So is that what makes a great hero? A tortured past and a heart of gold? Maybe. But heroes who don’t make mistakes are boring and about as far from reality as it gets.
Humans are complicated. We may be brave and kind, but we are also selfish, greedy, and impatient. Some people are black and white, but most of us are somewhere in the middle, and it’s what we do in the darkest moments that determine our true character.
One of my favorite literary heroes is the scamp the Vampire Lestat. He’s good and bad, traipsing through the centuries with flair and sass desperately trying to reconcile his existence with his belief in God. Along the way, he mostly does what’s right, but his selfish nature still rears its ugly head. He’s multi-layered, and so much more than beauty and power. To me, that’s a fantastic hero.
Nathan may not be a centuries-old vampire, but he’s dealing with some dark stuff and trying to solve the mystery of Emilie’s stalker without falling love with her.
Do you think he’ll succeed?
Who are your favorite fictional heroes?
Thanks so much to the gang at Good Choice Reading for having me! If you’d like to win a $25 iTunes Gift Card, please enter the raffle!
An Excerpt from INTO THE DARK
Nathan brushed her hair back and gently took her face in his hands. “Sometimes things are set in motion we can’t control. We can only respond to the immediate situation in the best way we know how. The Taker made his choice, not you.”
“It doesn’t feel that way.”
“I know. But it’s true.”
“You didn’t kill Jimmy, either.”
“No, I didn’t.” Nathan could finally accept those words.
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“I know.”
She choked back a sob. “What do I do now?”
“Whatever you need to do. Cry, get angry, mourn her. Talk to your stepfather.”
“I don’t know if I can go to the funeral.”
Nathan wished she would. Getting out of the state might be the safest thing for Emilie.
“Don’t worry about that right now. There’s plenty of time for that.”
“Speaking of time, you should probably go.” Emilie rested her forehead against his chest.
His heart sped up at the contact. “I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
“I’m not ready to leave you.” He slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. “Me, either.”
“Promise me you’ll stay safe. Let Jeremy play chauffeur. If he can’t, call me.”
“Jeremy can take me. You have to be careful.”
“Not for long.”
“You’re the only good thing to come out of this mess. If not for the Taker, we would have
never met.”
“Maybe fate would have brought us together in another way.” Nathan’s heart hammered
against his chest as Emilie edged closer, her eyes boring into his.
“Do you believe in fate?” Her lips were only an inch away.
“I’m starting to.”
Emilie seized his shirt and pulled his face down to meet hers. “Me too,” she whispered just
before their lips met.
Heat erupted inside Nathan as his mouth moved with hers. Need raced through him. He wound his fingers through her thick hair, moaning as Emilie’s arms wrapped around his shoulders.
The Taker had to be caught, and soon.
IT’S THE MOMENTS FROM OUR PAST THAT BIND US.
Branch Manager Emilie Davis is having a day like any other–until two masked men storm into WestOne Bank demanding cash. Her hopes of a quick end to her terror are dashed when she realizes one of the men has no interest in the bank’s money. Emilie is his prize, and he’s come to claim her.
When hostage negotiator Nathan Madigan and Las Vegas SWAT enter the bank on a rescue mission, Emilie’s captor makes a shocking escape into the abyss that lies beneath the city: the Las Vegas storm drains, a refuge for the downtrodden and the desperate.
HOW WILL IT END?
Who is the man the media has dubbed the “Taker?” Why is he after Emilie, and what is the connection he’s convinced they share?
Emilie can’t run from the Taker, and she can’t escape her own past. As her life closes in on her, she has nowhere to turn but to Nathan. The lines of professionalism blur as Nathan becomes determined to save Emilie. Together they venture into the depths beneath Las Vegas and discover a shocking piece of the puzzle.
But the Taker remains one step ahead. Desperate for the threat to emerge from the shadows, Emilie makes a bold move to reclaim her life, and it may cost her everything.
Buy Into The Dark on Amazon
Coffeetime Romance
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Enter the INTO THE DARK Charity Raffle!
The homeless living in the storm drains of Las Vegas played a vital part in INTO THE DARK, and I want to give back. From November 1st until February 28th, participants will have several options to enter the raffle, including donating to HELP of Southern Nevada. The grand prize will be a $100 donation from me in the winner’s name to the homeless shelter of their choice.
BIO
Stacy Green is fascinated by the workings of the criminal mind and explores true crime on her popular Thriller Thursday posts at her blog, Turning the Page.
After earning her degree in journalism, Stacy worked in advertising before becoming a stay-at-home mom to her miracle child. She rediscovered her love of writing and wrote several articles for Women’s Edition Magazine of Cedar Rapids, profiling local businesses, before penning her first novel. Her debut novel, INTO THE DARK, is set in Las Vegas and features a heroine on the edge of disaster, a tormented villain, and the city’s infamous storm drains that house hundreds of homeless. INTO THE DARK is available on all digital formats and paperback November 30th.
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Website: www.stacygreen.net
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Thanks so much for having me! Look forward to chatting:)
ReplyDeleteNathan Madigan is hot. Just saying. Loved him and his angst. Into the Dark is a good read. (I am Stacy's critique partner, so I get to read it all first.)
ReplyDelete