Tempting the Sheriff follows a shapeshifting outlaw whose brother’s antics bring her face to face with the sheriff, the man who remains her enemy but is also her lover. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

Funny you should ask! I actually write a “making of” post about each of my books on my website. You can find them all here: Anna Lowe Books.

In brief, I loved the legend of Robin Hood and the daring outlaws of Sherwood Forest as a kid. In fact, Errol Flynn was my first crush, way back when. I also loved the Disney cartoon version in which all the characters are animals, and of course the 1991 movie version with Kevin Costner and a somewhat more capable Maid Marian. As with all my favorite books and movies, I “rewrote” those versions in my mind to insert a super-amazing heroine into the action.

Combine that with my love of paranormal romance, and it was natural that my mind drifted in the direction of a shapeshifter version. Being a big fan of Robin Hood doesn’t make me a fan of re-tellings of familiar stories, but I do love reading/watching movies that use familiar elements to set up and then flip expectations. So, that was one of my goals in writing this series: to remind readers of everything they love in Robin Hood and keep you guessing with twists and surprises that take the story in a whole new direction. I hope I succeeded!

Do you have a favorite among your diverse cast of characters?

Well, Robynne, the crafty female archer and fox shifter, is definitely my favorite, and I swoon over Daniel, the dragon/acting sheriff of Nottingham. I also really enjoy the cast of characters as a group, especially in the way the different shifter types play off each other.

In this book, you blend the paranormal romance with historical elements. Was that a challenge?

The main challenge was to weed out terms or language that wouldn’t have been used in the Middle Ages (phrases like “His eyes telegraphed danger”) while keeping the text easy on modern eyes and ears. I did purposely play with some aspects, such as “the modern convenience” of running water available to Nottingham’s townspeople in fountains “just” a few steps away from their homes!

Can you give fans a peek inside Book 2 of the series?

Yes! Like Book 1, Book 2 (Tempting the Outlaw), is a steamy, suspenseful paranormal romance series that combines the humor of The Princess Bride and the action-packed romance of Outlander, offering a fresh new twist on a classic.

Book 2 focuses on Willa Scarlet, whose secret mission takes her to Sherwood Forest where she meets bear shifter John Little. It’s an enemies-to-lovers story, in which all Willa and John have in common are sizzling chemistry, ruthless enemies, and responsibility for a treasure more valuable than either of them suspected. Before they know it, they’re on the run, deep in trouble and in love, even if neither of them is ready to admit it.

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