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Hugs: Breakthrough

Bugs: Freaking out and needing a breakthrough

It’s been a week since my last blog post, and that’s never my intention, but crap happens. I didn’t write anything Wednesday because I hadn’t been reading anything for pleasure. My manuscript doesn’t count, unfortunately. L

And then by Friday, I’d had yet another crisis of faith in my writing. And I really didn’t want to write about that. I’d reached the 70% (or thereabouts) mark of the manuscript, and I freaked out about where the book was headed. I was mostly worried that I was cramming too much stuff in the last section of the book. Writing is fun, but, man it can be stressful. L

I didn’t like freaking out, so I came up with a plan to overcome it J, and spent the weekend putting it into place. I reviewed the story from the beginning till the freak out point and then looked at what I’ve written for the end.

Good news – the last part of the book is workable and viable. I still have to make it publishable because it’s still in the rough first draft stage, but it makes sense (in my head, at least). And frankly, that’s all that matters right now.

Of course, that’s not to say that during the editing process, I won't discover that I’ll have to change the ending. I’m okay with that, but, for now, I’m going to go with it as is and see where it leads me.

One other thing I figured out during my review is that I need to add EMOTION. I’ve been so concerned with the external plot and Dee and Jeremiah’s motivations that I haven’t concentrated enough on how they feel about each other in the present beyond the sexual attraction. I need to make sure the emotional attraction is there as well. In my first novel, I was very conscious of this, and each scene served a dual purpose of plot and emotion (in my opinion, they did, anyway). In the third draft, I will be sure to concentrate on this.

P.S. This is the biggest Hugs of them all – the Texas Rangers are going to the World Series!! My exhilaration knows no bounds. And I get to go to a World Series game!

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Today, I’m starting another new feature on ye old blog called Whatcha Reading Wednesday.

This is kind of an experiment. I have an idea about what types of books I’m attracted to, but I thought it would be illuminating to review the books and put my reasons for choosing them on paper.

This week’s Whatcha entry is Kimani Press Romance Recipe for Temptation by Maureen Smith.

A six-month sabbatical from her high-powered career is just what the doctor ordered…especially when Reese St. James eyes the hunk of her secret fantasies on the menu. From the moment she walks into Michael Wolf’s world-famous restaurant, she’s given the VIP treatment. And the sexy celebrity chef’s mouth-watering kisses have her eating right out of his hand…and hungry for more.

Furious at discovering Reese isn’t the food critic he expected, Michael vows to teach the delectable deceiver a lesson. Seduction is the first course as he turns the tables on the sensual doctor. But once he tastes her passion, he goes straight from the frying pan into the fire. He wants to trust her, but what if he gets burned? As their sizzling affair flames into a culinary feast for all the senses, will love be the final course?

I picked this book out of my massive “To Be Read” pile because the hero has revenge on his mind. I’m toying with that concept in my current manuscript. I struggle with making my characters not perfect, especially the heroes. I want readers to fall in love with them, and if they’re not perfect, that might make it a little more difficult. My head knows that’s ridiculous, but my heart and typing fingers have trouble following suit. Most people acknowledge that they’re not perfect, so why would they want to read about perfect people they can’t relate to?

Anyway, the blurb makes it clear that the hero, Michael Wolf, isn’t perfect. I was a little concerned about how this plot point would play out the rest of the book. His anger stems from a misunderstanding. I hate when books revolve around a misunderstanding that could be worked out with a simple adult conversation. Thankfully, this book doesn’t go there. He realizes he misjudged her early on. Of course, there is other conflict that comes from the misunderstanding and some other stuff that I won’t ruin.

I enjoyed the book immensely. The more time passes the more I like it. The main characters were likeable (but not perfect).Furthermore, it was well-written, kept my attention, made me laugh at times, and when Ms. Smith got to the good stuff, she got to the good stuff. Ahem. 

After reading the book and giving the point some more thought, I think I’ve hit on something. It’s okay for my hero to seek revenge/be a little selfish if he thinks he has a legitimate reason for doing so. The reader (and I) don’t have to necessarily have to agree with him, but we at least have to know why he’s doing what he’s doing and why he feels justified in doing so. And if he realizes that his reasons are messed up, well, that’s even better.

I love breakthroughs.

So whatcha reading?

xoxo,
Jamie

P. S. The hero is a chef and the heroine is a foodie. I am neither, which made reading the book a little interesting at times. Maybe that’s how people reading sport romances feel.
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