HEA - Too Cookie Cutter??

borrowed from scrabblesense.com

I absolutely, positively LOVE a happy ending.  I mean let's be real, it's what dreams are made of.  Right?  That's why I've always loved reading romance novels so much.  Every little girl starts planning out how her Prince Charming will race onto the scene riding his strapping white horse, razzle-dazzle her, literally and figuratively sweeping her off her feet.  They ride off into the sunset and live HAPPILY EVER AFTER. End Credits.

Okay so maybe it's not quite so simple in romance novels.  You have the tug and pull of two opposing forces: enter hero and heroine.  They spend a portion of the story either denying their love for each other or questioning their love for each other.  Outside forces may be thrown at the couple from every conceivable angle, making an already difficult love feel even that much more impossible.  But somehow they conquer all of those perceived roadblocks and discover, rediscover or finally accept their mutual love, and then they live HAPPILY EVER AFTER.


While I can't live without my regular dose of HEA I don't always enjoy the "cookie cutter" endings that I could almost read in mind without seeing a single word of the last few pages of the book.  Sometimes reading an excellent love story can be somewhat of a disappointment when the author chooses to use what I consider to be a cookie cutter ending.  Therefore reading the last few pages or epilogue is something that is at times no fun for me and I simply scan it rather than reading it.  Yes we all want the couple to end up together and remain deliriously in love, however what I don't think is always realistic is having all of their issues magically just disappear in the span of a chapter that wraps up the story.  What I can appreciate in some of the stories that I've read is when the heroine and hero are comfortable and confident enough in their love to admit that they still have things to work out and work on.  This is in fact more true to life and easier to relate to, even if we are reading a genre based in the fictitious fantasy worlds that we wish we lived in.  Yes we want to escape to a world where love conquers all but love is a work in progress which in my mind means you can love someone and want to be with them but not have every single issue resolved.  Sometimes what we could and should love most about someone is their imperfections and how it shapes who they are.

So am I saying that all HAPPILY EVER AFTER's should have unresolved issues?  No.  Absolutely not.  I am simply saying there could be a bit more variety in the endings.  Even though I want my heroine and hero to ride into the sunset, everything doesn't have to be nice and tidy for that to happen.  They simply have to be willing to work on their love.

Shooting for Love Mock Cover Art

Mock Cover Art 

Potential cover art design for Shooting for Love.  Comments and Suggestions are welcome.

Shooting for Love Blurb

Professional Photographer Allyson Daniels is on a mission. A mission to clear her brother’s name of a scandal that could have him seeing serious prison time. She is not looking for love, and most certainly not from the likes of philandering ADA Elijah Young, the prosecutor who just happens to be taking on the case against her brother. Allyson’s number one goal right now is becoming a household name in the photography business, not falling in love or lust. Loving and losing at such a young age taught her years ago to protect her heart at all cost so this unwanted attraction towards her arch enemy has her questioning just what goals she should be shooting for.

Elijah’s only objective right now is bringing down Diego Santiago and his crew. He is through with love. He plays hard and works even harder. Being burned by his ex-wife two years ago has turned him off of commitment and his trust in women is at an all time low. He enjoys living the bachelor life to the fullest. Or at least that’s what he had been telling himself until he met the fiery and feisty Allyson. The woman was way off limits and not at all his time with her sharp tongue, yet somehow she infiltrated his heart, making him feel things he has no right to feel for her.

She’s shooting for her brother’s freedom, he’s shooting for a conviction in his biggest case to date, but before they know it they’ll both be Shooting for Love.

Editing: Mighty is the RED pen

Shooting for Love

Steadily working on the edits for Shooting for Love and quickly finding out that the writing process is never really completely until you submit your manuscript, lol.  Rewriting a few scenes at the moment and also debating on revising the first few chapters to make the story move a little quicker.  (Seems to move a little slow initially before my main characters come across each other)  Also reviewing a few scenes and tidbits of information to make sure they are well developed. 

Will post my Shooting for Love blurb later and introduce the main characters.

Review #1 - Any Way You Want It, by Maureen Smith

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Sensuality Rating: Scorching Hot

Amazon - Buy Now

     Reviewing any work by Maureen Smith in my mind can be summed up in four quick words.  Brilliant Writing.  Excellent Read.  Am I a biased fan?  Yup, probably.  However I'm also a voracious reader who has very high expectations and standards  for the literature that I read.  Reading is a labor of love--there are so many other things that I should be doing when I pick up a book.  Since I can remember I have had a love affair with words,--reading and writing them-- therefore I have a great appreciation and admiration for writers that can weave a story together with beautiful word play.

     Any Way You Want It, is a follow up to Maureen Smith's novel Whatever You Like, featuring elite escort agency owner, Zandra Kennedy and her childhood friend, former Navy SEAL Remington Brand.  Remy has been carrying a torch for his friend for some time and Zandra is far from immune to his charm, however she is initially hesitant to rock the proverbial friendship boat.  Eventually their love and an all-consuming attraction can no longer be denied.  This novel is a scorching hot read that will ensnare the reader from start to finish.  The erotic sex scenes will leave steam coming off of your e-reader or the pages of your book.