Please join me in welcoming, Sophie H. Morgan, author of the extremely well-written paranormal romance, ASHES.
A book I thoroughly enjoyed. You can read my review here.
Sophie is here to talk about the appeal of those sexy, shifter alpha heroes.
Shifter Appeal: Why we love an Alpha
by Sophie H. Morgan
First and foremost, it’s got to be the alpha in him. We live in a society where a dominant man is considered a bad thing – but in a world of supernatural sexy times, a man who crowds your space, and holds your stare while he growls your name is hawt. He is masculinity personified, six feet of unshaven, wild gorgeousness. Nobody is going to stand in his way from claiming what he considers his: you.A shifter’s loyalty cannot be matched. There’s an animal within, sharing its need to protect and possess, and if he decides you’re worth protecting, you’re more likely to find calorie-free chocolate than shake him off your tail. This animal drives him, leaving him partly wild, unabashedly sexy, and – sometimes – obsessively protective. It takes a strong heroine to stand up to him. And that is often where the best romances begin.
My last pick would have to be the hidden – or not so hidden – dark side every shifter hero carries. That animal roughness might make him irresistible, but it can also carry a heavy price. The wildness can often tip over to ruthlessness, sometimes leaving scars our hero has to battle until the right woman can tame both beast and man to help him heal them.
In ASHES, Cade, a jackal shifter, still carries a torch for his old forbidden love, Ana. When he runs into her on the scent of a rebellion leader, the flames of passion explode. Luckily my dark shifter can take a lot of heat. =)
What qualities do you like best in a shifter hero?
Getting to know Sophie a bit more, here’s a quick interview I did with her:
Sophie: Oh, so many choices. I had a cross between Chris Hemsworth with dark hair, Joe Manganiello, and Jensen Ackles (LOVE HIM). Rugged, witty in the face of danger and dangerously handsome. The perfect man!
Selena: Nice visual there! What do you consider to the most valuable thing you own: when you were a child/teenager/now?
Sophie: When I was a child, the most valuable thing I owned was a china statuette of two white cats. My mum had given it to me, and I considered it a really grown up thing to own. When I was a teenager, the most valuable thing I owned was my first pet which was a rabbit I called ‘Fudge’. She hated me, but I’m stubborn. We grew a tolerance of each other. And now the most valuable thing I own is a toss-up between my old laptop which I’ve written up to 8 books on and doesn’t work anymore OR a large photograph frame with multiple photos of different Christmases with my family.
Selena: Rabbit named Fudge, love it! If you could have had one starring role in one film already made, which movie would you pick?
Sophie: I would have LOVED to have been Baby in Dirty Dancing. Learning to dance with Patrick Swayze. Oh yeah.
Selena:He was an alpha who took ballet, and had some awesome moves. Tell me something about you that is not available if we Google you?
Sophie: I have a strange craving for ice. I love to chew it even though I know it’s bad for my teeth – I’m not allowed to keep any in the freezer in case I fall off the wagon 😉
Selena: What an interesting addiction, and not having it in the freezer. Great character quirk for a book. 😉 What article of clothing most closely describes your personality?
Sophie: Is it sad if I say slippers? LOL Comfortable and cosy, warm and nice to snuggle up with and always reliable.
Selena: Not sad at all, it describes you to a T. 🙂 Based on something you’ve already done, how might you make it into the Guinness Book of World Records?
Sophie: I once ate an entire can of whipped cream on one cup of hot chocolate. And wasn’t sick. That’s worthy of a record. 🙂
Selena: You are my shero for many reasons, but that one nails it. 🙂
ASHES
Secrets can burn.
The Divided Kingdom, Book 1
BONUS – It’s on sale right now for 99 cents.
Reared from birth to rule the Phoenix territory, Ana fled her future and her past when her parents were murdered. Now she secretly leads a rebellion to stop the human ruler, Edward, from experimenting on supernaturals.
When Cade regains consciousness from the force of Ana’s punch, he’s still reeling from shock—and fury. He’d loved the princess, and for ten years he thought her dead. Though his inner jackal growls with desire for her, she is the key to completing his mission for Edward—hunt down the rebel known as Liberty.
Warning: Contains incendiary sex between a phoenix princess with a secret identity, and a jackal shifter who can take a lot of heat. Boys from the “hood”, a king jacked up on enhanced DNA, and killer heels. Anybody got a match?
WHISPERS
He’s no pushover. And she ain’t no fairy princess.
The Divided Kingdom, Book 2
The only pebble in her shit-kicking boot is the jaw-gritting interference of Nathe Amergin, a Fae Enforcer whose solemn violet eyes set her skin to sizzle.
While he’s willing to work with her to protect his people, this sinful smart-ass skates perilously close to unleashing an avalanche of passion that, as the final choosing looms and whispers turn to screams, could bury them both.
About Sophie H. Morgan
Sophie H. Morgan is a paranormal romance author with a love for hot guys, sassy
heroines, and HEAs that seem impossible.
When not at the keyboard working out ways to drive her characters into each other’s arms, you can find her rambling about the English countryside with her two crazy spaniels, shopping for one more pair of shoes, or devouring yet ANOTHER romance novel with ANOTHER bag of raisin cookies.
Connect with Sophie:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Tell us what qualities you love best about a shifter hero?
