I was a teenager during the 1980’s and have fond memories of the action adventure movies produced during that much maligned decade. The last Star Wars movies were released in the 80’s, along with Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Temple of Doom and the Last Crusade, Romancing the Stone, ET, Goonies, and Die Hard. Filmmakers back then seemed to have a knack for combining high stakes peril with engaging characters you wanted to root for when the chips were down and the cards were stacked against them.
That particular brand of action movie is scarce nowadays (although 2009’s Star Trek was awfully reminiscent and I loved the heck out of it for exactly that reason). In today’s films, you can still find larger than life heroes, outlandish plots and loads of action but a lot of times they come across as just a series of action clips strung together (Cowboys and Aliens, I’m looking at you).
So what’s missing?
I think it’s the spirit of adventure. And by that I mean the kind of adventure where triumph isn’t necessarily finding the lost treasure but it’s finding the courage to take that next step into danger when it’s the right—or even the only—thing to do. I’m talking about the thrill of exploration and the wonder of discovery. Romance.
I tried to capture some of that spirit in Adriano and Sophie’s story, Redemption. Adriano is a jaguar shapeshifter, a mercenary who was sent into exile five years ago by his people the Yaguara after being setup as a scapegoat to end a political conflict. He wants to go home and is on the brink of recovering a priceless artifact from a damaged archaeological site in Peru, knowing that the Yaguara can’t afford to let it fall into human hands and confident that he’ll be able to exchange it for a pardon.
Sophie is an inquisitive and hard-working archaeologist who keeps getting in his way. Adriano’s plan to seduce her as a distraction backfires and what follows is a fast-paced adventure through a labyrinthine tunnel system hidden beneath the ruins.
The site in Redemption was modeled after a real archaeological site in Peru called Chavín de Huántar which captured my imagination when I first heard of it—dark tunnels, a forgotten culture, an ancient temple constructed by a priesthood who actually believed that they could transform into jaguars (while under the influence of psychotropic drugs). It’s been called a real life temple of doom and I have to admit that my love of Indiana Jones definitely influenced my decision to set the story there and flavors its telling.
So, there is a lot of action but the real story belongs to Sophie and Adriano. It’s about whether these two people from very different cultures can find common ground in what they love and whether they’ll find the courage to leave the past behind and let their attraction develop into something more.
If you’re on the fence about diving in, you can find an excerpt here.
Also, I’m giving away a free copy of Redemption to one of the commenters today. Just drop a comment letting me know what your favorite 80’s movie is…or if you hate them all and always secretly hoped that Indy would choke on his fedora. Make sure to leave an email address where I can reach you if you win. I’ll leave the contest open for 24 hours.
Note: Redemption is the second book in the Lost City Shifters series after Mercy but it can be read as a standalone story.
Where you can find me:
Website: http://eleristone.com/
Twitter: @EleriStone
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EleriStone
Tags: Eleri Stone, Lost City Shifters, Paranormal romance, Redemption
You got me with that intro… I was a HUGE Star Trek fan, –Voyage Home being my favorite… and loved Indiana Jones movies… as well as Romancing the Stone, The Mad Max series, Goonies, Laybrith, The Dark Crystal, Willow, The Princess Bride, Ghostbusters, and Adventures in Babysitting [which were all adventurous on another front or another}
Wow, you really hit the nail on the head with that list of action adventure movies. I love those kinds of movies and miss the fact that they can’t seem to make any good ones like that anymore (the last Indiana Jones movie comes quickly to mind).
The story sounds wonderful. Congratulations on the release.
Your list is longer than mine, Dawn! I just watched Labrynth last week on netflix. I thought it held up pretty well.
Thanks, Kathy. (I still liked the last one.)
Eleri,
I totally LOVED the adventure movies of the ’80s. Indiana Jones was my absolute favorite. Romancing the Stone is a close second. I still watch Goonies every time it comes on t.v. (My kids are used to it!) Die Hard was good, just more action than adventure for me. Adventure and romance are the best combination for a movie AND a book!
I can’t wait to read Redemption!!!
ReneeRearden(at)yahoo(dot)com
Indiana Jones!!! My all time favourites. And you’re right, they don’t make them like that anymore! Redemption sounds great.
Thanks, Claire and Renee. My kids will watch Goonies with me too. I hear they’re remaking Romancing the Stone.
Can’t wait to read it!!
Hi, Mara! Hope you like it.
I love 80s music and it’s not different with movies. I don’t watch a lot of movies but the ones I do gravitate towards are horror and ghost movies. I find the “ghost” movies nowadays to not realy be scary and more gory and gruesome. I remember having nightmares seeing Candyman, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Poltergeist!!
Remdeption looks like a great book and Jaguar shifters are new to me.
Thanks Na. I like reading horror (especially short stories) but I haven’t seen any good horror movies lately. It’s funny that you mention Poltergeist. We moved this summer and found out that our neighbors house was built on an old burial ground. They’d lived there for years and only discovered this when they decided to put in a basement. All I could think about was that movie.
ooooh, I love a good action adventure book especially when there is some hot romance thrown in. I think that’s why I always ADORED Romancing the Stone, but did anyone ever see American Dreamer in the 80′s??? Action/adventure about a romance writer and reader with amnesia. Absolutely FABULOUS!!
snowchris_01@yahoo.com
smiles…
I don’t remember American Dreamer. It sounds up my alley though. I’ll have to see if I can find it.
Renee, you win the free copy of Redemption! Look for an email from me.
I LOVED 80s action movies! They went downhill about the time CGI got big.
Probably the best thing about them—going along with the characterization you mention—was the memorable lines. Modern movies just rarely have them like that.
Live Free or Die Hard was an awesome throwback to those old ones. I’d say Speed was my favorite, but I think that was in the early 90s.
I forgot about Live Free Die Hard. Liked that one a lot. I have trouble with Keanu Reeves movies though. Don’t know why.