Fabulous and Brunette: Vindictive by Ryan Lawrence - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway

Hi, lovelies!! It gives me great pleasure today to host Ryan Lawrence and his new book, “Vindictive,” here on FAB!! For other stops on his Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!! Also, come back daily to interact with Ryan and to increase your chances of winning!!

Thanks for stopping by!! Wishing you all lots of good luck in this fabulous giveaway!!

Vindictive

by Ryan Lawrence

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GENRE: Thriller

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BLURB:

The best revenge is revenge. Getting it is all that matters.

Jules Cartell has it all: wealth; beauty; a handsome, loving husband; a partnership in her father's law firm; and the top executive position at one of Canada's leading corporations, Cartell Worldwide. Aside from her secret, problematic desire for the married owner of the internationally renowned Château Bergé, Jules believes she and her life are pretty perfect. But the discovery of an unforgivable crime perpetrated against her family by her husband, Phillip, years before the two met sets Jules down the path of revenge. There is no option for forgiveness. Phillip has to pay. An eye for an eye.

It is said that when seeking revenge, you should dig two graves. Someone from Jules's past, someone aggrieved by her actions, seeks vengeance for themselves. This is an enemy without compassion, without morality, without mercy. An enemy who will accept no restitution short of Jules's death.

In the city of Fairporte, ON, secrets, lies, and betrayal can be found everywhere. As adversaries close in, will Jules get revenge before her past catches up with her? Unexpected allies may be instrumental to her success. They may also be the key to her very survival.

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EXCERPT THREE:

“You’ve grown sloppy and let your instincts, your muscle memory, become soft, flabby. Your responses should be instinctual. Even our sparring last night was—meh.”

What! Jules almost ran her car off the road. Her anger towards Amanda’s castigating words and unexpected lack of empathy towards her plight ran hot and potent, and it nearly got the best of her. She visualized Amanda’s admonishing finger waving furiously in the air at her over her phone.

Pointed criticisms due to failings and mistakes took Jules back to her early training sessions with the woman. Amanda had been relentless and unforgiving in her attempt to mould Jules into a version of herself.

Thankfully, Jules managed to keep her head clear, her eyes focused dead ahead, and she remained on the road. She wanted to get to her midtown condo as fast as possible without killing herself in the process. She was almost there, and this was not the time to get in an accident. Jules took a deep breath before countering the unwanted chastisement.

But countering it with what? Anger? Curses? Resentment? She would not be fooling anyone with her self-righteous indignation, least of all herself. Amanda was completely and unequivocally correct in her observations.

Jules realized something significant. Having been so preoccupied for so long with Phillip’s destruction, she absolutely had a lax attitude toward her physical training to keep her skills sharp. She had even put her sessions in Toronto with Master Hiroki on hold. What disrespectful behaviour. His time was priceless. His knowledge? Invaluable! Jules felt terrible regret and shame.

Also, she was shocked by how much she had forgotten about Amanda, about how astute and perceptive she was. Why am I surprised? It’s why I knew she could help with William. This is her life, always prepared, focused—apparently, even more than I am. Dammit, Jules, get it together.

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GUEST POST:

To Be Seen as a Villain

Not only does everyone love a villain, but they also love to hate the villain. Some villains have over-the-top yet wonderfully malevolent personalities; other times, their evil persona is cold, controlled, and calculated. If a writer can make their villainous character, or characters, more than two dimensional, the reading audience will embrace their wickedness as it is pivotal to their enjoyment of the story. After all, heroes are only as good, only as interesting, as their nemeses.

But what happens when a novel's protagonist is thought of as a villain by the reader? And why would they do that? Because they act villainously. They deride, manipulate, dismantle, and destroy. If the antagonist is made clear, does having the protagonist act terribly, even reprehensibly, towards others create a problem? Or does it make for a more complex, rewarding journey for the reader? Is understanding how a seemingly vile person is supposed to be the one to root for be the very thing that creates the "wow factor" in the story? Do protagonists have to act virtuously? Is being an anti-hero valid?

In Vindictive, Jules Cartell is not the villain. Still, as they navigate the novel, readers have reached out to me, commenting how much of a B-word she is. Some have even wished for her death due to her cruelty toward others, especially Phillip, her husband. (Everyone feels sorry for Phillip!) I always have to say, Keep reading! What is projected —visible—is not always indisputable truth.

Is Jules a terrible person? Sometimes. Okay, often, even admitting it to Phillip, the main target of her vengeful wrath—but there is a reason for everything. Maybe more than one.

Jules’s readiness and capability to humiliate and dominate anyone in her way, anyone who has wronged her, makes me love this character. I love her fortitude, intelligence, and desire to win no matter the effort, no matter the sacrifice. With only days remaining in a careful sequence of events that will ensure Jules's sole dominance of Cartell Worldwide and gain her the revenge she seeks against her husband and his family, will her actions and revelations alter the reader's perception of her?

In Vindictive, I hope I have been effective with my conscious attempt to shift the reader's initial perceptions of Jules over the story's arc. Is she cruel by nature, or is this a byproduct of crimes perpetrated against her? Is Jules genuinely unlikeable, or are we simply uncomfortable with the vicious intensity of her drive for success against any opposition?

As the story heads for its climax, I know the reader will want Jules to survive and conquer. You still may not like her, but you will root for her to win.

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AUTHOR BIO:

Ryan Lawrence was born and raised in Guelph, Ontario. He is a 2000 graduate of The University of Guelph in English. Ryan has worn many hats professionally, including working over 12 years as a custom art framer. While writing has always been a part of his life, it was only after leaving this profession that Ryan seriously took his education and passion for writing by the horns and began the journey towards Vindictive, his first novel.

Since 2002, Ryan has lived in London, Ontario, with his husband, Todd, together since 1997, their cat Dora, and his massive comic book collection that once fell on Todd. He’s okay.

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CONNECT WITH RYAN:

Website:

https://www.ryanlawrenceauthor.ca

Email:

ryanlawrenceauthor@gmail.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/RyanLawrenceAuthor

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/RyanLAuthor

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/ryanlawrenceauthor

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22020369.Ryan_Lawrence

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59696221-vindictive

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/3EawBvH

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/37aNE4W

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/3M07AWJ

Amazon US Hardcover:

https://amzn.to/37PkCb2

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Vindictive-Ryan-Lawrence-ebook/dp/B09HFZ4C56

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0228864739

Amazon CA Hardcover:

https://www.amazon.ca/Vindictive-Ryan-Lawrence/dp/0228864747

Apple Books eBook:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/vindictive/id1588454627

Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vindictive-ryan-lawrence/1140231175?ean=2940165037375

Barnes and Noble Paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vindictive-ryan-lawrence/1140231175?ean=9780228864738

Barnes and Noble Hardcover:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vindictive-ryan-lawrence/1140231175?ean=9780228864745

Book Depository Paperback:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Vindictive-Ryan-Lawrence/9780228864745

Book Depository Hardcover:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Vindictive-Ryan-Lawrence/9780228864738

Books-A-Million Paperback:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Vindictive/Ryan-Lawrence/9780228864738

Books-A-Million Hardcover:

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Vindictive/Ryan-Lawrence/9780228864745

Bookshop Paperback:

https://bookshop.org/books/vindictive-9780228864745/9780228864738

Bookshop Hardcover:

https://bookshop.org/books/vindictive-9780228864745/9780228864745

Indigo Chapters CA eBook:

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/vindictive/9780228864752-item.html

Indigo Chapters CA Paperback:

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/vindictive/9780228864738-item.html

Kobo US eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/vindictive-4

Kobo CA eBook:

https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/vindictive-4

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Ryan will be awarding a $15 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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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.