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Catherine Spangler | You Can’t Always Get What You Want
June 11, 2015
Sometimes, like the Rolling Stones song “You Can’t Always Get What You
Want”, our lives do not go the way we had hoped or planned. While I’ve
been
happily married to a wonderful, loving man for many years, he wasn’t
originally
what I envisioned for the love of my life. After we married, I gave him a
greeting
card that had a huge elephant and a tiny bird dubiously eying each other on
the
front. The caption said: “You are the answer to my prayers.” The inside of
the
card said: “You’re not what I prayed for, exactly, but apparently you’re the
answer.” My husband loved the card and saved it.
This is very much the case for the characters in my latest science fiction
romance, SHADOW
FIRES. In
fact, Jenna and Arion don’t even come close to their hopes for a mate.
They’re
each from very different cultures, in a war-torn universe populated by
humans and
aliens alike. She’s a Shielder, a human race trying to live in peace.
Arion, the leader of his clan, is a Leor, a fierce, barbaric hybrid race
that is
only part human. If these two could have placed “Life Mate Wanted” ads,
here’s how
those ads would have read:
Jenna’s ad: “Wanted: A kind, loving man who isn’t superstitious
and who
can overlook my curse of having visions that show horrendous current events
in
progress or terrible future events that can’t be changed. A gentle man who
will
love and respect me, give me a home and children, and a normal life.”
Arion’s ad: “Wanted: A mate who is bold, strong, and fierce in
battle.
A mate who will be objective and unemotional; one who will be my equal in
every
way and bring honor to our clan.”
Sounds reasonable, based on Jenna’s and Arion’s cultures and backgrounds,
right?
Ah, but then the Universe and Mick Jagger’s voice kick in. And in a
capricious
twist of fate—not to mention total want-ad failure—Arion learns
he
must take a human bride, because inbreeding among the Leor race has
diminished
their birthrates. Jenna not only realizes her people will never accept her,
but
she also has a vision showing her mating with Arion.
Although he finds mating outside of his race abhorrent, Arion is duty-bound
to
accept the Leor decree. Jenna is apprehensive about a union with a savage
warlord
from another race; yet she is resigned to the fate her vision has shown her.
So she travels to the barren, desert planet of Saura with Arion. He doesn’t
know
how to handle his fragile mate; his life is ruled by hard logic and physical
prowess, with no room for softness or emotion. Bound to him, Jenna faces a
life of
barbarism with a mate who seems more beast than man. Although they try to
make the
best of their situation, Jenna and Arion find themselves waging a battle of
wills,
until they discover that the heart is mightier than any weapon—and that love
can
forge shadow and fire together.
And maybe . . . just maybe . . . they might also discover that they are the
answer
to each other’s prayers, and to heck with want ads!
Or, in Mick’s words, “But if you try sometimes, you just might find you get
what
you need!”
SHADOW
FIRES is book five in the Shielder Series. Although the books are related, they
can each
be read as a stand-alone story.
GIVEAWAY
Have you read any enjoyable books where people who are total opposites
manage to
find love together anyway? Leave a comment below and be entered to win
one of two
$10 gift cards.
Catherine Spangler is the bestselling and award winning author of the
science fiction romance Shielder series and the romantic fantasy Sentinel
series.
She’s been a two-time Golden Heart finalist and a RITA finalist and has
received
numerous other awards and honorable mentions. Catherine lives in north Texas with her husband and a menagerie of dogs and
cats.
She loves reading, taking naps on the sofa with a good football game for
background noise, eating chocolate, and playing poker. Find her at Twitter
and
Facebook or visit her website. Website | Twitter | Facebook
Jenna dan Aron, a Shielder, lives a solitary existence, shunned by her
people
because she has visions and can see the future. She’s even foreseen her own
destiny: to be a human offering, a mate for a savage Leor warlord. When two
Shielder colonies need to be rescued, the Leors who are their only hope
demand a
bride for their leader in return. Knowing she can’t deny fate, Jenna steps
forward.
The Leors are a hybrid race and only part human. Arion of Saura finds mating
outside his race abhorrent, but he has no choice, as his kind faces
extinction.
His life is ruled by hard logic and physical prowess, with no room for
softness or
emotion. Bound to him, Jenna faces a life of barbarism with a mate who seems
more
beast than man. In the relentless heat of the wild Sauran desert, Jenna and
Arion
wage a battle of wills, until they discover that the heart is mightier than
any
weapon—and that love can forge shadow and fire together.
Comments
35 comments posted.
Re: Catherine Spangler | You Can’t Always Get What You Want
"Opposites attract" is a very common theme in romance, I would think. The noble/rich male falling in love with the poor/country female. Or even if it's not status, but in species (fantasy), I love reading how characters finally get together despite opposing circumstances (be it their parents or the world).
(Lisa L. 8:57am June 11, 2015)
Yes that what makes them attracted to each other.
(Marissa Yip-Young 9:52am June 11, 2015)
Hi Lisa! You're absolutely right. Opposites is a very common theme. And it creates a lot of good conflict.
(Catherine Spangler 11:09am June 11, 2015)
Hi Marissa! Sometimes opposites are attracted to each other. Sometimes it's the "forbidden fruit" allure. In the case of Shadow Fires, they are not attracted to each other, but forced together. So maybe it's more of a "marriage of convenience" theme.
(Catherine Spangler 11:09am June 11, 2015)
Many times. I particularly love the ones where one is
introverted and the other is extroverted and that makes
them struggle until they find their middle ground with one
another's personality.
(Rhianna Walker 12:50pm June 11, 2015)
Yes, to me it is much more exciting when the couple are total opposite of each other .
(Joan Thrasher 1:01pm June 11, 2015)
Oh I enjoy opposites attract books... love seeing how two totally different people can come together and find happiness.
(Colleen Conklin 1:12pm June 11, 2015)
Hi Rhianna! Nice to see you here. I'm with you--those total opposites can really keep things interesting!
(Catherine Spangler 1:22pm June 11, 2015)
Hello Joan! I agree. It's like pieces of a puzzle fitting together.
(Catherine Spangler 1:23pm June 11, 2015)
Hi Colleen. I think we're all agreeing that the opposite attracts stories can work quite well.
(Catherine Spangler 1:24pm June 11, 2015)
Opposites attract is one of the great tropes of romance - the
make or break being how well it is written. Modern would be
Titanic, and classic would be Gone With the Wind.
(Deb Philippon 2:33pm June 11, 2015)
I think this is a common plot twist in books and life. If we
only stuck to someone exactly like ourselves..how boring would
life be!
(Kimberley Coover 3:42pm June 11, 2015)
Hello Deb! I love your two examples of well-known opposites attract.
(Catherine Spangler 4:53pm June 11, 2015)
Hi Kimberley! I agree completely, especially in fiction. The characters must be bigger than life. When I read, I want to be taken out of my ordinary world.
(Catherine Spangler 4:54pm June 11, 2015)
Hi L. Thanks for checking in.
(Catherine Spangler 4:54pm June 11, 2015)
yes opposites do attract.keeps you on your toes.
(Jennifer Beck 11:33am June 12, 2015)
Opposites attracting is quite a common theme - that I love - in romance stories.
(Nancy Reynolds 1:46pm June 12, 2015)
There are a lot of books with opposites attracting and they usually are fun.
(Pam Howell 3:02pm June 12, 2015)
It doesn't surprise me when early conflict leads to
attraction. I think you learn to 'know' your 'enemy'
better than someone to whose faults you are blinded by
'love'. And there really isn't anything much worse than a
boring relationship.
(Irene Menge 4:38pm June 12, 2015)
I love reading stories were opposites attract - my favorites include the great
gatsby and the notebook! So romantic!!
(Lily Shah 6:55pm June 12, 2015)
No stories that I can remember the name of buy in my own marriage.
I find that some of those opporsites things compliment each
other.Some of my skills and strengths help when his doesn't type
things.
(Nancy Luebke 7:42pm June 12, 2015)
My goodness, my husband and I are opposites and we've been
together for nearly 37 years. I always figured that it was a
matter of what one lacks, the other fulfills. And it does make
for an interesting marriage. Not calm or peaceful always, but
interesting! ;-)
(Marcia Berbeza 12:50pm June 13, 2015)
I really enjoyed reading this post. I found it a great way to find out more
about the books and the author. I don't think I have seen a blog post where
the author has done that before.
(Sharame Vodraska 1:42am June 13, 2015)
Even though people are opposite, life can work out if both of them try hard enough. Sometimes you can't always get your way and what you want--compromise.
(Sharon Extine 2:26am June 13, 2015)
I've found over the years that I tend to be drawn to the
excitement of an opposites attract storyline & the drama that
usually unfolds with it. Thanks for the opportunity to win &
good luck to all who enter!!!:)
(Andra| Dalton 10:52am June 13, 2015)
Erm... Adult-ish content warning for this comment?
One of my favorite novels (which is absolutely NOT for the younger set) involves a woman who's a kidnapper and a sex trafficker, and a an honorable young man who plays football and studies religion (Christian emphasis). She kidnaps him, dominates him, and does this while informing him it's all for his future "master."
Doesn't sound like they could have a happily ever after together, does it? But they do, and it's exceptional.
It's a delightful *dark* romance, and I enjoy it immensely. ("Deliver" by Pam Godwin, if you're curious.)
(Rebecca Dee 11:33am June 13, 2015)
How about Roarke and Dallas in J.D. Robb's In Death series? She's the law and he
was anything but. Love the the blurb for Shadow Fires -- just my kind of book.
Glad to have found you. Thanks for the entry!
(Laura Logan 2:45pm June 13, 2015)
I love stories where two people seem to have nothing in common - until... then they discover how many ways they click together that are not so obvious and it becomes a strong relationship!
(Shirley Bennett 5:24pm June 13, 2015)
I love reading stories where opposites find each other. With my husband of 41 years, it seems that when one is weak the other is strong so we can help each other through the hard times. Thanks for sharing about the card...sometimes we are blessed enough to get what we need instead of what we want...smile.
(Brenda Rumsey 7:37pm June 13, 2015)
I would luv this, I am a huge fan
(David Heath 8:02am June 14, 2015)
just near the end of reading "Owning Violet" and there are two people that are so
opposite that are drawn together in the book. Sex seems to be the bonding
material for them that turns into something more
(Diane McMahon 11:59am June 14, 2015)
I would love this!
(Racquelle Robinson 1:39pm June 14, 2015)
A Choice for Claire by AJ Harmon was a wonderful book with
opposites!
(Denise Austin 1:58pm June 14, 2015)
I've quite a few of them and I love them because the books
are usually so passionate not only with the attraction, but
the personality clashes and the emotional aspects of the
book. Thanks for sharing
(Eva Millien 2:42pm June 14, 2015)
Yes I have and I enjoy them.
(Deb Pelletier 9:16pm June 14, 2015)
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