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. 😀