One cop wants her heart.The other one wants her dead.
Street-smart city girl Erica Corelli spent the three best days of her childhood on Mirabelle Island. Now her sister has disappeared and Erica’s on the run with her six-year-old nephew. The boy’s father, an abusive Chicago cop, will stop at nothing to get his son back. Erica can only hope this unforgettable island is a safe place to hide.
Garrett Taylor, the island’s chief of police, takes one look at Erica and thinks, trouble. The mysterious, sexy kind that disturbs a man’s peace and instantly complicates the simple life Garrett came to Mirabelle to find. But no matter how hard he tries, he can’t keep his mind—or his hands—off Ms. Couldn’t Be More Wrong for Him.
That's the back cover copy for my new Superromance, Next Comes Love, the 2nd in my Mirabelle Island series. It's a suspense-filled book that's a bit sexier than I normally write. I was all set to blog about the chemistry that developed between Erica and Garrett. It's hot. In fact the scene depicted on the cover was one of those that came about completely unexpectedly, flew off my fingertips as if it had a life of its own and is, I think, one of the hottest scenes I've ever written with fully clothed characters.
But the fact is, hot or not, this story deals with a serious topic. Something fun and flippant doesn't seem appropriate this morning. Next Comes Love is about physical abuse.
Erica fears that her sister has been in an abusive relationship for years and is on the run with her nephew. And Garrett, the tough, strong, cop hero in the story was a victim of abuse as a child. He fears the cycle will repeat itself and moves to Mirabelle to remake himself.
I could get into statistics about how much abuse there is in this world, but we all know it's there. It's tragic, heart-wrenching and sickening on so many levels. And it touches all of us, if one way or another. Many of us know people who've been victims of abuse, and some of us have even been victims ourselves.
I wish I had some answers. I don't. I am, though, proud to have written a story not simply about abuse, but about breaking its vicious cycle. Next Comes Love is, ultimately, about hope.
If you know someone who may be a victim of abuse, please keep him or her in your prayers today. And if the opportunity presents itself -
The national child abuse hotline is 1-800-4-A-CHILD
And the national domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE
So on a lighter note, today I'm giving away one copy of Next Comes Love and five of my handy-dandy bookmarks (with pretty tassel and beading). So if you have something you'd like to share, go for it. If you just want to be including in the drawing, that's cool too!
Helen
37 comments:
Congrats on your new release, Helen, it sounds wonderful. And yes, it's a difficult but important topic to tackle. Good for you!!
Hi Helen. Congratulations on your new release. Sounds like a great book. I admire you for writing about such an important issue.
Congrats on your new release !
I can't it to read more about Mirabelle and its inhabitants.
Erica and Garrett souds like great characters with a gut-wrenching story of their own, I'm very curious to read what HEA you wrote for them.
Yay on the new release, Helen! It sounds like a wonderful, soulful story.
I wrote a book once about a heroine who had been married to an abuser and it was difficult to live in her skin. So congrats to you, too, for writing a story that I know must not have been easy. Thank goodness for that hope you spoke of!
Hi.
I'm glad you're talking about abuse.
When I was growing up, my parents had a fly swatter, yard stick, tea towels, and ultimately my dad's belt. Not good.
When I was 19 and had graduated from high school and college with honours, had a full-time job, and was paying room & board, my mom told me I was not allowed to drive MY car (in my name) to see my boyfriend on the weekend, because he was "from the wrong side of the tracks", and since I owed her money on the insurance, she had a say in where the car went. When I disputed this, my dad took off his belt and came toward me yelling. I threatened to report him/them to the Children's Aid Society and the cops -- and they both knew I would follow through -- so he put his belt back on. I moved out the next day.
It was a different generation (as I'm 50, and my parents were in their forties when I was born), but it was still abuse. Because I had great grades and never had a boyfriend in high school, I didn't deal with their wrath very often, but my elder brother sure did.
I am SOOO glad people are more aware nowadays, although many still turn a blind eye. I know I haven't since then (since I knew better).
Hi Helen,
great topics! And congrats for the new release.
I love knowin New Authors, it means including you :)
Mariska
uniquas at ymail dot com
Thanks guys, for stopping in and commenting.
Laney, thanks for sharing. We're close in age, so I understand what you mean by a different generation. Most of our parents were hit by their parents, so it was long considered an accepted way to discipline, or for that matter let off a little steam.
FWIW, that last conflict with your parents may have been the best thing that ever happened to you. It propelled you out on your own!
I loved the first Mirabelle book, and I know Next Comes Love will be a keeper too. It's on my TBB list. I've already read one review that praised the "sensitvity of the characters" and the well-written suspense plot. I'm sure other accolades will follow.
And I'll add that I was blessed to win First Come Twins and a bookmark last month. As I said FCT was a keeper, and the bookmark has become my favorite. I love the size, and the beaded tassel makes it really easy to spot the book I'm reading.
Congrats on your new release. The book sounds awesome. This is a book that will be put on my buying list.
Love & Hugs,
Pam Keener in PA
Congrats on the new release! And I'm happy that you're addressing such an important topic.
joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com
Congrats on the release, sounds good!
Congratulations on your new release. I always enjoy your books and I know this one will be great. It is a very serious topic and I applaud you for writing about it.
Congratulations on the Book!
Abus is still rampant in our society and discussions of all types are needed to bring this out into the open. Survivors need to know they have options and how to find them. Discussion shines light on the secret and might help them find a new way.
Good luck!
Marcia in OK
Congrats, Helen! All your covers for this series rock!
Helen-- Yep. I can see this being another RITA winner. This is story you will tell very well. Can't wait to read it.
Congrats on the release. Count me in please.
cindyc725 at gmail dot com
Thanks for being brave enough to write about abuse. What people need to remember is that abuse is not always physical....it can be mental and sometimes that is worse. I am not a victim of abuse but I have a friend who is a victim of mental abuse and for years couldn't see what her friends saw as abuse.
Congratulations on your Release Day!
Thanks for sharing such a poignant post today.
I love that your MC triumphs over his fears & past.
All the best,
RKCharron
xoxo
Congrats on Next Comes Love, Helen! Abuse is a heartbreaking thing, and I'm glad you've been able to address it in your story--it's a wonderful thing to have hope and to see it in print.
Thanks, again, to all those who've added comments. It's so weird to know there are people out there who've read my past books. Very strange for me!
Ellen - you're so right about there being different kinds of abuse. Emotional abuse is just as devastating and it's tougher to identify, too.
I think it's wonderful that you wrote about this subject. You just may convince someone that they don't have to put up with abuse (of any kind). I think things like this flurish because it's usually hidden and it needs to be out in the open. People that have not lived with physical or mental abuse have a hard time understanding this subject.
Congrats on your new release!
Happy Release Day, Helen. I look forward to reading "Next Comes Love."
Congrats on the release.
Helen, congratulations! Seems like only yesterday we were waiting eagerly for your first book, and now you're a veteran!
It sounds wonderful-- I'll pick it up this weekend!
Congrats Helen! Sounds like it will be a great one to read.
Veteran? Not sure about that, Betina, but in some ways it does just seem like yesterday that Treasure came out. Big sigh. Wow!
And Catslady if anyone is convinced to get out of a bad situation due to my book I would be one very, very happy camper!
Hi Helen.
Congrats on your new release! Sounds like a book that tackles a tough issue.
Thank you. Abuse comes in many forms, and it is always closer to us than we care to admit. We may not be abused ourselves, but there are victims all around us. Some hide it better, and longer, than others. Abusers can be very clever and charming, hiding their cruelty and daring their victims to come forward. You may give someone the courage to seek help for themselves or someone they care about.
gcwhiskas at aol dot com
Hey Helen, CONGRATS!!!! This book is right up my alley. It is about one of the topics I hold dear. I can't wait to get my hands on it. I love the bookmark you sent me. The tassle was a nice surprise. I am glad I dropped in before going to bed.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
I can't wait to read this story. It sounds amazing!
Congratulations on the new release. I admire you for taking on such an important topic. I'm looking forward to the 2nd Mirabelle Island story!
I'm really looking forward to reading your new release, Helen. It's not easy balancing the romance with serious issues such as abuse and domestic violence.
Next Comes Love sounds like a wonderful book! It's hard to imagine the strenght of character a person must have in order overcome a childhood of abuse!
Over 25 years ago I worked at a Children's Hospital. We would receive little children with cigarette burns all over their bodies! Heartretching! There are so many mentally disturbed people out there.
I believe that your book will give someone hope to overcome or to recognise that they CAN escape from this abusive nightmare!
Wow, you guys are amazing. I'm a little worried I may not have delved deeply enough into the issue of abuse, but in a series romance there isn't that much room.
Laurie, that just makes me so sad. I think I like my fictional world where the endings are always happily ever after.
A very interesting subject to cover in a romance novel,
I think this puts your book a cut above most other romances.
Good for you and lots of success.
Please enter me in the giveaway.
Thanks
Carol
Thanks, Carol!
Post a Comment