New Contemporary Romance Coming September 24th!
I’m excited to announce that my first release from Carina Press is due out on September 24th. For those who have read my other contemporary romances, I’m sure you will enjoy this story set in a small English town and the Italian Amalfi coast.
Finally Home
As manager of the charming Greyfriar House Hotel, Melanie Marshall loves her job and spending time with her young son. But she can never forget what she ran away from: her late husband’s crimes and her own terrible guilt. Though lonely, Melanie can’t afford to let another man into her life.
But when her boss, gorgeous hotel owner Jack Summers, returns from his supposed wedding without a ring or a wife, Melanie discovers there’s more to him than she ever thought. For one, the ex-soccer star is her son’s idol. But the closer she gets to Jack, the more she pulls away. She can’t share her past. Ever.
For too long, Jack’s protected his scarred heart by letting gold-digging women make him think love didn’t matter. But a sweet single mother and a soccer-crazy little boy change everything. He knows Melanie has secrets. Secrets she’ll have to share if he’s to help her realize she’s finally home.
Available as an ebook on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, B&N, Carina Press
Free Book Promotion
Announcing
Summer Sizzler Free Par-Tay
June 13th – 14th!
Let’s celebrate summer: time to kick back, relax, and read!!!
There’s no better way to ease into it
than with Dozens of Great books that are FREE!
TWO DAYS ONLY
Find romances from sweet to suspenseful to humorous and hot,
Thrillers, Mysteries, Sci-Fi, Historical, Contemporary, YA, Children’s and more!
All FREE!!
Fantastic eBooks, many by award-winning and best-selling authors.
Visit www.freepartay.com for all the titles, Kindle & gift card
raffle entries, and links!
Join in the Par-Tay! Let’s sizzle!
Romance Hot Buttons
Of the tropes found in romance fiction, if you are anything like me you’ll have certain hot button plot devices or issues that you’re drawn to. I’ve discovered from analysing the films and books I enjoy that my hot buttons are reunited lovers, especially childhood sweethearts who are parted and then find each other again, the classic Cinderella trope, marriage (or engagement) of convenience, friends to lovers and unrequited love. I also love babies and children in sweet romances. Most books and films that include these elements in the plot appeal to me.
One of my favorite films is Pretty Woman, a classic Cinderella story. More unusual is the reverse Cinderella story like Notting Hill where the roles are switched. Hugh Grant is the Cinderella Character to Julia Roberts rich and famous actress. I still enjoy it this way round if it’s done well, but I prefer the man as the ‘Prince’.
In addition to those I’ve already mentioned, there are many other much-loved romance plots that have been done numerous times but never get old (as Harlequin will vouch for!). Here are a few I can think of, but I’m sure there are many more: secret baby, amnesia, man in love with best friend’s younger sister, the ugly duckling, kidnapping, mistaken identity, reformed rake/playboy, revenge, forbidden love/Romeo & Juliet, tortured hero, boss/secretary (probably falls under Cinderella), Beauty and the Beast. Many of the best romance novels seem to take one of these tropes and give it a twist to keep it fresh.
I also have to admit to loving heroes who have a nerdy side even if they try to hide it. And something that gets me every time is a hero who reveals his vulnerability. I love a wounded hero!
What started me thinking about classic plots devices was the realization that I’d included most of my favorites in my latest release Unbreak My Heart, without setting out to do so. At its heart, this is a story of childhood sweethearts who are reunited and rediscover love, but I blended in an engagement of convenience, friends to lovers and Cinderella.
What are your favorite romance tropes to read and write? Are they the same? Are there any you don’t like?