Favorite Fantasy Reads:

How do you feel about a bad-boy hero?

I think Anne Shirley said it best for me. "I'd like a man who COULD be wicked. But wouldn't be." This is just who I am. I always fall for the wounded, mysterious guy in books and movies. (Don't get me started on Ben Solo.) My oldest daughter is the same way - she will never forgive the Avatar animators for pairing the kick-butt heroine with a little bald boy when she could've had a fire prince. We watched Phantom of the Opera the other day, and she (without prompting from me) took the Phantom's side!

My husband is a real-life good guy. He was law enforcement for a time. But the other night we were talking about this very thing and he looked me right in the eye. "If anyone ever hurt you, I'd burn down everything and everyone in my way to make them pay." I mean. Yeowza. That makes my heart fluttery.

I'm all about the layers that a bad guy has going on. Layers upon layers. Plan upon plan. This is a guy who thinks things through. He knows the world isn't a safe place, and he takes it upon himself to protect what's his (including the heroine) at any cost. He also is emotionally mature. He knows pain and suffering. He's been broken and pulled himself back together.

Wesley the Farm Boy? Sure, he's nice. But the Dread Pirate Roberts - he's seen stuff. And he's going to stop at NOTHING to get the girl, revenge himself on the (real) bad guy, and ride off to his pirate ship.

So who does this quasi-bad-boy thing right? K.M. Shea does! Royal Magic - the hero was literally the villain in the last book, and he's still a ruthless fighting machine. Check and mate. Magic Forged - a vampire. But not a broody mopey teen. A vampire who wields his power and influence with precision. And totally supports his lady-love. Crown of Shadows - the hero is literally an assassin. The meet-cute is him trying to fulfill a contract to kill the heroine. Spoiler alert: doesn't work. And it takes three awesome books for their slow-burn romance to kick into gear.

Check out her books HERE on Amazon.

So who's your favorite bad-boy love interest?

And yes, in case you were wondering, I'm madly in love with the new Loki series on Disney+. *swoon*