Hey all, I’m Sasha white, and I write White Hot Fiction in a variety of genres. Mostly, contemporary, and all with an edge of kink. That said, I’m not going to talk so much about MY books today, but instead, about what puts a book on your keeper shelf!
For me it’s all about the characters. I think that’s why I read so many different genres. The books filling my shelves are from contemporary, paranormal, science fiction, suspense, thriller, romance, erotica, and even some non-fiction biographies and travel stories. To me, it doesn’t matter what word or universe the story takes place in, as long as I can connect with the characters. And I seem to be drawn to anti-hero’s. Like Gin Blanco in Jennifer Estep’s Elemental Assassin series. Or Kate Daniels in Ilona Andrews Magic books. I love to read a series with secondary characters connecting them, and groups, like Delilah’s Dark Realm books, and Pamela Clare’s iTeam series. I’m not a super huge fan of Nora Roberts, (she tends to be hit or miss for me) but I’m a rabid J.D. Robb fan. (Yes, I know they’re the same woman.) Eve, Roarke, Peabody, Mavis, Feeney, Sommerset, and McNabb, they’re all like friends to me.
Each of those series that I mentioned have characters who are real to me. Yes, I know vampires and werewolves and shape shifters don’t exist, but these characters are real because of the job did the author has done by bringing me into their minds and into their world. Once I’m drawn in I’m hooked. It’s not the cars they drive, the swords they swing, or the cities they live in that hook me. It’s them, the characters. Because this is the way I feel as a reader, as an author I strive to make sure my characters come alive on the pages, and, hopefully, in readers minds as well. Only you can tell me if I succeed or not, but I can tell you that when I’m writing they’re very alive to me. Each with their own voice and personality.
However, when I’m writing, sometimes I have a hard time finding something that isn’t already on my keeper shelf to read. And it seems that when I’m in the middle of writing an intense story, I crave new-to me- stories. I have no idea why, I just do. But because I’m writing intensely, I seem to have less patience with the hit and miss of new-to-me-authors, even when I crave them. So, I’m asking you for YOUR recommended reads. What characters stick in your mind, and have earned a spot on your keep er shelf? Tell me in the comments, and be entered to win a $15 Amazon GC.
PRIMAL
BDSM club owner Adam Kessler is no one’s hero. He joined the army to get away from the gang-life that had taken his brother, only to come home to heartache. He doesn’t hide his dominant side, and he doesn’t hesitate in his need to protect or enforce his particular brand of retribution on those who’ve earned it. There’s no way in hell he could walk past a man hassling a woman in an empty parking lot and do nothing. Only when the confrontation is over and the voluptuous blonde turns eyes filled with desire to him, does Adam realize he’s in trouble.
Psychologist Olivia Hamilton grew up with the proverbial silver spoon, and has never regretted spending more time on her career than on romance, until she meets Adam Kessler. He’s dark, he’s dangerous, he’s deliciously dirty…and she wants him.
Passion burns quick and hot between them and soon they’re caught up in an intensely carnal relationship that neither can deny. But when Olivia’s life is threatened and Adam shows her just how dangerous he can be, will it be too much for the civilized psychologist to handle, or will she truly accept the man and win her hero’s heart?
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Visit Sasha’s website to learn more about her and her books: http://www.sashawhite.net
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The four Kings in Cheyenne McCray/Jaymie Holland’s Wonderland series and she’s re-editing so there’s more to the stories… Kate Douglas’s Wolf Tales, Heather Rainier and GA Aiken/Shelly Laurenston lots of re-reading… Hope that helps
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The characters that stay with me are the men from Maya Banks Sweet series. I have reread it probably 5-6 times. Damon Roche from Sweet Persuasion is my favorite!
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Hi Sasha! I have to agree, character development is the most important part of a story. If I can’t get into the character I won’t buy any more of that author’s books. As for my favorite authors, I have many, but here are the ones at the top of my list:
Delilah Devlin
Olivia Thorne
R.G. Alexander
Claudia Christian
Sylvia Day
Mia Hopkins
Sami Lee
Robin Rotham
Sasha White
Robert Heinlein
M Madeleine L’Engle
Dean Koontz
Thanks! Karen
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Sable Hunter’s Hell Yeah series, Randi Alexander Cowboys, Kallypso Master’s Rescue Me Series and Diana Palmer’s Long Tall Texan’s. Each of these books have caught me from the minute I picked one up in other words I fell in love at first site. The men are alpha’s but the are human and loveable. The women are realistic, flawed(so they think) and loveable. Each of these are in my keepers file!!!! 😉
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Hi! When it comes to dirty talking dominant possessive alpha males, It’s one of my go to books!
As for books I keep returning too there are quite a few!
Knight and Motorcycle Man by Kristen Ashley
Sam Crescent’s books
Jenika Snow
Jordan Silver
Delilah Devlin
JR Ward
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Angel, I’ve read Shelly Laurenston and really enjoyed her shifters, have yet to try the GA Aiken ones. Thanks for reminding me!
Debbie, I agree, I’ve enjoyed Maya’s Sweet books a few times. (And Damon is good, but I prefer Nathan . *ggg* ) I don’t really read contemporary erotic when I’ writing it though. A quirk, I guess. I tend to read the opposite of what I’m writing when I’m writing, and then when I break from writing I read anything and everything. LOL
Thanks Karen. So many to choose from. I do enjoy Dean Koontz. sometimes, haven’t read him n a while. (and thanks for including me too. LOL )
Elaine, Thanks so much. You’ve got some familiar names and books on your list.
Lynne, Knight is a favorite of mine. Motorcycle Man was pretty good too. I love her Rock Chic series. Maybe I should re-read them> LOL Thanks for the reminder!
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I know what you mean about Nora Roberts/JD Robb as I feel the same. I too read across genres and am a fan of character driven work. I love Nalini Singh, Eileen Wilks, Heather Long, Cathryn Cade, Joey W. Hill and a host of others. Oh and just so you know I am among those patiently awaiting the next Overwatch book.
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Linda Howard’s Death Angel with Andi and Simon. I loved their story so much after I finished it the first time, I went right back and reread it again right away. Neither is heroic–she’s the girlfriend of a very bad guy, and he’s an assassin, but they were so well-drawn and interesting, I can still go back and reread that book. 😀
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Donna, I cannot believe I forgot to mention Joey in my post! I’m a lifelong fan of that woman, and her stories. LOL You know, I’ve only ever read one Nalini Singh book, and I remember liking it. No idea what I haven’t tried more. I really should. LOL (and thank you fro your patience on the Overwatch stuff.)
Elizabeth, Yes! I remember that one. Loved Death Angel. Linda Howard can be ht or miss for me to, but when its hit, it hits the perfect spot in my reader heart. 🙂
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🙂 That one totally did it for me. Also, her Mackenzie’s Mountain was pretty awesome, too.
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Character development is huge for me!
I love the characters in books by:
Cherise Sinclair
Stacey Kennedy
Sloan Johnson (Isthmus Alliance series)
Sandrine Gasq-Dion
CJ Bishop
Sasha White
Lexi Blake
Shayla Black
and a lot of the others mentioned
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Characters mean a lot to me as well. Many of the authors others have mentioned are favorites (including Delilah – this is her blog after all – lol). I have two recommendations for authors whose books have stuck with me.
Jessica Scott writes books about men and women in the military, and she is in the military herself. Her Coming Home series are romances and I’ve not read any others quite like hers; the characters and their stories seem so real. They have stuck with me long after I finished reading them.
Another favorite is Roni Loren. Her Loving on the Edge series is fantastic. I couldn’t stop reading until I had finished all that were published as of last summer. Lucky for me I had only recently discovered them so I was able to read one right after another and stay connected to the various characters.
Thanks for an interesting blog post!
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Characters that stick in my mind were:
Rhett and Scarlett from the novel and picture “Gone With The Wind”
Kittridge Dancer and Angelica Coleman from the novel “Dancer’s Angel”
and the characters from the McGregor clan, from Nora Roberts series on the proud and awesome McGregor. A few to name right quick, Serena and Justin, Ian, Daniel, Anna and Julia 😉 🙂 😛
😆