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Tour & Giveaway: 125. Seduce Me by Robyn DeHart...

August 5, 2009
seduce me blog tour
Today's tour is for Robyn DeHart's new book, Seduce Me--book 1 of The Legend Hunters series! Read on to see what Robyn has to say to (& ask) you...

About the book:
Fielding Grey is the second son of the Marquess of Eldon and fortune hunter by night. He's on a mission for the Legend Hunters--a group of wealthy, titled, and heart-breakingly gorgeous men, each of whom are after the find of the century--he has his eyes set on obtaining the illustrious Pandora's Box. But before he finds it, he encounters an equally alluring treasure--the woman bold enough to look inside.

Esme Worthington can't resist taking the tiniest peek inside when fate drops the real Pandora's Box in her lap. Thus, she unleashes one of Pandora's irresistible curses: the curse of lust. Now, both Esme and Fielding must deal with this passionate curse--or blessing?--before unknown implications of Pandora's Box overpower them both.

robyn dehartAbout the author:
Robyn DeHart has published four books with Avon: Courting Claudia, A Study in Scandal, Deliciously Wicked, and Tempted At Every Turn. Known for her unique plotlines and authentic characters, Robyn is a favorite among readers and reviewers. Publishers' Weekly claims her writing to be "comical and sexy" while the Chicago Tribune dubs her "wonderfully entertaining." A two-time Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice award nominee, Robyn has earned 4 star and 4.5 star top pick reviews on all her books. Robyn can be found online at her website, robyndehart.com, and on Facebook.

Robyn says:
Dirty, rotten scoundrels…

I ran a search on IMDB.com to look for movie quotes about villains and came across the following. “One man's villain is another man's hero.” It’s from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and admittedly my experience with Star Trek is bleak at best, but whichever character said these words was oh-so-wise. You could take that one step forward and say that every villain believes himself (or herself) to be the hero in their own story.

I have far more experience with creating swoon-worthy heroes and heroines you’d love to be friends with, but I do know some things about villains. First, they should be as strong as your hero (or heroine, if they case may be). This doesn't have to mean brute strength, it could be a battle of the wits, but they must be evenly matched or else when the hero wins the reader won't be too impressed.

Secondly, they need the same elements your hero and heroine need minus one thing. This means they need a believable GMC – they need to be after something for a specific reason and they need conflict. The only think they're missing is that character arc. They have no growth. That's the main difference between heroes and villains when you boil it down to the basics. Heroes need to grow and change and villains don't. (Obviously if you want to turn them into heroes at some point, then this "rule" won't apply.) I'd add here that you really should focus on the villain’s motivation and make it as strong as possible. If you don't understand why they do the crazy things they do, then your reader won't either. Keep in mind that being totally bad, doesn't mean they're totally evil. They can have normal, functioning relationships with other people, for example, it's just when it comes down to what they want and your hero or heroine getting in their way – they just won't allow that. So they might be protective over their sister, but try to kill the heroine. The same action can co-exist in the same character if you properly motivate them.

There are plenty of wonderful books out there without any villains at all and that’s perfectly okay. But if there is a bad guy, personally I want him to be really bad. Think of John Doe in the movie Seven. He’s methodical and brilliant and so creepy my critique partner actually wishes the movie had never been made. Or consider Cruella Deville, yes, she’s a villainess for a children’s movie, yet still she’s firmly on the disturbing side. What about Voldemort, any redeeming qualities there? Nope, not even a glimmer. Those are the best baddies, in my opinion.

So while some authors will take a baddie from a previous book and then redeem them as a hero in another, that hasn’t been an option for my bad guys. Nope, no reformed villain turned heroes for me. At least not yet.

But I will admit that my latest villain, David Grey, aka “The Raven” truly tempted me in that direction. He’s so deliciously nasty, so compelling, I almost want to redeem him, discover the sort of woman that could soften that black heart of his. Almost, but not quite. For the time being I’ll let him stay within the pages of Seduce Me causing mayhem and all sorts of dangers for Fielding and Esme on their quest for Pandora’s Box.

How about you? What do you look for in villains? And do you like it when authors redeem their baddies and give them their own happy endings?

drey's thoughts:
Fans of historical romance (sorry if I got the genre incorrect, I'm not too sure of all the distinctions between the different romance genres) will love Seduce Me. After all, there's a dashing not-so-perfect hero, a smart & opinionated damsel-in-distress, danger behind every cobblestone (ok, so I'm exaggerating just a tad), all wrapped up in secret societies and lost treasures (Atlantis, anyone?). Phew.

Poor Fielding. I'm sure this adventure wasn't quite what he had in mind when he agrees to do a job for the Solomons. Somehow he goes from having to retrieve a treasure, to saving the damsel in distress, "hiding" Esme and her "aunt", learning of his true parentage, and battling with the bad guys in addition to his own conscience. Give the guy a drink, will ya?

And Esme. Doomed to spinsterhood at Twenty-Seven because she's learned and opinionated. Learning her father's craft sure hasn't helped her any--instead it's resulted in her getting neck-deep in trouble with treasure hunters. The bad kind.

Seduce Me provides what you're looking for in a romance novel---a hero you can like, a heroine who just wants to be herself, and a plot. Great for lounging in the backyard with.

And to answer Robyn's question, I like my villains to be smart--there's absolutely no point in a dumb villain, IMO. Redemption is not ideal for me, as I want everything thrown at the baddie at the end. My HEA for baddies is more along the lines of hasta la vista, baby!, but hey, it's not my book...

Giveaway!!
Thanks to Hachette, I have up to 5 copies for you.
Rules:
-- Contest is open to US and Canada residents, no PO Boxes please!
-- To enter, comment and share: If you had Pandora's Box, would you open it? Why or why not? I probably wouldn't--I'd be too chicken! But I'd wonder. And wonder. And wonder...
-- Answer Robyn for 1 extra entry.
-- Follow for 1 extra entry.
-- Share for 2 extra entries (let me know what & where, please).
-- Every 10 people entered gets another copy thrown into the hat, so tell everyone!
-- Do it all before 6:00pm CST August 18th. Good luck!

Tour stops:
8/1: The Book Girl
8/2: Readaholic
8/3: Alpha Heroes
8/3: Carol's Notebook
8/4: All About {n}
8/4: Starting Fresh
8/5: Book Soulmates
8/5: drey’s library
8/6: Bookin’ with “BINGO”
8/6: My Guilty Pleasures
8/7: A Journey of Books
8/9: Just Another New Blog
8/10: Maria's Space
8/12: Seductive Musings
8/12: Marta’s Meanderings
8/12: Bibliophiles 'R' Us
8/14: This Book For Free
8/14: Chick With Books
8/14: bloody bad
8/14: Falling Off the Shelf

And, don't forget to check out West of Mars--Win a Book! for more giveaways!

72 comments:

Sweet Vernal Zephyr said...

I would not have a choice - I would have to open the box because I would always regret not opening it and going on with my normal life...

As for villians - I love the sexy villains that seduce the heroines with their badness, not completely but just enough for your too feel the slightest bit of sympathy and wonder if the heroine will go to the dark side - I think that is why I enjoy Dark Urban Fantasy so much... good and evil are not so clear cut.

Thanks for the cool post!
Miranda
mdwartistry at yahoo dot com

LuAnn said...

I agree, a villain has to be smart. Without some brain power, how would he (or she) know how to seduce, con, etc.?

Anonymous said...

I'd have to open pandora's box,I'm way too curious not to.


+1 I love the villains in a book, without 'em it would be dull ;).I do like when authors redeem the baddies,its nice to see the romantic sides of them come out and not just the bad.Who doesn't love a badboy!

+1 I'm a follower

elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

dor said...

Heck, yes, I would open the Pandora's Box. I don't want to wander...I want to know...get right in there.

dorcontest at gmail dot com

dor said...

I love villians. They are so sexy and bad. I think they should stay villians and not be saved. Where would we be without them.

dorcontest at gmail dot com

Dixie said...

Would I open Pandora's box? No probably not-I might offer it to the highest bidder on ebay though.

As for villians-I like to see them get their come-uppance from time to time-Remember Who shot JR? But I like them to stick around and stay villians-gotta have someone that you love to hate.

I follow this blog.
tweeted.http://twitter.com/southrngrl/status/3148777864

southrngal(at)gmail(dot)com

made4books said...

Would I open Pandoras Box?....Ahh YES!!!! I could never be a cat,my curiosity is wayyyyy to high for that. As for the bad guy becoming a hero, I've only read a few and to tell you the truth I kinda enjoyed the guy evolving into a hero.I remember one book like this & I wouldn't read it,my friend did & talked about it till I had to read it(or go crazy listening to her give just enough away to tease me)since then I am more open to it.
I follow here and at all her blog stops.
Keep writing Robyn and we'll read it!!! Can't wait till Atlantis.
Angela
Made4books@yahoo.com

scottsgal said...

I'd probably have to open the box too - just because I'm way too nosy

Love sexy villains - not mean spirited ones but with just enough bad boy enough in

longtime follower of your blog

msboatgal at aol.com

CrystalGB said...

I don't think I would open Pandora's Box. I would be scared to do it.

I like villians who get redeemed in later books.

I am a follower.

Crystal826[at]hotmail[dot]com

chey said...

I think I would eventually open the box. I'd just need to know what was in there!
I love sexy bad boy villains who aren't as bad as I originally thought.

chey127 at hotmail dot com

wheels209 said...

Hi Drey,
Please don't enter me. I am curious what would you do if your little man opened Pandora's box?? Now there would be a heroine I would like to read about. I would be the first one in line to see the movie. We would have to get you a SuperMom cape. I hope you look good in red??? I am having way to much fun with this comment. I better go before I get into some hot water. Wait there's no need to fear SuperMom will save me!!! Have a great week. Take care. All the best,
wheels

Karen H said...

Robyn is one of my must read authors. So happy she finally has a new book out!

I don't think I'd open the box..I'm just a bit too chicken and my curiosity about what is (or might be) inside is not that strong.

Villains redeemed? Maybe..depends on how bad the author painted him to begin with. Shades of gray..OK. Pitch Black, probably not!

kkhaas AT bellsouth DOT net

Karen H said...

+1 I am a follower

kkhaas AT bellsouth DOT net

Anonymous said...

Oh, I would open it alright! I would be soooo curious! And then I'd probably regret it.
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

Anonymous said...

I am a follower of your blog.
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

mrsshukra said...

I would be tempted to open Pandora's Box but I would rather play it safe with this one and leave it close... it's too risky!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

mrsshukra said...

As for Robyn's question... I prefer my villains to be beyond redemption, cannot be salvaged... and conveniently out of the way at the end of the story!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

mrsshukra said...

Follower!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

Luvdaylilies said...

I wouldn't open the box I would be too afraid~

Luvdaylilies at bellsouth dot net

Luvdaylilies said...

I follow~
Luvdaylilies at bellsouth dot net

budletsmom said...

I like smart sexy villans in my books.

budletsmom at yahoo dot com

budletsmom said...

I am a chicken I wouldn't open Pandora's box then again I am not a gambler - I would then waste way to much time wondering about what was in it.

budletsmom at yahoo dot com

budletsmom said...

I follow.

budletsmom at yahoo dot com

rubynreba said...

I would not open a Pandora's box but like you I would wonder and wonder!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

I've always liked "bad boys" - exciting, reckless, sexy, good looking so that is what I would look for in villans! I would probably want them to be redeemed.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Beth (BBRB) said...

Nope, so would not open it! :)

BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

The Brunette Librarian said...

I may open it! Who knows...It sounds like something I would do!!

I love bad boys as villains...but I usually like for them to turn good by the end.

I'm a follower :)

Pam P said...

I'd open that box, wouldn't be able to resist the temptation for very long.

I like a crafty hero, cunning and manipulative, like Hannibel Lecter.

Follow in GR.

Debbie F said...

I would not open the Pandora Box. I would be too chicken!
As for my villains? I like my villains to get theirs in the end. No happy endings needed! Well maybe once in awhile.

Thanks for the giveaway!
dcf_beth at verizon dot net

Cheryl McInnis said...

I absolutely would open the box, I'm too darn curious for my own good, and it usually gets me in trouble.

As for villains, I prefer them to be suave and charming as well as evil. Sometimes I do want them to be reformed at the end, depends on the story!

I'm a follower~

cheryl.mcinnis@yahoo(dot)com

throuthehaze said...

I definitely wouldnt open it...but I would wonder about it.
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

CherylS22 said...

I probably would not open Pandora's Box - I like to leave things well enough alone!

Thanks ~ megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

CherylS22 said...

I like my villains smart & a little soft-hearted. It's nice when a villain gets a chance to redeem him/herself.

megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

nfmgirl said...

Please count me in on this giveaway. It sounds great!

- Nope, don't think I'd open Pandora's Box. I'd figure it had to end badly!

- I like my villians to really creep me out. Smart and ruthless. And forget about redemption. I just want justice and revenge at the end!

- I follow

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

Jane said...

I would probably open it because I'm a curious person.

How books are going to be in this new series?

I'm a follower of this blog.

janie1215 AT excite DOT com

Cackleberry Homestead said...

I would love to win this.

I'm a follower.

I tweeted (http://twitter.com/cfulcher/status/3182932210)

I don't think I would open Pandora's Box because like you I would be chicken

Thanks!

crystalfulcher(at)ec.rr.com

Chelsea B. said...

I don't know if I would open it or not. I would probably just sit there, stare at it for a while, walk away, come back....no telling how long that could go on for. And then maybe I would open. But probably not. I'm a chicken like that ;)

And it matters on the villian, really. What kind he or she is to know if I thought they deserved a HEA.

I'm definitely adding your book, Robyn, to my (ever growing:) to-be read pile! It sounds really good!

tina werner said...

i would not open it! never! ever! ever!

stampitchick at yahoo dot ca

tina werner said...

i love my villains to have happy endings... i love them to be terrible at first and then somehow they become tamed.

stampitchick at yahoo dot ca

tina werner said...

i'm a follower :)

stampitchick at yahoo dot ca

tina werner said...

i have you listed on my side bar...

http://www.tinawerner.blogspot.com

stampitchick at yahoo dot ca

photoquest said...

Would i open the box? Yes, I would have to because i couldn't stand not opening it LoL!!
photoquest(at)bellsouth(dot)net

photoquest said...

Answer to question-I like my villians smart and firm sense of knowing who they are, I do like it when the baddies get their happy ending.
photoquest(at)bellsouth(dot)net

photoquest said...

I am a follower
photoquest(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Shawna L. said...

Shawna Lewis
weloveourdogs@juno.com

I tweeted about this tour & contest
http://twitter.com/theblindcupid/status/3209883652

Shawna L. said...

Shawna Lewis
weloveourdogs@juno.com

If I had a Pandora Box I WOULD OPEN IT!!!! You only live once and you never know when your time is up on this earth so go on LIVE a little and OPEN THAT BOX!!!

Shawna L. said...

Shawna Lewis
weloveourdogs@juno.com

I am a follower

Shawna L. said...

Shawna Lewis
weloveourdogs@juno.com


Villians should be Sexy,smart and so Handsome, in fact while reading a book you may switch between good guy & bad guy because they both should be tempting in their own ways!!

ColleenFL said...

If I had Pandora's Box I would try to not open it. But it would be difficult I'm sure.

I am a follower.

atrue at iname dot com

Misusedinnocence said...

Not a chance! I'm a chicken.

misusedinnocence@aol.com

Belinda M said...

I would open it for sure. I would probably fight it for a bit but my curiosity would get the best of me


Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at CoolCanucks.ca


bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

Belinda M said...

I follow your blog


Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at CoolCanucks.ca


bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

Fokxxy said...

I would be too scared to open pandoras box but too curious not to. lol. I tend to err on the side of caution though.. So I would probably leave it alone.

ssummmer(at)gmail(dot)com

Nicole said...

I would tell myself I wouldn't open it, but would probably break down and eventually open it.

+1 follow.

Lee P said...

I would definitely open Pandoras Box. The curiosity would kill me. Thanks for this giveaway and please count me in.

chinook92(at)gmail(dot)com

Lee P said...

I agree a villain has to be smart, have some depth. In the end, I usually like the villain to lose. What comes around goes around-Karma.

chinook92(at)gmail(dot)com

Lee P said...

I follow your blog.

chinook92(at)gmail(dot)combas

Lee P said...

Oops typed wrong on the above email address.

I follow your blog.

chinook92(at)gmail(dot)com

Marie said...

I would be tempted to open the Pandora's Box but I like to think I wouldn't :-)

As far as villain, I like them to have at least some smarts -- dumb villains become boring very quickly I think.

I am a follower.

marielay@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Would I open the box....no way.

karen k
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I'm a follower.


karen k
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

Katrina said...

I would open the box because I could never live with myself wondering what if?

ykatrina at hotmail dot com

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

Curiosity killed the cat but satisfaction brought him back! I would have to open the box!

dancealer(at)aol(dot)com

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

I'm a follower!

dancealert(at)aol(dot)com

Debs Desk said...

I dont think I would open Pandoras box. No since in asking for trouble.
Thanks
Debbie
debdesk9(at)verizon.net

Debs Desk said...

I like villains to be villains the meaner they are the better. I dont like happy endings for the villains.
Thanks
Debbie
debdesk9(at)verizon.net

Anonymous said...

I know I would be afraid to open Pandora's box immediately, but my curiosity would keep bringing me back to it. I would eventually open it. I'm certain.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Villains... I love them....Stories need them. But do they change and become sweet. No way...They are who they are. We all know how difficult it is to change.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Cindy said...

I would be curious but I would not open Pandora's Box. I always think of the saying, "It's like opening Pandora's Box." I think we have enough problems in life without more that might come from opening this box.

Cindy
Socmom213@aol.com

Cindy said...

I like to see villains strong and but in the end, I like to see them redeem themselves and show some goodness in them too.

Cindy
Socmom213@aol.com

Cindy said...

I follow your blog on Google.

I also subscribe by email.

Cindy
Socmom213@aol.com

Cindy said...

I follow you on Twitter. My username is Soccermom213 and I tweet often about your blog and giveaways.

Thank you for a fun blog and great giveaways!

Cindy
Socmom213@aol.com

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