Guest Post: Hero of My Heart by Megan Frampton + giveaway

Today we have Megan Frampton on sharing a bit about her hero Alasdair, from her new release Hero of my Heart. We’re giving away a NetGalley copy of Hero of My Heart to one person. Simply leave us a note telling us what it is about tortured heroes we love. 

The hero of Hero of My Heart is not all that heroic, actually; in fact, when the book begins, he is in the throes of an opium addiction that started when he was wounded in battle.  He’s kind of more like a bad boy gone to the deep end. The worst boy, in fact.

Alasdair’s entire family—his parents, his brother, his wife, and their child—is dead, and he doesn’t see the point of his living anymore. He’s decided to spend the last few months of his life in oblivion, and hopes just to fade away into an opium-induced bliss.

When he meets Mary, his deeply-buried heroism comes to the fore, and he buys her off the auction block, determined to help at least one person before he dies. He figures he’ll marry her, make sure she’s secure as his wife, and then die, leaving her secure with his money. But things, as they often do, get more complicated, and Alasdair has to overcome his addiction and his self-destructive tendencies to ensure that Mary is kept safe.

As they spend time together, Mary’s touch and closeness begins to replace the euphoria the opium brings, and he becomes as addicted to her as he was to the drug. Sexual intimacy becomes his drug, and he and Mary have a wonderful time exploring what that means as they travel together. Both of them know, to some extent however, that their relationship is dysfunctional. It is only when Alasdair can give up both opium and Mary that they can be assured of a happy ending.

Alasdair is as far from perfect at the opening of the book as a hero can be, but is transformed through love and intimacy to become worthy of his heroine.

In this emotional and powerfully erotic tale of love and redemption, a tender vicar’s daughter and a tortured war hero discover that sin may be their only salvation.

When Mary Smith’s corrupt, debt-ridden brother drags her to a seedy pub to sell her virtue to the highest bidder, Alasdair Thornham leaps to the rescue. Of course the marquess is far from perfect husband material. Although he is exceedingly handsome, with a perfect, strong body, chiseled jaw, and piercing green eyes, Alasdair is also too fond of opium, preferring delirium to reality. Still, he has come to Mary’s aid, and now she intends to return the favor. She will show him that he is not evil, just troubled.

Mary was a damsel in need of a hero, but Alasdair’s plan is shortsighted. He never foresaw her desire to save him from himself. Alasdair is quite at home in his private torment, until this angel proves that a heart still beats in his broken soul. The devil may have kept her from hell, but will Mary’s good intentions lead them back to the brink—or to heaven in each other’s arms?