So you know… lately we’ve been on a Kristen Ashley kick, because, in all honesty, her men just do it for us. In fact, discussions about her heroes and her books still dominate my Facebook page (and I’m glad for it). I just found out that two very recent releases were two of her best yet, and that means I know what I’ll be reading this weekend!
When I asked what should be my next read, I received a ton of suggestions, with many consisting of:
Lori: Either Heaven and Hell or Play It Safe…. Sam and Gray are both totally swoon worthy!
Krystal: Omg omg !! Heaven and Hell !!! Play It Safe !! Like right now !!!
Nancy: Wow..guess I’ll have to catch up on those KA books after finishing the Night Huntress Series I’m workin on!! They’re getting enough votes!
Joy: Heaven and Hell. Read that and then Leah and Lucien will be ready for you on Friday!
Rebecca: I agree…definitely can’t go wrong with KA. Heaven and Hell and Play It Safe rank right up there with the rest of them.
… and so on and so on. I have never had more adamant and enthusiastic reading suggestions
And I know I’ve said it before, but, ya just can’t beat a bad-ass, bad-boy with a heart of gold (and who doesn’t even realize it). One that can’t be bested, one that fights his battles (and yours) from deep within… digs right down there in the dark, and yet always manages to shine so bright (even with a scowl on his face).
Even better, her men are gorgeous, unattainable, self-confident, infuriating, bossy, arrogant, demanding and yet so amazing with words. But… not the wordy type (bleh!!). I’ve found lately that the wordier heroes irritate me. They don’t feel real (yep! I’ve said that before too).
Kristen’s alphas are the kind of guys that say it all, and make you melt right there, on the spot, with their ONE-word answers (okay sometimes a few words). They never overdo it. They just don’t have the time, the patience, or the need for it. They’re too cool for that, without even having to try. YES!! Thats what it is!!! Her guys don’t even try!! They just ARE. They’re perfect in all of there manly imperfection. Men of few words, but that use them precisely, and appropriately, and without apology. The kind of guy that can make you both growl, and purrrrrr, simultaneously. They do it by saying so little, and yet they mean SO much. That’s just HOT!
And in a way, they kind of remind me of another group of hot-as-heck, leather-clad, paranormal bad-asses from another one of my favorite series.
After Jedi-mind tricking my friends last week into reading “Tate’s” book, “Sweet Dreams” next (’cause they were shamelessly drooling on some Harley’s – tee hee!!), they had this to say:
Sherry: Alright, I’ve started *Sweet Dreams* with the wavy hands and all……and I’m loving it!!!
(side note from Maryse: the “wavy hands and all” were my attempt at the Jedi-mind-tricking… HEY! I had to do something to get their attention away from the Harleys!)
Sherry: I’m in such a dreamstate when I’m with Tate ♥ just wow!!!! He’s everything you wish you could have *in a far off fantasy* bike, boots, tats, attitude and looks!!! Holy s**balls. Maryse, who do you have as your Tate?? I’m going to look later for him …..
Maryse: Tate is he only one that is in my head only so far… I love him almost the most, and yet… he’s not clear to me.
Sherry: Hmmmmm, I’ll have to look far for him 😉 beard and no beard!!
And over the last few months, the whole bunch of us have chatted about our favorites and what they look like. Her heroes alone have their own “top-lists”. What do these guys look like? And what do they look like to Kristen? So you know what I did? I asked her!
Maryse: “I can’t BELIEVE I forgot to ask this question for the interview considering how badly I want to know… I want to dedicate one more post to you (well not just one more, but ANOTHER one)!
If you feel so inclined, since we know Ty is *sorta* Dwayne Johnson (YES to him!!) – who do your other characters look like? Even if it’s just a round about idea.Like to me… Wood looks like the guy from Sons of Anarachy… he just CAME to me – perfectly formed as this guy (sorta):Strangely enough, I struggle with Tate (Sweet Dreams) and who he looks like. He came to me but it wasn’t sticking…. I don’t know why, considering he’s the one I latched on to the most. He’s like a ghost in my head… I catch glimpses of him, clear and then *poof* he’s vague again.Hawk came to me perfectly. I could go on and on… but I’d LOVE to get your versions.Help a girl (or a bunch of girls out, will ya?)”
And here’s what she said:
“Now… what actors could be my boys… I often get this question and I can’t answer it except vaguely. It is because they are “real” to me so I know exactly what they look like, who they are so it is hard for me to say because they are who they are, very, VERY defined in my head. Someone once told me Hugh Jackson absolutely WAS Hank Nightingale (from Rock Chick Redemption) and I got ticked because he’s not, he’s Hank. That was awhile ago and I’m over that reaction now 🙂 hee hee. Even though Dwayne’s movie Faster inspired (Lady Luck (Colorado Mountain Series), Ty doesn’t look a thing like him. And my Ty is WAY taller (but just as muscle-bound).
To be honest, my hubby and others mention my books being made into movies and sometimes I get a weird, not happy feeling in my belly about that because I cannot imagine any actor or actress playing my characters, even secondary ones. And I don’t want them to be defined by an actor, does that make sense?
However…
When I first saw Joe Manangiello in a photo (before seeing him in True Blood), I lost my breath because he is almost exactly how I picture Lee Nightingale (Rock Chick) in my head.
And a friend of mine just told me Tate (Sweet Dreams) in her head looks like Matt Schulze and I looked him up and he kind of does! Then again, so does Joe Manangiello who is hot, hot, hot.
And since The Golden Dynasty (Fantasyland Series) was based on Game of Thrones, Lahn looks somewhat like Jason Mamoa – though my Lahn is taller, his muscle is leaner and more defined as is his face.
Mamoa could also be Mace from the Rock Chicks.
(side note from Maryse – OH WOW! Mamoa is too cute here!!)
Since Wood is based on a real man, Charlie doesn’t look like him for me (and Wood has black hair) and it is hard for me to say that because Charlie is ALL THAT! I love that show and I adore him in it. But Wood is short-ish (for my men, that said, he’s still tall) and bulkier in a hot guy cuddly way.
If it ever happens, I would be delighted if Jim Beaver would play Duke from the Rock Chicks. He is not gray but his voice and manner, he’d be perfect.
Luke Stark from the Rock Chicks is also based on a real guy though not one I met, one who walked into a services while I was having a coffee. He had a motorcycle helmet in his hand and the most ridiculous mustache IN THE WORLD! But he freakin’ ROCKED that ‘tache! I just stared at him the whole time he was ordering his coffee and Luke was born instantly.
Max does not look like Bradley Cooper, Max is bulkier, darker, taller but he has his hair. Bradley Cooper has the best hair.
I think that’s about it… probably more than you wanted to know.”
Okay, so Joe as Tate – heck yah!!! Now I wanna re-read, with that picture in my head.
And now, I ask… who do these guys look like to you? I still have a bunch to read in Kristen Ashley’s repertoire and I’d love to get a little kick-start on the images in my head.
P.S. – I just received an update. For those of you interested in reading Kristen Ashley’s paranormal Alpha males, she JUST released (TODAY!!!) her latest, which is a VAMPIRE novel entitled: Until the Sun Falls from the Sky (The Three Series)
Oh! And if you’re new to Kristen Ashley? Check out some of her book series, and my book reviews here:
➔➔➔ Looking for my must-read recommendations? Browse my 5 star and 4.5 star and 4 star reviews. 😀
➔➔➔ Love this author? Browse more Kristen Ashley features and reviews on my blog. 😀
I just read Kristen working chapters of Until the Sun Falls from the Sky which is due to be released tomorrow and I am already in love with the story of Lucien and Leah
I am fairly new to Kristen Ashely, I just finished my first book by her, Mystery Man, and I absolutely loved it. The way she writes is so amazing and realistic it’s almost like I fell into the story and become a part of it. I need more ASAP!
Hi honey,
Sorry i havent posted here in a little bit, i have been chatting up KA ears off on facebook. Thanks to you we found her so we love you too. just started readng rock chic. my daughter is ahead of me by maybe 3 books but ill catch up. never catch up to you but i am well on my way. 🙂 hope your doing great!!!!!
I don’t know what I’m going to do once I read all of Kristen Ashley’s books. I just finished Law Man with Mitch and Mara, such a sweet story, and I just bought Heaven and Hell from Amazon to start once the kidlet goes to preschool.
I can say that I am impatiently waiting for Ally and Ren’s story, Rock Chick 8 needs to come soon!!!
My husband is not going to like the Amazon bill this month. HEHE
Joe as “lee” !!’ I’m so happy to hear that and it makes wanna re-read it again ! Just for the images in my head. Lol KA’s alpha males are like no other and I love how less is more with them. They know who they are and what they want, n just goes for it 🙂 and I especially love how the 2nd time reading is even better than the 1st !!
I am trying to read some other books so I can space out the KA books (what will I do when I finish?). But even books in series I previously loved are not grabbing me the same way! Has KA spoiled me? I wan’t to stop reading the books I am reading and grab another Kristen Ashley, but the rest of my life gets TOTALLY neglected when I read her…..
I can see Joe as Tate, he has that tough guy look that says he’s not had an easy life.
Ooo, Joe as Tate! Yum!!!! I need to go through all of my KA books and see who would work for the guys for me now.
I’ve read all of Kristen’s books (except the Fantasyland stuff) and she’s really ruined me for other authors! Her books are so fun with so many twists and turns and they usually span more than a week so that makes the romance aspect of it actually believable and you can see the characters grow with each other over time. The heroes are AWESOME! My favorite thing about her heroes is that even though they are almost all flawed, bossy and in some cases, broken inside, they are all so confident, and once they find the right woman, so attentive, that they are able to help their heroines work out their own crap too. They don’t always do it in the nicest way, but they mean well! Anyway….that’s my KA rant! Love her! Oh and by the way, Tate is my fave and Joe Manangiello is my go to guy when ever I read a book and I can’t decide what the hero looks like! I LOVE Joe. He’s got the BEST facial hair and I don’t even like facial hair!
Hahaha they are different characters for me. So I can’t see them as anything other then as a Black Dagger Brother. 🙂 Jason is my wrath and joe is my manny. But they are both OHH so very yummy!!!!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I really want to live in a Kristen Ashley novel! All her leading men are yummy! I’ve read all the burg, mountain men, dream men series and am in the middle of a rock chick marathon, just can’t get enough!
I’m reading Play It Safe right now, and I already have a clear image of Gray…
GAH!!!
I thank GAWD for Maryse!! Thanks sooooooo much for introducing me to Kristen Ashley who is my FAV author!!!!
UtSFftS is going to be AMAZING…I can just feel it!! Hehehehe!
Em…
Did you read it yet? I’m dying to know what you thought of her vampire.I haven’t but anxious to.
I just finished “heaven and hell”, now i’m reading “for you”. I liked haven and hell. Sam is great like all her alpha males. But stil he’s not my favorite. Actually it’s getting complicated to know who is, because i’m still between Tate and Hawk. Well the thing is, i think Tate is my favorite alpha but sweet dreams is not my favorite book, i think it’s mystery man.
Yeah… that just one answer with “baby” means everything right!? I love it too. love love love. The only sad thing is that the only alphas that says this between the books that i’ve been reading is Tate, Hawk and Slin. I miss this.
God you know, when i’m reading her books i keep thinking about the character a lot too. But more about the girls than the guys, this is because she writes about people in their early 40’s and the way she describes them, they look like they are between 27 and 33) witch i think is awesome, specially their clothes. For 40’s her women are all gorgeous with perfect body and without making any effort to have it… and that makes me curious to know how they actually are. So i imagine people like Halle Berry, Jenifer Aniston, Salma Hayek, Sandra Bullock… you know!?
But the only character that i could relate to an actor was Max, he’s like Matthew McConaughey for me.
Carla. I’ve still got to read Heaven and Hell. I just finished “Play it Safe” and it was a fun read, but Gray didn’t knock Tate or Hawk of my top list. Nope. They still rule it. 😉
OMG!!!! Go read Until The Sun Falls from the Sky…..NOW!
It rocked!
I will also say there was also one part that really confused me and I found that a little annoying, but maybe KA did that on purpose, bc the heroine was also in the dark at the same time, but it was still a little annoying.
It still rocked though! 🙂
Jodi! Good to know. I’m in the mood for another vampire read.
Wow so u r reading “Night Huntress”??? I just love BONES and Kat!
But had to just say…I had the opportunity to go to a low key TruBlood convention and meet and get a picture with Joe M. He is so tall and VERY Handsome even more in person…if I everhadthechance to meet Jason M. He would be the next on my bucket list to meet….have u seen the pictures of him surf sailing in Hawaii? Be still my heart.
Kim!!! WOW! Meet him huh? I. AM. GREEN!! LOL! He’s truly something to behold 😉
She is the first author who I automatically buy all titles no exception. I have never read a vampire or paranormal story but Lucien was too hard to resist! Her writing is a new discovery for me and she is all I am pretty much reading.
I am glad people loved ‘Sweet Dreams’ as much as I did and appreciate MY Tate 🙂 It is the one book where if I share it with someone and they have even one small criticism I know we will never be friends! ( ha ha… but so very true) 🙂
MissKitty! Love her too! I can’t wait to get to Lucien…
Yes!! I was imagining khal Drogo and Daenerys the whole time! I loved that story line in the GoT book and show. One of my favorites. Except with all those characters you only got a glimpse of their beautiful and unconventional love story. In Golden Dynasty I felt like it was a longer more in depth look at what would have/could have been if not for Drogo’s untimely death. Loved, loved, loved GD!! Another great job KA!