If you were to ask me what I love the most about Valiant Heart it’s definitely the strong female characters. I’ve been dying to write a book that features an Amazon-like tribe of Huntresses, women who reject their destiny of having to mate with either a werewolf or a Hunter. Women who take what’s theirs and all the power that comes with it. And that’s what you’re going to get in my latest Order of the Wolf book. These women kick some serious ass.
I’ve always been fixated on the role that strong female characters play in fiction and on the screen. I love watching and reading about women who can take charge, lead, manipulate, control, maim, destroy…whatever needs to happen, as long as it’s a she in that role.
If I were going to build an apocalypse team with only female heroines, my top five from movies and books would be:
Buffy either movie of TV show (both have merits)
Sarah Connor from Terminator
Selene from Underworld
Cynthia Leighton from D.B. Reynolds’s Vampires in America series
MacKayla Lane from Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series
There are many more, of course, but all of these women exhibit, not only strength, cunning wit and courage, but they are also loyal, smart, and sassy. They truly take no shit, can roll with the punches, and will lead or follow depending on what the situation calls for. All of these traits are what make a solid team and blow up the scenes with much kick-assery.
Who are your favorite female leads?
What traits would you look for if you were putting together an apocalypse team?
What are some books you’ve read with strong female characters?
Contest
I’m giving away 5 prizes of any one ebook copy from my backlist
When the choice is love or loyalty, no matter what she chooses the heart will bleed.
The Order of the Wolf, Book 6
Slay the beasts. Save the day. Such is Ariana’s role in her first mission for the Queen. She has no reason to think the rest will be any different…until, in the heat of battle, she uses her powers to heal an injured Order Huntress.
Her gift doesn’t go unnoticed. Lance, her very own Hunter, zeroes in, and a different battle is on. Lance is hot and very attentive, but this Amazon is determined to stay independent.
Lance has prepared his whole life to battle alongside his mate. Now that he’s found her, nothing and no one else matters. He’s not letting her go.
For the Queen’s second mission—bring the Oracle into the tribe—Ariana risks taking Lance’s bond to get more power. She never expected her body to crave more pleasure, her heart to lower its defenses.
As the battle rages on between Huntresses and beasts, there’s a foul plan in play that will force Ariana to decide where her loyalty lies. The cost of her choice could be a life.
Product Warnings
Contains a squirm-worthy love triangle, plus some scenes of debatable consent between a take-no-crap Huntress and a super-hot playboy with a come-hither smile and a come-multiple-times tongue.
Excerpt from Valiant Heart
“We’ve been tracking Lazarus’s pack for years to no avail. Lost quite a few of our members to his claws and so we retreated to build up our strength and our numbers.” I pushed myself from the wall and walked to the center of the room where Greer stood. “When we heard that he’d been defeated by one of yours, we put together a team to track what was left of his pack. What better time than now to eliminate the threat? While his pack is still reeling from the loss of one so powerful?”
“And so we’re here, offering our support.” Greer smiled. “All we ask is that you come with us.”
“Like hell! You’re not going anywhere with these bitches!” Lance bellowed from the doorway, his look less disheveled than I would have expected. His hair was damp and pulled roughly into a tail at his nape, his clothes clean, his stance wide, like he was loath to let the coarse fabric of his jeans touch anything in his crotch region.
That last assessment might have been some wishful thinking on my part, my anger suddenly rising with the memory of his attempted bonding.
“Lance, you have no idea what we’ve been talking about.” Kelly moved toward him, hands raised like she was cornering a wild animal.
I smirked as I shot a knowing look in Greer’s direction. She was raptly watching the scene play out, amused no doubt that Kelly was even bothering to calm the man down. As if a Hunter could control any Huntress.
“These women are not what they seem, Kelly.” Lance was furious, rightly so perhaps, but coming off as a raging lunatic. “Open your damn eyes.”
Kelly flinched and halted, her expression losing any softness she’d had moments before. “My eyes are open. For the first time in years, they are wide open. These women are Huntresses and they are offering me a chance to empower myself and find Andrew. What the hell are you so scared of?”
“Your power, sister,” Greer whispered. “That’s what they’re all afraid of.”
Copyright © 2015 Angela Addams
All rights reserved — a Samhain Publishing, Ltd. publication
About the Author
Every day is Halloween for author Angela Addams. Enthralled by the paranormal at an early age, Angela spends most of her time thinking up new story ideas that involve supernatural creatures in everyday situations. She believes that the written word is an amazing tool for crafting the most erotic of scenarios.
She is an avid tattoo collector, a total book hoarder and loves anything covered in chocolate…except for bugs.
She lives in Ontario, Canada in an old, creaky house, with her husband and children.
Website: www.angelaaddams.com
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Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4801196.Angela_Addams
Buy the book here:
Samhain
https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/5634/valiant-heart
Amazon.com
Amazon.uk
Kobo
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/valiant-heart
BN
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/valiant-heart-angela-addams/1122273972
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Ziva from NCIS is my favorite
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Ziva and Abby from NCIS, Scarlett O’Hara, and Penelope Garcia from Criminal Minds.
Strong willed, smart, knows how to laugh, they love with all their heart, and they can take care of themselves.
Gone With The Wind, All of Kallypso Master’s books, All of Sable Hunter books, and Randi Alexander’s books. 🙂
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Who are your favorite female leads?
Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)
Daenerys-Targaryen (Game of Thrones)
Abby Sciuto (NCIS)
Ziva David (NCIS)
Jennifer “JJ” Jareau (Criminal Minds)
What traits would you look for if you were putting together an apocalypse team?
Strength, Cunning, Intelligence, Strong Willed and Survival Instinct.
What are some books you’ve read with strong female characters?
Vampires in America by D.B.Reynolds has the BEST female character in Cynthia Leighton. She’s smart, sassy, kick-arse and will stop at nothing to protect man (and what a man Raphael is *swoon*).
Thank you Angela, this was so much fun!!
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Any of the Valkyries from the Immortals After Dark series. They all kick butt and take names. Definitely some of my favorites.
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Wow, great answers, everyone! We could make a pretty awesome all-female team just based on all those favs! Thanks for playing along!
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My favorite female leads in book wise: Angelica Coleman from the novel “Dancer’s Angel” and all the women from Patricia Waddell novels. As for movies, I would say: quirky Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1992). As for traits for an apocalypse team, would be: strength, strong character, motivation, honesty, devotion, and a strong-will never to quit, until our mission is complete 😆 😡 😛
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I’m re-reading THE HUNGER GAMES, so I have to say Katniss ticks all the boxes for me.
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I like a character that has some humor, strong instincts and a great personality. I love IAD girls, Mercy Thompson, Kate Daniels, Charley Davidson. I’ve been wanting to try Angela Addams for a while now, but just haven’t had the chance yet. I really need to put this series higher on my TBR.
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I’m getting some great book recommendations from these answers! Keep ’em coming!
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no favs; strong people
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Thanks for participating, folks! I’ve emailed the winners!