Tag: small town

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Soldier’s Secret Child

SOLDIER'S SECRET CHILDBeing asked to participate in a continuity series by Harlequin is always an honor, delight and a challenge. The latter was especially true of my participation in the COLTONS continuity which included my novel, SOLDIER’S SECRET CHILD.

It takes a lot of work to create a series of intertwined and yet stand alone stories. I think it’s a testament to the amazing editors at Harlequin who put these series together and then ask the authors to write a particular novel. I have to confess I was a little surprised by which one of the six books in the series I was asked to write.

First of all I was pleased that they didn’t ask me to write the book with the Latina heroine. It’s nice not to be typecast.

But a book about a woman who had a secret baby and hasn’t told the military hero father about him in seventeen years? Hmm. That part was a little harder for me to wrap my head around. In fact, it took me nearly a month to try and understand the motivation behind such a secret and why now, after so many years, it was time for the secret to be revealed.

Being a character-driven writer, that motivation was key for me so that I could craft a hero and heroine with whom readers could identify. At that end of that month of agony, I found the motivation: Love.

Love for Fisher Yates, the hero of the piece. Respect of his dreams and how they would be derailed by an unexpected pregnancy. I won’t say unwanted because that’s the farthest thing in Macy’s mind. Macy is a woman filled with love for her child, the man she marries and loses, and for Fisher.

The story challenged me to show that and to demonstrate how love survived, buried deep in the hearts of two people who had to place duty and honor before what they both wanted most – each other.

I hope you enjoy this free excerpt from SOLDIER’S SECRET CHILD. If you can’t see the excerpt below, you can read or download the free excerpt of SOLDIER’S SECRET CHILD by clicking here or cutting and pasting this link into your browser: http://www.scribd.com/doc/34003128/Soldiers-Secret-Child-Free-Excerpt

Soldiers Secret Child – Free Excerpt

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Wicked Wednesday – Behind the Scenes of SINS OF THE FLESH

SINS OF THE FLESH, Available October 27, 2009 from FOREVER Grand Central PublishingMy friend Jacquie Rogers did a fun thing the other day on her blog – she told all about the setting for her novel Down Home Ever Lovin’ Mule Blues. You can check it out by clicking here or cutting and pasting this link: http://jacquierogers.blogspot.com/2009/06/where-heck-is-grasmere-idaho.html

Thanks for sharing that behind the scenes look, Jacquie!

It only seemed right to follow Jacquie’s wonderful lead and give you some behind the scenes info about SINS OF THE FLESH. Hopefully you’ll find some of the places that will be appearing in the book interesting and worth a trip next time you’re in the area.

Today I’m sharing with you a bit about the hero’s home – Bradley Beach, New Jersey. According to the town website, “(t)he earliest accounts of Bradley Beach can be traced back to 1679 when it is said that Captain William Kidd anchored his vessel off Duck Creek, now known as Sylvan Lake.”

Captain Kidd! How cool is that, although I don’t have any pirates in my book, just some arguably mad scientists doing weird gene experiments.

The town was named Bradley Beach in 1871 and over the next century, became a popular beach resort. It’s the kind of small town where you feel safe walking around and people say “Hello” and “Good morning.” It’s got a gorgeous paved beachfront walk dotted with gardens, gazebos, a playground and mini-golf course.

I love taking long walks along the beachfront and through town. It’s quite relaxing and because of that, it was a natural choice for me to be Mick Carrera’s home. As a mercenary, Mick needs somewhere to go where life is safe, relaxing and people can be trusted. Bradley Beach is the kind of a town where I can imagine Mick having a Happily-Ever-After.

Bradley Beach is also where Mick’s family lives and runs a Mexican restaurant along Main Street. If you visit Bradley Beach and come “down the shore” as the Jersey natives say, you’ll find that Main Street is just loaded with an assortment of different restaurtants, ice cream parlors, and bakeries.

I visited Bradley Beach several times to do research and am continuing to go back for more research as I write the second book in the series which will feature Mick’s little sister Liliana. Liliana is a doctor at a local hospital and is doing a residency in orthopedic surgery.

Since I’ve been visiting, I’ve got some recent shots to share with you so you can appreciate the laid back and friendly vibe of this Jersey Shore town.

Hope you enjoyed a slightly different Wicked Wednesday. I’ll be giving you some more behind the scenes snippets into SINS OF THE FLESH so you’ll get to meet all the characters and know a little bit more about the various places you’ll see in the book.

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