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."

Magic Thursday "Forbidden" Giveaway Winner!

And the winner of our The Forbidden Goddesses Magic Thursday is ~

Nicole Murphy

Congratulations, Nicole! Please contact me at ChristinapPh @ gmail dot com (no space etc) to let me know whether you'd like a copy of Forbidden or Captive ( I'm expecting my author copies of Captive mid-January so as soon as I receive them, I will pop one in the post!)







If you want to have a quick read of the blurbs to help you decide which book you want, please click on the covers :-)

Thank you to everyone who joined in the fun last week!

Magic Thursday - The "Forbidden" Goddesses

Between a warrior and a princess comes an erotic passion as all-consuming as the hatred between their warring worlds…

When Tiberius Valerius Maximus stormed into my mind late one August evening, I had no idea of the world he inhabited beyond the fact he was searching for his Druid princess lover, and there was a deranged High Druid lurking in the shadows. It wasn’t until I started writing Forbidden, book one in the Forbidden series set during the first century AD, that I uncovered the magical elements that were as much a part of their lives as the conflict between their two peoples.

I discovered the reason why Carys and her clan had been able to remain hidden from the Roman invaders was because the gods had constructed a magical enclave. I was enthralled. Who knew? But much as I wanted to keep writing to find out what happened next, I had only the most basic knowledge of the deities at the time, and so had to break off and do Research.

I have a love/hate relationship with research. I love it because it’s fascinating and there’s always so much to learn. But I hate the way time vanishes, hours, entire days if I don’t restrain myself! But I wasn’t under contract, I didn’t have an agent, and in a secret corner of my heart I didn’t think a book set in this time with these protagonists would ever find a home.

But I had to write the book.

Cerridwen, Goddess of Wisdom, was the driving force behind Forbidden. And yet the Morrigan, the Triple Aspect Great Goddess, demanded her voice be heard.

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

Morwyn is Carys’s best friend and at the start of Captive is suffering from a crisis of faith. An acolyte of the Morrigan, she’s turned her back on everything she has ever believed in but in so doing is denying an essential part of her soul.

The hero, Bren, has been undercover in the Roman Legions for the last three years, and believes in nothing but fighting for his Briton king. Until he meets Morwyn, that is.

Despite the fact Morwyn considers Bren her bitterest enemy, she can’t deny the scorching desire that ignites between them. And why should she? To take him as her lover would infuriate the Morrigan. What sweet revenge!

But since when can a mortal take on a powerful goddess and hope to win?


The Morrigan is fascinating. As the War Goddess she represents devastation and regeneration. The Triple Goddess: Maiden, Mother and Crone. The cycle of life.


Both Carys in Forbidden and Morwyn in Captive have to make seemingly impossible choices. The Signs from their goddesses aren’t always clear cut.

It’s all in the interpretation :-)

Excerpt: Chapter One of Captive (Over 18s only, please)

I’m giving away a copy of Forbidden to one lucky commenter or, if the winner doesn’t mind waiting until I receive my author copies in January, an early copy of Captive. Just leave a comment on this post, or tell us who is your fave god/goddess from ancient times and why?

I’ll pick a winner next Wednesday, 1st December (oh no not December already!!) so be sure to pop back then!

For extra chances to win goodies, subscribe to my newsletter:

Christina Phillips