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giveaway!
Unwrapping a Marriage
by Reana Malori and Michel Prince
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GENRE: Contemporary Romance
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BLURB:
What do you do
when the love that once set you free, feels like it’s holding you prisoner?
Sterling and
Elizabeth Jackson have built a life most would envy. A beautiful home, two
wonderful children and a very comfortable lifestyle. Yet something is tearing
them apart. With divorce looming, they are trying to make it through the
holiday season for their family.
With clashing
schedules, demands from employers and two busy kids, the former lovers have
managed to stay out of each other’s orbit, at least for a while. But Fate, or
maybe their well-meaning family, has set them up on a collision course.
Past memories
bubble up to the surface and there’s nothing to stem the flow. What once was
amazing has turned hurtful and full of pain. But is that the real story? Is it
too late for a couple who once lived and breathed for each other to find their
way back?
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EXCERPT TWO:
Somber
music started playing from the den and Sterling felt a pull to find out what
Beth was doing. They’d spent too many nights ruminating within their own
thoughts to ever know what the other might be thinking. This was their problem.
Why had he come home determined to find a way to get his wife back, only to go
into a separate room?
Rounding
the corner, he saw her sitting amongst a pile of toys almost reaching the
ceiling. Wearing only a tan oversized sweater and pair of fuzzy socks, she
looked snuggled in amongst the presents she was wrapping. On the floor where
she sat was her half-full glass of white wine, along with the plate of cheese,
crackers, sausage and wrapping paper she was measuring. He smiled when he
noticed the grapes were all gone.
“I’ve
heard of divorcing parents spoiling their kids to compensate for the loss, but
don’t you think you went a little overboard?” Sterling asked as he stood in the
doorway of the den
Beth
didn’t look up from the task at hand. Instead, the hiss of the scissors slicing
through the paper disrupted the music. “If you must know, divorcing parents also
forget important things, like their kids presents. Sadly, not one of these are
for our children.”
“Then
why are you being an elf?”
“Because
Christine couldn’t be bothered with it I guess. Too much planning for her big
trip back home to San Diego to think about the kids in Chicago.” Beth finished
taping the paper to the box and then picked up an empty sheet of labels. “Damn
it.” She stretched her neck and hunted around without getting up.
Sterling
saw a pile on the desk across the room and pointed to them. “Those what you’re
looking for?” he asked, a bit afraid to enter the Tetris like maze Beth had
created.
“Yes,”
she said as she pulled herself up.
Then
he caught a glimpse of the crest of her ass right before the sweater dropped to
her thick thigh. Sucking in his lips, he felt his hands tingle imagining the
feel of it again. Tasting his way from the back of her knee around front as he
worked his way to her core.
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YOUTUBE VIDEO:
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GUEST POST WITH MICHEL:
Discuss
the Joys of Fighting Stereotypes When Writing Characters
A stereotype is
a box. It defines, confines and maligns your character. There is no reason that
every blue eyed, blonde woman be a ditz. Every black man doesn’t need a
criminal record. Not every Asian is good at math. People raised south of the
Mason-Dixon line are capable of earning degrees and marrying outside of their
family. When you define your character by their race, ethnic background or
where they live you are limiting more than your characters. You are limiting
yourself as a writer.
The easiest
thing a writer can do is fall into the stereotype for their character. Are
there times I do it? Yes and no. I write a lot of athletes. Whether it’s a
stereotype or the personality of the person that makes them choose the position
they play you tend to see kindred spirits in the same position. I have a
volleyball player that is the setter. A setter gets no glory, but commands the
floor. Much like my character that is unseen most days yet holds the fate of
the world in her hands.
There are other
stereotypes I write against for a few reasons. The first is I know too many
people that you might say are against type. As a writer I want to show that not
every black man is a thug or when a white woman is with him that she’s
desperate or has highly teased hair. The second is the best way to break a
stereotype is to show a character living their life and not trapping themselves
in boxes. Readers enjoy a story they can connect to and I believe I bring that
to them. No matter the race of the hero or heroine a reader can connect because
I write about people, plain and simple.
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GUEST POST WITH REANA:
Celebrating All Love:
Five Tips on How to Write a Multicultural/Interracial Love Story
The key to
writing a multicultural/interracial romance is to understand that regardless of
the demographics of the characters, always remember that you’re writing a
romance. Romance is timeless. Romance crosses all lines and removes all
barriers and connects so many people. People of all races just want to be
loved. As human beings, we all want to find that one person (or two people, in
some instances), who give us peace. Who accept us for who we are. The need for
romance and love and happily-ever-after is something that everyone longs for
and dreams about. My stories follow that premise at all times, because if
nothing else, my stories are full of romance and promise and happily ever
after.
The characters
should reflect the reality of our diverse and eclectic world. Stereotypes and
preconceived notions regarding how individuals in interracial relationships
behave. I steer away from stereotypical characters and include characters who
are smart, but can sometimes make bad decisions, characters who are educated,
but can allow logical thought to take precedence over how their heart feels,
and characters who love their families, but who are not perfect and have
conflict.
Descriptions
are so important. People come in so many shades of pink, tan and brown. Red
hair, brown hair, green and blue eyes – the wondrous diversity that exists in
this world can be explained in so many ways. That being said, it’s extremely
important to know “who” you’re writing about and describe them perfectly.
Readers connect with people who are described in a way that they can visualize
and that makes sense. Be sensitive to how characters are described.
Always respect
your characters, who they are and where they come from. Since my stories
usually feature a black woman as the heroine, I try to reflect her as an
individual, a friend, her family, and who she is as a sensual woman. She’s more
than a one-dimensional figure, and highlighting all the things that make her
unique is key to telling a good story. Her mannerisms, tone of voice, and
unique phrases are what make her the person she is.
Ultimately,
writing multicultural / interracial romance requires the same commitment to the
characters and storyline that any story requires. There may come a time,
depending on the character’s backstory, where the character’s race may become
an issue. And that’s okay. But it should be treated simply as part of the story
that can develop into a reason for awareness, acceptance, or ultimately, no
reason at all to stop the two main characters from pursuing a relationship or
falling in love.
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AUTHOR BIO – REANA MALORI:
Reana Malori
writes Contemporary novels focusing on Multicultural / Interracial Romance. She
firmly believes that love in all its forms should be celebrated and her stories
reflect that belief. She hopes to weave stories that pull the reader into her
world and helps them to share in her universe, even if only for a short time.
An avid reader
since the age of 14, she decided to pursue her passion in 2009 and released her
first novella, To Love a Marine. Since then, she has released more than 20
books, to include Weekend Fling, Escape to Heaven, Closer to You and Finding
Faith.
When she is not
writing, you can most often find her enjoying a good book as she is, first and
foremost, a romance reader. Reana currently resides in Montclair, Virginia with
her husband and two sons who keep her busy laughing, having fun, and making
sure she doesn’t take herself too seriously.
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CONNECT WITH REANA:
Facebook:
Website:
Twitter:
Pinterest:
Google+:
LinkedIn:
Goodreads Author Page:
Email:
reanamalori.author@gmail.com
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AUTHOR BIO – MICHEL
PRINCE:
Michel Prince
is an author who graduated with a bachelor degree in History and Political
Science. Michel writes new adult and adult paranormal romance as well as
contemporary romance.
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CONNECT WITH MICHEL
PRINCE:
Facebook:
Twitter:
Pinterest:
YouTube:
Goodreads Author Page:
Website:
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BOOK
BUY LINKS:
Amazon:
Barnes and
Noble:
Smashwords:
Kobo:
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GIVEAWAY INFO:
Reana Malori and Michel Prince will be awarding
a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter
during the tour.
**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a
purchase made I may receive a small commission to help support this blog. This does not cost you anything, it just
helps pay for all those awesome giveaways on here.**
This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and
Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions. Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not
Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are
solely responsible for the giveaway prize.
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteThanks for having us by and good luck to all who enter.
ReplyDeletecongrats on the tour and thanks for the chance to win :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting us today!!
ReplyDeleteI liked the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteWhere did you get your inspiration for this story?
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