The Perfect Hero

This week the second book in my Forbidden series, CAPTIVE, hits the shelves (in North America—and I’m thrilled that both Forbidden and Captive will be released in Australia on 2^nd May—yay!)

I absolutely love Bren, the hero in Captive. Tortured by brutal events in his past, Bren’s been undercover in the Roman Legions for the last three years. Bound by unbreakable chains of loyalty to his king, he will do anything to eliminate the invaders and ensure freedom for his people. Nothing else matters. Everything is secondary to his single-minded goal.

And then he meets Morwyn.

Trained in sensuality, a Druid priestess finds herself falling for the wrong man—the warrior who’s taken her prisoner…

When I finished writing the first book, Forbidden, it never occurred to me it was anything but a standalone. But after my agent read the book she wanted to know what happened to Morwyn, the best friend of the heroine in Forbidden.

Hmm, that was a good question! I realized I wanted to know too. I went back and tweaked a couple of things in the final chapter of Forbidden and set about discovering how Morwyn’s relationship with her lover progressed.

And hit a brick wall. No matter which way I looked at it, the story just wouldn’t work. And it was then I realized—Morwyn hadn’t yet met her hero.

I was a bit shocked, mainly because I had a soft spot for Gawain, Morwyn’s lover in Forbidden. He was a hot, sexy warrior—but it just wasn’t clicking. I was even more shocked by the time I finished writing the first couple of pages of Captive and discovered Gawain’s fate—how could I be so mean to my characters? But six months had gone by between Forbidden and Captive and events had, quite clearly, progressed without me!

And then Bren appeared. Tough, emotionally crippled and completely unprepared for a woman like Morwyn in his life, he’s existed in a shadowy world for the last three years. He’s all but forgotten what it’s like to smile, never mind laugh, and although keeping Morwyn screws with all his plans he can’t leave her behind.

My heart melted. Here was her perfect hero. The last man she should find attractive, let alone intriguing, and yet she can’t help herself. She believes him to be her bitterest enemy and yet his ingrained sense of honor claims her reluctant respect. And, before long, claims a great deal more…

I’d love to give away a copy of either FORBIDDEN or CAPTIVE to one commenter – just leave a comment or let me know what is it that makes a hero perfect for you?

Amazon

The Book Depository

Read Chapter One of Captive (Over 18s Only Please)

Christina's Website

Romantic Times BOOK Review

"Phillips second in the Forbidden series is just as hot as its predecessor. Readers will be held Captive by the magic between Druid priestess Morwyn and Bren."