They’re a sign of your strength. That you’ve been tested
like no
other man and you emerged victorious. You will always be victorious. They
make
me feel safe like nothing else. --THE WOLF OF KALININGRAD
by
Sara Wylde, (Lola referring to her husband’s scars)
Dubious #3
How far will she go for her family?
Lola Carter’s addict brother stole from the wrong man: the legendary Wolf
of
Kaliningrad, a scarred beast of a man who shows no pity and no mercy. When
her
brother is taken captive by the Wolf, Lola will do anything to save him. The
Wolf offers to trade her life for her brother’s… if she’ll marry the
monster.
Only this is no beauty and the beast tale. The Wolf is about to learn
that
Lola is a fierce adversary who can be just as beastly when it comes to
saving
herself and claiming something she wants more than anything else: her
monster’s
black heart.
Romance Erotica
Sensual | Romance
Contemporary [Self Published, On Sale: May 1,
2016, e-Book, ISBN: 9781943576777 / ]
If you search the internet, you’ll find an amazing number of romances
featuring scarred or wounded heroes – with both physical and mental scars.
It
was difficult for me, initially, to pinpoint exactly what I am drawn to in
these
stories. A common accusation by heroes in these novels is that the heroine
is
only attracted to them out of some misguided desire to play Florence
Nightingale, or out of a bizarre fascination for the freakish. It’s an
accusation that I feel is also somewhat directed at the reader of these
types of
stories as well. Even though I know those are not the reasons I enjoy
reading
about these heroes, I was never quite able to articulate my reasons until
reading THE WOLF OF
KALININGRAD by Sara Wylde.
In Sara Wylde’s novel, the heroine expresses how the hero’s scars represent
strength and make her feel safe. Like the heroine in THE WOLF OF
KALININGRAD,
Kresley Cole’s heroine in “The Warlord Wants Forever” takes the hero’s scars
as
a mark of virility and a sign of a warrior, and a badge of courage.
Something
that applies to just about every story I’ve read with a scarred hero, is
that
whether the wounds are physical or psychological, the scars indicate a
strength
of character or some type of physical or mental fortitude. That strength
can’t
help but be an admirable trait, and something that sparks your interest to
learn
more about that character.
Do you want to know how your scars affect me? Do you? They
cause
me to ache for a time I was not there for you, for the stupidity and
ignorance
shown you, but your appearance does nothing to change my feelings, except to
widen the understanding between us. My love is unconditional… -- BEYOND THE MASQUE by
Kae D.
Jacobs
The theme that created hope out of desolation in the beloved story of The
Phantom of the Opera come to life in Jacobs Beyond the Masque.
Burdened from birth with a facial deformity, musical genius Erik Gautier
once
strives to master humanity, making his will law, but now he struggles to
accept
an offer of love from the woman he loves, the woman who once betrayed him.
How
can he bring himself to trust again? Should he? Will he knowing submit his
mind
and heart to quench the emotional deprivation when others have turned away?
Learn of the compelling opposite that flood Erik s life as he confronts
justice and mercy when he is unable to escape his past.
Romance
Historical
[Granite Publishing, On Sale: March 11, 2009,
Paperback, ISBN: 9781599360324 / ]
In my youth, I – like many others – was drawn to the classic stories of THE
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and the beloved “Beauty and the Beast” fairy tale.
Admittedly, for a book junkie, the first incarnations of these stories that
caught my imagination were THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA film featuring Lon
Chaney,
and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST as interpreted by French poet and filmmaker Jean
Cocteau. As I got older and began reading romances, I unconsciously searched
for
the perfect blend of myth and eroticism that I found in those films. Like
with
Jane Austen’s PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, there are a multitude of books
reinterpreting
Gaston Leroux’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Some stay in a historical setting,
while some are more contemporary. Each author deconstructs the story and
reimagines it with results that vary from the fantastic, the sweet, and even
veering into unabashed erotica. The quality spans the good, the unusual, as
well
as badly written fan fiction.
Each reader has their own preferences and there is something out there for
everyone. As a historical romance fan, I was pleasantly surprised when I
stumbled on BEYOND THE MASQUE by Kae D. Jacobs. The book is about 700 pages,
and
the prose is flowery at times, but I love it. The book is very romantic,
almost
very Song of Solomon-esque at times. Jacobs’ story picks up just about where
Leroux’s story ends, and she weaves together a convincing historical
romance.
BEYOND THE MASQUE is
told from alternating perspectives and fleshes out the two main characters
and
enables the reader to sympathize with them and cheer on their unconventional
romance. This book has the best version of the “Christine” character. In
this
book Christine is a product of her times, but she is not quite the passive
damsel in distress that she appears to be in some incarnations, and is more
self-aware than in other adaptations. This book does not, as I'm told other
"Phantom-inspired/spin-offs" do, make Raoul into a villain.
If you enjoy THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, or if you just enjoy romantic
historical
fiction, you might enjoy this book. It is written in the style of the time
period being written about. There is an extensive character
description/biography at the end that I found very helpful to refer back to.
In
spite of its length, I find this story thoroughly enchanting and it is a
favorite re-read for me.
She felt an overwhelming tenderness for Sydnam Butler, who
had
demonstrated almost incredible courage and suffered so much yet had pieced
his
life back together with determination and dignity though he believed himself
untouchable ever since. -- SIMPLY LOVE by Mary
Balogh
Miss Martin's
School for Girls #1 Simply Quartet
She spies him in the deepening dusk of a Wales evening- a lone figure of
breathtaking strength and masculinity, his handsome face branded by a
secret
pain. For single mother and teacher Anne Jewell, newly arrived with her son
at
a sprawling estate in Wales on the invitation of an influential friend,
Sydnam
Butler is a man whose sorrows- and passions- run deeper than she could have
ever imagined.
As steward of a remote seaside manor, Sydnam lives a reclusive existence
far
from the pity and disdain of others. Yet almost from the moment Anne first
appears on the cliffs, he senses in this lovely stranger a kindred soul,
and
between these two wary hearts, desire stirs. Unable to resist the passion
that
has rescued them both from loneliness, Anne and Sydnam share an afternoon
of
exquisite lovemaking. Now the unwed single mother and war- scarred veteran
must
make a decision that could forever alter their lives. For Sydnam, it is a
chance to heal the pain of the past. For Anne, it is the glorious promise
of a
future with the man who will dare her to reveal her deepest
secrets...before
she can give him all her heart.
Romance
Historical
[Dell, On Sale: February 27, 2007, Paperback /
e-Book (reprint), ISBN: 9780440241973 / eISBN: 9780440336228]
Mary Balogh has created one of the most beloved scarred heroes, and
one of
the most beloved group of scarred heroes in the minds of many romance fans.
When
hunting down the best stories in this subset of romance, time after time
fans
expressed their love for
SIMPLY LOVE. In
SIMPLY LOVE, Mary
Balogh
takes a man scarred physically by war with PTSD and throws a woman with
mental
scars from a sexual assault in his path. Despite the heavy themes and
powerful
emotional resonance, Mary Balogh manages to tell a compelling and
entertaining
story about two flawed characters without resorting to melodrama, or
creating
happiness that seems hollow or artificial. The beauty of this story is the
friendship that develops between the hero and heroine and the small-scale
triumphs and tragedies that lead to personal epiphanies and a revised
definition
of what happiness means.
One of my favorite scenes in SIMPLY LOVE is one in
which
the heroine gently admonishes the hero’s well-meaning family to stop
treating
him as though he is a tragic figure, and to focus on his heroism and bravery
instead. Like in her later “Survivors’ Club” series, Mary Balogh takes two
characters who were victims to tragedy and transforms them into survivors.
Through knowing each other and talking through their problems, they move
forward
in life and experience joy.
Mary Balogh has said on her website that she never did research before
creating
these many fascinating characters with various injuries and survivor’s
guilt,
but rather relied on her writer’s imagination and sense of empathy. Her
“Survivors’ Club” series is a tour de force and each Survivors’ Club member
occupies a special place in the heart of readers who adore the series as
much as
I do. Although each character has different ailments and personalities, the
individual emotional struggles are very similar and very human. Mary Balogh
is
one of my favorite writers because she chronicles a character’s
imperfections,
making them seem very real and pulling the reader on their journey with
them.
Although she was ashamed to admit it now, the darkness in
him
had been the largest part of his allure. It was such an anomaly, a contrast
to
what she’d known from life. It had made him dangerous. Exciting. Sexy. But
that
was a fantasy. This was real. He suffered. And there was nothing sexy or
thrilling about that.
-- LOVER ETERNAL by J.R.
Ward
Black Dagger
Brotherhood #3
Zsadist is the most terrifying member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.
In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly
war
raging between vampires and their slayers. And there exists a secret band of
brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Of
these, Zsadist is the most terrifying member of the Black Dagger
Brotherhood.
A former blood slave, the vampire Zsadist still
bears
the scars from a past filled with suffering and humiliation. Renowned for
his
unquenchable fury and sinister deeds, he is a savage feared by humans and
vampires alike. Anger is his only companion, and terror is his only
passion—until he rescues a beautiful aristocrat from the evil Lessening
Society.
Bella is instantly entranced by the seething power Zsadist possesses. But
even as their desire for one another begins to overtake them both, Zsadist’s
thirst for vengeance against Bella’s tormentors drives him to the brink of
madness. Now, Bella must help her lover overcome the wounds of his tortured
past, and find a future with her…
Paranormal | Romance
Paranormal
[Signet, On Sale: September 5, 2006, Paperback /
e-Book, ISBN: 9780451219367 / ]
In LOVER AWAKENED by
J.R. Ward and STEALING
KATHRYN by Jacquelyn Frank, Zadist and Adrian both come by their beastly
appearance under incredibly different circumstances, but both have outer
appearances that reflect their inner turmoil and self-loathing.
In LOVER AWAKENED,
Zadist is a vampire whose innocence, sense of self, and face are forever
altered
after years of sexual slavery to a female oppressor. Even after physically
being
released from his imprisonment, his mind remained a place of torment until
meeting, falling in love, and being loved in returned by beautiful fellow
vampire Bella. Fans can’t help but get sucked into the whirlpool of emotion
in
LOVER AWAKENED. I
love
how J.R. Ward followed up with Bella and Zadist in the novella FATHER MINE.
STEALING KATHRYN by
Jacquelyn Frank is very much what I’d consider to be a “Beauty and the
Beast”
type of tale with an otherworldly and unique spin on the classic fairy tale.
Somewhere between erotic dreams and nightmares, Kathryn is pulled into
Adrian’s
world – first as his prisoner and later as his lover. Adrian’s physical
appearance is tied to the build-up of negative energy that surrounds him. As
the
unlikely bond and attraction between Kathryn and Adrian grows, he resembles
a
normal man more and more. Jacquelyn Frank does such a stellar job of
building
anticipation and creating sexual tension that sparks and sizzles. STEALING KATHRYN is one
of
the most intoxicating and deliciously erotic “Beauty and the Beast” stories
I’ve
read.
The Gatherers
#2
New York Times bestselling author Jacquelyn Frank invites you to
explore a strange and sensuous world of darkest desire ruled by an
extraordinary
being who is about to meet his earthly match. . .
Sandman. Angus.
Morpheus. He is known by many names, except his true one, Adrian. When he
departs his world, it is to enter the sacred space of sleep, and he is not
there
to sow sweet dreams. Adrian's mission is to reap the dark energy of
nightmares,
work that has twisted his soul as well as his once-handsome face. Now, he
lives
only to await the day darkness finally overcomes him. . .and to collect
exquisite reminders of what he's lost. . .
But there is one treasure
that stands apart. Having risked everything to obtain her, Adrian soon
realizes
his mistake. For Kathryn has a wholly unexpected power over him, not only
for
what she represents, but for what for she is: a soul with desires as strong
as
his own, tempered by compassion that could save Adrian from his self-made
hell--or condemn them both. . .
Romance
Paranormal
[Zebra, On Sale: May 1, 2010, Paperback / e-Book,
ISBN: 9781420109849 / eISBN: 9781420119312]
I am mad…I always will be. But if I hadn’t been mad, I
wouldn’t
have found Jamie…I work. So, I want to stay mad.
-- A MACKENZIE CLAN
GATHERING
by Jennifer Ashley
HIghland
Pleasures
#7.5
The author of The Stolen Mackenzie Bride returns to the tumultuous and
passionate world of the Mackenzie clan as a family celebration is shaken by
an
unexpected danger...
The Mackenzie clan has gathered for Hart’s birthday at the sprawling family
estate in Scotland. But before the festivities can start, the house is
robbed,
and thieves make off with an untold fortune in rare art.
Ian Mackenzie and his brothers must do what they can to retrieve the family
treasure, but Ian is distracted by a family friend who claims he might have
the
power to “cure” Ian of his madness forever. All the Mackenzies must draw
together as courage, love, and a tantalizing mystery serve
to strengthen their bond, and redefine the meaning of family.
Romance
Historical
[InterMix, On Sale: November 17, 2015, e-Book,
ISBN: 9781101615959 / eISBN: 9781101615959]
Jennifer Ashley weaves a spell of Mackenzie magic!
To
Ian Mackenzie - We Love You Just the Way You Are
Most fans of historical romance know who Lord Ian Mackenzie is. Years ago,
when
Jennifer Ashley first wrote about Ian in THE MADNESS OF LORD IAN
MACKENZIE, something about that character spoke to romance fans which
made
him an instant fan favorite. Ian is a Scotsman living in the 1800s and he
has
Asperger's. Jennifer Ashley does a great job of detailing the dangers
somebody
who is different faced back in that earlier point in history. I love Ian
because
of his loyalty and love for his family, his quirky charm, and his Sherlock
Holmes kind of brilliance. I don’t know whether it’s the author or the fans
who
have fallen more in love with the character over the years, but Jennifer
Ashley
certainly has painted a richer portrait of him over the last few years.
Although
any story Ian pops up in is delightful, I think the most recent installment
– A MACKENZIE CLAN
GATHERING
– really brings the character full circle. In A MACKENZIE CLAN
GATHERING,
Ian seems to finally give the same kind of acceptance he gifts others with
to
himself. I can’t wait for the next Jennifer Ashley story about the tightknit
Mackenzie family.
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