JUST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE has changed its structure due to the volume of new bloggers. What you see on this page is all blogs posted prior to 1/12/2012. All new blogs will now be listed on the home page.
THE SYMPATHETIC VILLAIN (Or-All You Need Is Love) by Trish McCallan
I’m a huge Linda Howard fan. In fact, I proudly proclaim to be her number one fan. (of the none sociopathic variety) I’ve been reading Howard for years, have read every book she’s written, along with most of the interviews she’s done.
Lately, some of the comments I’ve received from readers regarding one of the bad guys in Forged in Fire, my debut romantic suspense, has reminded me of an interview she did after her book All The Queen’s Men came out.
All the Queen’s Men featured black ops specialist John Medina, a secondary hero she’d introduced in Kill and Tell, a prior book. John Medina was such a strong character in Kill and Tell, readers everywhere were clamoring for his love story and I was no exception. I couldn’t wait for John’s story. But when I finally read the book, the character that intrigued me the most wasn’t John Medina, rather it was an arms dealer named Louis Ronsard. And no, Louis wasn’t the hero of the book, far from it, he was the villain.
But Linda Howard made me care about him, she made me understand why he did the terrible things he did. She didn’t white-wash him. She didn’t back off and make him redeemable. She didn’t turn him into a hero. He was a villain plain and simple, but he was a villain who did very bad things for a good reason. A reason most people understood, a reason most people identified with.
Everything Ronsard did was for love.
Everything he did was to protect a daughter he adored, a daughter who was dying. To save his daughter, he was willing to do anything, sacrifice anyone. Indeed everything Ronsard did, good and bad, was driven by his love for his child.
And because we understood Ronsard’s choices, we embraced him. Linda Howard said in one of her interviews the question she got asked the most was when she was going to give Ronsard his own love story. Apparently, the volume of fan mail Ronsard got surprised her. But she said he couldn’t be turned into a hero, because even though he’d been driven by identifiable emotions, what he’d done was inexcusable. Unforgivable.
He wasn’t hero material, because he wasn’t redeemable, the things he’d done made him unheroic.
But I wonder. . . .
A couple of months ago I read Maya Banks’ Hidden Away, the third book in her KGI series. One of the villains in this book reminded me of Ronsard, but with one big difference. In Hidden Away, even though the villain was capable of great love and felt it toward his sister—most of his dark deeds were not done in the name of love, they were done because he was a sociopath and he was looking out for his own interests. But Maya Banks did something interesting with him; she made me hope he wasn’t the horrific monster that the book’s hero believed him to believe. I kept hoping, right up to the end, that he was an undercover agent and hadn’t really done what everyone accused him of doing. Why? Because I liked him. The love he felt for his sister, and what he’d done to strike back at the men who’d hurt her—these things resonated with me. He wasn’t your token Godless monster.
Although, in some ways it’s easier to read about a Godless monster, one who is incapable of true feeling. It’s easier, because we can’t imagine doing something similar. We can’t identify with their actions, or motivations, so they’re safe. But when it comes to villains doing horrific things because of love, well we identify with that. And if we put ourselves in their shoes, yeah—that’s when the uncomfortable questions arise. What would we do to keep our loved ones safe?
Russ, the villain in Forged in Fire, is more like Hidden Away’s villain than Ronsard. He does terrible things because the outcome benefits him. But he does have one big soft spot. He has a family he adores, a family he would do anything for. And when this weakness is used against him, he will do anything, sacrifice anyone—including himself—to save the people he loves.
Reader response to Russ has surprised me, as much as the response to Ronsard apparently surprised Linda Howard. I’ve received dozens of emails from people saying they felt bad when he died. Or that he made them uncomfortable, because they found themselves liking him. They kept forgetting what he’d done in the past.
This is a cold-blooded killer who’d sacrificed hundreds of people to his own self-interest. Who had no qualms about killing children if their deaths benefitted him, yet people felt sorry for him.
Because he was capable of love, capable of giving his life for those he loved, readers identified with him. Some of them actually liked him.
Apparently, all it takes to turn a cold-blooded killer into a sympathetic villain is a little love.
What’s the last sympathetic villain you’ve read? Are there any villains you’d like see turned into heroes and given their own story? I have to confess, I was one of the ones who wanted to read Ronsard’s story.
Comment for a chance to win a digital copy of my debut romantic suspense, Forged in Fire.
You can find Trish McCallan at www.trishmccallan.com
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WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW...OR NOT by Kylie Brant
Normally, when people who know me well enough to recognize that I’m a teacher get to asking me more about my writing, their first question is, “So…you’re an English teacher?”
“No. Elementary Special Ed.”
Puzzled looks ensue. But they usually try again. “So…you write children’s books?”
“No. I write dark romantic thrillers.”
Most give up by this point. But the truly brave will go on. “Why don’t you write books for children?”
“Because I figure murderous plots full of serial killers and other truly evil villains may not do so well in kiddie lit. But that’s just me.”
By that time many really aren’t all that interested in further conversation J. But their questions come from a myth that has floated around about writing for as long as I can recall. And that is when an author begins writing, they should write what they know.
That could have worked well for me, if my life was the least bit interesting. But somehow I doubt sales for a book about the practical application of behavior management techniques or experiences from raising five kids would be all that impressive. Too bad, because THAT I know. I just don’t have a lot of personal experience about the really interesting stuff.
Because I teach full-time, I rarely have the opportunity to personally visit the setting for my books. But a few years ago when I was writing Waking the Dead, I traveled to Oregon. My sister and her husband took me to McKenzie Bridge and we crawled through caves and hiked in the Willamette Forest. She even introduced me to an interesting individual who told me all about the cave he’d once found. It turned out to be the perfect place for my villain to hide seven sets of skeletal remains. When I was walking through the forest, the entire final scene of the book just unfolded in mind. It was an amazing experience.
There are few topics I shy away from tackling in my books. Things like de-fleshing human remains, lifting fingerprints from bones, SWAT tactical techniques, and forensic linguistics interest me enough to write about them. Bu-u-ut it turns out I don’t know all that much about any of them. Luckily the Internet makes it easy to get in touch with experts who can answer my questions. I’ve found many of the experts I contact are happy to talk about their work. And even law enforcement types—who can be maddeningly reticent—have public relations people whose job it is to answer questions like mine. It’s really never been easier to research those voids in my education.
After weeks of sporadic correspondence with the experts helping me with a particular book, I’m invariably left asking myself where I was on Career Day at school J. These are people with some cool jobs! Former Supreme Court clerks, State Crime Lab managers, forensic anthropologists, FBI agents, an assistant director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation…the list grows with every story.
But…do they get to work in sweats sitting in their chaise lounge? It’s all about priorities, isn’t it?
As you can imagine, I’m full of meaningless bits of gruesome trivia. Which can come in handy when there’s a lull in dinner conversation! What’s the strangest factoid you ever ran across in the course of research?
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REAL LIFE HEROES by Dana Marton
I write tough heroes. They’re not the type of guys to run from trouble. I was talking with some writer friends a while back about this subject, and the consensus seemed to be that while women like to read about though and rough alpha male heroes, they like being married to a nice guy, the beta male type.
So do we want the guy who will step in front of a bullet to save us, or a guy who takes out the garbage?
I love my husband. He’s very low key, calm under pressure, will not only take out the garbage, but even make dinner or do the laundry if I’m on a tough deadline. We’ve been married nearly two decades. I think his kind of quiet heroism also needs to be appreciated. Sticking with the everyday work life and marriage requires has its own sort of courage.
And, you know, I think he would step in front of a bullet to save me, or anyone else who needed saving. If someone needs help, he’s the type of guy who steps up to the plate. He was a volunteer fire fighter for years. Once at an apartment fire, the ladder truck dropped him off on a balcony with a hose, then moved on to carry other firefighters to other places. Well, the balcony under my husband caught on fire and the flames engulfed him. That had been a scary night, but it never occurred to him to quit. At the next fire, he went right back into the flames. We lived in a poor area. None of the firefighters received any pay for risking their lives for others on a daily basis. They are all heroes to me!
Who do you think is a true hero? Who is the hero of your life? Have you ever done anything heroic? I’d love it if you left a comment. I’ll raffle off a free copy of a book I recently released, AGENTS UNDER FIRE. I think you’ll like the heroes in that story.
And if you like true heroes, I would love it if you checked out my January release, LAST SPY STANDING. It’s a fast-paced jungle adventure story that truly tried my characters and I think made them heroes by the end. I would love to know what you think of their journey.
Wishing you a fabulous New Year!
Dana
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MY MEXICAN ADVENTURE by Kat Martin
This January, one of my earlier romantic suspense novels is being re-released, a personal favorite--HOT RAIN. A portion of the book takes place in the jungles of Mexico. In the book, Jake Dawson is an undercover agent on a very dangerous job, but Allie Parker believes he’s one of the murdering drug dealers holding her prisoner aboard their yacht headed for Mexico. Thinking about the book started me reminiscing...remembering my first trip across the border.
I was a college student at the University of California in Santa Barbara. Being from a small town, my first time living away from home and never been to a foreign country, I was extremely naive. A group of us decided we were going down to Ensenada, which as the most adventurous thing I had ever done. I remember the beautiful coastline and going to the famous Hussong’s Cantina. I remember walking on the beach and drinking margaritas and laughing and just having a wonderful time.
There were a mix of guys and gals on the trip, friends from the dorm where we all lived. Everything was going great until it was time to go home. Just as we approached the border, one of the guys--his name was Toby, I think--a big guy with his leg in a cast to mid-thigh, leaned down and said, “I hope they don’t search us. The hubcaps are full of firecrackers and they’re illegal.”
I remember thinking ohmygod, and then, what a bunch of dofusses, but my heart kicked up a little, having heard stories of people being thrown into Mexican jails and not getting out for years.
I was telling myself it was no big deal when one of the border guards asked the Brian, the driver, if we were bringing anything back into the country. Brian must have looked guilty when he said no because the border patrol guard waved the car over to the side, and we all got out, and the guards started searching the car.
My heart was beating pretty hard by the time they found the first stash of fireworks, and border patrol was not pleased. They asked if we had any more, the guys lied again, and the guards continued to search, taking the car apart piece by piece and finding firecrackers hidden everywhere.
They were furious. I was petrified by now, in a cold sweat, and if someone had asked me my name, I couldn’t have told them.
This went on for a good half hour (or maybe it was only ten minutes that seemed like an hour) until one of the girls said, “You guys tell them where the rest of the firecrackers are right now! Before we get into serious trouble!”
So the boys finally relented and gave up the cherry bombs, bottle rockets, roman candles and everything else. Some of my tension began to ease. My heart was starting to beat almost normally as we walked toward the car, then good old Toby leaned down and said,
“Good thing they didn’t strip search us--you wouldn’t believe what I’ve got stuffed in my cast.”
How I made it to the car on those wobbly legs I’ll never know. I was so scared I was shaking. To this day, I have no idea what Toby might have had hidden inside his plaster cast or if he was just being funny. I remember he did have a wicked sense of humor.
Over the years, I’ve only been back to Mexico a couple of times, but writing HOT RAIN gave me a chance to live a high action adventure vicariously through Allie and Jake. If you haven’t read the book, I hope you’ll give HOT RAIN a try and that you enjoy it. Very best wishes for a great 2012. Kat
Kat will be awarding one commenter a Kindle version of HOT RAIN.
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AN UNEXPECTED HERO by Christy Reece
I adore unexpected events in books. Not knowing what will happen next is one of the most exciting parts of reading to me. But what I love most of all are unexpected characters. People who surprise me with what’s inside them. Often looking on the surface of a character, I can’t always see what’s inside the heart. And when a character reveals himself to me in surprising ways, I think I love him all the more.
SWEET REWARD features an unexpected hero, Jared Livingston. I first met Jared Livingston in LAST CHANCE. He was the hero’s, Lucas Kane, best friend. I had no real intention of writing Jared’s story. He was already married, seemingly happily. Other than being a supportive friend and a former secrets ops guy, he appeared to be fairly uncomplicated. But then he said something that changed everything. In a scene in LAST CHANCE, Lucas asked Jared if he’d told his wife that he’d once been an undercover operative for a secret government agency. Jared’s answer intrigued me. He said, “Hell no. Having her think of me as her loving and slightly geeky husband is exactly what I want…because it’s what she wants.”
Why would Jared hide his past from his wife? Why couldn’t he tell her the truth? What would happen if she found out? Would it change their relationship? I started thinking Jared might have more of a story than I had first anticipated. And I was right!
In SWEET JUSTICE, the first book in this year’s LCR trilogy, we learn that Jared is now divorced from his wife and is an operative for Last Chance Rescue. He’s considered unpredictable, often taking wild risks to get the job done. Jared reveals several things over the course of that book that helped me to understand the man and made me begin to fall in love with him. Beneath that icy, emotionless exterior lies a soft heart, a man of honor and a vulnerability I never anticipated. When it was time to write his book, I couldn’t wait to get started.
The moment I met Mia Ryker, I knew she was going to take Jared on quite a ride. He wasn’t going to know how to deal with her and she was going to shake up his life. Jared might be accustomed to unpredictable, but Mia was too much so. Every time he thought he had her pegged, she’d surprise him and he’d have to reevaluate his opinion. Mia kept him on his toes, didn’t back down from his bad moods and gave as good as she got. She’s perfect for him.
I love it when a couple who think they have nothing in common with each other, discover that not only are they very much alike, but they’re made for each other. That final realization always makes for a sweeter, more satisfying happy ever after.
By the time SWEET REWARD ended, both Mia and I were irrevocably, completely and forever in love with our hero Jared Livingston.
Do you fall in love with the hero of the book you’re reading? What’s the name of the last fictional hero you were in love with? What made you fall in love with him?
Giveaway alert!! Christy Reece is awarding TWO winners their choice of one of the Last Chance Rescue novels!
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STOWAWAY with Becky Barker
Seasons Greetings fellow suspense lovers! It's a hectic time of year for us all, so I'll be brief. My newest book, STOWAWAY, was released earlier this week from Samhain Publishing, and I'm happy to report it's already hit the publisher's bestsellers list. Merry Christmas to me, LOL!
In honor of the holiday and my new romantic suspense, I'm giving away a Kindle to one lucky poster. The contest will run through Dec. 29th and then we'll have a random drawing from the readers who commented.
From my heart to yours, wishing you the Merriest of Christmases and a wonderful 2012:-)
Now, for a glimpse into STOWAWAY:
He’s handsome, hot, hunted and hurt…a plea for help from this detective is one her nurse's heart can't refuse.
The slips beyond the sailboats held sleek speedboats and a variety of other watercraft. Farther in the distance, the area teemed with nightlife and a myriad of neon signs. This end of the pier had quieted. The well-placed security lights created a shadowy darkness as dusk descended. One or two of the crafts were well lit and had people aboard. Keri would have to ask Lamanto how well he knew his neighbors.
He returned after just a few minutes, but the sight of him knocked all thoughts from her mind. His stunning good looks still caught her off-guard sometimes. With his hair tousled, his mysterious dark eyes and a five o’clock shadow, he looked beautifully dangerous.
After catching her breath, she tried to disguise her reaction with more teasing.
“All’s well? No dead bodies?”
“No dead anything,” he said with another wink and a crook of his finger. “Come into my parlor.”
She laughed at the wicked gleam in his eyes and headed in his direction. “Said the spider…”
Excitement coursed through her as their gazes locked and their hands touched again. His grip felt warm and sure, giving her pulse a jolt as she followed him down the steps. When her feet touched the floor, he dropped her hand and slipped his arm around her waist. More heat flooded her as she absorbed the feel of having him hip-to-hip close. Unused to casual intimacy, Keri decided she could get used to it pretty quickly.
“This is called the saloon. It’s Italian in design, of course, in honor of her namesake.”
“Of course,” she said. As her eyes adjusted to the change in light, she took in the compact beauty of the boat’s interior. Most everything, including the globed lights, was secured to the walls. “The paneling is gorgeous.”
“All natural teak,” he explained with pride. “It smells a little dank in here right now, common in this climate, but we can air it out better tomorrow. I can’t wait to take you out for a ride. There’s nothing sweeter.”
She made sounds of agreement as he slowly twirled her around to see the other features.
“The bed’s up here,” he said, pointing to a platform with heavy drapes. He pulled them back to show her a queen-sized, rumpled bed. The sight of disheveled sheets made her heart thump a little harder. The tight confines of the cabin enveloped her with romantic intimacy.
“The true head is at the foot of the bed and galley to the right,” he continued. “Nothing ready to eat, but I can remedy that pretty quick if you want first shot at the shower.”
“A shower sounds nice, but I don’t have any clean clothes.”
Lamanto pulled her fully into his arms. Hunger tightened his expression and she expected a kiss. Instead, he brushed his nose back and forth across hers in a gentle caress. “Do you trust me? Really trust me?” he asked softly.
“Trust you how?” she replied just as softly. “Trust that you’re honest? Trust that you wouldn’t hurt me?”
“Trust me with your body, even your life?”
Keri looked into his eyes and tossed the question around in her mind. The answer came quickly. Of course she trusted him. If not, she’d have turned him over to her dad days ago. He’d had plenty of time to do her harm or take advantage of her at the cabin.
On the other hand, he’d needed her up to this point, as a nurse and a means of transportation out of Tennessee. He’d needed her to get them from her home turf to his. Would their easy rapport and budding relationship end now that he’d returned to his normal life? She’d never really asked if he had a significant other waiting for his return.
Lamanto’s good arm tightened at her waist, crushing her breasts against his chest. She felt the strength of his arousal when their lower bodies bumped.
“You’re taking a damned long time to answer.”
She rose on tiptoe and brushed a kiss over his tight lips. “If I didn’t trust you, I would have let Russ sic his dogs on you days ago.”
“But? There has to be more. I can see the wheels of your brain spinning.”
“Well, I’d be a fool not to realize everything changed when we came south. Now that you’re home safe and sound, you really don’t need me, do you?”
“Maybe not, but I sure as hell want you.” He rolled his hips, rubbing against her belly. “Does that count for anything?”
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One question for you all? Who wouldn’t love to win all these books we’re giving away on the 19th? Who doesn’t love to win anything? (Okay, that was two questions. My bad.) But seriously, doesn’t winning give you an amazing high? It makes your pulse pick up, it brings a smile to your face or maybe a tear to your eye (depending on what you won). Winning makes you feel good. (Just ask Charlie Sheen. Apparently he knows.)
And sure, receiving is fun… it’s great when someone does something nice for you without any prompting. You just open up your email or an envelope or walk into work or home to find something special that someone did just for you? And a smile creeps on your face and your heart is full… I’ve got news for you. You get the same feeling when you give or pay it forward.
Knowing that you made someone happy, that for a few minutes you changed the course of a day can be a very powerful feeling. (Who doesn’t get choked up seeing Home Makeover every week? Watching a deserving family get a brand new home, I ball my eyes out like a baby.) Emotion sparks emotion. Wouldn’t you like to be the one to get the ball rolling on making a difference in someone’s life?
In the spirit of the holidays and as a pre-give away to the mega give away, I’m offering a digital copy of Dangerous Race to one lucky commenter.
Have you ever paid it forward or done something for someone else just because you knew it would make them happy? Feels good, doesn’t it? Happy holidays to everyone. Hope this season and the new year bring you peace and happiness.
Since giving is the heart of the season, here’s an excerpt from Dangerous Race and a scene from my secondary couple:
The shrill telephone ring brought Matthew Rivers out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. After working on the car all day it felt good to shower off the grease. It was also a relief to be away from the unnatural stress in the garage.
The clock said five-fifty and he still had plenty of time before meeting some of the guys downstairs for dinner. He fought a tickle in his nose but as he picked up the phone he let out an enormous sneeze.
“Wow,” a female said. “That was a whopper. God bless you.” Then she charged ahead before he got a word out. “I know I said I’d pick you up at six but I’m having a clothes dilemma. I’ve got my little black dress and my even littler red one. You told me we were dressing up tonight but which one do you think I should wear?”
Matthew coughed. That was a hell of a question to ask a practically naked guy. And it made him think. “If your dresses are on the bed, what are you wearing now?”
Silence on the other end told him he’d caught her attention. “Uh...you’re not Kim.”
Something about her voice seemed strangely familiar, but he couldn’t put a finger on it. “No, no,” he said. “I’m definitely not Kim.”
“I dialed room 1728. Who’s this?” she asked.
“Ah...” he said, looking down at the numbers on his phone. “Therein lies your problem. You dialed 1725. You missed it by a row. I’m Matthew. Not Kim.”
“Oh, my bad,” she said. “Sorry.”
“Hey wait, wait a second.” Now why the hell had he said that?
She returned, her voice strong on the line. “Yes?”
A reckless streak hit like lightning. “The black dress,” he said.
“Excuse me?”
“Your dilemma. Black or red. Wear the black dress.” He loved women in black. He all but felt her smile over the phone. Women loved black too. It was dangerous. Sexy.
“You don’t even know what the black dress looks like,” she countered.
“I know it’s little so I already like it.” He loved the sound of her voice. Wanted to hear more of it.
“What color is your hair?” he asked.
“What color is your hair?” he asked.
“That’s really none of your bus—”
“I’m not a pervert. I’m just trying to picture which dress might be better on you. What’s your hair color?”
She paused as if she could think of a reason not to answer him. “Black. Very black,” she finally said.
“Hmmm.” He heard her waiting for him and reeled her in. “Yeah. I’ll stick with my gut. Wear the black.”
“Tha—” she cleared her throat, “—thanks, Valentino. I’ll be sure to give you credit as my stylist for the evening.”
“It’s Matthew,” he said again. Man, she had a sexy voice. Low and husky. She sounded dangerous. “What’s your name?”
“Nice try, but it’s time to hang up, Matthew. Thanks for the advice. Have—”
“Wait, wait. If you’re not going to tell me your name, at least tell me what floor you’re on.”
Maybe he could find her somehow, but—
“Why? So you can loiter at the elevators and accost every woman you see in a black dress?”
He smiled at her suggestion. “I hadn’t really thought about it, but now that you mention it... Although the word ‘accost’ might be a little harsh.” All he’d have to do is hear her voice.
She paused. Was she really going to make him stand around the elevators looking for a woman in black? “Do you have a pen and paper? Are you ready?” she asked.
Matthew scrambled for both and his towel slid to the floor. “Ready,” he said.
“It’s a combination of the first three numbers of your room. Good night, Matthew. Thanks for your help.” She hung up the phone and left him standing there naked and perplexed. The first three numbers of his room? One, seven and two. Ten? She was on the tenth floor? What if she meant multiply? Maybe the fourteenth floor? He could call Kim in room 1728, but that would defeat the purpose. Matthew grinned. He loved a challenge.
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I’m so happy to be here at Just Romantic Suspense, a blog that’s captured my attention from the day it started! This month I’m celebrating the release of SPACE IN HIS HEART, a romantic suspense novel about a sexy Navy fighter pilot-turned astronaut and the spin doctor who sends him over the moon. While this book might be my twenty-seventh release, it is still a first for me: the first book I’ve independently published.
And, wow, what a ride this has been.
SPACE IN HIS HEART officially released on the last day of November and already I’ve had more reader emails than any other book. That is truly the most validating and rewarding aspect, I have to say. This book wasn’t “vetted” by New York, although it was professionally edited and proofed. This novel -- my first manuscript with many self-imposed revisions -- is really “all mine.” So the reader response somehow feels more personal and exciting.
I’m delighted to say my readers love the story, embrace the characters, and are telling me this a truly “feel-good” book that left them cheering and crying. Exactly what I wanted! But one comment seems to be almost universal, and to be perfectly honest, it’s kind of stunning. Readers love the very thing I worried most about in this book: the Slow Build romance.
In SPACE IN HIS HEART, the hero and heroine have a hot and tense chemistry, but they don’t act on it until well into the second half of the book. The attraction is tangible from page one, but the clothes stay on and the kisses stay chaste until after they realize their feelings for each other are extraordinary.
When I first wrote SPACE IN HIS HEART, I was a rookie -- no more than a voracious romance reader with another career altogether. I happened to be a reader who lived for the slow build...oh, sure I like a hot sexxoring as much as the next girl, but, for me, the real thrill of the Big Moment is the rollercoaster ride that got me there.
Once I started writing for traditional publishers, the push was definitely toward “earlier” sex -- or at least sexy scenes that pushed the envelope. One editor said “sex by page 60 or you’ll lose the reader.” I’m not saying this is one of those de facto “romance rules,” but, in my experience, the editorial push was in this direction. I certainly tried to get my hero and heroine crazy hot from the start, but honestly, being the writer I am, there’s always so much character baggage that keeps “swift sex” from being realistic.
The hot scenes? Why, yes, I have plenty, and they can be quite early on. If you’ve read my books you may be familiar with “the shed scene” in Hunt Her Down or “the airplane scene” in Face of Danger. Neither of those are love scenes, but they are dead sexy.
Of course, when I revised and polished SPACE IN HIS HEART for publication, I had a decade of experience and a lot of fantastic editors behind me. But I went with my gut instinct on this story and chose not to make it super sexy early in the book, and I worried that would cost me readers.
It hasn’t. In fact, the slow build has been lauded by almost every reviewer to date. On the http://smittenwithreading.blogspot.com/2011/12/space-in-his-heart-by-roxanne-st-claire.html blog, reviewer Christi Snow gave SPACE an A+, noting that: “I ADORED the slow build-up of the relationship between Deke and Jessica. It was so natural and so real the way that Roxanne wrote it. At first, they truly don't like each other. Jessica is a thorn and a roadblock that Deke doesn't need. He does everything he can to thwart her requests and to be as obstinate and difficult as possible, but slowly their attitudes towards each other change. I loved watching them VERY slowly become friends and then more. That whole aspect of the story was written so incredibly well.”
And another reviewer, Jess, at http://happilyeverafter-reads.blogspot.com/ wrote: “Deke and Jessica...don’t spend one week together and start declaring their love for each other. They work together for many weeks and the time passage is very realistic and it made me even that much more invested in their relationship. The attraction and sparks are there from their first meeting, and when they finally give in and be together, it’s sweet and hot and perfect to read.”
These comments and the notes from readers made me question that “sex by page 60” advice, at least for my books. So I’d love to hear from the romantic suspense readers and writers here. What do you think? You want the steam as soon as possible or do you prefer the slow simmer that boils over late in the book? I’d love to hear what you think!
One commenter will win a copy of SPACE IN HIS HEART! (Print or ebook - you decide!) Thanks for having me -- I'll pop in all day to respond to questions and comments!
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Breaking Bad: What Makes A Villain? Catherine Mann
A mystery/suspense/action novel derives its edge-of-the-seat quality from the level of threat directed at the hero and heroine. In essence, the better the villain, the higher the stakes. Right?
Young adult author and video game programmer David Lubar says, “The bad guy isn't doing bad stuff so he can rub his hands together and snarl. He may be driven by greed, neuroses, or the conviction that his cause is just, but he's driven by something not unlike the things that drive a hero.”
With that in mind, I create a character arc for my villains, just as I do for my hero and heroines. Granted, the villain’s motivations are flawed and ultimately wrong, but the reasons are clear. The motivations are apparent. And the reader should be left with the chilling knowledge that this villain will let no one stand in his/her way!
Many blogs include excerpts from an author’s current book on the shelves. To change things up a bit, today I’ve included an excerpt from the villain’s point of view in my December “Elite Force” novel HOT ZONE. Here’s a quick set up since this comes from the end of chapter two in HOT ZONE. The heroine – Amelia – is trapped beneath earthquake rubble with her newly adopted nephew. The hero – Air Force pararescueman Hugh – is below ground rescuing the woman and child.
Above ground, our villain also has a “mission” to “save” children…
The Guardian gripped the walkie-talkie in one hand while steering the Jeep around a fallen palm tree. The Motorola transceiver was top-of-the-line, not some two-tin-can kid stuff. Very few unofficial personnel had access to vehicles and reliable lines of communication. Those with better equipment—like the radio and the Jeep—would have an edge.
The four-wheel drive jostled over the uneven road that lay in pieces like a jarred puzzle. A catastrophe like this called for special people, with specific skills and equipment to keep others from being victimized. Above all, the children had to be protected. The Guardian considered it a life’s calling to remove babies from inadequate homes and provide them with better futures.
Never had that mission been more important than now.
Red tape meant nothing in the aftermath of the earthquake. Two decades of experience circumventing official channels would come in handy. Guardian troops already trained and in place would carry out orders without hesitation and with ease in the country’s current lawless state. Babies wouldn’t have to languish in an understaffed orphanage in this earthquake-ravaged hell while waiting for rubber-stamped paperwork.
Rows of sheet-covered dead filled a concrete parking lot outside a crumpled grocery store. The smaller forms carried the biggest punch, reminders of another lost child, a little girl whose face was still painfully clear even after so many years of grieving. The past would not repeat itself.
Anyone who interfered with the Guardian would become a casualty of war. Sad, but unavoidable. Nothing else mattered but gathering the children.
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The lines between good and evil can become murky. What are some current TV shows that feature characters with motives that can make them sympathetic even in the midst of their evil deeds? And in the excerpt above, do you think “The Guardian” is a male or female?
Thank you for checking out my latest book HOT ZONE – on shelves now! And thank you for stopping by here today. One lucky commenter will be chosen at random to receive a copy of HOT ZONE. (US and Canada only, please. No P.O. Boxes.)
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Author Bio:
USA Today bestseller Catherine Mann writes military romantic suspense for Berkley and Sourcebooks, as well as steamy romances for Harlequin Blaze. Catherine resides in Florida with her military flyboy husband, their four children and menagerie of pets. FMI, she can be found online at: Website, Facebook, Twitter
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AUDIO BOOKS Rita Henuber
Have hoards of guests coming for the Holidays?
Have 600 dozen cookies to bake?
Have to give the old home a good cleaning?
AND….. all YOU want do is to read a good Romantic Suspense book?
Well, have I got the solution for you.
Audio books!
Yes that’s right. You heard me-
The new craze among busy people who love to read.
Audio Books!
You can listen on your phone. Or your e-reader.
Listening to books will make the drudgery of cleaning closets, using the shop vac to suck the crumbs from the oven and scrubbing those toilets a thing of the past.
You’ll be so pleased to listen you’ll wish there was more work to do.
Ehh! That last statement might be pushing it. I started ‘listening’ because of vision problems. Even with glasses over contacts it was difficult to read. After five eye surgeries reading is much easier now but I’m hooked on listening. I can listen to my book and not feel guilty because I should be doing something else.
So tell me, Do you listen to your books? Do you have a favorite narrator?
My book Under Fire is available in audio format. Click here on Audible to listen to a sample .
I’ll be giving an audio book away to a commenter.
WARNING - Listening to Audio Books is habit forming.
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GUARDED HEARTS MJ Fredrick
Some stories take forever to come together. You get the kernel of an idea and you just know it will make a good story, but you can’t find just the right story.
In Guarded Hearts, I’d been watching 24 for years and I hated Kim, Jack’s dim daughter. I mean, really, the mountain lion? About the same time, I was reading some Silhouette Bombshells, and I wanted a strong-minded heroine. I wondered what the daughter of a counter-intelligence agent would be like when she grew up. She wouldn’t have had a lot of time with her father, but what time they did have together would be intense. He would be paranoid and want her to know how to defend herself.
That was as far as I got. For years, that was all I had. I wrote other books, but this one lingered in the back of my head. Then I realized I wanted her to go into public life, something her father never wanted for her. He had too many enemies, and even if she changed her name, his enemies could find her connection to him.
So, public life. Actress? I wasn’t keen on writing a Hollywood romance. Maybe someday, but not this story. Who else is in public life? Well, politicians. And while a lot of them aren’t hero material, some have good intentions. McKenna became my heroine, a Texas congresswoman with a mission to help single parents. She has big parental issues, because her father wasn’t often present and her mother resented it. Also, giving her a big mission gave her a reason to stick with the job even though her life was threatened.
In comes the bodyguard, and after that, I had my story! Fun, huh?
Guarded Hearts is out today wherever ebooks are sold!
Where to find MJ:
Twitter: @MJFredrick
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SEX AND VIOLENCE Allison Brennan
SEX AND VIOLENCE
Do I have your attention now?
I love romantic thrillers.
I love that the genre is so broad that it encompasses fun, sexy romantic suspense like Roxanne St. Claire; thoughtful, psychological romantic suspense like Laura Griffin; and dark, edgy romantic thrillers like mine.
Everyone has a different definition for romantic suspense. Some believe the romance should come first; others believe in a 50/50 split between romance and suspense; and still others believe that as long as there is a developing relationship, the suspense can outweigh the romance.
I don’t like writing to a formula, and while all my books have a romantic subplot, there isn’t a rigid percentage of suspense to romance. And I’m not one to judge, either: I can DIE HARD romantic suspense.
Seriously, what’s sexier and more thrilling than a hard-nosed cop fighting terrorists in a near-empty high-rise on Christmas Eve while trying to salvage his marriage—and save his wife’s life? And Holly isn’t any shrinking violet—she stands up for her employees and has her own role to play.
I tend to prefer my heroines to play a larger role, but the movie was written by guys, so what do we expect?
Just kidding!
My personal definition of romantic suspense is: the hero and heroine must survive and be together by the end of the book, and the bad guy must get what’s coming to him.
That gives me a whole lot of room to play.
I grew up reading mysteries like Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden and Agatha Christie. I evolved into reading the horror of Stephen King and Peter Straub. And I was addicted to soap operas in high school.
Oh, the drama!
(A little known fact about me: when I took a typing class in sixth grade, I used to practice with the lyrics to “General Hospi-Tale” by the Afternoon Delights. Yes, the song was awful, but I loved General Hospital and All My Children, watching into the early 90s.)
Where was I? Right! Suspense. Drama. Love.
My books are Rated R. That’s what I tell people, so they know what they’re getting into. There is sex (though not a lot); there is violence (probably a bit more violence than sex); and there is a whole lot of suspense (I hope!)
Sometimes, playing in this vast romantic suspense pool is confusing. I get emails from some readers who want more romance in my books and less suspense. I get emails from other readers complaining about the sex scene (most of my books have one—maybe two—love scenes. Most don’t total more than 10-12 pages in a 448 page book.)
I write what I write. That sounds simplistic, but we have to please ourselves first. If I tried to please every reader who’s ever criticized my books, I’d end up pleasing no one.
There’s room for lots of readers, and lots of different writing styles. Sometimes I want sexy, fun, suspense stories like only Roxanne St. Claire can tell. Sometimes I want more romance and laugh out loud to Jennifer Crusie. Sometimes I want to be scared by Stephen King. And sometimes I want the edgier romantic mysteries of J.D. Robb. I read broadly—from Susan Elizabeth Phillips to Karin Slaughter; from Janet Evanovich to Michael Connelly. Light to dark, sexy to serious.
I think there are a lot of readers like me.
But writing is different. I’ve tried to write light and humorous mysteries – I failed. I would love to write a modern day Nick and Nora Charles from the Thin Man series, which I’ve both read and watched on DVD. But my storytelling voice doesn’t do humor, except in very small doses.
Writers need to be true to their voice.
That doesn’t mean we don’t like to read everything J
I also get emails from people who don’t like that bad things happen to good people. Sometimes, I want to say, “Bad stuff happens.” (Well, I really what to say sh*t happens, but figure this is a PG blog.) Bad stuff happens because that’s the story. I’m really sorry that Lucy Kincaid was hurt in my book Fear No Evil. I’m thrilled that readers became so attached to her that they cared what happened to her and were worried about her. But if she didn’t get hurt, the story wouldn’t have been the same. And Lucy wouldn’t have her own series now with a wonderfully complex and conflicted backstory. She wouldn’t be the character she is today, without having suffered the tragedy of her past.
And then the people who simply think I’m a closet psychopath because I can even conceive of such ideas in the first place. As if I have control over my imagination!
If I actually had fantasies about killing people, I wouldn’t put it in print first!
There are some who feel that writing stories with sex and violence—and especially movies with sex and violence—spread said activities. That violent shows beget violent behavior. And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that romance novels are fantasies that distort a woman’s perception of relationships. Yes, they are a fantasy! But what is wrong with the ideal of holding out for a man who loves you for who you are, a man who is loyal and faithful, a man who is honorable?
This isn’t to say that there isn’t a point where gratuitous sex and violence doesn’t have an impact on society. I think, unfortunately, that our tolerance is higher and we have become sometime desensitized to subtle influences. I don’t buy into the philosophy that sex and violence in media—television, movies, or books—has increased sex and violence in our culture. There’s been plenty of both, long before commercial books and movies existed. Cain slew Abel, after all; hordes of people watched gladiators fight to the death; and men have paid prostitutes for sex before there was online pornography.
Many romance suspense books deal with complex and contemporary issues in society. Child predators, human trafficking, rape, school shootings, bullying, abuse of authority, and many more. Sometimes, romantic suspense gets trivialized because we include a happily-ever-after with our reflection on criminal justice.
But after what I put my characters through, they’ve earned their happily-ever-after. To me, nothing is more satisfying than two people battling evil and overcoming all odds, and ending up together in the end.
I’ll be visiting today, so ask me questions, or share with blog readers the first line or two of the book you’re currently reading! I hope it’s a romantic suspense J
Allison Brennan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of seventeen romantic thrillers. Her latest book, If I Should Die, earned 4.5 stars from RT Book Reviews, and a Recommended Read from Joyfully Reviewed, which said it’s: “a spine-tingling chiller that will wrap you up in its mystery and take you on a heart-pounding race to the breathtaking finale!” The fourth book in her Lucy Kincaid series, Silenced, will be available on 4.24.12. Visit her website at allisonbrennan.com where you can find links to excerpts, friend her on Facebook, or follower her on Twitter.
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I'M GRATEFUL Julie Miller
I’m Grateful
The past couple of months have been a particularly trying time for my family. We lost my dad just last year, and this year, we’ve had two more family funerals. Never mind the stress of the holidays, deadline pressures, helping grieving family members, and the regular real life stuff we all have to deal with—it has been tough.
But my mom—she’s as tough as she is funny and smart and loving—has gotten me onto a new way of thinking that truly has helped put recent events into perspective. Her advice not only keeps me moving forward and helps me sleep at night, but it’s also helping me keep on top of all my responsibilities (who wants to get behind at this time of year?) and is helping me remember to celebrate and find true joy in this holiday season. So, thanks, Mom!
Her secret is simple. Be grateful. Instead of dwelling on losses, figuring out new responsibilities, and feeling overwhelmed by it all, focus on the positive. Every night, between turning off the television or shutting my book and going to sleep, I lie there and mentally list all the things in my life I’m grateful for. It’s a form of praying, I suppose. But even for those who aren’t faith-inclined, it’s a good mental exercise to bring balance back to a busy life. And, throughout the day, in moments of crazy stress, I stop and go through my “grateful” list. Sometimes, I have to actually write the list down to get past the walls of stress/anger/frustration/grief/whatever that’s blocking my ability to think. But it works. At least for me.
Here is a sample of some of the things I’m grateful for. Some of them come and go from the list, but many of them have a permanent home there.
1. That my son turned out to be such a fine young man.
2. A good husband who makes me laugh.
3. That I could rescue such a lovable, smart, entertaining dog from the Humane Society.
4. My friendship with my mom.
5. A contract to write a new Precinct miniseries for Harlequin Intrigue (work is always good!).
6. My fertile imagination. I’ve never been at a loss for new story ideas to write about. I hope I never lose that gift.
7. The opportunity to work with young people—either teaching, subbing or through coaching IMPROV.
8. Supportive, caring friends who laugh with me through the good times and are there for me in countless ways through the bad times.
9. A roof over my head (sure, there’s always some new project that needs to be taken care of, but I’m out of the Nebraska wind and I have a warm spot to go to when the worst of winter really hits!)
10. Readers. I’m continually humbled and amazed that other people (who aren’t my mom <g>) like reading my stories. I’m honored by the messages that say I’ve touched a life or made someone think or created a character one could relate to or a plotline that another says was a non-stop thrill ride. Utterly cool. You don’t have to take the time to share, but I do appreciate it. Thank you!
What are you grateful for? What makes you sigh with relief or smile or think, “Yeah, it’s gonna be okay.” Share your thoughts. I’ll check in throughout the day to answer any questions or comments (and hey, it’s always okay to talk about book and writing <g>). And I’ll give away a copy of my brand new release, NANNY 911, to one lucky commenter.
Happy Holidays!
Julie Miller
***Upcoming Books from Julie Miller***
SHADOW OF THE HAWK--Sept 2011
NANNY 911--Dec 2011
ICE LAKE--Jan 2012
THE MARINE NEXT DOOR--May 2012
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HER BIGGEST FAN Sharon Donovan
I’m so excited to be here on JRS. Reading and writing romantic suspense is one of my favorite passions. A stormy setting always draws me in and creates drama and atmosphere. There’s something deliciously romantic about those dark nights, willowy shadows and thunder and lightning crashing and colliding. HER BIGGEST FAN is set in Bar Harbor Maine New England plays a crucial part in the storyline. The villain of the story believes he is Thor, god of thunder. Here’s a blurb.
From the shadows of the woods, he keeps vigil. The stage is set to drive the pretty little princess insane. He’s coming for her. And when he catches her, he’ll pounce on her like the big bad wolf.
After receiving a disturbing fan letter, New York Times best-selling author Tess Kincaid flees to the New England home she’s inherited following her father’s suicide. The manor has been tainted with, every room staged to resemble the way it was in its glory days. But when Tess calls the police, the chilling props vanish into thin air.
Ruggedly handsome Sheriff Mike Andretti is called to investigate the reported burning candles, dancing gargoyles and otherworldly. When he discovers no trace of the eerie setting, he finds himself caught between duty and desire. Is the woman with the bewitching green eyes delusional--or is this a trap of twisted wit set by a demented fan?
The storyline for HER BIGGEST FAN came to me in a dream. I’m sure it crept out of the cobwebs of my subconscious from the following.
My mother grew up in the small coal mining town of Shamrock in rural Pennsylvania
HER BIGGEST FAN has nothing to do with a coal mining town, but growing up hearing my mother and her siblings talk about the eerie ball of fire rolling down a hill at midnight sparked an idea for a storyline for a romantic suspense in this author’s imagination.
Here’s an excerpt:
From the grand ballroom, the soft floating of piano keys drifted, louder and louder, faster and faster, reaching a spiking crescendo that shook the chandelier. And then all was quiet as the manor settled from the riveting climax that rattled the windows.
An eerie twine hummed through the corridor. Shocked by the scaling spike of piano keys, Tess’s knees wobbled. Floundering, she leaned against the wall for support.
She gasped for breath, her heartbeat escalating. In barely more than a whisper, she called out. “Daddy?”
Her mind raced. Could her dad be alive? Did he stage his own death? Tears stung her eyes. She had to find out. But still, she proceeded with caution. She sensed evil from deep in her soul.
Camouflaged in the dim lighting, Tess scaled along the walls of the barrel corridor, blending into the dark wood paneling.
Inching her way a bit deeper, she crept, her heart pounding. Beads of sweat trickled down her spine. A door banged, sounding like shutters smacking the house. Then she felt a rush of cool air coming from the grand ballroom, dank with the smell of rain and something else. Burning candles.
Fear clutched her from deep within. As she got closer, the scent of jasmine grew stronger. The sweet smell permeated the air. It was as if her father were still alive, entertaining in the grand ballroom. Just as Tess reached the arched column to the massive hall, a bolt of thunder exploded in the sky, followed by an illuminating flash of lightning. Then all went dark.
Tess stood at the entrance, polarized. Goose bumps prickled her flesh. When the icy instrumental of Moonlight Sonata started all over again, she took a step back and gasped. Peering into the massive hall, she stared in disbelief.
On either side of the mahogany bar, standing candelabras gleamed, long white tapers flickering in the dark. Open terrace doors banged in the wind, bringing in the pouring rain. The air carried the mingled scent of jasmine and stale tobacco. Pleated silk drapes billowed out like wings.
Rain puddled the cherry wood floor that once sparkled beneath the mirrored ceiling and crystal chandelier. The ghostly sound of piano keys escalated as Moonlight Sonata played on the old Victrola. And in the center of the room, looking for all the world like guests of honor at a grand masquerade, two wax gargoyles danced cheek to cheek, costumed in feather masks as bizarre as the setting.
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THE RUSH Debra Webb
This time of year most of us feel “rushed.” There is NEVER enough time and we just can’t seem to make things happen fast enough. Thanksgiving is a mere three days away and Christmas—I don’t even want to think about it. Like most, I would love to get deadlines wrapped up so I can just relax and enjoy for the holidays. Maybe next year.
One thing that starts for many about this time of year is the rush to get the Christmas shopping done. The rush isn’t as much about “time” as it is about finding the perfect gift for friends and loved ones. You hate to break down and give money rather than a well thought-out gift that you perhaps battled the crowds on Black Friday to purchase. I am squarely in the gift rush. Every day I grow closer to just giving the money and releasing a huge sigh of relief. I’ll give it another couple weeks before I surrender. The gift is so much more fun (besides, if you hit the right sales it can look as if you spent $100 when you only spent $30).
When you’re in the “rush” mode, whether related to work or the holiday frenzy, it’s difficult to make yourself S-L-O-W down and realize that the most important thing about this week in particular is to remember to give thanks. Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to gather with family and friends and to enjoy a marvelous meal (my baby girl is hosting her first holiday meal in her home with her new hubby), but we often forget to give thanks for our blessings—whether many or few.
So, I’ve decided to add “giving thanks” to my rush. I’m starting now. I am sincerely thankful for my wonderful family and that they are gathered around me, safe and happy. I am so thankful in particular for my wonderful husband who is my heart and soul and without whom I could never dream of reaching my goals and dreams. I am so thankful for my many amazing friends—you know who you are. I am so thankful for my old house with its unlevel floors and many eccentricities. And I am genuinely thankful to be here today chatting with all of you. This gives me the opportunity to say thanks to the many readers who believe in my work and continue to buy my stories. I am so blessed to be able to do what I love.
Thank you.
That felt good…except that the rush is still on and I gotta get back to work. Oh well. My new Faces of Evil series launched last month with OBESSION and I am so pleased with the success. The reviews are phenomenal and I have been brought to tears by emails from readers more than once. IMPULSE, the second of the twelve Faces of Evil will go up next week. I’m aiming for Wednesday, November 30th, but don’t shoot me if it’s Thursday…or Friday (no later, I promise). Since I’m determined to continue giving thanks through the “rush,” I’ve decided that anyone who comments today can email me through my website (www.debrawebb.com) to have their name added to a special “thank you” list. The day before IMPULSE is available on Amazon and BN, the folks on the “thank you” list will get a free digital version (kindle or nook) emailed directly to them! So, leave a comment and send me an email. Don’t forget to get your copy of OBSESSION now!
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EDGE OF SURVIVAL Toni Anderson
This is the perfect title for my story. In fact, it is the perfect title for any romantic suspense story, because that’s what it’s all about.
The hero and heroine are fighting not just for a love that has unexpectedly zinged into their lives, they’re fighting for their very existence. Romantic Suspense authors like to kill people. We like to have crime scenes and blood spatter and partial fingerprints. We like DNA and psychological profiles.
Into the chaos of carrying out a murder investigation in the remote Canadian wilderness, I threw in a heroine with type-1 diabetes who wanted to live life to the fullest; An ex-British SAS soldier-turned helicopter pilot who was trying to bury his problems in alcohol and sex; A desperate local trapper, an evil mine foreman, an impotent RCMP officer, and an endangered species. Pretty much every character in this story is on the edge of survival and everything is at stake.
So, what’s your favorite survival story?
EDGE OF SURVIVAL (November 2011 from Carina Press)
Foreword by Brenda Novak
Dr. Cameran Young knew her assignment wouldn't be easy. As lead biologist on the Environment Impact Assessment team, her findings would determine the future of a large mining project in the northern Canadian bush. She expected rough conditions and hostile miners—but she didn't expect to find a dead body her first day on the job.
Former SAS Sergeant Daniel Fox forged a career as a helicopter pilot, working as far from the rest of the human race as possible. The thrill of flying makes his civilian life bearable, and he lives by his mantra: don't get involved. But when he's charged with transporting the biologist to her research vessel, he can't help but get involved in the murder investigation—and with Cameran, who awakens emotions he's desperate to suppress.
In the harsh and rugged wilderness, Daniel and Cameran must battle their intense and growing attraction while keeping ahead of a killer who will stop at nothing to silence her…
My heroine has diabetes and I'm donating 15% of my royalties to diabetes research.
Read an excerpt here
Toni Anderson is a former Marine Biologist turned Romantic Suspense writer who now lives in the Canadian prairies with her husband and two children. Her stories are set in the stunning locations where she’s been lucky enough to live and work—the blustery east coast of Scotland, the remote isolated mining communities of Northern Labrador, the rugged landscapes of the U.S. and Australia. You can learn more on her website.
Toni is giving away a copy of her last romantic suspense novel, SEA OF SUSPICION. This giveaway will be ending at 10:00pm EST on Nov. 21st.
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I have an ongoing love affair with forearms and wrists--manly male forearms and wrists.
I actually love them so much I created a web page for them called http://www.forearmswithfirearms.com/ (Good title, right?) I can't take credit for it. Camille Bacon Smith, a brilliant fantasy writer, and I were talking about our favorite male body parts one day and I mentioned how sexy a man's arms and wrists and hands are. She said, "Forearms with firearms. You can't beat that."
Here are some of my favorite forearms with firearms.
My latest book hero, Devereux Gautier, is a detective in New Orleans. Naturally, he has magnificent forearms and he carries a gun. Hard to Hold by Mallory Kane is available for Kindle on Amazon, all electronic formats on Smashwords, and coming very soon for Nook on B&N.
Here's the forearm with firearm that I cast as Dev's.
Anyone want to guess who it is? I've manipulated the picture a bit, but it still shouldn't be difficult.
My next project is going to be Wrist Watch. I love men's wrists too. Especially bony sexy wrists sporting a beautiful watch. Check out this classic wrist. Yum!
So what is your favorite part of a man? Eyes? Smile? Bare feet? I know you've got one!
Hard to Hold, available now
Private Security, May, 2012, from Harlequin Intrigue
Death of a Beauty Queen, June, 2012, from Harlequin Intrigue
Mallory will be giving away a rare copy of her first Harlequin Intrigue, THE LAWMAN WHO LOVED HER, publishedin 2001, where Dev Gautier, the hero of Hard to Hold, is introduced. This giveaway will end Nov. 18th at 8:00pm EST.
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What's In A Name?Terry Odell
Once upon a time, or as my kids used to say, "ponce a time" I had an idea for a story based on the MacGyver character. It lived in my head for a long time. I tried writing it, but the sheer mechanics of typing dialogue with proper punctuation turned me off. Years later, my son introduced me to Highlander: The Series on television, and I got sucked into that world. My MacGyver story's basic premise changed, and I had a 'what if' moment for the Immortal universe.
The story idea compelled me enough to deal with all those commas and quote marks, and I hooked up with an author whose writing resonated with me. With excruciating patience, she showed me the beginnings of crafting a story, which I wrote and posted to the online Highlander fanfiction sites of the time.
Thank goodness for the positive responses to my Highlander stories, because I look at them now and cringe. But because people said they liked them, I kept developing my craft.
Eventually, I wanted to try my hand at a book set in the real universe, with characters and settings of my choosing, which led to my first book, Finding Sarah. However, my Highlander story wouldn't die, and I toyed with moving one of the segments of my "Immortal Flu" series into the real world. The seed for What's in a Name? was planted. But it wasn't growing very fast, because I had to move away from Duncan MacLeod and develop an original character. Blake Windsor wasn't, nor could he ever be, Duncan MacLeod.
Until I know what makes a character tick, the plot hangs in the background. For What's In A Name?, the click moment was listening to Dan Fogelberg's "Leader of the Band." I knew I had to write about a character whose life was controlled by the line, "And Papa, I don't think I said I love you near enough." Once Blake's motivation was in place, the story was no longer a Highlander story, and the rest of the book began to fall into place. Of course, there's a little of Duncan MacLeod left in Blake Windsor. The Highlander is Immortal, after all.
Terry is clearing out her bookshelves and will be giving away all sorts of books. There are 5 different ways to enter, and you can find them on the Deals and Steals tab at her blog, Terry's Place: http://terryodell.blogspot.com/
Terry will be giving away a copy of WHAT’S IN A NAME to one lucky commenter. This giveaway will end 8:00pm EST on November 15th.
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SEAL Of My Dreams Author Cindy Gerard
As it did all Americans, 9-11 affected me deeply. Made me question – what’s my role here? How can I help? That’s why hubby and I have been supporters of our military for years. We’ve been sending care packages, books and phone cards overseas for what seems like forever. So when Christie Ridgway and Allison Kent contacted me and asked if I’d like to contribute to a collection of short stories with all proceeds pledged to support our veterans and their medical care, I jumped at the chance! I would have done it even if they hadn’t lured me in initially with the amazing photo of the SEAL who ended up on the cover of SEAL of My DREAMS. This guy is the real deal, by the way. The photograph was taken in Fallujah as he was gearing up for an op. It doesn’t get any more real than that. Neither does this cause. Veterans Research Corporation is a hallmark organization that helps ALL of our wounded veterans, no matter what branch of the military they serve. I hope you will join me and the other authors who gave so generously of their time and talents (many of us had to rearrange our schedules to make this happen) and buy this book. You’ll receive a wonderful reading experience AND contribute to a GREAT cause. It’s a Win Win all the way. :o)
Oh – and for those of you who follow my Black Ops Inc series, my contribution – SEALed With A Kiss – is a BOI story featuring Luke and Val (from my New York Times best-seller, With No Remorse). It’s got tons of fun, adventure, suspense and romance and I had a blast catching up with these two again.
BTW – you can buy SEAL OF MY DREAMS in e-book or Tradepaper back. It’s available now in e-format and trade paperback at Amazon It’s also available at B&N and available in Trade paperback at http://www.bellebooks.com/
If anyone has any questions for me about my books or about the collection or about Veteran Research Corporation, I’ll be here all day so fire away.
In the meantime please check out our site: http://www.sealofmydreams.com/
Hugs to all and as always, thanks for supporting me and my books and for getting behind this wonderful cause! You all totally rock! www.cindygerard.com
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By: Carla Swafford
Being a lover of all genres of romance, I started reading romantic historicals when I was twelve, and later added Harlequin contemporaries and then whatever paranormals I could find. At that time, there were more horror paranormal than romantic.
When I decided to try my hand at writing, my first try was a couple paragraphs about a hand holding a gun and pointing it through an open doorway. My brother teased me about my horrible prose. But I didn’t give up. A few years later, I wrote my first full book: a medieval and the heroine didn’t have a little brother.
Who would’ve ever guess that #*&%&^ (mumble-mumble) years later I would be published in romantic suspense. By the way, my brother is very proud of me.
When I started writing Circle of Desire, I had completed eight other books and the last two were paranormal. I wanted to look for something different to write. Authors are told all the time write what you love. Well, that’s what I had done so far. I’d written vampires, witches, and a female chauvinist. Others were of a bad boy preacher’s son, tough-as-nails sheriff, and a female truck driver. So what was left?
One of my favorite books of Linda Howard’s is All The Queen’s Men. The über-spy, John Medina, is sexy and pure Alpha. I always have to capitalize Alpha. Just seems right. Then I love Michael on the TV show, Le Femme Nikita. He’s soft spoken and so sure of himself. I have all of the DVDs.
Okay. Now I’ll check and see if you were paying attention. In the third paragraph above, did you notice the type of women I write? They’re not your every day average heroine. So keep that in mind.
After contemplating a couple other ideas, I decided to write a book about an assassin, but I wanted to twist it around and have the woman as the coldblooded killer. Yet, at the same time, she needed to be sympathetic. Strange thing, I’ve found female readers are more forgiving of a man who kills, if it is perceived as ridding the world of scum, than they are of a woman doing the same. Anyway, I like heroines who are strong as their heroes. Of course, no matter how they try to emulate men, their emotions get the best of them in the end. Thank goodness. That’s when the romance really blooms and takes off.
Olivia St. Vincent is a perfect mate for Collin Ryker. He’s really more brains than brawn though he has no problem defending himself when Olivia tries to kick his butt. Twice.
If you like action-packed, intense drama and hot scenes with some moments of sarcasm throw in and then I believe you’ll enjoy Circle of Desire.
But that’s only the beginning of the series. In the first half of next year, you can find out in Circle of Danger how Collin’s brother handles the rebellious woman he’s been forbidden to touch…well, that is, until now.
Now, let’s have some fun. I love lists, and thought you might enjoy the top ten clues that you're reading too much Romantic Suspense.
10. You suspect every grieving widower of having "a hand" in the death of his wife.
9. You see a report of a wreck on the interstate and shout at the television "the boyfriend did it!"
8. You believe you can solve any crime if your husband was a sexy police detective.
7. You suspect the clean-cut guy in your office of being a potential serial killer because he has "that look."
6. You eye the small sunken area in the backyard and wonder if a body is buried there.
5. You refuse to go to children’s birthday parties because every time a balloon pops, you duck.
4. You feel a need to explain to the checkout boy that you really use the black plastic bags for leaves.
3. You leave the shower curtains open during a shower.
2. You drive past your house believing the car in the rearview mirror is tailing you.
1. You become worried that your husband is plotting your death because he’s being too nice after watching a marathon of Cold Case.
Available in paperback and e-format on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Sony, and iBooks.
Twitter: @carlaswafford
Carla will be giving away a copy of CIRCLE OF DESIRE to one lucky reader. This giveaway will end the evening of November 10th
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The Keeper Shelf
By: Adrienne Giordano
One of the things I love to do on a rainy day is curl up with a good book. Recently, I was in the mood for a guaranteed good read and headed to my keeper shelf. You know that shelf, right? The one where you store all your favorite I-must-read-this-a-billion-times books?
Well, maybe you don't have one of those shelves, but I do. It's a dedicated space that stands separate from the rest of my collection. This is the special shelf. The one I guard like a general holding the line. When I offer to lend my friends books from this space I give them a stern warning that it must be returned. Don't get me wrong, I'm a generous sort, but some of my keeper books are signed by the authors, and I don't want to be hunting down my babies.
And, no, I'm not crazy.
Not really.
I'm just an author who started out as a reader. One who read simply for pleasure. Now, it's a little different. When I find a book I love, I am no longer able to devour it for the simple joy of getting lost in the story. Now I devour it to study how the author layered tension on the page or used dialogue a certain way. Truth be told, the dialogue is my favorite part. Most of my favorite authors are ones who are wicked good at dialogue.
Who are some of those authors? For me, it's Suzanne Brockmann and Harlan Coben. Throw a little Jennifer Crusie my way and it's sure to make me smile. And let's not forget Janet Evanovich and her Stephanie Plum series. Those are just a sampling, but they are all authors who have touched my life in some way. Either they've made me laugh when my heart hurt or they've taught me something about the craft of writing. Whatever the reason, I have found their books memorable and worthy of the keeper shelf.
So, if you're wondering which book I picked up on my recent trip to the keeper shelf, it was Harlan Coben's No Second Chance. Now, since this is Just Romantic Suspense, let me state for the record that Harlan and Suzanne Brockmann were at war for my affections on that trip. Romantic suspense is my favorite genre, but on that particular day I was in the mood for a rip-your-guts-out thriller. When I want that, I reach for No Second Chance, a book about a man searching for his kidnapped baby. The level of tension in this book is nearly paralyzing.
Sometimes, that's what I want when I curl up on a rainy day.
No matter what genre we reach for though, I think it's a blessing that we lovers of books have a place we find sanctuary when we need a pick-me-up.
Yep, a rainy day, a good book and a couch.
Jackpot.
Adrienne Giordano writes romantic suspense and women's fiction. She is a Jersey girl at heart, but now lives in the Midwest with her work-a-holic husband, sports obsessed son and Buddy the Wheaten Terrorist (Terrier). She is a co-founder of Romance University blog. For more information on Adrienne's books please visit www.AdrienneGiordano.com. Adrienne can also be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AdrienneGiordanoAuthor and Twitter at http://twitter.com/AdriennGiordano.
Adrienne's books available at:
Adrienne will be offering up a digital copy of RISKING TRUST to one lucky reader. This giveaway will end the evening of November 9th.
