all and. . .ok that's weird. . .anyway. . .

I read lots of books with dark heroes in an attempt to research ones that were successful in the literary world. Here's my top dark heroes that helped me develop Jude.

Mr. Rochester 

brooding and mysterious. . .rich yet utterly poor in happiness!

Jericho Barrons

The asshole we love to hate! 

Oh God! Yummy!

Travis Maddox

Boxing bad boy that doesn't 

know how to love, but is willing to learn. . .

after messing up a whole lot.

Gideon Cross

HOT!

Did I say Hot?

What is his bad quality?

. . . he may be a dick.

But he's a hot one!! 

Sometimes that counts.

Caleb

Okay. 

So yes, he's a human trafficker of young girls.

Yikes!

But if you had to get kidnapped. . .

I'm just saying.

If you had to get kidnapped, I guess it wouldn't be bad if it was Caleb.

Not buying it?

Fine. 

I do need help.

New Adult Erotic Romance is Women's Horror Fiction

I'm so going to get in trouble for saying this, but I've come to a realization that New Adult Erotic Romance at times is a sort of Women's Horror Fiction.

Now before we get into this. I need you to STOP,

Remember. . . 

I said New Adult EROTIC romance, not the whole New Adult category.

First of all, the term women's fiction is really an umbrella term for women centered novels that focus on our lives and tend to be promoted to female readers.

Then we have to understand how I'm defining horror.

According to good ole' Wikipedia:

Horror fiction is a genre of literature intended to frighten, scare or startle its readers by inducing feelings of terror. It creates a frightening atmosphere. 

Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural. Often the central menace of a work of Horror fiction can be interpreted as a metaphor for the larger fears of a society. 

So my concept of Women's Horror Fiction is that it's women-centered literature that startles or frightens female readers and provides a central menace that can be interpreted as a metaphor for the larger fears of women in society.

Horror for the feminist!

 

I'm not saying every New Adult Erotic Romance novel is Women's Horror Fiction.

That would just be plain looney.

But I do believe that the NA Erotic Romance genre has been getting a lot of glares, scowls, and middle fingers because readers are simply put off by the angsty plot-lines and verging on abusive (or at least creepy) heroes.

Plus, I believe more experienced female readers are just not sure how to swallow this new genre.

And that's perfectly fine. 

But, I think I'm able to enjoy these books because I read them like I would watch a horror film.

Here's an example:

In Beautiful Disaster, when Travis hooked up with you know who in you know where while Abby was you know what. . . (sorry, I don't want to give away spoilers), but when that happened I was like. . .

"Get out of there, Abby!! Run! Hurry!
There's a monster in your bedroom! This guy is an asshole. He'll cheat on and emotionally abuse you. Run!"

Isn't that what we would do in at a scary movie, scream at the heroine and hope that she gets to safety as well as far away from the monster?

The biggest problem in NA Erotic Romance is that. . .the heroine usually doesn't get to safety.

She falls in love with The Monster!!

and as if that isn't enough. . .

the book ends with a Happily Ever After scene. . .
with the heroine and the Monster!

"No, you two stupid people will procreate and have more stupid people!!"

More experienced women will read these books and think, "Uh oh. I know how this ends. I've seen this happen to my friend or. . .this happened to me. Leave him alone."

But the heroine doesn't listen, and somehow she ends up being happy with him, which is even scarier.

The ending shoves against our preconceived notions about men, women, attraction, and how relationships should work.

Is that a good or bad thing? 

I don't know. 

But for the few that are really starting to be disgusted by New Adult Erotic Romance. . .

just give it a try

one more book

one more time

and when you open it up

read it like it's Women's Horror Fiction.

Smexy College Romances Giveaway

Today, we're talking about College Romances with some SMEXY in there.

What the hell is SMEXY?

Well it's when you get SMART WRITING and add some hot, wet heart-pounding and throbbing SEX!

Every time I write a novel, I try my best to give it some complex characters, theme, strong plot, interesting setting, and some HOT SEX SCENES! I have a strong, top five of smexy novels.

However, before I list my top five. Please check out my latest Smexy College Romance is Complicated by You. I'll be giving out an ebook copy of my book as well as two new releases that may also be Smexy College Romances 

Unravel Me and Into the Depp.

TOP FIVE SMEXY COLLEGE ROMANCES

Number One

This is probably one of my favorite New Adult romances period. I just love that not only do you have this great sensuality between the characters, there is a lesson of female empowerment throughout the novel.

Number Two

I have a thing for characters that come from tragedy and trauma. I think that's what sticks with me the most about this novel. It's so much bigger than the romance and more about two emotionally confused characters forming a bond between them.

Number Three

This book is why I would warn my daughters about doggish fraternity guys! Such an entertaining romp of a cool college girl taming a foul ex-pro tennis player that enjoys involving innocent women in his fraternity love games.

Number Four

Dear God. This book is College Crack. I stayed up all night. The main reason why it is so low on the list is because I was so upset with the ending.

Number Five

There's no sex in the novel, BUT boy is this GEEK SMEXY. . .it's so damn funny and such a nerdtastic romance that I pretty much had an orgasm from the awesomeness!

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5 Great Novels with College Kids in Them

Author Karen-Anne Stewart stopped by to give us her favorite novels with college kids in them. Check out the list. You'll see some serious classics in it.

Great Expectations
Charles Dickens

Great Expectations is one of my favorite novels of all time.  It is truly a classic and has many twists and turns, eccentric characters, and mystery.  

Miss Havisham is one of those characters that just comes to life in your imagination.  The connection between Pip and Estella makes you root for them to get together.  I love this book because of how it is written, how it pulls you in, breaks your heart, but then mends it back together as it proves that love always wins in the end.  

Kiss the Girls
James Patterson

I just have to include one of James Patterson's novels, or should I say 'masterpieces' in my list.  He is a genius, my favorite author of all time.  The way Patterson writes a story gets the reader into the head of the hero and the villain.  It's very creepy, but oh so good in how he forces you to connect, understand, and cringe when you do.  

Kiss the girls is more of a suspense than a romance, but it is a absolute must read.  There is so much mystery and intrigue in this book, it will leave you with a psychological hangover.  

Saving Rain:  The First Novel in The Rain Trilogy
Karen-Anne Stewart (me)

Saving Rain is the beginning of a poignant story of abuse, human trafficking, and a beautiful, redeeming love.  Raina has suffered a dark past and engrosses herself in becoming a language specialist and an expert in technology, trying to forget her bitter childhood.  

Kas is the lead FBI agent in the Human Trafficking Unit and is very much the hot hero who steps in and saves Raina from a vicious attack.  Kas is desperate to protect Raina.  Raina is desperate to protect the secrets of her past.  The power of Kas' healing love ignites a passion in Raina that she never knew could exist, but it also terrifies her.  

Easy
Tammara Webber

I actually just finished reading Easy and absolutely fell in love with this book!  Webber did an amazing job taking a sensitive subject and bringing awareness through a beautiful love story.  

There is a mysterious hero, which I can never get enough of, and he has a secret, which keeps you intrigued trying to figure out what it is.  I admired how the author made the main character's realistic, vulnerable yet resilient.  Easy is a must read!

Beautiful Disaster
Jamie McGuire

Beautiful Disaster is one of those novels that you think about for days, even months, after you finish reading it.  The love story is complicated, messy, reckless, but also real, raw, and addicting.  

The story between Travis and Abby engulfs you, grabbing you with a relenting grip that just won't let you go.  I cried, cheered, and wanted to smack both of them at times.  There's also a bit of a mystery surrounding both Abby and Travis that keeps you guessing.  

Karen-Anne Stewart

           Author Website        Facebook                Twitter

I am a new author and have recently discovered that I am now addicted to writing. My first novel, Saving Rain, was originally going to be a single novel, but it quickly turned into a trilogy. I fell in love with the characters and had to continue with the story. Saving Rain is a new adult contemporary romance meant for readers 18 and older. 

I live in the mountains with my family, and I love to read, hike, and travel when I am not writing. I am a sucker for romance, especially a book with a strong alpha male who has a sensitive side. I also enjoy a good mystery and thrillers. My favorite author is James Patterson, he is an amazing writer. 

With being a newbie, I am just learning all the ropes, but I'm loving the wild ride. I plan on writing for as long as my fingers have dexterity. 

COLLEGE CRACK: Exploring New Adult Campus Romances

I'm really starting to love the New Adult genre. 
What does a book need to have in order to qualify as a New Adult genre? 

Here's the definition by New Adult Alley 
(which is the top blog spot I get all my NA recommendations):

Typically, a novel is considered NA if it encompasses the transition between adolescence—a life stage often depicted in Young Adult (YA) fiction—and true adulthood. 

Protagonists typically fall between the ages of eighteen and twenty-six, though exceptions may apply. NA characters are often portrayed experiencing: college, living away from home for the first time, military deployment, apprenticeships, a first steady job, a first serious relationship, etc. 

Other terms for NA include: Upper YA, Crossover Fiction, and Mature YA.

(Definition copied from the NA Alley website)

So on my journey through New Adult I've created some fun little categories for myself. Each month I'll discuss one of my categories and giveaway a book that I believe falls in it. 

For today, I want to present my NA category I labeled College Crack. I'm giving away Broken at Love to one winner who can choose print or eBook.  I just read it this weekend and believe it truly embodies my category.

Book Blurb: When a knee injury ends twenty-year-old Quinn Rowland’s pro tennis career, he’s not only dumped by his hot Russian girlfriend but ordered to attend college by his disinterested billionaire father. A rich kid who’s not used to being disappointed by life, Quinn and his sociopathic half-brother Sebastian create a frat house game intended to treat girls how they see them—as simple game pieces to be manipulated for their pleasure.

College sophomore Emilie Swanson knows Quinn’s reputation—after all, he did send one of her sorority sisters into therapy earlier in the semester—but the game and his charm bring them closer together and soon she starts to believe there’s more to Quinn than people think.


But what if the more is something darker than a game of toying with emotions and breaking hearts?

COLLEGE CRACK

• Set on a college campus 
• The characters tend to possess some serious emotional scars. 
• The courting and/or relationship is rocky and drenched in angst.
• One character usually has some money whether because they're from a rich family or the money was left to them.
• Alpha Male. I won't lie. On the alpha spectrum these books lean closer to the psychotic verging on creep side. Yet, there are also some really sweet non-creepy guys too.

Here's My Top College Crack books!

High drama, intense raw emotion, and alpha verging on creepy
Sex: Hot

Mysterious, empowering women, & sweet alpha with a huge heart
Sex: Sweet

Emotionally scarred students fall in love.
Sex: warmer than sweet, but not scorching hot

Tear jerker, sweet romance
Sex: None (at least I don't remember any)

Virgin and professor
Sex: Sweet

College Nerd - Rich CEO.
Sex: Wow! Lots! (in the later volumes)

Hot Rocker- College Chick, full of drama, love triangle.
Sex: Hot

Release Date: March 12, 2013
Hot rich alpha is tamed (or is he?) by a no-nonsense sorority girl.
Sex: Scorching Hot

FYI, three on this list I had problems with.

Losing It ended up being too sweet for my taste even though I enjoyed it.

Beautiful Disaster's alpha guy freaked me out. At times he was just too intense and dependent on the heroine.

Thoughtless There's some cheating involved in the plotline. I hated it the whole time, even though the bok made me lose lots of sleep.

However, all the books as well as the ones on this list had me up all night unable to go to sleep and put it down. 

What are some of your top College Crack novels?

Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

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