Categories: paranormal books
Posted by Amy - April 20th, 2010 Comments 29
Opposites attract…and sometimes mortal enemies do, too. Just take a look at Anna Hackett’s new Nocturne Bite, Hunter’s Surrender, featuring a vampire princess heroine and vampire hunter hero. Anna joins us today to blog about Hunter’s Surrender and why she loves enemy romances…
by Anna Hackett, author of Hunter’s Surrender (Silhouette Nocturne Bites, April 2010)
I love stories where the hero and heroine come from completely different backgrounds. Rivals, adversaries or enemies forced to look past their prejudice and see the real person beneath.
There’s something about watching the cop fall for the hero with the shady background (think Eve and Roarke in JD Robb’s In Death series), a vampire fall for a forbidden werewolf (Sonja and Lucian in the Underworld movies) or someone of royal blood or social standing who falls for someone unsuitable (Mr. Darcy and Lizzie in Pride and Prejudice).
I really wanted to write a story about two opposites who fall for each other. Two people 
who’d been raised to hate each other thrown into a situation where they can’t help but question everything they’ve ever known. Two people who find themselves tempted by the enemy. From that idea, my Nocturne Bites, HUNTER’S SURRENDER was born.
I kind of mixed all the above examples into my story and ended up with a royal vampire heroine and a big, bad vampire hunter hero. Opposites in every way.
Dominique Valois is vampire royalty. Just like princesses of the past, she’s a virgin and expected to stay that way until she marries another blue-blooded vampire. She’s not shy or retiring though, she’s smart, confident and knows what she wants. She needs to save herself and her family from a dangerous, out-of-control vampire desperate to possess her. So she sets out to lose her virginity to the worst person possible—the biggest, baddest vampire hunter in the business.
The last thing battle-scarred hunter Rand Wilder wants in a vampire princess desperate to share his bed. But Dominique is persistent…not to mention unearthly beautiful. While Dominique pursues Rand around Las Vegas, he starts to see she’s nothing like he expected. Dominique meanwhile discovers her vampire hunter is a lot more scarred and a lot more noble than she’d ever expected.
I thoroughly enjoyed writing my “tempting the enemy” story HUNTER’S SURRENDER. I have no doubt I’ll pit two opposites against each other again in future stories and watch the fireworks as they fall in love.
In my fellow Bites author Mel Teshco’s HER DARK LORD, the hero and heroine aren’t exactly enemies, but the heroine, Kia certainly doesn’t trust Ronan. He’s a vampire and while Kia is half vampire, she distrusts all nightwalkers. It’s another great story with some tempting the enemy thrown in.
So, do you have any favorite “tempting the enemy” stories or movies you can’t get enough of?
Anna is giving away a FREE copy of Hunter’s Surrender to a lucky commenter! Leave your “tempting the enemy” answer by April 26 to be entered to win.
Edited: The contest is now closed, and Tonya was the lucky winner! Tonya, please email Anna at anna @ annahackettbooks . com (remove the spaces). ~Amy
paranormal books
Mel Teshco
on April 20th, 2010
You’re so right Anna, there’s nothing quite like having the h/h set sparks off each other by being so opposite. The conflict is intense and much of the time ramped up emotionally.
Thanks so much for the mention of Her Dark Lord, and I can’t wait to read Hunter’s Surrender!
Tracie Sommers
on April 20th, 2010
As they say – opposites attract. I loved Lucian and Sonja in the 3rd Underworld movie. I have yet to read Hunters Surrender – it’s on my ebook tbr list. I have read Mel Teshco’s Her Dark Lord and I loved it. Ronan and Kia’s story was amazing. And I can’t wait to read another Mel Teshco story – after my next Anna Hacket that is
Melissa
on April 20th, 2010
Opposites certainly do attract -the sparks fly and we can’t help but hope against hope that more will follow. What about Bella and Edward from the Twillight series or Jane Eyre and Rochester from Jane Eyre. They may not get hot and steamy, but their attraction is, nevertheless, quite obvious.
Lisa B
on April 20th, 2010
I really am not a fan of alot gore in movies but i still love the Underworld movies escpecially the 3rd one. Hunter’s Surrenders sounds like something i’d really like. I like the whole opposites attracts thing.
Lisa
Rhaina
on April 20th, 2010
True Blood all the way. Not a movie but a wonderful T.V. show.
Debra S Pine
on April 20th, 2010
I would definitely have to say the Death series by Nora Roberts. I ‘ve read every single one, and listened to most of them on cd’s as well. Wish they would come out with a movie!
emily
on April 20th, 2010
Opposites attracting is not the same thing as a “tempting the enemy” situation. For example, rich guy/poor girl is not the same as vampire vs vampire hunter. I think both can be really effective as plot/character motivation, but it always comes down to the individual book and how well the author constructs the characters/plot/etc.
Tonya
on April 20th, 2010
I love “opposites attract” stories!!! Especially paranormal romance ones. My fav story of this kind is “Racing the Moon” by Michele Hauf!!! The connection between Dean & Sunday is powerful!! They are both strong minded & complete opposites, in a paranormal sort of way! The attraction they share is worth reading about!!!!:-)
Anna Hackett
on April 20th, 2010
Hi Mel –
I think that’s why I love the whole “tempting the enemy” thing – the conflict and emotions are so intense!
Hope you enjoy Hunter’s Surrender! I loved HDL.
Anna Hackett
on April 20th, 2010
Hey Tracie –
Thrilled to hear Hunter’s Surrender is on your tbr pile. Good to see another HDL fan – I loved Kia and Ronan as well!
Anna Hackett
on April 20th, 2010
Hi Melissa –
Some great examples of opposites attract! I didn’t even think of Bella and Edward – while humans weren’t exactly the enemy, they were forbidden. And that makes for an exciting story.
Anna Hackett
on April 20th, 2010
Hi Lisa B –
I don’t mind a little gore if it works with the story. Gratuitous, graphic gore is not my thing though. Happy to hear you like the sound of Hunter’s Surrender – not too much gore in it, I promise (-:
Anna Hackett
on April 20th, 2010
Hi Rhaina –
I like True Bood as well. Another human and vampire opposites attract story.
Anna Hackett
on April 20th, 2010
Hi Debra –
I LOVE the In Death books. Roarke is one of my favorite heroes. I loved watching Eve fall for him despite his shady past.
Anna Hackett
on April 20th, 2010
Hi Emily –
You’re right that “tempting the enemy” and opposites attract aren’t exactly the same thing…but they have the same conflict at the heart of it. Opposites falling in love despite their long held beliefs. I like to think as tempting the enemy as the ultimate extreme of opposites attract. And you’re spot on again that it all comes down to the individual story at the end.
Anna Hackett
on April 20th, 2010
Hi Tonya –
I loved Racing the Moon as well! It is still one of my favorite Bites. Michele is a fabulous author. Make sure you check out her latest book Her Vampire Husband – it is a tempting the ememy story with vampire vs werewolf.
Mindy Holt
on April 20th, 2010
Tempting the enemy is my favorite…all the way back to Romeo and Juliet, the forbidden love angle has me…total sucker.
Em
on April 20th, 2010
Wow – I agree that opposite attract (and tempting the enemy at the other end of the spectrum) is one of my favourite themes in a romance.
For sure, HUNTER’S SURRENDER is a great example, Anna. also I think your WIND KISSED, FIRE BOUND is another great example…
Em x
Teresa W.
on April 21st, 2010
I’m enjoying the Riley Jensen series right now and she’s torn between a vampire or werewolves!
Anna Hackett
on April 21st, 2010
Hi Mindy –
Romeo and Juliet is a great example of tempting the enemy! I should have thought of that one (-:
Anna Hackett
on April 21st, 2010
Hey Em –
Glad to see another “opposites attract” fan. Hey, you’re right, Wind Kissed was another opposites story. I had fun writing that one too.
Anna Hackett
on April 21st, 2010
Hi Teresa –
You can’t go wrong with the Riley Jensen series (by fellow Aussie, Keri Arthur). And who wouldn’t want to be stuck choosing between a sexy vampire and a sexy werewolf!
chey
on April 21st, 2010
I always enjoy opposites attract stories!
Stella (Ex Libris)
on April 22nd, 2010
I always love to read stories about the H/H not liking each other at first, it is always more exciting to see how their relationship will develop from there! In the small screen my fav opposites attract couples were Buffy&Angel, Booth&Bones.
Thank you for the giveaway!
Anna Hackett
on April 23rd, 2010
Hi Chey –
Nice to see another opposites fan!
Anna Hackett
on April 23rd, 2010
Hi Stella –
I LOVE Buffy&Angel and Booth&Bones. I also love Buffy&Spike too.
Eleni Konstantine
on April 23rd, 2010
Totally love that inspiration Anna.
Anna Hackett
on April 23rd, 2010
Hi Eleni –
Glad you liked it!
Amy
on April 28th, 2010
Thank you all for your comments! Anna has chosen Tonya as the winner — Tonya, please email Anna at anna @ annahackettbooks . com (remove the spaces).
~Amy