Showing posts with label Superheroes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Superheroes. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Moving Day


Howdy pals and gals!
It’s September and back to school. The summer zipped by and I was busy. The latest book in the Evolutioneers Series came out in July (yay!) but the biggest change was Captain Awesome moved in.
The timing also coincided with my tenth year of being in my little condo, so I took the opportunity to purge, purge, purge. I usually sort through the house at least once a year, but this time I underwent a massive reorganizing. Closets, kitchen, the junk drawers (I KNOW!!) everything was sorted and reorganized. I almost broke down when I emptied the laundry room to almost nothing and stared at the mass of stuff in the hallway, but I persevered. Five trips to St. Vincent’s, a run to the dump and a few weeks later, there was room for the Captain to move in.
As one does while purging, I found a few surprises. Buried in my closet was a box all taped up. Written in bold black print were the words “Bad Memories.” I have no idea what’s in the box. I’m going to guess it might be from my divorce. Something I don’t necessarily want to see again, hence the tape, but perhaps important enough to keep in case I need it in an emergency???? No. I didn’t open it. I didn’t throw it out either. Maybe one day I will see inside. Perhaps I’ll toss it. For now it will sit tight in storage. Deep, deep, deep in storage.
There was also my moment with the rocking chair. It’s sixteen years old. Bought while pregnant with my first child. It takes up space in the living for ten years and no one really sits in it unless chair space is tight. There’s nothing wrong with it, just worn and a little squeaky. So before I sent it off for donation, I sat in the chair one last time. 
Holy crap. The memories! I rocked my babies in that chair. Sat with them on my lap and read books and sang them to sleep while in that chair. Of course, the tears hit me hard. Then I started laughing because I was crying, and cried because I was laughing. 
Captain Awesome watched me with a bemused expression on his face. “I’m sorry I’m making you change so much to have me move in,” he said. I assured him that while he was the catalyst of the purge, he wasn’t making me do anything I didn’t want. Please. As if he could make me do anything. *snort
Yes, I was sad about what losing the chair was representing; change, kids growing up, time moving on, but the new things were exciting. We were starting a new chapter in our lives. And once he was all moved in, the house looks and feels as if he’s been there forever. 
So as a new school year begins, don’t be afraid to let go of things from the past. Embrace the new. Revel in the memories and have fun making new ones.
Until next time, y’all!
Anna- The Super Diva 
And check out Instinct at your
favorite eRetailer!


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Sunday, November 6, 2016

Dr. Strange

Good morning!

Marvel Movie Studios has done it again and brought us another fabulous superhero movie, and I'm so happy the streak continues.

Dr. Steven Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a brilliant neurosurgeon, and boy does he know it. Flying high on his arrogance and self-importance, the world as he knows it comes to an abrupt end when he is involved in a car accident on the way to a speaking engagement.

With his hands unable to perform the work that defined him, he searches endlessly to the point of madness for a cure. Following a lead that seems to be almost too good to be true, he ends up in Nepal, thinking he might have found a haven in cutting-edge eastern medicine, but instead finds a group of sorcerers who tap into magic to protect the Earth from villains from the Multiverse.

Despite a few instances of uneven pacing, I loved Dr. Strange. I understood his pain and desperation to retain his glory. The fight scenes were phenomenal and the special effects on point. You have no idea how much I want to be able to fashion a shield or chain of flame out of thin air. That would be so cool! And I appreciated the moments of unexpected humor that lightened the mood when times turned dark and depressing.

But as always, they added a love interest that did not need to be there. Rachel McAdams is a lovely woman, but her role wasn't necessary. That character could have been a sister or an esteemed college and would have had the same impact on the story. But other than that, the movie is fantastic and I can't wait to see it again.

And for the love of all that is holy, stay until after the credits. It's a Marvel movie. There is always a payoff. Now, if you insist on leaving, I can't stop you. But seriously, stay!



Until next time!

Anna Anna - the Super Diva

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Friday, August 5, 2016

We Don't Have to Be the Good Guys #SuicideSquad #NotHeroes #NoApologies #NoProblem

Last night, Mini and I had a movie date to see Suicide Squad. I walked into that theatre with no expectations. To be blunt, DC makes great television, fantastic animated films, and good comics. Their movies, however, have been very hit or miss. All of that said, the following post will be as spoiler free as I can make it, but if you haven't seen the films and don't want to be spoiled at all, just bookmark this post and come back later after you watched it.

Okay?

Good.

Suicide Squad Has No Fucks to Give


Let me preface the following post with a couple of simple facts:

I'm a huge comic book nerd geek. Seriously--been reading comics since I was knee high to a grasshopper. I was a DC Comics mega fan and a Marvel fan, too. The New Teen Titans and Batman were my favorites. I read them every month, at one point, I took three buses across town to get my favorite comic book store every Saturday morning so I could get what was new and I haunted this used and vintage bookstore at a flea market where they sold comics in the back. So when I say BIG comic book fan, I mean HUGE nerd.

Second, I have watched or do watch every comic book movie/television series. I don't always stick with them if they suck, but I've watched them all from seeing George Reeves fly in black and white on Saturday mornings when I was a kid to Christopher Reeve on the big screen to the old Batman and Robin series from the 60s to the Superfriends to Lois and Clark to Smallville and more recently--Arrow, Flash, Supergirl, Agents of Shield, Legends of Tomorrow...well, I think you get the picture.

I'm the target audience here, I get it. That is okay with me.

I FLOVED SUICIDE SQUAD

Walking into the theatre, I had some trepidation. I really didn't like Man of Steel. It was too grimy, too grey and that was never Superman to me. I get it, the Superman they are telling the story of isn't the one I grew up with. For the most part, I loved Henry Cavill, but I just didn't care for all the sturm und drang. Flash forward (pun wholly intended) to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and I seriously wasn't sure I wanted to see it. In fact, I didn't go to the theatre.

Why?

I have loved these characters for decades and I had very definitive ideas about them. I may be in the minority, but I am not that big a fan of Nolan's Batman. The films were all right and had their high points, but one of the things I think people forget about Batman is he is a bit of a borderline sociopath. The man literally hunts criminals and Bruce is his mask, not Batman is the mask for Bruce Wayne. However, that is a whole other conversation. I didn't see it in the theatre, but when it released on iTunes, I had to know.

So I got the ultimate edition and watched it. Other than wanting desperately to smack the director upside the head for his abuse of dream sequences, I actually loved the film. But here's the trick, I had zero expectations when I watched it and I set aside what I wanted to see to let them tell me their story.

From Batman to Wonder Woman, I thought they knocked it out of the park. There were some seriously intense moments and Gal Gadot did a phenomenal job as Diana Prince and Wonder Woman. Ben Affleck, to me, is probably the best Batman I'd ever seen them do and that's saying something (cause dude, there's a lot of Batman).

With this in mind, I skipped (okay no I didn't really skip) but walked into Suicide Squad with hope in my heart. I told Mini on the drive up if they got the fact that the squad aren't heroes, are the bad guys, have zero fucks to give, and don't pull goofy shit like trying to redeem the bat crap crazy ones, I'll be good with it.

Exceeded My Expectations

From the outset, we're thrust into this world of sturm und drang, we're tied immediately into the greater DC Universe they've created and they use a narrative technique to gather the squad into their cells and asylum--and I floved it.

Margot Robbie nailed the mad glee of Harley Quinn to perfection. I enjoyed Will Smith's take on Floyd Lawton. Even Joel Kinneman as Rick Flagg (who I didn't realize was in the film) came across a little dirtier, a little twisted and jaded--but damn if he wouldn't get the job done. The other characters in the Squad aren't as well known but Killer Croc and Diablo were a hoot. Katana was way underused and felt shoe-horned in, in fact the only one in the Squad I didn't like was Captain Boomerang and part of that was his accent was hard to understand in a couple of scenes and frankly, he wasn't funny.

Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, however, holy shit! She brought it, and she bitch slapped them all with it. Talk about a woman with no fucks to give and that was the thing about Waller in the comics, she had no fear of wading into the muck and getting dirty if it got the job done.

They didn't shy away from showing us just how effed up the whole situation was, and yet, they delivered to me one of the more perfect films in the genre right up there with Deadpool.

And Jared Leto as Joker? Nailed it.

The Suicide Squad is a keeper, here's hoping we get to see these fruitcakes again.

Had for YEARS, and need one from this movie now!

Speaking of heroes and misfits, don't miss Heather's latest release: The Judas Contact, Boomers #1. You can read the first two chapters right here.


Friday, May 6, 2016

Captain America: Civil War - Bring on the awesome


Captain America: Civil War. No spoilers here. I promise. I would not ruin it for you. Let me just get down to it and tell you what I thought of the movie.


This movie has everything: Action, comedy, a teeny spot of romance. And angst, oh there is a lot of angst. But it's all good. And I'm not just saying that because I am Team Captain. However, I'll give you a moment to enjoy the awesomeness that is Chris Evans. He's just so darn cute. Those eyes. That voice. Those shoulders. Those biceps! sigh....I'll give you little longer...seriously, I think they deserve their own movie.
Anyway, where was I?  
Having read most of the Civil War cannon, I was interested in seeing how they would weave those storylines into the current Marvel Cinema Universe. In my opinion, I think they did an excellent job. The plot made sense, even more so than in the comics, motivations were understandable. Gold stars! This was the Avengers movie we should have had last year.

Yeah, while we're on that topic. Let's be real. Is this truly a Captain America movie? No. Not really. Is this just another Avengers movie? Kind of. I can definitely see why people would think that.

What this movie truly is is Civil War. Numerous story lines crossing over to create one creative entity. That was the beauty of the graphic novels, and here those elements are delivered in spades.  When the two sides collide it is both epic and horrifying. These are characters you love, and they're going at each other. Drawing blood! Going for the kill. I believe this is the darkest of the Marvel movies. Some of the subject matter is dark and gruesome, and I would not take a young child to see this movie. Some parts left me disturbed. But those nods to the fans throughout the film were worth sitting through more of the difficult times.

Now for my only complaint. The cinematography. What the hell? Someone with a lot of talent choreographed some brilliant fight scenes. And some equally talented people executed them to perfection. Only I could not enjoy them because the camera was all herky-jerky and giving me motion sickness. Why is there this disturbing trend in action movies? I don't need shaky camera angles to make me feel as if I was there in the middle of the action. All you are doing is disrupting my enjoyment of a good fight and making me ill. There is one scene where Captain America, Bucky, and Iron Man are going at it the camera stays still. Watching the fluidity of their movements was awesome, even though I wanted to shout at the screen for them stop trying to kill each other. Stop shaking the camera, and have a good fight scene stand on its own.

As for the newest additions to the MCU- Black Panther and Spider-Man. Both were fantastic. I took Squid with me to the movie and she loved Peter Parker. I mean lllooovvveeeed him. When I told her he was to have his own movie, she squealed. Ah...her first superhero crush. I'm so proud.

Okay, boys and girls. It's late, so I'm going to wrap this up, and leave you to go and enjoy this movie on your own. Perhaps you'll see me at another showing this weekend. Hell, who am I kidding? I already have tickets for Saturday. :)
Until next time!
Anna- The Super Diva


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Monday, April 11, 2016

Emerald City Comic Con with Anna Alexander

Right now I am winging my way to Las Vega to the Romantic Times Convention, but more on that later. This weekend was all about the Emerald City Comic Con.

A few of our students
The best thing about this year's event was I presented a panel! Yep, Danielle Monsch and I presented our business of writing workshop. We had an excellent turn out, and I was so happy to see so many future romance novelists at the Con.

It's the Romi and Michelle show!
But the fun didn't end there. After our book signing, I roamed the halls and talked to many other authors about marketing and genre fiction. Very eye opening and fascinating.

Now, I can tell you more, but I'd prefer to show you the awesome time I had.




Soooo happy
As for the RT Convention, I'll be signing at the giant bookfair and FAN-day. If you'll be at the Rio, check out the hashtag #RT16 and look for flash contests I'll be hosting throughout the week.

Until next time, y'all!

Anna- The Super Diva


Sean Maguire!!




Lana Parilla

Oh, yeah. This happened.
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Monday, April 4, 2016

Batman vs Superman- You knew this was coming

I know. You’ve all been waiting to hear what I thought about Batman v Superman. I’m certain you haven’t been able to think of anything else until you’ve heard my opinion. J

So what did I think of the movie? I liked it. Most of it, anyway. But like Man of Steele, the director once again veered off course too many times to make me go, “Yes! This is the best.”

BvS takes place almost two years after Man of Steele and the aborted world domination plan of General Zod. During that battle, Bruce Wayne was enroute to his company offices in Metropolis yet arrived too late to save most of his employees. Hence the seeds of his dislike of Superman are sowed.

The overall arc of the movie centers around Superman, who is struggling with maintaining his dual identity, being held unofficially on trial by the world. A man with god-like powers who answers to no one. How do you hold accountable someone with such power? A very good question in deed. So good in fact, that that is the basic premise of Marvel’s Civil War series which will soon be on the screen with Captain America- Civil War out next month. It is Bruce Wayne who believes he is the only person who can put Superman in his place.

At least I think that is his reasoning. Bruce’s motivation wasn’t made exactly clear, and that theory makes the most sense to me.

And thus, one of the many issues I had with BvS. Lack of motivation. Clark’s you understand from the get go. Bruce not so much. And Lex? Haven’t a clue.

Second issue- The filmmakers didn’t stick to one storyline. Of course not. That seems to be a trend with every DC movie. They threw in Wonder Woman. Why? Was the fight scene with her, Batman, and Superman epic? Yes. It was totally awesome!! But her presence was completely unnecessary. The Justice League could have been foreshadowed so less obtrusively. Lex Luther, again, not exactly sure what his purpose was except to be an opponent Superman and Batman could join forces to fight. Again, could have been executed much better.

And what the hell was Lois doing at the dock during the epic battle? She had absolutely no reason to be there. None. At all. And I’m not just saying that because I’m not a Lois fan. She truly had no purpose.

My companion for the evening was the Romi to my Michelle, Danielle Monsch. At one point she commented, “Why is it so dreary? Isn’t there any happiness?” The funny thing that struck me about that statement was as a Gotham fan, BvS is a bright sunny day in comparison. Not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing, but it is sad that bleak is the best anyone in the DC world can hope for.

So what did I like about the movie? Henry was dreamy. In my opinion, a fantastic representative of the ‘S.’ Love him. Love him! Ben was a decent Batman. Bitter, slightly jaded, a little self-righteous. A middle aged Bruce Wayne. Spot on. Didn’t understand how at his age, the exploits of Batman are still a mystery, and how people didn’t recognize Bruce Wayne while on the street. Seriously, if I’m a reporter at a party and Paul Allen or Bills Gates walked into a room. I’d recognize them.

I also liked how the massive destruction was scaled back from Man of Steel. It was still excessive, but the number of causalities was considerably less. When the fists started to finally fly, Danielle was concerned when I started giggling and clapping with excitement. I’d give the fighting an overall grade of B+.

When the story stayed in its lane, BvS was great. Unfortunately, the director swerved into oncoming traffic too many times to bring this movie victoriously over the finish line. And don’t get me started on the ending. Seriously?

Final thought- Go see it and form your own opinion. Definitely worth a matinee showing.


Until next time!


Anna- The Super Diva
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Sunday, March 6, 2016

Deadpool- Yes, Virginia, there are R-rated Comics

I was 14 when I dug through my father's box of comic books and found one titled The Trouble with Girls. It was about a James Bond-type action hero named Lester Girls, who longed for a quiet life at a dead-end job, a plain wife, and minimum adventure. But alas, Lester was fending off terrorists, living in several mansions, and had a curvaceous woman wanting to bed him at every turn.

Yep, there were sexy times a plenty for Lester Girls.

Now as you can imagine, my young eyes widened as I discovered sex in a comic book. Not just sexual tension or innuendo, but actual sex. Violence in a comic book I was used to, sadly enough, but sex was a new thing for me. And thus, my mind was blown.

The Trouble with Girls was not the first comic with adult situations, and in my opinion, not even the raciest. The Punishier is extremely violent, as is others such as Spawn, Blade, and yes- Deadpool. So when I heard Deadpool was not only going to be made into a movie, but more than likely carry an R rating, I wasn't surprised. At least not in that regard.

Just because something is animated or drawn does not mean it is for children. Comics and animation are an art form. Subject matter can vary. So why people thought just because Deadpool dresses as a superhero and originated as a comic automatically meant it was suitable for children is beyond me. And even more incredulous, demand for a version to be made for younger viewers. No. That is not how it works. That is not how any of it works.

Fortunately, the movie makers kept the character true to form. Not only is there sexual situations and swearing, it is just as violent as readers expected. Graphically so. The way the violence was portrayed was at times incredibly artistic, but none the less carnage, bled on the screen.

And it was humorous violence, too. Be-headings via motorcycle chains, be-headings with samurai swords, chopping one's own limbs off, and multiple shots to the groin are just the tippy top of the iceberg. But after a while, I became desensitized to the gruesomeness. As an adult I recognized what was happening to my brain. But can a child? I don't think so. I've heard people say, "My child is smart enough to know that it's only a movie and not real. they can handle it." Really? There is a reason the Darwin award exists. Just as there is a reason the human race has such difficulty with empathy. I think there are probably some adults who shouldn't see this movie. If you can't have a frank discussion about sex with your child, you should not be taking them to see this move.

Speaking of sex...

What made me laugh the most about the entire Deadpool- R rated controversy was the mention of the explicit sex scene. Uh... there really wasn't one. Shows on the CW have more explicit sex scenes than the one in Deadpool. Oh, the length of the scene was longer than one in your average episode of Scandal, but by the way people were talking, I was expecting something straight out of Cinemax. Nope. Not even close. It was just two people, who were really in to each other, getting freaky. NO! Say it ain't so! Seriously people, of all the things to get worked up over about this movie, the nudity is the least of it.

If you are wondering if I enjoyed the movie, the answer is yes. I liked it a lot! Story was great. Excellent pacing. Fight scene choreography was awesome. It was funny, had heart, and a satisfying ending. Everything you want in a movie. I highly recommend it.

Now I'm off to stress about the next superhero movie to be released, Batman v Superman. Ugh, my stomach is in knots already. Please don't suck, please don't suck, please don't suck.

Until next time, y'all.

Anna- The Super Diva
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Friday, March 4, 2016

Agent Carter- We need a season three!


This week Agent Carter ended its second season. I know, I’m sad, too.  And now there’s talk that it might not return for a season three.

Wha?!?!

Agent Carter brings something to the television audience that is lacking across the T.V. landscape, and that is strong female characters in lead roles.

As the main character, you’d expect Peggy Carter to be a world class badass, and Hayley Atwell delivers in spades. The Steve Rogers vibe is strong in her as she endeavors to solve the case with integrity and fairness. Everywhere she goes, there is usually a man telling her no, but she keeps moving forward with grace and unapologetic intelligence. And the hat. Let’s not forget that red hat.

When Peggy needed back up after her pigheaded male superiors kicked her off the case, it was Rose, the secretary who came to her aid. And did a damn fine job of it, too. Girl power!

But what I find most intriguing about the show is that it’s also the woman who are the supreme villains. From Dottie Underwood to Whitney Frost, these women drive the action. They are stronger and more ruthless than their male counterparts, and it’s glorious.

I’ve always been intrigued by the female villain. What motivates them is at times so much more complex than with males. And it’s that difference that makes for an interesting story. Now, I’m not saying I wish for the women of the world to be inspired for evilness, but I do like how it shows how a woman can be more than the moll. You want to take over the world, girl? Have at it!

And that is why we need Agent Carter. We need a showcase of strong, competent, intelligent women who are the driving force of the story. Supergirl is making an honest go of it with Kara, her sister Alex, and Cat Grant. And although Agents of SHEILD focuses on Coulson and Ward, it’s May, Skye/Daisy, and Bobbi who come in to save the day. Also notice that in both of these series, more often than not, it is a woman leading the charge to world domination that they are fighting.

So I say to the powers that be at ABC, bring back Agent Carter! The world needs her!

Until next time!


Until next time!
Anna- The Super Diva
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Saturday, February 6, 2016

Bale is back! Hero Rising

Three more days, people. THREE MORE DAYS! Hero Rising, the last of the Heroes of Saturn series will be available on your ereaders February 9th.

Bale holds a special place in my heart. My original plan for him in Hero Unleashed was his death. That's right. Bale was supposed to go out in a Llanos blaze of glory. But when I thought about what motivated him, I gave him a tragic backstory, and I couldn't kill him. Nope. I had to save him, and thus, Hero Rising was born.

I had other plans for Bale in Hero Unleashed as well that my editor told me was too far for even Ellora's Cave readers. Seriously! I did change the scene in question, but I kept it. Ha! Subscribers to my newsletter will have access to the cut scene in the next addition, so if yo haven't signed up, now is the time to do so.

Read, enjoy, and I hope you fall in love with Bale as much as I did.

Hero Rising

*Passionate Plume winner for Best Erotic Paranormal Romance. Prism Contest, 2nd place for best Erotic Paranormal Romance.

Buy Links- Amazon : iTunes : Kobo: Barnes and Noble TBD

Ari Rayner’s fresh start in the city is put on hold when her car breaks down on a mountain pass. Her savior is a hooded angel with haunted eyes who gives new meaning to the words “smoldering intensity”. Drawn to his strength, she revels in helping him succumb to his illicit fantasies. Just because she’s a woman doesn’t mean she’s afraid to get down and dirty.


Bale made a deathbed promise to protect those who cannot protect themselves, a vow he’s done a damn fine job of upholding, but the fire burning within Ari beckons him to play in the flames, and the heat they generate brings the house down. But such brilliance sheds light on past mistakes that Bale must now answer for. With his true nature revealed, Ari uses everything at her disposal—whips, straps and a firm hand—to convince Bale he is not a monster and is worthy of her love.

Excerpt

“Look, Bale,” she finally said and he practically wilted with relief she had spoken. “I’m not quite sure what to say right now. Part of me is glad that you put that little shit in his place, but you can’t go around manhandling men like that. What if he called the cops or pulled a gun on you?”

“As if he could overtake me,” he scoffed before thinking.

“Bale!” She rounded on him.

“I am sorry.”

“My point is, I work in an industry where there are creepy people. It comes with the territory and you have to build a thick skin. If I needed backup, I would have asked for it. Don’t put yourself on the line like that for me.”

“I am going to anyway.”

“Well stop it.”

“I can’t.”

“Well you’re gonna have to.”

“I will not!” He stalked forward, inching her backward until the wall stopped her progress. “I cannot stop 
protecting you.”

Her eyes widened, the yellow flecks in the iris sparked as a shudder shook her body, yet he sensed no fear of him as she whispered, “Why?”

“Because.” He paused to swallow. “Because…”

A thousand reasons why he should follow her wishes engaged in a battle with the thousand why he refused to yield. There was no place in his world for a female, even one as fiery and passionate as Ari. But the thought of walking away made his stomach turn inside out with the familiar ache of regret. There was so much in his life he wished he had done differently. Was this moment to become another?

“Why, Bale?” Ari whispered again.

“Because I care about you. Your well-being means everything to me.”

“Can’t you show it in a different way?”

He shook his head. “This is the only way I know how.”

No. That wasn’t entirely true.

He raised his hand and placed his palm against her cheek. She stilled beneath his touch as his thumb brushed over her lips. Words were never his strength, so he’d just have to communicate without them.



Happy reading!

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Until next time!
Anna- The Super Diva
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Monday, January 11, 2016

More Hero Hotness- Hero Unmasked

Are you hungry for more? I sure hope so.

Kristos was noble. Lucian- intense. Dhavin... well, Dhavin is my sweetheart. Funny, strong of heart, and chock full of sexy goodness.

For a while I struggled with how to bring Dhavin and Fiona together, and then I remembered that a huge
portion of a superhero story is the secret identity. Who is in on the secret and what can happen to those in the know is a burden every superhero must consider when choosing to fight crime. With that thought in mind, Hero Unmasked began to write itself, right down to the snow storm and chocolate anise tart. That's right. A chocolate anise tart.

Pre-order your copy today!

Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0182NFC2W
iTunes- https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/hero-unmasked/id1059303229?mt=11
Kobo- https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/hero-unmasked-1

Hero Unmasked

Book three in the Heroes of Saturn series.
When Dhavin Kilsgaard landed on Earth, he knew trading his life as a royal guard for a position as a small-town police officer would take some adjusting. But not even his skills at foiling assassination attempts and protecting princesses prepared him for the complexity that is the human female. Fiona Corrione’s shy smile makes him hunger for more than a taste of the delicious chocolate she sells in her candy store, but the woman won’t fall for his Llanos charm.

When his empathetic abilities sense her lusty cravings for his superhero alter ego, he doesn’t hesitate to seduce her from behind the mask. Once she falls in love with him, she’ll forgive him for the ruse, right?

Fiona is beyond livid when she discovers the flirtatious officer and her hunky hero lover are one and the same. Before she kicks Dhavin to the curb, she’ll prove Earth girls aren’t easy and revenge is sweetest when served with leather straps and whipped cream.

Excerpt

“Hold up your hand,” he said with a secret smile that made her heart pound in her chest.

She lifted her hand and held her breath as he pressed his palm to hers. “You’re so warm.” She marveled at the amount of heat his
skin generated. It was so toasty, she wanted to step into his arms and wrap him around her like a Snuggie.

“Where I come from is much colder than here. A night like this I consider to be overcast. There are people, like you, who need protection and so I am out to do what I can. But believe me, I’d rather be indoors in front of a fire with a good book and a mug of coffee right now.”

“That sounds lovely.”

“It would be even nicer to have someone to share a blanket with. Do you have anyone waiting for you at home?”

“No, I’m single. Very single.”

“That was a trick question. You shouldn’t admit those things to a stranger. What if I meant you harm and you’ve now confirmed no one is waiting for you?”

“You wouldn’t hurt me.”

“No, but you never know. I’m going to have to keep a closer eye on you.”

“Seriously, I can take care of myself. You’re very overwhelming, and I have to admit, I can’t seem to form a sentence with you standing so close.”

“I’m sorry.” He took a step back.

“No!” She grabbed him by the tunic and hauled him closer. “Your heat feels nice.”

His low chuckle was just as warm. “Perhaps we can continue this conversation another time when we’re not in a dark, cold alley?”

“You want to see me again? I mean, not see me, see me, but see me?”

“Ah, Fiona, you make me laugh.” He trailed the tip of his finger down her cheek and along her jaw. “You’re 
like a cloud of cotton candy on a rainy day. Light, sweet and happy. I think you may be just what I’ve been looking for.”

Her breath caught as the hot pad of his thumb brushed along her skin and skimmed her lower lip. His gorgeous eyes blurred in and out of focus as she swayed on her feet.

“Breathe, Fiona,” he whispered.

“What?” She sucked in a cold breath. “Right. I’m all right.”

He chuckled and took the keys from her hand to unlock the car door. “Let’s get you inside and on your way. We’ll meet again. I promise.”

If she were smooth, she would have taken extra care to brush up against him. But she wasn’t. She barely managed to take the few steps around the door and fall hard into the driver’s seat.

“Thanks,” she said as she regained possession of her keys.

“Good night, sweet Fiona.” He brought her hand to his lips and brushed a scorching kiss against her knuckles and an answering burning ignited between her thighs.

Sweet. He called her sweet. She wanted to giggle, but stopped short of following the foolish reaction. “Good night, Chameleon.”

He straightened with a sharp jerk. “Please, call me…Cam.”

“Cam.” Nicknames already. She loved it.

$0.99 at your favorite retailer now

Happy New Year!

Anna- The Super Diva
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Sunday, December 6, 2015

The Warriors are Back! Hero Revealed on sale for $0.99

The day is almost here!

Over the last few months I've been acquiring the rights back to my Heroes of Saturn series, and I'm so happy to announce they are being released back out into the world starting Tuesday, December 8th.

Every three weeks another hero will be released, but you can pre-order them now from some vendors. 

First up, is Kristos and Brett in Hero Revealed. And for a limited time it's available for only $0.99!
Buy Links
Barnes and Noble- Available Dec. 8th


As a female sheriff in a small town, Brett Briggs faces enough obstacles turning complacent good ol’ boys into a top-notch police force without the added insult of a vigilante apprehending her criminals. Her prime suspect? Kristos Kilsgaard, the sexy river guide who has been open in his desire to move her away from her badge and into his bed.

In his former position as royal guard, Kristos once failed a woman he cared for and as punishment was banned from his home on one of Saturn’s moons. He vows not to make the same mistake with Brett and uses his superpowers to protect her, no matter the foe. Or the cost.

But Brett didn’t become sheriff by letting a man take care of her, and although the hot-as-hell Kristos is persuasive, she’s not going to start now—even after burning it up between the sheets with him. When her town is threatened, they cry out for a hero and she sets out to prove to everyone, Kristos included, that she’s the woman for the job.

Excerpt-

      “You know, I think I lost ten years off my life when I heard you were trapped.” The low timbre of his voice quivered as his accent deepened. He kept his hands in his pockets as he took a step closer. “I could not stand by and do nothing when I knew I could help. You mean too much to me.”
      A thousand and one things gathered on the tip of her tongue, yet she couldn’t utter the ones that logic dictated she should say. Kristos was not normal. He was possibly even…superhuman, which was a thought so incredulous she should be lying down with an ice pack to the head and a healthy shot of whiskey. All of her instincts were screaming at her to demand the truth, but at this moment, this moment, the barrier between thinking and knowing was as solid as a brick wall. Once she opened the lid on Pandora’s box, the world and everything she knew about it was going to change forever. It was as certain as the color of her eyes.         Whether she wanted it or not, her naiveté about the universe was going to die as soon as she got her answers.     
       Neither of them moved as he waited for her to respond. She licked her lips and fought back the panic that came with unavoidable change. She didn’t want to know, not yet. It might be crazy, certifiable, but she wanted to defy the fates and steal a moment in time because his touch, his flavor, was what she craved. Her fingers flexed, ready to strip away the uniform that felt scratchy against her too-hot flesh. Beneath the lace of her bra her nipples tightened and throbbed in time to her rapidly beating heart. Need whipped through her like a live current, liquefying her center and making her all too aware of how empty her pussy was. Her throat constricted, trapping the words her passion-starved body demand she say. Did she have the guts to follow her heart?
      Well, she didn’t become sheriff by being a pansy.
      “Kristos, will you love me?”
      He cocked his head and blinked in surprise. “What?”
      She placed a hand over his heart and felt it kick. “Make love to me. Please?”
      He drew away even as he reached for her. Tilting her chin up with his forefinger, his brow creased with wariness, as if he could sense she wasn’t one hundred percent confident of what she asked. “Are you sure?”
      He wanted her, it was a fact he never denied, and yet he waited for her to give the command.
With that act alone, the weight of a million doubts released, leaving her lightheaded but confident in her decision. “I’ve never been more certain.”

And look for Hero Unleashed out Tuesday, December 29th.

Until next time, y'all!

Anna - The Super Diva

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Friday, December 4, 2015

Supergirl- Have you seen it?

Follow up question- Are you still watching?

Personally, I’m on the fence. As with anything having to do with the DC world, I always watch with eyes squinted in trepidation because more often than not, the execution falls short. Really short. Sometimes off the planet short. (Wonder Woman anyone?) And Supergirl is too important of a series to jack up. We, as in the world, need a good superhero series with a female protagonist. Hell, we just need a good series with a female protagonist- period.

I have so many thoughts about Supergirl, I could go on forever, so I’ll try to condense them into a few bullet point sections, and of course, everything I’m about to say is my opinion. J But first, a few quick details. Supergirl airs Monday nights at 8pm E/P on CBS, and is brought to you by the people who have worked on Arrow, The Flash, The Tomorrow People, and Chuck, to name a few. So a good start, right? Awesome, then let’s get to it.
              
  • The cast is fabulous. Melissa Benoist is totally likable as Kara Danvers/Supergirl. She’s wholesome, quirky enough not to be annoying (yet), and reminds me of every average, young, twenties-something woman I’ve meet. She’s surrounded by a great supporting cast with Jeremy Jordan, and Chyler Leigh, and I’m digging Mehcad Brooks as a more relaxed and groovy, mature version of James Olson. That’s right, James, not Jimmie. I even like Calista Flockhart as Cat Grant, but more on that later. And I can’t even describe how hard I fell over with delighted laughter when I saw Helen Slater and Dean Cain as Kara’s adoptive parents. So epically awesome.
  • Villains. So far all of the villains have been pretty two-dimensional and easily forgettable with their only function being to test Supergirl’s powers. Where is the villain that is going to test her mental fortitude? Where is the villain that will challenge her not only physically but also make her question her morals? There was a great dynamic with Kara’s aunt Astra percolating in episode two that went nowhere. Seriously. Nowhere. Why did it go nowhere!?! It also appears as if Maxwell Lord (Peter Facinelli) is being groomed as the Lex Luther of National City. The writers have a long way to go if that is the plan. Right now I find the character creepy and petulant. I want a villain like Klaus Michaelson on The Originals. Holy crap is that man amazing. You hate him but feel for him all at the same time. But maybe Kara isn’t ready for that level of evilness. Once she is, this show will launch into the stratosphere.
  • Cat Grant. Oh… Cat Grant. I didn’t want to like her. Personally, I feel a woman can be in a position of power without being bitchy. I still feel that way. But with each episode, I understand where Cat is coming from. Cat is the voice of profession women of my generation. Each week she highlights the double standards women experience and the obstacles we still face in this “modern world.” We may differ on our approaches in how we handle those issues, but I understand how she was shaped into the person she is today. Oh my gosh, I related all too well to the scene with Cat and her mother. It reminded me of how I feel as a commercial fiction writer conversing with literary writers. Do I want Cat to change? Maybe. A little. She doesn’t need to get soft, but a little more squishy would be a nice character development.
Now to the crux of my hesitancy to be completely on team Super girl.
  • As a twenty-something young lady, Kara is very much indicative of a new adult heroine. Angsty, unsure of herself, trying to establish her place in the world and in her own skin. Great! Way to nail the genre. However, there is only so much of the should I-shouldn’t I-hand wringing I can watch without yelling at the screen for her to grow up already and take action. The way I think and feel now is the way I thought and felt at age ten. I was never a new adult and therefore I cannot relate to someone who hems and haws in every episode. At some point in time Kara is going to have to make a decision and stand by it. The incessant worry about whether or not she is good enough and the constant apologies she makes for being who she is, is getting old. I want my superheroes confident. Not cocky- confident. I hope with what happened in this last episode, Red Faced, that corner is being turned and we’re going to see some real character growth.
  • In my opinion, hero-centric stories tend to concentrate on the hero avenging or defending (insert here). A loved one, an idea, a way of life, etc. Any relationship they develop is secondary or tertiary to the central storyline. With heroine-centric stories, the relationships the heroine has is integral to the storyline, and more often than not overshadow the story arc. The heroine must also address issues the hero doesn’t even think about. Can she have a career and a satisfying home life? Can she be both strong and feminine? Does she save the world or save her marriage? Can she wear a nice dress and not have to worry about her reputation or fear about being taken seriously? Unfortunately, those are a few things women have to contemplate. Is it fair? Hell no. But to not address them is the equivalent to writing a story about a woman where the heroine is nothing more than a man in a skirt, so to speak. Those issues must be mentioned at some point in time, but what I don’t want to see is that being the entirety of the series. Give Kara something more to focus on than James and Lucy. Please, lord, not Lucy. And let's give her sister, Alex more than the drive to be better than her alien sibling. Or hook her up with Maxwell Lord. No. Just no.         

Supergirl has the ability to be for this generation what Buffy was for mine. All the writers have to do is give the girl some conviction and watch her really fly.

Until next time, y’all!

Anna - The Super Diva

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