The old adage is that opposites attract. I’ve certainly experienced that. Sometimes you know that opposite is good for you, and sometimes you know it’s only going to cause trouble. I’ve also experienced both of those. Laugh.
But in romance, pairing opposite personalities is something I truly enjoy doing. With Inherited Damnation, that task proved a bit more daunting. The question became not only how could I pair up an “opposite”, but how could I do so across sixteen different characters. Particularly when some of the siblings in the stories share similar…divides.
Destined to Die – Belen and Faith – was one of the easiest pairings, in all honesty. Belen is the bad boy, trouble-making, half demon. He likes his dark powers to a large degree, embraces who and what he is. He was presented as sort of a lout in the preceding two books. He supports his father, though his reasons for doing so aren’t necessarily out of admiration. In fact, he instigates the trouble that befalls Faith…and relishes corrupting the two minds that contributed.
Until, the sweet, innocent beauty ends up in a very bad way. And then, Belen suffers the torture of the lighter portion of his soul. He doesn’t particularly like Faith, because she stirs that lighter portion, and that would make him have to question his more dominant, darker side. But when he’s the source of her pain…everything changes.
In sharp contrast, Faith came wholly naturally. She likes to save people. She’s fairly innocent about the world around her, views most things through rose-colored glasses, and can’t fathom any reason why Belen might be (obviously) torturing himself. She sets out on a crusade, essentially.
Her innocence made the resolution, her final discovery of all the dark entities in the world she knows, very fun to write. Watching these two, even as I composed the words, lock heads, battle with words, and eventually come together was exciting. It became a quest to see how I could twist them and leave them hanging in the wind the next go-round.
In the end…as we all know and love…the bad boy finds reformation. Or perhaps it’s acceptance.
Or perhaps, it’s just simply love.
Whatever the case, opposites definitely attract. In many ways, Belen reminds me of a man I dated – no, there are never people in my real life consciously put into my books. On the surface, he was all bark and vinegar, tough as nails, aloof, devil-may-care. Beneath…there was so much more. A very fragile soul hidden beneath a detached exterior. Like many of the opposite pairings in life, our differences couldn’t compliment enough. The end was devastating. But we both learned a great deal from each other, and boy those sparks could fly!
What about you? Have you been drawn to someone who’s your polar opposite? Or if not, what about the opposites in books draws you? Is it the promise of sparky banter, the tension, or the inevitable surrender? Please share below!
Fated for Sacrifice
INHERITED DAMNATION Book #5
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When Reese Hamilton is abandoned in the snow-laden woods, she must find her way to Dáire McLaine’s cabin—a friend she’s known for years, and the man who makes her pulse triple. Little does she know that a cozy night in the woods will lead to passion they both have been longing to explore. But with the new change in their relationship comes something darker and more terrifying, and Reese must confront danger, even death, before she can be free to love.
Dáire McLaine will do anything to escape his demonic blood and attain mortality, even if that means defying nature’s laws and manipulating Reese’s thoughts for his own means. But when he delves into her hidden secrets, the staggering emotion he encounters makes it impossible to deny the forbidden longings of his own heart. He’s yearned for Reese over the years. Yet to love Reese will demand the ultimate sacrifice—his life.
Damned at birth, eight immortal children of a high priestess are compelled to kill the one that holds their heart. They can never fall in love. Driven by the need to finally destroy their evil sire and break the curse, each struggles to balance their desire for innocence against the dark needs of their conflicted souls.
The series contains mythos shared between the volumes, but each book stands on its own with a newly featured couple.
The first four volumes – Cursed to Kill, Tormented by Darkness, Destined to Die and Bound by Blood are available now!
INHERITED DAMNATION Book #5
Add to your GoodReads Shelf
When Reese Hamilton is abandoned in the snow-laden woods, she must find her way to Dáire McLaine’s cabin—a friend she’s known for years, and the man who makes her pulse triple. Little does she know that a cozy night in the woods will lead to passion they both have been longing to explore. But with the new change in their relationship comes something darker and more terrifying, and Reese must confront danger, even death, before she can be free to love.
Dáire McLaine will do anything to escape his demonic blood and attain mortality, even if that means defying nature’s laws and manipulating Reese’s thoughts for his own means. But when he delves into her hidden secrets, the staggering emotion he encounters makes it impossible to deny the forbidden longings of his own heart. He’s yearned for Reese over the years. Yet to love Reese will demand the ultimate sacrifice—his life.
Book #6, Doomed to Torment, will be coming on 5/12/15. Keep your eye out…
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INHERITED DAMNATION is an 8 book paranormal romance series being released as one book every three weeks between January 27th and June 23rd, 2015.Damned at birth, eight immortal children of a high priestess are compelled to kill the one that holds their heart. They can never fall in love. Driven by the need to finally destroy their evil sire and break the curse, each struggles to balance their desire for innocence against the dark needs of their conflicted souls.
The series contains mythos shared between the volumes, but each book stands on its own with a newly featured couple.
The first four volumes – Cursed to Kill, Tormented by Darkness, Destined to Die and Bound by Blood are available now!
Keep up with all things Inherited Damnation over on the
Bound by Blood
INHERITED DAMNATION Book #4
Buy from Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon Ca / Amazon DE / Amazon AU
Cursed to Kill
INHERITED DAMNATION Book #1
Add to your GoodReads Shelf
Buy from Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon Ca / Amazon DE / Amazon AU / B&N / ARe
Free
Tormented by Darkness
INHERITED DAMNATION Book #2
Add to your GoodReads Shelf
Buy from Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon Ca / Amazon DE / Amazon AU / B&N
Destined to Die
INHERITED DAMNATION Book #3
Add to your GoodReads Shelf
AmazonUS / AmazonUK / AmazonCa / B&N
Building on a background of fantasy game design, a fascination with history, and a lifetime love of books, Award-Winning Author Claire Ashgrove brings to life action-filled, passionate journeys of the heart. Her paranormal series, The Curse of the Templars, marries the history of the Knights Templar with the chilling aspirations of the most unholy--a must-read for speculative fiction fans. For romance fans, she also writes as the National Bestselling Author Tori St. Claire and historical romance as Sophia Garrett.
In her non-writing time, she owns and operates Finish The Story, a full-scale editing house co-founded with Bryan Thomas Schmidt. She lives in Missouri and enjoys cooking, studying ancient civilizations, and spending downtime with her two sons and too-many horses, cats, and dogs.
GIVEAWAY
INHERITED
DAMNATION LEG #5 (4/21 – 5/13)
3 eCopies of Fated for Sacrifice
EXTRAVAGANZA Giveaway (1/27 – 7/18)
1 - $50 Amazon Giftcard
1 – Set of the entire Inherited Damnation series in eBook
1 - $50 Amazon Giftcard
1 – Set of the entire Inherited Damnation series in eBook
looks and sounds fantastic :) thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read, just bought Cursed to Kill and Tormented by Darkness
ReplyDeleteCome back and let us know how they are!
DeleteI will! Though I have to say having found your website through latest Faith Hunter blog tour you have had a effect on both my to-read list and my bank account =) I thank you for it!
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DeleteMuwahahaha! And you thought all this World take over stuff was just for fun ;) Glad you stayed around!
DeleteI just downloaded the first one and will be getting the rest soon. Sounds like a fantastic read and right up my alley ;)
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