Holding Out For A Hero – Jerrie Alexander (Hell or High Water, The Green Eyed Doll)
Holding Out For A Hero
When you think
of a hero, what criteria do you use?
of a hero, what criteria do you use?
Brave? Well
that’s a given. Whether I’m wearing my female hat or writer’s hat, a man has to
have certain qualities to rank up there with our nation’s military finest.
that’s a given. Whether I’m wearing my female hat or writer’s hat, a man has to
have certain qualities to rank up there with our nation’s military finest.
Other than being
strong, fast, courageous, and fearless, I like a hero who carries himself with
confidence. The kind of confidence that says he’s doing the right things for
the right reasons. His inner strength must be so ingrained that tenderness is
freely given and isn’t a threat to his masculinity. Secure in his masculinity,
he’ll allow himself to rescue an abandoned kitten or dog without feeling a
display of kindness might jeopardize his reputation as a hard-ass.
strong, fast, courageous, and fearless, I like a hero who carries himself with
confidence. The kind of confidence that says he’s doing the right things for
the right reasons. His inner strength must be so ingrained that tenderness is
freely given and isn’t a threat to his masculinity. Secure in his masculinity,
he’ll allow himself to rescue an abandoned kitten or dog without feeling a
display of kindness might jeopardize his reputation as a hard-ass.
Have you ever
seen a firefighter drop to his knees and resuscitate a dog or cat that had been
overcome by smoke inhalation…hero.
seen a firefighter drop to his knees and resuscitate a dog or cat that had been
overcome by smoke inhalation…hero.
Take Bonnie
Tyler’s hit song from the 60s, “Holding Out For A Hero” for example.
(All you youngsters who haven’t heard this song, download it. It will be the
best .99 you ever spent.) Lyrics are copyrighted so I can’t use them here, but
she nailed what every woman dreams of in her hero.
Tyler’s hit song from the 60s, “Holding Out For A Hero” for example.
(All you youngsters who haven’t heard this song, download it. It will be the
best .99 you ever spent.) Lyrics are copyrighted so I can’t use them here, but
she nailed what every woman dreams of in her hero.
Need a real
life example? How about Payton Manning, the quarterback for the Denver Broncos?
His prowess on the football field is well known, but for me, the class he
demonstrates when he’s not playing makes him a hero.
life example? How about Payton Manning, the quarterback for the Denver Broncos?
His prowess on the football field is well known, but for me, the class he
demonstrates when he’s not playing makes him a hero.
I read a news
article about him the other day. If I hadn’t been a fan, I would’ve been by the
time I finished reading. After Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens dealt Manning
and the Broncos a devastating loss, Manning went to the Ravens locker room. You
see, Lewis is retiring this year. But it was after he’d showered, changed into
his suit, and finished with the press conference, he learned Manning and his
family were waiting for him.
article about him the other day. If I hadn’t been a fan, I would’ve been by the
time I finished reading. After Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens dealt Manning
and the Broncos a devastating loss, Manning went to the Ravens locker room. You
see, Lewis is retiring this year. But it was after he’d showered, changed into
his suit, and finished with the press conference, he learned Manning and his
family were waiting for him.
Manning might
have been defeated on the football field, but didn’t pick up his toys and go
home. He stayed long after his teammates had left just to shake Ray Lewis’ hand
and wish him the best.
have been defeated on the football field, but didn’t pick up his toys and go
home. He stayed long after his teammates had left just to shake Ray Lewis’ hand
and wish him the best.
That’s class
with a capital C. And I want my hero’s to have that kind of classy confidence.
with a capital C. And I want my hero’s to have that kind of classy confidence.
What qualities
do you look for in a man? Are they the same expectations you have for a hero in
a romance novel?
do you look for in a man? Are they the same expectations you have for a hero in
a romance novel?
Bio: A student of creative
writing in her youth, Jerrie set aside her passion when life presented her with
a John Wayne husband, and two wonderful children. A career in logistics offered her the
opportunity to travel to many beautiful locations in America, and she revisits
them in her romantic suspense novels.
writing in her youth, Jerrie set aside her passion when life presented her with
a John Wayne husband, and two wonderful children. A career in logistics offered her the
opportunity to travel to many beautiful locations in America, and she revisits
them in her romantic suspense novels.
But the characters went with her, talked to her, and insisted
she share their dark, sexy stories with others.
She writes alpha males and kick-ass women who weave their way through
death and fear to emerge stronger because of, and on occasion in spite of,
their love for each other. She likes to
torture people, make them suffer, and if they’re strong enough, they live
happily ever after.
she share their dark, sexy stories with others.
She writes alpha males and kick-ass women who weave their way through
death and fear to emerge stronger because of, and on occasion in spite of,
their love for each other. She likes to
torture people, make them suffer, and if they’re strong enough, they live
happily ever after.
Jerrie lives in
Texas, loves sunshine, children’s laughter, sugar (human and granulated), and
researching for her heroes and heroines.
Texas, loves sunshine, children’s laughter, sugar (human and granulated), and
researching for her heroes and heroines.
http://www.jerriealexander.com– website
Blurb
from Hell or High Water
from Hell or High Water
When ex-SEAL Nate Wolfe learns a
woman from his past is in danger, nothing will stop him from protecting her.
Not even her.
woman from his past is in danger, nothing will stop him from protecting her.
Not even her.
Dallas Child Protection Services
Investigator Kay Taylor doesn’t want or need Nate in her life. But he doesn’t
seem to understand the word no. He seems to also have forgotten the brand he
left on her heart.
Investigator Kay Taylor doesn’t want or need Nate in her life. But he doesn’t
seem to understand the word no. He seems to also have forgotten the brand he
left on her heart.
When Kay is taken and sold to a
monster, the devil himself couldn’t stop Nate from doing whatever it takes to
find her…but will he be in time?
monster, the devil himself couldn’t stop Nate from doing whatever it takes to
find her…but will he be in time?
Excerpt
Hell or High Water –
Hell or High Water –
A chill slammed into her. Again,
somebody’s eyes on her sent a shiver up her arms. She whirled.
somebody’s eyes on her sent a shiver up her arms. She whirled.
A black Harley was parked down the
block. She paused at the rear of the car and stared at the rider. Odd that he’d
parked away from the funeral crowd and sat there watching. Damn, the black
visor didn’t stop the burn as his gaze bore down on her. Her breath caught. Was
this the man who’d saved her? Wearing a black leather jacket and matching
helmet, the man sat motionless.
block. She paused at the rear of the car and stared at the rider. Odd that he’d
parked away from the funeral crowd and sat there watching. Damn, the black
visor didn’t stop the burn as his gaze bore down on her. Her breath caught. Was
this the man who’d saved her? Wearing a black leather jacket and matching
helmet, the man sat motionless.
She started toward him, and the
rider stepped off the bike. If this was her ninja, she’d demand answers after
she thanked him. He turned his back to her and then removed the helmet. His
fingers wound through shoulder-length black hair, tying the strands together
with a piece of leather. There was something vaguely familiar about him. His
movements. His shoulders. His hands.
rider stepped off the bike. If this was her ninja, she’d demand answers after
she thanked him. He turned his back to her and then removed the helmet. His
fingers wound through shoulder-length black hair, tying the strands together
with a piece of leather. There was something vaguely familiar about him. His
movements. His shoulders. His hands.
He turned to face her, and her
heart rate raced toward the ozone.
heart rate raced toward the ozone.
“Hello, Kaycie.”
Ten years of missing Nate Wolfe
boiled over. He was here. Really here. She sprang into his arms, clutched his
broad shoulders and leaned into his hard-as-a-rock chest. God, his scent, a
mixture of leather, woodsy cologne and virile man washed over her. Damn. Her
body betrayed her by melting into him.
boiled over. He was here. Really here. She sprang into his arms, clutched his
broad shoulders and leaned into his hard-as-a-rock chest. God, his scent, a
mixture of leather, woodsy cologne and virile man washed over her. Damn. Her
body betrayed her by melting into him.
“Nate,” she whispered into his
neck. “You saved me.” Her flesh heated when his large hands flexed against the
small of her back and drew her closer.
neck. “You saved me.” Her flesh heated when his large hands flexed against the
small of her back and drew her closer.
“Come hell or high water,” he
whispered, his warm breath sending heat streaks across her skin.
whispered, his warm breath sending heat streaks across her skin.
A split-second passed before
memories of his lying tongue using that same phrase so many years ago hit her.
A volcano of heartbreak erupted and spewed forth.
memories of his lying tongue using that same phrase so many years ago hit her.
A volcano of heartbreak erupted and spewed forth.
“Don’t touch me,” she spit the
words at him while scrambling out of reach. “And don’t you dare say that to me.
Ever.”
words at him while scrambling out of reach. “And don’t you dare say that to me.
Ever.”
“You hugged me.” His eyes went wide
and he held his hands up in surrender.
and he held his hands up in surrender.
Damn him and his Cheshire cat grin.
Kay plowed her right fist into his jaw. God, pain shot up her arm. His head
barely moved. Still, she relished the snap of his teeth. Obviously, she didn’t
hit him hard enough. He rubbed his scruffy jaw while that sexy little smile
inched right back up his cheeks.
Kay plowed her right fist into his jaw. God, pain shot up her arm. His head
barely moved. Still, she relished the snap of his teeth. Obviously, she didn’t
hit him hard enough. He rubbed his scruffy jaw while that sexy little smile
inched right back up his cheeks.
“Why are you following me?” Her
knuckles hurt like hell, but he’d never know.
knuckles hurt like hell, but he’d never know.
“What?” He held his hands in front
of him, palms up. “No good to see you, Nate? No how you been? No nothing.”
of him, palms up. “No good to see you, Nate? No how you been? No nothing.”
“I’ll try this again, slower. Why.
Are. You. Fol—”
Are. You. Fol—”
“We need to talk.” The fun left his
gaze. The sparkle dimmed to seriousness.
gaze. The sparkle dimmed to seriousness.
She stepped further away and sent
him a glare designed to blister his flesh from head to toe. Unaffected, he
picked up the cell phone earpiece she’d knocked off and reattached it to his
ear while never taking his navy blue eyes off her.
him a glare designed to blister his flesh from head to toe. Unaffected, he
picked up the cell phone earpiece she’d knocked off and reattached it to his
ear while never taking his navy blue eyes off her.
“No, we don’t. Thank you for saving
my life. Now do what you do best. Go away.” She spun on her heel. Rubbing her
now swelling hand, Kay stalked straight to her waiting friend.
my life. Now do what you do best. Go away.” She spun on her heel. Rubbing her
now swelling hand, Kay stalked straight to her waiting friend.
“You okay?” Holly asked over the
top of the car before she slid behind the wheel.
top of the car before she slid behind the wheel.
“If I didn’t break my fist on his
cement jaw, I will be.” Kay stabbed her seatbelt a second time before fastening
it properly. She cursed the tears welling. Cursed the feel his warm body
imprinted on her breasts. Cursed the memories that sent her heart spinning.
cement jaw, I will be.” Kay stabbed her seatbelt a second time before fastening
it properly. She cursed the tears welling. Cursed the feel his warm body
imprinted on her breasts. Cursed the memories that sent her heart spinning.
Holly dropped her .380 in her
purse.
purse.
“Did you take that in church this
morning?”
morning?”
“Yep. God knows I carry. And the
law gave me a permit. Glad I had it, because I didn’t know what the hell was
going down when you hit him. Who was the hunk?”
law gave me a permit. Glad I had it, because I didn’t know what the hell was
going down when you hit him. Who was the hunk?”
“Nate Wolfe.”
“Holy shit. The guy from college?”
“The same. He’s been watching me.
I’m sure of it.”
I’m sure of it.”
“I should’ve shot him.” Holly
punched the gas pedal, ignoring the speed bumps.
punched the gas pedal, ignoring the speed bumps.
“Thanks for having my back. And for
getting the concealed carry license.”
getting the concealed carry license.”
“I’m never without protection. Or a
gun.” Holly chuckled at her own joke. “Where to?”
gun.” Holly chuckled at her own joke. “Where to?”
