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October 3, 2016

JADED, BEARDED, WOLFISH Out!

Today the third novella in my Crazy, Sexy, Ghoulish series is out! Called Jaded, Bearded, Wolfish, it tells the story of Zach, a surly werewolf working at a haunted house who faces his worst fear: a beautiful new co-worker who makes him question his no-girls policy.

Zach wants nothing to do with girls.

It’s what happens when you’ve been unlucky in love.

But the Haunted Shack’s werewolf is in for a surprise when he finds out his new furry co-worker is female.

And pretty.

And perky.

Good thing she only dates hipsters.

Too bad he’s starting to need her more than he’d like to admit.

I had so much fun writing this novella, and it’s my love letter to fall in so many ways: cold nights, caramel, autumn festivals, apples, and of course haunted houses.

You can read an excerpt from the beginning here, or download it today for only $0.99 at the major online retailers:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

iBooks

Kobo

Smashwords

The first novella, Crazy, Sexy, Ghoulish, is also still free at all stores, if you know anyone who’d love a free fun Halloween read!

Tags: Crazy Sexy Ghoulish, Halloween romance, Jaded Bearded Wolfish, New Adult, romantic comedy

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Published on October 03, 2016 04:20

August 30, 2016

Romance Trope Tuesday: Writing Friends to Lovers

Since this is the last Tuesday in August (what?), I’m wrapping up this month’s focus on friends-to-lovers romance.

This is a popular trope for stories, and when it works, it works so well.

So how do you pen a fantastic romance using this trope? My thoughts are below. (As always, these are tips and tricks I’ve gleaned from reading and watching some great friends-to-lovers stories.)

*Show us that friendship.

In my opinion, for a tale to truly fit this trope, a friendship must be well-established. So show us that platonic dynamic before things get weird: Have them do everyday, non-romantic things. Make one of them talk about an ex. Show us they’re comfortable with one another.

But what if things are already awkward under the surface, because one of them is attracted to the other…or both of them are?

*Bring the awkward.

When two people are in a comfortable friendship, but there’s lingering attraction under the surface (whether new or years-long) it can get strange. Let it. Show the two friends trying to be normal, but failing. He’s noticing her body in that bathing suit all of a sudden; she’s being overly nice to his new girlfriend to hide her jealousy. That distance that the awkwardness brings helps put a crack in their friendship–which may sound undesirable, but for their relationship to evolve, it must change.

*But make it a sexy awkward, and/or a funny one.

Having this disconnect between how the two friends are acting and what’s going on beneath–a growing attraction–has also sorts of potential for awkwardness of the sexy and/or humorous variety. Make her curious what it would be like to kiss him–so much he catches her staring at his mouth and asks her why. In the quirky friends-to-lovers film What If, the character of Wallace (Daniel Radcliffe) is unable to tear his eyes away from a nearly-naked Chantry (Zoe Kazan) when she gets a too-small dress stuck on her head in a dressing room and asks for his help. Friends-to-lovers romances lend themselves to these funny, sexy scenes. Go all out.

*And still bring the feels.

Even with the funny, possibly rom-com moments as two friends fall for one another, there’s going to be a moment where they realize the depth of their feelings. Show us this emotion. Especially since these people really know each other, their connection is often deeper than two people who’ve only met weeks or months ago. Their feelings should coincide with this–especially if they sense they’re going to lose each other.

What would you add to this list of tips for writing an awesome friends-to-lovers romance?

Today concludes my look at the friends-to-lovers romance trope as part of the Romance Trope Tuesday series. In case you missed it, check out why this trope is so popular, how it works in a film, and a suggested reading list.

I’ll be back to Romance Trope Tuesday soon! Stay tuned.

You can follow this series by signing up for my mailing list (top right), subscribing to individual posts (bottom right), and/or following the hashtag #RomanceTropeTuesday on Twitter or my Facebook page.

Tags: friends to lovers, friendship, romance, Romance Trope Tuesday, tropes

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Published on August 30, 2016 09:19

August 16, 2016

Romance Trope Tuesday: Friends-to-Lovers Reading List

Would you like to read more friends-to-lovers romance? Here’s a short reading list for those new to this trope, or who want to take their friendship with this type of romance to the next level.

These are books I’ve read, will read, or know about, but if you know of any other great books with friends who fall in love, definitely post below!

Images, links, and blurbs are courtesy of Goodreads.

Strawberry and Sage by Amanda Gale

Set in 1967 in the lush mountains of Vermont, Strawberry and Sage is a tale of friendship, love, and the perfect strawberry pie.

Gabriel Kelly is a hard-working young carpenter carrying the weight of responsibility on his back. With his father injured on the job and his brother fighting in Vietnam, Gabriel struggles to stay positive. And with the possibility of being drafted looming over him, he can focus only on things that matter, like visiting the mountain, where he regains clarity, and cherishing his time with Abigail, the childhood friend with whom he’s always been in love.

Abigail Wheeler is a bright, ambitious college student who just knows she can change the world. Determined to make good use of opportunities her mother never had, she spends her time campaigning for women’s rights and planning for her future. Her own experiences have taught her that the world is full of promise. So when Gabriel confesses his heart, she is torn, unsure whether they’d be compatible even though she secretly loves him too.

In a tumultuous time when change is the only constant, Gabriel and Abigail long to find meaning and to find themselves. As their friendship is tested by wars both inside and out, they discover that the differences that had kept them apart are actually why they need each other most.

Why you’ll crush on it: Amanda Gale writes beautifully-written descriptions of nature and love. This romance novella set in the ’60s has two people who grew up together and now find their way to each other amidst the upheaval of the ’60s. It’s sweet and sexy and a great summertime read.

Level Up by Cathy Yardley

Geeky introvert Tessa Rodriguez will do whatever it takes to get promoted to video game engineer– including create a fandom-based video game in just three weeks. The only problem is, she can’t do it alone. Now, she needs to strong-arm, cajole, and otherwise socialize with her video game coworkers, especially her roommate, Adam, who’s always been strictly business with her. The more they work together, though, the closer they get…

Adam London has always thought of his roomie Tessa as “one of the guys” until he agreed to help her with this crazy project. Now, he’s thinking of her all the time… and certainly as something more than just a roommate! But his last girlfriend broke up with him to follow her ambitions, and he knows that Tessa is obsessed with getting ahead in the video game world.

Going from friends to something more is one hell of a challenge. Can Tessa and Adam level up their relationship to love?

Why you’ll crush on it: I read this novella recently and adored it. It’s about a romance brewing between two roommates who work in the gaming industry, and is just a near-perfect romantic comedy: funny, fun, sexy, and sweet.

Honor and Roses by Elizabeth Cole

The knight Alric of Hawksmere has endured years of war and survived dozens of battles in the service of the king. A new challenge awaits him when he returns home to renew his bond with a childhood friend. Alric instead discovers she is now a spirited woman of rare beauty whose kiss makes his blood burn. But the lady Cecily de Vere has been offered in marriage to another man, and Alric‘s duty is to escort her to the wedding.

Cecily wants to behave as a proper lady. But she yearns for her childhood flame and knows he shares the same desire. When a sudden twist of fortune puts Cecily in mortal danger, Alric takes an unimaginable risk to rescue her. Left alone in the wild, Alric and Cecily must make a choice that will change their lives forever.

Why you’ll crush on it: In this great start to Elizabeth Cole’s medieval romance series, friends-to-lovers mixes with the forbidden romance trope as two childhood friends fall for one another…even though one is meant for another.

Sam Cruz’s Infallible Guide to Getting Girls by Tellulah Darling

Why the hell can’t chicks be more like guys?

That question plagues high school senior Sam Cruz. Sam is perfectly happy being a player. He just wishes girls wouldn’t change the game from sex to relationships. It makes him look like an asshole. But when Sam’s best friend, Ally Klinger, gets dumped, she begs him to transform her into someone who can screw around then screw off. No risk of heartbreak that way. It’s Sam’s chance to create the perfect female AND cheer up his best friend. Armed with Sam’s Three Step Guide to Backseat Success, Ally gets the game better than Sam thought she would and before long, Sam has his wish: the female version of himself. Too bad it’s driving him nuts. Told from Sam’s and Ally’s alternating POVs, Sam Cruz’s Infallible Guide to Getting Girls is a fast-paced YA romantic comedy that follows these teens as they navigate the minefield of sex, love, and friendship.

This contemporary teen romance contains strong language, drinking, euphemisms, and lots of “bow chicka wow wow.”

Why you’ll crush on it: Tellulah Darling is a go-to for hilarious, sexy YA and NA, and I dug this book about a high school player and his best friend whom he starts to see as a bit more.

Taking Jana by Rissa Brahm

It’s her turn to drive.

Men take from Jana. Her dad and brother: money. Stage-side gawkers: her dignity. Still, she finished nursing school, won a spot in Manhattan’s top ER—thanks to no man. But when her dad’s business and heart fails, ever-loyal Jana Park must return to the stripper’s pole. Now even her boss’s chauffeur ogles her in the rearview. Faux-kindness—and irrefutable heat—aside, she glares back.

Because screw ’em all.

Chauffeur Antonio Ruiz is done with his cheating wife, the city, the almighty buck. His seaside home in Mexico calls. One last gig for his biggest client, the city’s strip club king, then he’s out. Except that the sharp, exotic, petite powerhouse of a woman he’s been hired to drive—day in-day out, glaring at him with those deep, solemn eyes—takes him over. If he could pierce her shield of doubt, he’d bring her home, far from this hell.

But, no. Jana’s got to take the wheel and drive. Away from her family’s abuse, her boss’s clutches…and toward Antonio’s true brand of love.

The road’s rocky. Will they make it to paradise? Or will it all go south… in the city.

Why you’ll crush on it: Penned by an author in my writers’ group, I love the gritty, emotional premise of this story.

Beyond the Break by Kristen Mae

Hazel Duval craves an ordinary life free of the pitying looks from those who know about her traumatic past—about what he did to her. About what she had to do to survive. When she moves with her husband Oren to the ocean-side town of Conch Garden and secures her dream job playing violin with the local orchestra, Hazel thinks she may have finally left her ugly history behind her. She even makes a new friend.

A friend who turns out to be a little more than she bargained for.

Beautiful, brilliant, and wild, Claire makes love to the sand with her toes, focuses intensely without wrinkling her forehead, and makes a cello sing like nothing Hazel has ever heard. She also listens to Hazel’s most painful secrets without judgment or expectation. It isn’t long before Hazel finds herself thinking about Claire in ways she has never thought of another woman. Fantasizing. Wanting. Longing.

But Hazel is married, and so is Claire…(Read more here.)

Why you’ll crush on it: This is another great example of a friends-to-lovers tale that’s also a forbidden romance, this time between two married women.

Fifth Generation Cowboy by Liz Isaacson

Can Tom and Rose navigate their friendship to find a new brand of happily ever after?

The only thing Tom Lovell knows is ranching, having been raised by a single dad on a Montana cattle ranch before moving to Three Rivers Ranch. He’s watched other men on the ranch get hitched one by one, but he’s not sure he’s the marrying type. His mother’s abandonment when he was a child colors how he sees women, and besides, he’s a fifth generation cowboy, and that’s enough for him.

Rose Reyes has been raising her Autistic child, Mari, by herself for seven years. She’s frustrated she doesn’t have an adult to talk to after a long day at work, that her ex-husband seems to have moved on without a care about Mari while Rose is determined to wait until she’s older before dating again. Though Mari’s been improving due to her equine therapy, she’s moody and sometimes explosive, and Rose just wants a break from it all.

She confesses to Tom that she feels completely out of control of her life. He doesn’t judge her for her feelings or shortcomings, and instead offers to help fix her leaking kitchen sink and mow her overgrown lawn. As Tom and Rose spend more time together, Tom realizes his friendship with Rose could grow into something more–if he’d let it. Tom and Rose will need faith and love to navigate the road from friendship to something more, without risking Mari in the process.

Why you’ll crush on it: For those who love western and Christian romance, this looks like a sweet read between a rancher and single mom.

Got any books to add to this list?

You can learn more about the friends-to-lovers trope throughout August, including why it’s awesome, how it works in film, and (coming soon) a bunch of writing tips.

You can also follow this series by signing up for my mailing list (top right), subscribing to individual posts (bottom right), and/or following the hashtag #RomanceTropeTuesday on Twitter or my Facebook page.

Tags: Amanda Gale, Beyond the Break, Cath Yardley, Christian romance, contemporary romance, Elizabeth Cole, Fifth Generation Cowboy, friends to lovers, Goodreads, Honor and Roses, Kristen Mae, Level Up, Liz Isaacson, NA, New Adult, novellas, Rissa Brahm, romance, Romance Trope Tuesday, romance tropes, romantic comedy, Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide to Getting Girls, Strawberry and Sage, Taking Jana, Tellulah Darling, tropes, western romance, YA, young adult

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Published on August 16, 2016 17:19

August 10, 2016

6 of the Weirdest Romances on Netflix Instant

Image via Wikipedia

This is a joint post with Jen Heart of Heartforms and is cross-posted on her site.

Romance probably isn’t the first thing to come to mind when you think of the apocalypse, or telepathy, or the embodiment of death. Yet these have been major elements in some of the most watchable romantic films available on Netflix Instant.* Love stories don’t have to be conventional to be romantic, as these six very strange movies show. Each is off-beat and odd in its own way, while still full of the sweetness, longing, and stolen glances that make a story a romance. So next time you’re feeling a little weird, throw on your Lisa Frank leggings and your blinking hearts headband and turn on one of these fun and bizarre romances.

In Your Eyes

In Your Eyes is a strange yet totally earnest film, and that combination works compellingly in this story. Becky (Zoe Kazan) and Dylan (Michael Stahl-David) are from different sides of the tracks – they’ve never met in person and literally live in separate parts of the country – yet they have a strange telepathic connection. When Becky gets into a sledding accident as a young girl, Dylan seizes and faints. As an adult, Dylan gets into a bar fight and Becky can feel the punch. When suddenly this connection manifests itself in more overt ways, they find they can communicate with each other in their heads and even see from the other’s perspective. This film teeters close to the ridiculous. The actors spend a lot of time staring into space pretending they are seeing what the other person is seeing: they’re basically skyping without technology. Though it takes itself a little too seriously for being so wacky, In Your Eyes never quite topples into ludicrousness. As Becky and Dylan’s relationship blooms and develops, we root for them, and the ending is wonderful and satisfying.

Sliding Doors

I can’t believe this movie came out eighteen years ago in 1998. This was during Gwyneth’s British phase, which seems a little weird now but back then seemed totally normal. The plot is actually two plots, unfolding at the same time in, I guess, parallel dimensions. The sliding doors of the title are the London Tube doors, which are the genesis of the two stories – one if Helen (Gwyneth Paltrow) makes the train and another if she doesn’t. There are so many things to like about this movie, not least the illustration of how a split second can change someone’s life. This film is also one of the best examples of gaslighting I’ve seen, in the lies and coverups of Helen’s cheating boyfriend Gerry (John Lynch), though he’s more pathetic and cowardly than actually unlikable. Cutie patootie John Hannah plays James, who is perfect. One of my favorite scenes in the film is James running around to every place he can think of to find Helen, while Gerry looks for her only at her best friend’s apartment and, unsuccessful, claims defeat. Made for: those who want their romance with a side of metaphysical angst.

Kate and Leopold

So much time travel weirdness! When I first rated this movie on Netflix way back when, I only gave it 2 stars. Yet over the years whenever it has popped into my mind, I’ve thought of it fondly, if dimly. Leopold (Hugh Jackman) ends up in 21st century New York through a series of events too nonsensical to explain. There he falls in with Kate (Meg Ryan), who is looking for her Palm Pilot stylus, and her brother (Breckin Meyer). He fits right in, using toasters, shilling fat-free butter, and even scoring a lady’s phone number at a bar for the hapless Breckin Meyer. Please overlook Meg Ryan’s strange choppy haircut. Also, don’t think about the premise or the plot too long or too hard. Just let Hugh Jackman’s charm and Meg Ryan’s silliness wash over you. Liev Schrieber plays Meg Ryan’s boyfriend, who spends much of the movie off-screen in an insane asylum. You know a movie is strange when the time-traveling inventor who “found a crack in time” is given the least screen time.

Image via Wikipedia.

Meet Joe Black

Meet Joe Black (1998) has one of the weirdest love triangles ever: a woman, the cute guy she meets in a coffee shop, and the entity called Death that then takes over his body for most of the film. In case you missed this Brad Pitt gem (or were intimidated by its three-hour run time), a quick recap: Bill, a mega rich, successful businessman, starts having chest pains and suspects that death is near–especially after Death starts talking to him. At the same time, his daughter Susan (Claire Forlani) meets a flirtatious guy in a coffee shop (Brad Pitt) who excites her in a way her staid relationship with her father’s right-hand man, Drew, doesn’t. When the cute guy tells her he’d gladly give up what he wanted for a woman, she admits, “It’s so right, it scares me, that’s all.” The two part shyly–and then Susan doesn’t notice him get hit by multiple cars. Fatally. Because it turns out Death wants a taste of life, and he needs a body. Daddy Bill agrees, reluctantly, to show Death around in exchange for a few days of life, so he introduces him to his family–including a surprised Susan–as “Joe Black.” The movie is part tale of a man accepting his mortality, part sweeping romance between Susan and Joe Black (and/or the man she met in the coffee shop. She doesn’t realize she’s fallen for two guys, let alone where one ends and the other begins). Pitt is great as a man experiencing life for the first time (and love, and peanut butter), and it’s physically impossible not to swoon a little at the long, long moments (and looks!) he shares with the beautiful, charismatic Forlani.

My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend

Continuing the theme of weird love triangles is 2010’s My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend. At first glance, this may be an odd choice for a weird romance list, but it’s one of those you have to watch to the end to appreciate its strangeness. In it, struggling writer Ethan (Christopher Gorham) meets Jesse (Alyssa Milano) at a coffeeshop. Sparks fly, and she gives him her number. But then in walks Troy (Michael Landes), who Jesse also connects with…and also gives her number. The men are different: Ethan is a nice, flannel-wearing guy who’s struggling to make ends meet at his dream; Troy is a successful, confident businessman. (It’s worth noting that both guys are funny, which makes Troy more palatable than most typical alphas in romance stories. He’s basically Ethan, but with a suit and slightly more bravado.) What follows are alternating scenes of Jesse dating both men: mini-golf with Ethan, real golf with Troy. Warm, smart, and funny, and with great references (Star Wars! Darcy!), it’s a terrific rom-com–and even better on the rewatch, once its secrets have been revealed.

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

Romance in end times? It could happen. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World starts off with a bang: Dodge (Steve Carell) and his wife are in a car when the radio announces that a satellite has broken and in three weeks’ time, it will fall to earth and herald the end of the world. “I think we missed our exit,” Dodge says, but his wife jumps out of the car, running to a place she’d rather spend her last days. What follows is a darkly comic, fascinating look at how the world around Dodge responds to their expiration date. Most take to hedonism (drugs and sex, natch); some bitterness; still others, like his cleaning lady, continuing to show up to work dutifully. Dodge still flosses and works, until riots break out in his neighborhood and he flees, taking with him his neighbor Penny (Keira Knightley). Penny is Dodge’s opposite in many ways: free-spirited, optimistic, friendly–and sometimes irresponsible, as she reveals she’s held some of Dodge’s misdelivered mail for months, including a letter from his ex claiming Dodge was the love of her life. Driven to connect with his old flame, and helped by a guilty Penny, Dodge takes a road trip to find her. With an awesome comedic cast but not heaps of chemistry, the film feels more comedy than romance, though Penny and Dodge’s steps toward each other are funny and heartwarming, and his last line–and I really mean last line–is romantic in all the right ways.

If you liked this post, check out the Top Ten Ways to Spot a Rom-Com Hero or the Ten Best Holiday Rom-Coms on Netflix Instant.

*The above films were on Netflix Instant as of August 2016.

Tags: Alyssa Milano, Brad Pitt, Christopher Gorham, Claire Forlani, films, Gwyneth Paltrow, Heartforms, Hugh Jackman, In Your Eyes, Jen Heart, John Hannah, Kate and Leopold, Keira Knightley, Meet Joe Black, Meg Ryan, metaphysical angst, Michael Landis, Michael Stahl-David, movies, My Girlfriend's Boyfriend, Netflix, Netflix Instant, quirky romance, romances, romantic comedies, romantic movies, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, Sliding Doors, Steve Carell, strange movies, strange romances, streaming, Zoe Kazan

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Published on August 10, 2016 16:17

August 9, 2016

Romance Trope Tuesday: 13 Going on 30

It’s August, and I’m focusing on the romance trope of friends who become lovers. 13 Going on 30 is a cute romance that, paired with the second-chance and forbidden romance tropes, shows a pair of friends who fall for each other–in two different timelines.

Photo via Wikipedia.

A quick recap of this 2004 film for those of you who don’t remember: Jenna (Christa B. Allen), is a girl about to turn 13 in the 1980s. She’s sweet and quirky, and best friends with the neighbor boy Matt (Sean Marquette). But Jenna doesn’t want to be unique, she wants to be cool, or “30, flirty, and thriving” like the models in her magazines. So she convinces the cool girls at school to come to her birthday party in exchange for doing their homework. Of course, the cool girls are mean, and they make fun of Matt–and then Jenna does, too–before lying to her that if she goes into her closet, one of the popular boys will come kiss her. He doesn’t, the cool group leaves, and then through some weird ’80s magic involving a dollhouse and special glitter, she’s transported into the body of her 30-year-old self, played delightfully well by Jennifer Garner.

Jenna is now 30, flirty, and thriving like she wanted, a successful women working at a magazine who’s got a hot athlete boyfriend and is friends with one of those former cool girls, Lucy (Judy Greer). But this 30-year-old Jenna, as 13-year-old Jenna begins to realize, is also a cheater and not very nice–and has long ago ditched her old friend Matt, now played as an adult by Mark Ruffalo. Panicked, Jenna finds him and the two begin a friendship, tentatively at first since Matt is wary of her past behavior and is engaged to someone else.

With their friendship already established in the past, Jenna and Matt are friends who start to fall for each other, but because of their rift as kids, their dynamic is also somewhat of a nostalgic second-chance romance–not to mention a forbidden one, since Matt is engaged. (In their 1980s youth, shown at the film’s beginning and ending, it’s strictly friends to, erm, more than friends since they’re young, though the movie shows us an alternate future there, too.)

The evolution of Jenna and Matt’s friendship into romance is sweet and fun. In a rom-com with a theme of showing how great it is to be a kid–even if you’re an adult–Jenna’s dates with Matt are filled with candy, swingsets, and playful poses. (It’s somewhat a gender-reversed Big.) It’s also built on their shared history, as romances in this trope are. The two’s connection depicts how great it can be to kiss someone that not only makes your heart flutter, but you’ve genuinely enjoyed just being around, one of the best parts of the friends-to-lovers trope.

Have you seen 13 Going on 30? Or do you have another favorite friends-to-lovers film?

Check back next week for a friends-to-lovers reading list, and then the following week for writing tips on this trope!

Tags: 13 Going On 30, film reviews, films, friends to lovers, Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, movie reviews, movies, rom-coms, romance, Romance Trope Tuesday, romance tropes, romantic comedies, romantic films, romantic movies, tropes

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Published on August 09, 2016 17:39

August 2, 2016

Romance Trope Tuesday: Friends to Lovers

Happy August!

On Romance Trope Tuesday this month, I’m examining friends-to-lovers romance.

With many love stories, two people often have a brief period when they spend time together and talk before becoming romantically and physically involved. In my mind, this isn’t quite the friends-to-lovers trope. Friends-to-lovers is when two people are in an established friendship with each other, even if one of them wants more (the so-called “friend zone” situation). More than a brief prelude to a kiss, their friendship has been there for months or years–so much that it’s a surprise and even sometimes a shock to one or both when romance comes into play.

Like second-chance romance, the couple knows each other really well when they’re already friends, so they can get to the L word that much sooner, which makes a story more satisfying because it feels more realistic than instalove connections, which turn some readers off. Unlike second-chance romance, though, these stories are often less angsty, more fun and funny.

What else is great about the friends-to-lovers trope? Five things:

It makes us root for the couple…

We can already see how well they get along. They spend time together, they share secrets, they laugh at each other’s jokes. They have a shared history, a connection like no other. Maybe they’re childhood pals, co-workers, or even roommates. If only, you know, they realized how perfect they’d be together.

…especially if one of them wants more

Sometimes in friends-to-lovers, one of the friends has romantic feelings that haven’t been acted on, while the other person is clueless and/or attached. This can make us root for an eventual romance even more, because along with their awesome connection, we feel this person’s yearning, which may have been there for years.

It’s surprising to the character(s)–and funny as a result

When romance comes as a surprise, it can pretty hilarious. Suddenly a relaxed friendship is fraught with awkwardness, unexpected jealousy, almost-kisses, and weird goodbyes.

It’s got loads of sexual tension

Though enemies-to-lovers or forbidden romance may pack more fiery passion, and second-chance love more emotion, the friends-to-lovers trope excels at providing an all-over great mix of three ingredients essential to any rom-com: sweetness, humor, and sexiness. Even with a once strictly-platonic connection, a scenario of friends who are drifting towards lovers is completely sexy: They’re maybe noticing each other’s bodies for the first time. They’re surprised by how that fake kiss to keep away an unwelcome suitor felt so, well, hot.

It pairs well with opposites-attract, forbidden or second-chance romance, friends with benefits, fake engagement…

Two people could be “just friends” because they’re nothing alike and they can’t see it working. Or they could both be with other people, or have had a prior relationship that didn’t work out. These are a few of the devices that could keep them apart, but you could use other tropes to help move the romance along. Maybe a spark of attraction between them leads them to believe they can have a physical relationship without getting their feelings involved. Or maybe one of them needs to have a pretend date for a wedding or important family gathering (like you do), and the friend steps up to the plate…leading to some situations that may start to feel more than pretend. Basically, there’s a lot of potential to combine this trope with others.

Do you love friends-to-lovers stories? Tell me why in the comments! And make sure to come back and learn more about this trope the rest of August, including how it works in film, a reading list, and a bunch of writing tips.

Tags: friends to lovers, friendzone, romance, Romance Trope Tuesday, romance tropes, tropes

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Published on August 02, 2016 06:40

July 31, 2016

UNDER YOUR SPELL Available for Preorder!

I’m thrilled to share that a spooky romance collection I’m in, UNDER YOUR SPELL: A ROMANCE BOXED SET OF MASKED BALLS, HAUNTED GARDENS, MAGIC, AND MORE is now available for preorder on Amazon!

I’m excited to be part of this set of ten novellas, all featuring romances that are a bit creepy. Some are set in haunted houses, some have shifters, some have the ghost of a husband presumed to have died at sea…

My own novella, To Hell with Love, is a romantic comedy, but set in a creepy underworld populated by Greek figures. It’s sort of Percy Jackson meets Buffy meets Jane the Virgin, with a portal to hell in a bookstore thrown in for kicks.

Daisy has the perfect night with the perfect guy–only to wake and find he’s sold his soul to the Devil and has no memory of her. Now she’s got to navigate the underworld, unbalanced goddesses and unpleasant demons–not to mention a cute med student posing as Charon–to meet the Devil and reverse the curse…and discover that what she really wants may be something else entirely.

Keep reading to learn more about this boxed set. You can also read an excerpt of To Hell with Love here.

Under Your Spell releases Sept. 1st, but it’s available to purchase now for a special price of just $0.99. Grab it before it grabs you!

UNDER YOUR SPELL: A ROMANCE BOXED SET OF MASKED BALLS, HAUNTED GARDENS, MAGIC, AND MORE

Fall under the spell of ten up-and-coming romance authors. When the clock strikes midnight on Halloween, you’ll want to read every one of these all-new, original novellas. From enchanted gardens to mystic curses, you’ll find something to make your spine shiver and your heart beat faster. Fall in love with a cursed werewolf, a heartbroken ghost, a true southern gentleman, and many more. There’s something for everyone, with contemporary romance, historical romance, paranormal and shifter romance.

Everyday is Halloween with this spellbinding collection!

Order now from Amazon for a special price of $0.99!

Tags: Amazon, books, Buffy, Charon, devil, Ghosts, Greek mythology, Halloween, Halloween reads, Halloween romance, paranormal romance, reading, releases, romance, romance boxed set, romantic comedy, selling your soul to the devil, shifters, spooky romance, To Hell with Love, Under Your Spell, underworld, writing

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Published on July 31, 2016 19:56

July 26, 2016

Romance Trope Tuesday: Writing Second-Chance Romance

One of my exes had a funny analogy for getting back together with someone you used to date. He said it was like getting a carton of milk out of the fridge, sniffing it and realizing it was rotten, putting it back in the fridge…and then pulling it out two weeks later and drinking it.

Needless to say, after we broke up, that was it! But I think that ex got to some truth about the difficulty of writing a second-chance romance: how can you show that a relationship that didn’t work then can work now? How do you show that the connection was good or promising in some way, but it just wasn’t the right time?

Here are some tips I’ve learned from reading and watching some great second-chance romance. As always, these lists are conversations. If you have a trick to writing a great romance in this trope–or something not to do–please share!

Six things to do when penning a second-chance romance:

Show us what happened.

There are exceptions of course, but most of the second-chance romances that I’ve really connected with have shown snippets of the prior relationship between two people–rather than just told us they were together. Flashbacks, even brief ones, give us a real sense of how two people related and connected, and how it all fell apart–which gives us a sense of what’s at stake in a story, how much good is possible and how bad it all can go wrong.

Make sure the attraction–and connection–is still there.

When the two characters meet again, show the reader the attraction is still there. Maybe he’s jealous of his ex’s new boyfriend, so he acts like a jerk. Maybe, like in Take Care, his ex was a lot closer to his mom than his new fiancee. Maybe two former lovers challenge each other to live out their dreams in a way others don’t. You may need to force proximity here–trap them in a freezer together, or make them have to work as reluctant event co-chairs–to make the reader see, and the characters start to realize, that the spark remains.

Show us they’ve changed and grown.

If this second chance is going to work, they can’t be the same people they were before. They need to be wiser, know more what they want, appreciate what they could have in the other person. And, above all…

They need to be honest.

Honesty is huge with this trope. If two people had a relationship and want to make a second go, the air needs to be cleared. They need to be able to talk about what happened, admit mistakes, and move forward.

Similarly, they need to build trust and closeness again.

In my mind, there’s considerable overlap between second-chance romance and friends-to-lovers in many stories. Sometimes the friendship came before a hookup, sometimes it’s after…But whichever the case, trust and closeness between two people needs to be established.

The characters need to really commit to it.

It was broke before, and they fixed it, but we need to know it’s for happily-ever-after this time. One or both characters needs to show a commitment that they couldn’t before–a ring, a move across the country. I think this is why a lot of these second-chance romances come between two people who’ve moved on with others, as was the case in both movies I reviewed last week. It adds a touch of the forbidden romance trope, sure, but also I believe it allows the characters to show they really want each other again, that they’re not just falling back into old patterns. They’re going to give up their good-enough new lover(s) for a chance at the amazing connection with this person from their past.

What do you think about these writing tips? Would you add anything?

Today concludes my look at the second-chance romance trope as part of the Romance Trope Tuesday series. In case you missed it, check out why this trope is so popular, how it works in a film, and a suggested reading list.

I’ll be back to Romance Trope Tuesday next month, where I’ll turn to a new device: friends-to-lovers.

Tags: relationships, romance, Romance Trope Tuesday, romance tropes, romance writing, second-chance romance, Take Care, trope, tropes, writing, writing romance, writing tips

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Published on July 26, 2016 00:00

July 19, 2016

Romance Trope Tuesday: Second-Chance Romance Reading List

Second-chance is one of my favorite romance tropes–I love the awkwardness and emotion that come from reuniting two people who have a past. There are some great second-chance romance novels, novellas, and short stories out there, too.

Here’s a quick reading list if you’d like to explore this trope more. As I mentioned last month, these lists aren’t meant to be exhaustive–this is a popular trope–but simply show the variety of stories that can use this device. Some people claim that tropes make all stories predictable and too similar, which is simply not true! These stories are all second-chance romances, but they’re different romance subgenres (contemporary, western inspiration, romantic suspense), as well as penned by authors with unique styles. They also have different characters and plots, making them stories all their own.

Some of these I’ve read, others I’ve been wanting to read. If you know of other great second-chance romances, please comment below!

Book covers and blurbs here are from Goodreads.

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Twenty-seven-year old Anne Elliot is Austen’s most adult heroine. Eight years before the story proper begins, she is happily betrothed to a naval officer, Frederick Wentworth, but she precipitously breaks off the engagement when persuaded by her friend Lady Russell that such a match is unworthy. The breakup produces in Anne a deep and long-lasting regret. When later Wentworth returns from sea a rich and successful captain, he finds Anne’s family on the brink of financial ruin and his own sister a tenant in Kellynch Hall, the Elliot estate. All the tension of the novel revolves around one question: Will Anne and Wentworth be reunited in their love?

Jane Austen once compared her writing to painting on a little bit of ivory, 2 inches square. Readers of Persuasion will discover that neither her skill for delicate, ironic observations on social custom, love, and marriage nor her ability to apply a sharp focus lens to English manners and morals has deserted her in her final finished work.

Why you should take a second look: It may be controversial to admit, but I love Persuasion as much–if not more–than Pride & Prejudice. This short classic novel just drips with romance, as Anne, a heroine you can’t help but root for, faces the man she rejected years ago (before she, you know, lost her bloom. Like you do.).

Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey

When Keri Daniels’ editor finds out she has previous carnal knowledge of reclusive bestselling author Joe Kowalski, she gives Keri a choice: get an interview or get a new job.

Joe’s never forgotten the first girl to break his heart, so he’s intrigued to hear Keri’s back in town–and looking for him. Despite his intense need for privacy, he’ll grant Keri an interview if it means a chance to finish what they started in high school.

He proposes an outrageous plan–for every day she survives with his family on their annual camping and four-wheeling trip, Keri can ask one question. Keri agrees; she’s worked too hard to walk away from her career.

But the chemistry between them is still as potent as the bug spray, Joe’s sister is out to avenge his broken heart and Keri hasn’t ridden an ATV since she was ten. Who knew a little blackmail, a whole lot of family and some sizzling romantic interludes could make Keri reconsider the old dream of Keri & Joe 2gether 4ever.

Why you should take a second look: This Shannon Stacey has been on my TBR. She writes fun, funny contemporaries, and I love the plot of this one.

Into the Heat by Tamara Lush

Leo Villeneuve is a wounded, tattooed Afghanistan war veteran who is trying like hell to avoid his pain—and his past.

He returns to Florida in hopes of healing. On a sun-kissed beach he runs into Jessica Clarke, the one woman he’s never forgotten. Their attraction for each other burns as hot as the summer sun, but Leo’s got secrets he can’t reveal. Because, if he does, he’ll risk the one thing he can least afford to lose: Jessica’s love.

Into the Heat…

A book about first love and second chances. And unforgettable passion.

Why you should take a second look: I love Tamara Lush’s hot and sensual writing, so I am looking forward to this novel of a veteran who returns home to Florida and reunites with a woman from his past.

Second Chance by Audra North

A tricky ghost treats a lonely librarian to another chance at love…

Wilford town librarian Marnie Thomas has had too much loss to risk her heart ever again. She buries her hurt in books and finds her friends in stories, even though she longs for love and a family of her own.

Real estate developer Collin Morgan is back in town on Halloween to help his sister, but the last person he expected to see at his niece’s story hour is Marnie Thomas. The shy, awkward girl he remembered from high school has turned into a beautiful—but still shy—woman, and Collin can’t help the desire that rises up when he sees her.

But this year, the magic of Halloween conjures a wisecracking, cigar-smoking ghost named Bill in the library archives, frightening Marnie out from behind her books. Bill does everything in his power to bring Marnie and Collin together…but he can’t make them fall in love. Before the clock strikes midnight on Halloween, will Marnie finally open up to a second chance at happiness, or will she be forever haunted by the past?

Why you should take a second look: This novella is a sweet and sexy contemporary romance with a ghost who helps the heroine out. I recommend reading it around Halloween, like I did.

Second Chance Ranch by Liz Isaacson

A new Christian western romance from bestselling author, Elana Johnson, writing as Liz Isaacson for her contemporary adult romance debut.

After his deployment, injured and discharged Major Squire Ackerman returns to Three Rivers Ranch, anxious to prove himself capable of running the cattle operation so his parents can retire. Things would be easier if the ranch wasn’t missing 1.6 million dollars, which forces Squire to hire Kelly, the girl who rejected his high school prom invitation, as his accountant.

She’s back in town with her four-year-old son, living in her parent’s basement until she can get her life back together. With fresh ink on her divorce papers and open gashes on her heart, she’s not ready for much beyond her new job on the ranch.

Squire wants to forgive Kelly for ignoring him a decade ago. He’d like to provide the stable life she needs, but with old wounds opening and a ranch on the brink of financial collapse, it will take patience and faith to make their second chance possible.

For fans of inspirational western romance authors Kimberly Krey, Becky Wade, and Denise Hunter.

Why you should take a second look: This story looks like a sweet twist on second-chance romance with a single mom working at the ranch of someone she has a history with.

The Shark by Mary Burton

At the grisly murder scene of a teen prostitute, Virginia state trooper Riley Tatum’s past roars back to haunt her. When she was a teenage runaway, she was kidnapped, drugged, and left unconscious on the streets. She has no memories of what happened, only strange recurring dreams of two men playing cards.

Former FBI agent Clay Bowman, Riley’s old flame, is Shield Security’s newest member. He’s plagued by the unsolved case of a serial killer nicknamed the Shark who murdered girls as part of a sadistic poker game. Only one girl survived. With the Shark now bent on evening that score, Clay has a chilling suspicion: Riley is the girl who escaped the Shark’s deadly amusement—and she is his next prey.

As the Shark gets ready to play his hand, can Riley and Clay stop him—or will this killer finally claim the one who got away?

Why you should take a second look: I’ve been wanting to read this romantic suspense about a police trooper and the former FBI agent she used to be involved with trying to catch a killer.

Waiting for Clark by Annabeth Albert

When Bryce Weyland agrees to go to a comic convention dressed as a superhero, the last person he expects to see is his one-time best friend (and hopeless crush), Clark Kenmore. But Clark is impossible not to notice—he’s wearing spandex tights, a rainbow cape, and the same disarming smile that haunts Bryce’s dreams.

Five years ago, they shared an ill-advised kiss that torpedoed their friendship. But now Clark has returned to Portland, and he wants nothing more than to return to the easy friendship that defined their college years. But the glowering Bryce makes it clear Clark’s mission is going to require a super-human effort—and more than a little luck.

Note: This story was originally written for the 2015 Don’t Read in the Closet event. This version has been revised and includes a bonus sneak-peek at the author’s upcoming release STATUS UPDATE.

Why you should take a second look: I read this sweet and geeky novella earlier this year and enjoyed how Annabeth Albert showed the pasts of the two men and the way they’re both so nerdily perfect for one another.

Have you read any of these? Let me know your favorite second-chance romance reads in the comments!

In case you missed it, check out why this trope is so popular, how it works in a film, and (soon) tips on how to write your own second-chance romance!

Tags: Annabeth Albert, Audra North, Austen, contemporary romance, Exclusively Yours, Goodreads, inspirational romance, Into the Heat, Jane Austen, Liz Isaacson, Mary Burton, novella, Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice, romance, Romance Trope Tuesday, romance tropes, romantic suspense, Second Chance, Second Chance Ranch, second chances, second-chance romance, Shannon Stacey, Tamara Lush, The Shark, tropes, Waiting for Clark, western inspirational romance, western romance

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Published on July 19, 2016 00:00

July 12, 2016

Romance Trope Tuesday: Take Care & Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong

This month I’m focusing on second-chance romance for Romance Trope Tuesday, and today I’m examining two movies that use this trope: Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong (2015) and Take Care (2014).

The nature of a couple’s first chance can vary, from a casual flirtation to an unexpected hookup to a long-term relationship. This colors the second chance when it appears, and these two films show that spectrum of potential history a couple might have and how it affects their present.

In writer/director Emily Ting’s Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong, Californian Ruby (Jamie Chung) is in Hong Kong for work when she meets Josh (Bryan Greenberg) one evening. He offers to help her navigate the city, and the two walk and talk amidst gorgeous shots of Hong Kong, sharing dreams, jokes, and their thoughts on race, culture, and technology. Unfortunately, twenty minutes in, Josh reveals he has a girlfriend, and Ruby walks away disappointed, both of them assuming they’ll never see each other again. But a year later on a ferry, they stumble upon each other yet again for another night and a chance to reconnect.

This film is interesting on several levels. Even though Ruby’s grandparents are from China, she’s unfamiliar with Hong Kong and Chinese culture. Josh, on the other hand, is white, but has lived in the city for a decade, speaks Cantonese, and can show Ruby where to find the best seafood. Their conversations on race, culture, and interracial relationships are interesting and modern–and not something that’s discussed in movies much at all.

Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong reminded me of two other fantastic romances: Before Sunrise and Before Sunset. Before Sunrise is about two strangers who meet and spend a few hours walking and talking in Vienna while falling for one another, and in Before Sunset they reunite in Paris. I love dialogue-heavy films, gorgeous scenery, and one-night-only stories, so I’m naturally prone to digging these types of films. Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong is like the first two Before movies put together, but set in Hong Kong and with a greater emphasis on the second reunion story. (There’s also a third, Before Midnight, and they’re all recommended viewing, in my opinion.)

After the initial spark in Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong, Josh sees Ruby on a ferry and they agree to spend another couple hours together, just as friends. (They’re both with other people now.) The year has seen changes for both of them: Josh is now a writer, and Ruby is living in Hong Kong for a year. Watching this film showed me just how much overlap the second-chance trope has with the friends-to-lovers trope. Even with a past as brief as the one Josh and Ruby had, when they reconnect there’s a sense in which they must befriend each other first before romantic possibilities emerge. And these two do, reaching new levels of depth and honesty in their conversations with one another, and having more fun too, from visiting a fortune teller to shopping for kitsch. There’s a frisson of the forbidden romance trope here at work, though, as when the two share a dance and lock eyes, both knowing they’re with other people.

Second-chance is all about emotion, and even though Ruby and Josh didn’t have an involved relationship before, their friendship, and this second chance, has an undercurrent of deep emotion running underneath it. “What are we doing?” Ruby asks Josh towards the end of the film, as it’s clear their reunion has moved from friendship into something else, and decisions need to be made if they want to see each other past this one night. My one slight criticism of this movie is Josh’s emotional expression. While Ruby’s feelings for Josh are clear when she excuses herself to the bathroom, looks in the mirror, and can’t help but smile, Josh seems a bit more circumspect. He’s adorable and amicable, and it’s not hard to see him falling for the beautiful, sassy Ruby, yet we don’t get that same glimpse of vulnerability. (I should also warn you that the ending is ambiguous, though that is true for the Before movies as well. I’d love to see a sequel to this!) Yet all in all, this film is a solid romance, especially if you love watching people have fascinating conversations in beautiful places, and want a great example of two near-strangers who meet again.

On the other side of the relationship spectrum is Liz Tuccillo’s Take Care, which I’ve been wanting to watch since Jen Heart recommended it. In it, Frannie (Leslie Bibb) calls her ex, Devon (Thomas Sadoski), to help her recover after she’s hit by a car and broken her arm and leg. The two had a serious, long-term relationship in the past, during which Frannie took care of Devon while he had cancer–and then he got better and dumped her. Even though she now calls Devon “the devil” to her friends, she’s motivated to call him because she’s unable to do basic tasks like prepare food or wash herself–some of these early scenes made me cringe and laugh at the same time–and her friends and family are either unavailable or a little too controlling.

The depth of emotion in Take Care is stronger than in Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong–but so is the resentment. At first, Frannie and Devon can barely talk without arguing, though his guilt for her prior caregiving makes him reluctantly help her out. Adding fuel to the fire, and eventually forbidden romance, is the presence of Devon’s girlfriend, who is jealous of his connection with Frannie, past and current.

Like Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong, Devon and Frannie form a tentative friendship before their romance is rekindled, but it’s a lot more work to get there. With the seriousness of their first, broken relationship simmering in the background, they spend the first part of the movie seething, arguing, and revealing what they couldn’t say before, from Devon’s discomfort with his cancer diagnosis, Frannie’s sacrifice to care for him, and his resulting guilt. When Devon tells Frannie that he thinks his cancer was the best thing that ever happened to her because it gave her focus, she rants about all she had to deal with during his disease, between family members and infections and doctors who wouldn’t write prescriptions. “…And every day there was something else,” she says. “And then you left.” Slowly, Devon admits to her that he left because she reminded him of that awful time in his life, and he was awash in guilt because he didn’t know if he’d do the same for her. “…It wasn’t because I didn’t love you. I just didn’t want anything to remind me,” he says.

Later in the month, I’ll talk more about this in writing tips for this trope, but reaching this level of honesty is key with second-chance romance, when healing from the prior breakup is so necessary to starting anew. So is showing a couple still has a strong connection, even when they’ve supposedly moved on. Devon’s new girlfriend doesn’t know his mom the way Frannie did. He laughs more with her, too.

I recommend both these films if you love second-chance romances with realistic characters, novel situations, and humor. They’re a great way to remind yourself why this trope is one of the most popular, and how to form a strong second-chance story, no matter what shape the first chance took.

Do you know other films that use this trope? Let me know in the comments!

In case you missed it, check out why this trope is so popular, (coming soon) a second-chance romance reading list, and (coming soon) tips on how to write your own second-chance romance!