Do Strong Heroines Overshadow the Hero?

Just like in real life, a strong woman doesn’t overshadow a hero, not if they are meant to be together. Granted, there are men who can’t handle a strong woman. These men often tend to fit strong women in their life (like a square peg in a round hole) instead of letting them shine like Ashlee needs to.

Luke lets Ashlee shine and she doesn’t define him, because he is secure with who he is. He would prefer to be the strength behind her, the reason she fights the demons than be the warrior protecting her. That requires faith in someone else to protect you.

But Luke will pick up that sword and defend her. He loves her and I feel sorry for anything that stands in the way of him being with her.

How do I handle strong women in my writing? I believe that the characters are supposed to be together and if they aren’t, trust me, they’ll let me know. Either they have chemistry or not. It’s that simple. I believe in everlasting love because I’ve seen it, especially with strong women. My mother was a strong woman and my father stood next to her until the day she passed away.

Loving a strong woman takes a lot of guts, and love but a man like Luke isn’t one to back down from a fight, especially not when Ashlee’s life is at stake. The dreams are getting darker, pulling her away from him and he knows he has to fight for her or lose her to the darkness… forever.

Thanks for having me by! :-)

About the Author:

CEO by day, erotic romance writer by night, Lori Toland lives in Orlando where the summers are hot but the romance between her characters is even hotter. Writing since the tender age of 13, Lori somehow finds time to play video games and watch movies while taking care of her beloved cats and a husband who will forever be her hero.

http://loritoland.com/
http://loritoland.livejournal.com/ 

oOoOoOo

Ashlee Bennett has her priorities straight. Fighting demons is at the top of the list until she meets her sexy neighbor, Luke Byrne. Even though he is human, she can’t stop dreaming about his buff body and sexy grin, until her dreams turn to nightmares.

Her world is turned upside down when Luke follows her one night but instead of being afraid, he is only more determined to stand beside her and fight. Ashlee knows she needs to keep her distance from Luke, not just to protect her virginity but her heart as well. But Luke may be the only one who can save her from the night, and her dreams.

Excerpt (18+ only!):

“I can’t just leave,” I protested as the cool evening air hit me. “I came with a friend.”

He rounded on me, and I nearly ran into him. “You mean your boyfriend? Do you want to stay with him? Just say the word, Ash.”

The possessive tone in his voice ticked me off. “What the hell, Luke? I don’t even know you, and you’re acting like you fucking own me.” But even as I said the words, I wanted him to grab me, hold me, and take me however he wanted. My lust for him clouded my ability to say no.

“Ash,” he said gruffly, “all I think about is having you.” He moved forward as he spoke, and I stepped backward, keeping my distance until my back met a wall. I knew my control around him was shot to hell, and I couldn’t trust myself. He snaked his hand into my hair and roughly grabbed the strands. He angled my head so I couldn’t look away. If I were able to breathe, I would have hyperventilated.

“Don’t.” My plea sounded weak, and I doubted he even heard me.

“I can’t help myself,” he said and kissed me gently. It was the lightest of pressure on my lips, until he coaxed them apart. When my tongue met his, I was tentative at first, but Luke took charge and claimed my mouth.

I was strong enough to pull away, to tell him no and kick him in the nuts if he didn’t stop. But I didn’t want to. I let myself drown in his kisses. I was so wrapped up in what he was doing to me with his mouth, I barely noticed he had lifted me up and held me against the concrete wall.

He settled his hips between my legs and rocked them, pressing his cock against my clit. The only thing keeping him from fucking me was the thin barrier of our jeans. I spiraled higher, and my pussy clenched, desperate to have him inside me.

He pulled his lips away from mine, and my vision whited out. My clit pulsed faster and faster, and I accidentally banged the back of my head against the hard concrete wall as every muscle in my body tensed.

I shook from the intensity of my climax, my teeth grinding together. He leaned in and kissed me, claiming my mouth with his tongue again. Then he broke our kiss and whispered, “You are mine, Ash. Don’t doubt for a second that I will own you. All of you.”

I quivered, my lips parting, ready for more. I felt like we were frozen in time, and I would have spent forever there, memorizing his face.

Giveaway Details:

Lori is giving away the winner’s choice of a $25 GC to either Amazon, AllRomanceEbooks or Loose Id to one randomly drawn commenter during her tour! Please leave a comment or question for Lori (and your e-mail address) on this post to be entered in the giveaway. Click HERE for her complete tour schedule. The the more tour stops you comment on, the better your chances of winning. Good luck!