MONDAY'S HERO -- Roman from Currents Run Deep

Current Read: Wild Women of the West (Aphrodisia Anthology)

Happy Memorial Day -- please take a moment to remember those who have died for our great country.

Today's guest hails from another country -- New Zealand, which is, incidently, a place I've always wanted to visit ;). Shelley Munro is an online author friend I met through my pals Christina Phillips and Kaye Manro. Shelley writes steamy erotic romance for Ellora's Cave, and she's here to talk about her latest EC release, Currents Run Deep.

Welcome, Shelley! Tell us about yourself.

I live in New Zealand with my husband and a small, bossy dog called Scotty. I used to work for McDonald’s the hamburger people doing administration, but gave up my calculator and all that boring bookwork to write full time a few years ago. Writing is a dream job for me. What other job allows me to travel to far flung places in the company of very yummy men without getting into trouble with my husband?

I seem to have incurable wanderlust, and when I’m not writing I like to explore different parts of the world. Luckily hubby enjoys traveling too. I also enjoy walking, cycling and reading. I like walking the dog and definitely avoiding housework because life’s too short for stuff you don’t like, right? You can visit my website at http://www.shelleymunro.com/

LOL, avoiding housework is my middle name. And I definitely agree about traveling to exotic places with hot men and not getting in trouble with the dh ;). Now, to Currents Run Deep. I have to tell you, I love the idea of Orca shifters. How did you come up with this premise?

I wrote Currents Run Deep for a sea themed anthology. I’d recently been whale watching in Hervey Bay, Australia and the idea of whale shifters wouldn’t fade away. I did some research on whales and learned about the different types of Orca whales – the Transients and the Residents. Immediately, my mind leapt to a Romeo and Juliet type plot and that’s what I wrote—about orca shifters from enemy tribes who fall in love.

Blurb:
A sexy face in the crowd...shifter Asia Bolino can’t believe the gorgeous cutie is Roman Anderson. They belong to enemy tribes, but she’d love to run her fingers over his…assets. Roman doesn’t recognize her, and in a moment of weakness, Asia agrees to a late night date, a little forbidden pleasure.

Someone attacks Roman while he waits for Asia. Aware of his shifter status, Asia does the only thing she can—she takes him back to her apartment. The problem is when he regains consciousness, he thinks they’re married. He parades around her apartment wearing nothing but a smile, and Asia is weak. She succumbs to his charm and skillful loving. Hip-deep in lies, she’s aware the sensual bubble might burst at any moment. That might mean bloodshed, and she can’t allow that to happen. Worse, Roman doesn’t seem to recall he’s a shifter.

Asia struggles with guilt while melting at Roman’s touch. Nothing can come of their relationship, and now it seems someone knows the truth and they’re both in danger.

What an intriguing blurb! I love how you used actual resarch on Orcas to develop your plot. Let's talk about the Romeo in your story, your hero, Roman.

Roman Anderson is over six foot, has short dark hair and brown eyes. He’s muscular and fit-looking. At the start of the book, he wants to conclude his business talks and return home to a peaceful life—a pity, because he’s pretty sure this isn’t gonna happen with rebels stirring strife amongst his tribe. He’s charming and sexy with plenty of girl friends, his position as leader of his tribe drawing attention, but he’s also a savvy businessman with an eye to the future. He wants success and growth for his tribe. He’s a strong leader, decisive and charismatic.

How is he drawn to Asia? And vice versa?

Hey, Roman is a male. Initially, it’s physical attraction pure and simple. He sees her singing in a nightclub, asks her out on a date and is triumphant when she says yes.

Asia recognizes Roman as a member of the enemy tribe, but when he approaches her and asks her out, she grasps the opportunity. She’s always thought he was a sexy man and secretly lusted after him. She wants just one night…no one will know and she’ll finally get her hands on his sexy body. Then Roman is attacked and he doesn’t remember a thing. Asia can’t leave him like that—helpless and alone—so she takes him home and that’s when things get sticky.

What was the inspiration behind Roman?

As I mentioned earlier, it was the anthology call that started me thinking about an orca shifter. I love writing shapeshifter characters because there’s always that element of “wild” and untamed about them. They’re generally alpha characters and great leaders.

I don’t usually base my characters on people I know—not an entire character, although I might give my characters a quirk from someone I know or someone I see during my people watching stints.

My characters spring into my head, almost fully formed. I never look through magazines etc. for inspiration. I have to say that I’ve been enjoying your celebrity blog posts and saw Eduardo last week. For the first time ever, I said to myself, “Wow, that’s my hero in my current WIP!” So, Helen, thanks for that!

You are welcome! Glad I could help ;). I have to tell you, I've put a face to more than one of my own heroes while researching hunks for my blog. What's up next for you, Shelley?

I’m currently working on a regency historical for a change of pace before starting the next story in my Middlemarch Mates series. I also have a m/m story underway that I’m writing to submit to Samhain Publishing. Once all that is done, I have a story to write for the Ellora’s Cavemen anthology and another one that I intend to set in Samoa where I recently went on holiday. I usually have more than one project on the go, and my imagination seems to have gone haywire recently. I’ve been scribbling lots of notes!

I’ve been writing flat out and have quite a few releases coming this year. It’s shaping up to be the year of the shapeshifter. In February Leticia’s Lovers came out (lion and leopard shifters). In May Currents Run Deep was released (orca shifters), in June I have Make That Man Mine (taniwha or water dragon shifter) and in July I have Lynx to the Pharaoh featuring a caracal or desert lynx shifter. My next Middlemarch Mates book, CatNap comes out in September. (tiger shifters) As you can see, I’ve been busy!

Wow -- what a year! And what an imagination you have! I've read Leticia's Lovers and it's fantastic. I can't wait to get my hands on Currents Run Deep. How can readers keep up with your work?

Readers can check out my current releases at my website. http://www.shelleymunro.com/ There are excerpts and extra material for most of my books. I also have a newsletter I send out on a monthly basis with news, member only contests, excerpts and interviews. Readers can join on my blog page.

Fun time -- would you share something surprising about yourself?

Here’s two - my husband and I have traveled to 76 countries from Botswana to the UK, Alaska to Panama, the UK to Nepal and a few others. I was raised on a farm, and I’m a vegetarian, much to my father’s bemusement.

Thanks so much for being here, Shelley. Readers, here's a taste of Currents Run Deep:

“Here we are.” Asia pulled away from Roman to rifle through her bag for her keys.

“You look very sexy tonight,” he murmured, his smoky voice sending shivers of delight through her. “It’s a pity I’m feeling so tired. Perhaps we can discuss how sexy you look again tomorrow morning?”

The keys slipped from her hands and landed on the tiled floor with a metallic clang. Asia stooped to pick them up.

“What do you say? We on a promise?”

Asia felt her jaw go slack and hurriedly clamped her lips together. She hadn’t heard wrong! “Um…okay.” He’d probably forget his words by the morning.

After opening the door, she directed Roman inside. She flicked on the hall light, paused to lock the door and guided him toward the bedroom—her bedroom. Asia concentrated on swallowing the nerves that leapt up from her stomach to combine in a knot at the back of her throat. Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips.

“I’m gonna shower before hitting the sack. Okay with you, sweetheart?”

“Um, sure.” The idea of him naked in her shower pushed her libido a notch higher. This wasn’t fair. He’d remember everything tomorrow and head back to his island kingdom without another word of sex or bed or anything resembling horizontal. That’s if he deigned to speak to her. For some unfathomable reason she wasn’t concerned with her safety, but he didn’t strike her as a bad man. She hoped she wasn’t wrong.

“You going to shower with me?”

Asia felt herself blink. Oh man, he tempted her, but it wasn’t right to take advantage of a man in this condition. “You need to sleep. If I shower with you we’ll get sidetracked.”

Roman’s dark gaze moved slowly down her body and back up to her face. A sexy smile bloomed on his battered face. “That is true,” he acknowledged. “Maybe you’re right. It’ll be quicker if I shower on my own.” He slipped the ripped and bloody suit jacket off and let it drop to the floor.

When he started to undo his shirt, Asia decided it was time to flee. “I’ll grab you a clean towel.” She shot from her bedroom as if a pack of Resident Orcas were after her. Her breathing had turned choppy and her palms were moist. She felt as if she’d swum across the Tasman Sea from Australia to New Zealand in record time. Asia wiped the dampness from her palms and took a deep breath. This couldn’t continue. She was an adult, for goodness sake! With trembling hands, she tugged open the cupboard and seized several towels.

The pipes clanked, indicating Roman had found the shower and turned on the water. Just the image of his naked body made her break into a cold sweat. Asia scowled. All she could think of was sex. The rush of pleasure at the moment of orgasm. Doing it with Roman. Her steps slowed. She heard the shower door open and close and imagined his naked body. Muscled. Tanned. Very touchable.

Oh boy.

Asia fanned her flushed face. Sucking in a deep breath, she headed for the bathroom and temptation. “He’s injured,” she whispered. “You shouldn’t be thinking about him like this.” Besides, he’s a sworn enemy of our tribe.

Asia stepped into the bathroom, her gaze shooting to the shower. Despite the fragrant steam filling the room, she could see his body without difficulty. And it was just as spectacular as she imagined.

The water shut off and the shower door opened. Asia thrust the towels at Roman, trying hard not to stare. It was all of two seconds before her resolve weakened and she sneaked a peek. Powerful shoulders gave way to a tight, trim waist and slim hips. Muscles. Oh yeah…muscles! Tight, toned and sexy. Asia craved a touch. The only trouble was that strangers had just pummeled him like a punching bag. She shouldn’t have sex on the brain. This crush she had on Roman Anderson was bad news. A quick roll in the sack and a few hasty kisses were one thing, but this insidious craving for more had to stop before someone got hurt. Before she got hurt.

A relationship between members of opposing tribes was out of the question. Her family would never speak to her again, and Asia freely admitted that would hurt. Despite their faults, she loved her family members and couldn’t imagine going through the rest of her life never seeing them. In isolation. A male wasn’t worth that kind of sacrifice, not even an orca who made her hot and needy.

“You’re going to feel sore tomorrow,” she muttered after catching his dark gaze on her face. Damn, that was masculine interest she saw in his eyes. This had to stop.

Now. Be strong

“Maybe,” he conceded, glancing down at his colored and bruised ribs in a disinterested manner. “I’m tired. Just want to sleep.” He leaned closer to buzz a kiss across her lips before dropping the towel on the floor and sauntering back to the bedroom.

Asia gaped at his bare ass and at the wet buttercup yellow towel on the bathroom floor. She didn’t know which disturbed her most—the expanse of naked temptation or the fact he expected her to pick up after him.