Blog Tour: Blood Bond by Heather Hildenbrand Character Interview + GIVEAWAY!

Welcome to my stop on the Blood Bond by Heather Hildenbrand blog tour!!

This is one of my favourite self published series and although I'm yet to read Blood Bond myself, I just adored the first two books. For my stop I'm, umm, chatting with the uber sexy Alex :) What can I say? I'm an Alex girl and I jumped at the chance to dig around inside his head. Heather has also offered up one e-copy of Blood Bond to one of my followers, but more about that later......



Today, I’m thrilled to announce that Alex, one of the sexy male leads and love interests of Tara in the Dirty Blood series and the "other" guy in her life, has popped in for a chat.

And by the way, when I say “popped in” I mean my dear friend and author Heather Hildenbrand and I have kidnapped him and lugged his roughly one-hundred-and-sixty pounds down to my basement where we proceeded to make sure he was as comfy as possible in a nice old chair and handcuffs. Nothing but the best for Alex, hehehe.

Luckily Alex was a good sport about the whole thing—handcuffs and dark rooms are nothing new for him--and didn’t mind my interrogation, err, I mean interview about one of my favourite topics--- all things Alex!

Lets find out what happened.....


Welcome Alex! I’m so thrilled you could take time out of your busy hunting schedule to, ah, drop in for a chat. If there’s anything I can get you....tea, coffee, looser handcuffs, don’t hesitate to let me know.

I’m good, thanks *says sarcastically* Let’s get on with it.

Excellent! The tale of your latest adventures in the Dirty Blood series has recently been told with the 3rd book, Blood Bond, releasing on August 31st, and a little birdie told me that it’s been quite an emotional roller coaster ride for you lately. I think we’re all coming to realise just how much you’ve been struggling with your growing feelings for Tara and your responsibilities as a Hunter. How do you manage to balance both desires while still staying true to yourself?

I wouldn’t call being a Hunter “desire,” exactly. It’s more like “who I am.” And Tara… she’s a Hunter too. I mean, deep down, in the way it counts, she is. She wants to protect people—it doesn’t get more Hunter than that. We’re the same, even if she doesn’t want to admit it.

*eyes Alex flirtingly* Alex, Alex, Alex....you certainly made an entrance in the Dirty Blood series. Most fans were happily on Team Wes but the moment you appeared, they quickly jumped ship. That’s a certain ‘hunk’ status that surrounds you, how do you feel about that?

*eyes you suspiciously* I don’t know anything about any status. *pauses with a new gleam in his eye* Wait, they like me better than him? Does Wes know about this? … *grins* Does Tara?

Hmmmm, I  don't know how Tara feels about that. Would be interesting to find out....but speaking of Tara, you and her got off to a rocky start. Sparks flew, and not always in a good way, but when was it that you first began seeing her in a particular light? Was there ever a moment with her that made you stop and think, “Wow”?

The first day of training, if I’m being honest. Not that being kicked in the groin was particularly attracting but it did make me realize she wasn’t going to be who I thought she was. But if we’re talking strictly ‘wow factor’ then I guess that night at the dance sticks out in my mind. That dress… *shakes head* …it was memorable. And the way she … the way she ran to me when I walked away. That was memorable too.

What was the first thing you thought when you found out that you would be the one training Tara?

I wasn’t happy, that’s for sure. But like I said, she surprised me. She wasn’t some spoiled, full-of-herself, rich kid with entitlement issues. Well, okay, she was a little full of herself, but it’s warranted. Tara’s got enough raw talent to outweigh the lack of training. She’s decent in a fight and she’ll watch your back. I respect that about her.

Let’s take a look at your own personal training sessions. What are your daily training sessions like? And please feel free to be as specific as possible....you know, shirt on or off, sweat dripping down your half naked body and....Whoops. Digressing....

*eye roll* Okay, um… well, I run a lot. It clears my mind, makes it easy to stop thinking for a while. *smirks* It also makes it impossible for a certain training student to run her mouth and piss you off. So yeah, I like running. When I’m on my own, I run farther. Six miles is a nice distance. Not too far, but it stretches the muscles. And I hit the gym a couple of days a week. Usually the weights but sometimes I’ll put some gloves on and hit the bag. Mostly when a certain training student has irritated me that day. *shrugs* I get pretty sweaty from that, if you’re asking, and it’s easier without a shirt for those workouts.

You know I'd love to witness one of these workouts. Purely to understand you as a character of course, However. Moving on.... Imagine there are no werewolves attacking you for a little while. No Miles, no Cause, no Wesley as competition for Tara’s affections and you could take her out on a nice, normal date. What would you have planned?

*sighs* I’ve thought about that a lot and here’s the thing, Tara’s not normal. Neither am I. Even without The Cause, she’d be unworthy of normal. So the date idea would have to be pretty rockstar. Go big, or go home, you know? I think I’d take her somewhere unexpected, like a Cliffside picnic, after which we could do something cool like base jumping or rock climbing. I know the girl complains about running but she’s still very physical. She wouldn’t want to sit inside some stuffy restaurant. I love that about her. Plus… the adrenaline rush from something like base jumping is incredible. Emotions are heightened … *clears throat* I think it could work to my advantage.

Oh, somethings tells me you'd have no problem using that to your advantage *grins*
It’s no surprise that you and Wes aren’t the best of friends *snorts* but there has to be something that you admire about the guy?

*scowls* This interview never leaves this room all right?

*Girls Nod* Scouts honour!

Okay … There is one thing. His control. It’s gotta be hard trying to keep the animal in him reined in. I’ve seen enough Werewolves to know there’s a temper there and a fierceness even in good times. When he found out I’d kissed Tara, honestly, I expected him to come after me immediately, but he didn’t. He held himself in check. For her. I wouldn’t have done the same.

What’s something we’d be surprised to discover about you?

*groans* I’ll tell you, but again, nothing I say leaves this room. *pauses* I’m afraid of dolls. You know, those porcelain, creepy-faced, life-like things. They just sit on someone’s mantel and stare out at you, like they’re watching. *shivers* It’s beyond creepy. I don’t like them.

Describe yourself in one sentence?

Resigned to the hardness in life.

Where do you see yourself next? Are there any little hints you might want to give about what you’re up to next? *very eager for answer*

Uh-uh, no. This interrogation was agreed to because it wasn’t about my work. I can’t tell you anything about what happens next. Edie will have my ass if she finds out I’ve told you anything about what we’re doing. I will say this: anything I do, anything I have done, is all for the greater good. For humankind, for Hunters, for Tara. Even when it doesn’t look like it. You tell her I said that. *jaw clenches. Eyes grow intense* Tell her. Promise me.

*Girls nod* We promise.

6 quick questions:

1. Favourite colour? Red.
2. Day or night? Day.
3. Lucky number? You make your own luck.
4. Rain or shine? Shine
5. Favourite memory? My mother.

Now, that certainly was fun! I know I could get used to having you around Alex. Why Tara doesn’t just pick you already and run, I’ll never know. So *Looks across at Alex* I guess I should release you now, huh? *grumbles* *releases Alex reluctantly*

Well, thanks for stopping in for a chat! Anytime you wanna come and hang out, maybe run away to Vegas together, feel free to let me know.

Thanks for um, kidnapping me? And for the vote of confidence. At least someone realizes Tara’s making a mistake, even if that someone isn’t her. But after what I just pulled, I doubt she’ll be changing her mind anytime soon. Anyway … *rubs wrist once cuffs are gone* I better get going. I need to try and explain myself to Edie. Or die trying. See you ladies later. *waves and disappears up the stairs.*

*waves goodbye* Bye! Call me if you change your name about Vegas!


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Now, wasn't that fun? I have to say a BIG THANKS to the always awesome Heather Hildenbrand for allowing me to fulfill my fantasy and "kidnap" Alex. I certainly enjoyed interrogating---ehh, I mean interviewing him!


Want to meet Alex yourself? You can find him and Tara in the latest installment of the Dirty Blood series.....

Hybrids.

If I had to choose one word to sum up all of my problems, this would be it. Without hybrids, I wouldn’t have to watch my best friend slowly becoming a monster. Without hybrids, I could let go of the mentality “hunt or be hunted.” CHAS wouldn’t be scouring the Earth, intent on slaughtering and using Alex to do it. Without hybrids, I wouldn’t have to be on guard that losing my temper meant losing my shape. There would be no monster inside me, struggling to get out.

Then again, without hybrids, I wouldn’t have Wesley St. John.


Buy Blood Bond from:
Amazon // Kobo // Barnes & Noble

Add the entire series on Goodreads!
Dirty Blood // Cold Blood // Blood Bond

RIGHT NOW, THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES IS FREE ON NOOK AT BARNES AND NOBLE!
GET IT HERE!


Meet Heather!



Heather Hildenbrand was born and raised in a small town in northern Virginia where she was homeschooled through high school. She now lives in coastal VA, a few miles from the Atlantic Ocean, with her husband and two adorable children. She works from home, part time, as a property manager and when she's not furiously pounding at the keyboard, or staring off into space whilst plotting a new story, she's helping her husband with DIY projects in their home (he woodworks - she paints) or she's lying on the beach, soaking in those delicious, pre-cancerous rays.

Heather loves Mexican food, hates socks with sandals, and if her house was on fire, the one thing she'd grab is her DVR player.

You can find out more about her and her books at www.heatherhildenbrand.blogspot.com

Or stalk her here:
-Facebook
-Facebook Fan Page
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Heather is a co-founder of Accendo Press, a publishing group she operates with fellow authors: Angeline Kace and Jennifer Sommersby. Accendo (a-CH-endo), A Latin word, means “to kindle, illuminate, inflame, or set fire.” This is something Accendo strives to do inside a reader’s imagination with every title released. For a complete list of titles and author bios, visit www.accendopress.com.

    GIVEAWAY TIME!  

Thanks to Heather, I have ONE e-copy of Blood Bond up for grabs! To enter simply comment letting me know what you thought of the interview with a way to contact you.

-Contest is INTERNATIONAL and will run from the 19th of September (today) until the 3rd of October
-Winner will have their pick of format.

*FOR EXTRA ENTRIES:

+1 Follow me on GFC
+1 Follow Heather on TWITTER
+1 Follow Heather on FACEBOOK
+3 For TWEETING.

Please leave all links and names in your comment :)  Goodluck to everyone who enters!


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Once more, a BIG THANKS goes to Heather Hildenbrand for inviting me to be a part of this tour and for helping provide this wonderful interview with Alex! You flat out rock, Heather!

Thank you for joining me as part of the tour and be sure to check out Heather's website for more tour goodies including giveaways, exclusive scenes from Alex's POV and more interviews with him AND Wes!