Evie Bennington and Dillon MacAllister sizzle on the dance floor. And between the sheets. The green-eyed hunk professes his love for Evie and promises never to leave her. Then suddenly, inexplicably, Dillon disappears. Evie is devastated and wonders if her mother’s warning about trifling white men is true after all.
In time Evie picks up the pieces when a handsome, bronzed EMT named Ty woos her. She determines to forget about her passionate love affair with Dillon and give Ty a chance. Then Dillon reappears. The circumstances surrounding his earlier disappearance are tragic. And he wants her back. But even though just the sight of Dillon makes her quiver with longing for his lovemaking, how can Evie choose between two men who mean so much to her?
“—A story about real relationships…the romance between Evie and Dillon is electric. Candy Caine’s writing is impressive.”
Latrivia S. Nelson, Bestselling Author of The Ugly Girlfriend
She couldn’t understand why she was unable to forget Dillon. He was only a guy. She had been okay before she met him and should be able to go on without him. But that thought appeared to be easier said than done. Especially when he haunted her dreams. Thoughts of him crowded her mind. There was little room for anything else. If she wanted to get on with her life, she’d have to exorcise him from her soul.
Finally, she came to the conclusion she needed to talk to him one last time if she intended to get on with her life. She had no idea what she might say to him, but assured herself she’d know when the time came. That was, if he’d agree to see her. There was always the chance that he wouldn’t want to talk to her. But she had to find a way to see him. She realized she’d have no peace until she did. Therefore, she’d have to press the issue and give him no choice.
Evie knew Dillon’s schedule. He was in class now and she had some time before the start of her next class. She would wait outside his classroom and try to talk to him then. If she left her dorm now, she could be there a few minutes before the class ended. Grabbing her coat, purse and keys, she rushed out of the room. Now running, she headed toward the building where his class was being held. As she pushed through the door of the building, she collided with a person walking out. They fell together in a heap.
“Dillon!”
“Evie? Unbelievable!”
They both began to laugh. They laughed until the tears came. Finally, Dillon helped her to her feet. He gathered her into his strong arms and held her tightly against him. “I couldn’t eat or sleep. You were always on my mind,” he said.
She turned her head and looked at him. Her soft-brown eyes were moist and glistening in the fluorescent lights. Gently, her fingers skimmed his face. “I was wrong. This is where I should be.”
Dillon took her hand and kissed her palm. Their eyes met and held a beat before their lips came together for a long feverish kiss that conveyed what words could not.
Classes ended and the hall began to fill with people. Both Dillon and Evie had to go to their classes.
“To be continued,” he said, as he started to let her go.
“Yes. Call me later.”
One last quick kiss before they separated. They reluctantly pulled away from one another. As they slowly parted, Evie couldn’t help but marvel how fate kept bringing them together. Yes, it had been her objective to meet him at his class, but instead they collided in the hall. Was this some kind of proof that they were destined to be together?
Evie knew she cared for Dillon. But could that caring be much more? Could what she felt be love? Why else couldn’t she forget him?
And how was she going to tell her mother about Dillon?
What inspired you to write this book?
My husband and I were driving to my son’s house listening to the radio when the Drifters’ song, Save the Last Dance For Me, began to play. As I watched the scenery of Long Island’s north shore whiz by, the idea for a story came to me. Actually I visualized the ending first. I actually saw in my mind’s eye my two main characters dancing over the typewritten words: The End.
What is the central theme and what message do you want the readers to take away from it?
Basically love is my central theme, but there are two components of this theme that play out through the book. (Obstacle to love and love conquers all) When I began to write this book, I didn’t start out with this great idea of a theme, but wrote the story of two people coming together despite overcoming the obstacles thrown in their way. The theme developed along with the plot.
Evie is taught at home by her mother to avoid white men and never to date them. So when she meets Dillon and finds herself having feelings toward him, she is conflicted and their relationship nearly ends before it has a chance to grow. Fortunately, her feelings and emotions prove stronger than her mother’s teachings.
Love is all encompassing. If one is to truly love another person, one must trust and believe the other person’s love is just as strong. When Dillon first reacts to the loss of his legs, he feels like half the man he once was. Because of this, he decides not to tell Evie and chooses not to return to her. He had made the decision for her, because he doesn’t think she will want him anymore. The bottom line here is that he doesn’t trust her to love him that much. And this is the major reason why Evie is livid when she discovers that he is alive. However, their love for each other proves strong enough in the end.
What is the most challenging aspect about writing romance? The most fun part?
The most challenging aspect for me is coming up with obstacles to keep my lovers apart and then finding a believable way to get them back together again. There is an additional challenge for me when I’m writing erotic romance. There are just so many ways for people to have sex, so I try to mix it up and make it different each time. The last thing I want is to bore my readers with my sex scenes or have them feel that they read it before in one of my other books. So here’s where the fun comes in. When I try different things, my hubby becomes my willing research assistant. Therefore if an editor challenges the authenticity of a scene, I’m prepared.
As a romance writer, what advice do you have for people regarding real-life romance?
A while back, when I was writing another story, I fell in love with my male protagonist. Who wouldn’t have? After all I created him to fit all the criteria I wanted in a man. He was perfect for me. When my husband hadn’t done something that I had asked him to, I snapped at him, “Why couldn’t you be like Morgan Grant (from Dangerous Attraction)?” My husband replied, “So rewrite me.” The point here is that it would be nice if our real-life partners were like the ones we created on the page. But often they’re not. And you can’t rewrite them. However, if a woman is reading romance because her love life has become boring, why not take some of that energy from the romance books and try to spice up your relationship. It always takes two to make a relationship better— or three, if you’re into that.
Whether she’s writing a short story or novel, Candy Caine will make her interracial romances hot and spicy. Always striving to entertain her readers, Candy tries to breathe life into her characters, making life often interesting for her husband, Robert back in their home on Long Island, NY. And both are trying to teach their fifteen-year old yellow Lab, Sammy, new tricks.
Candy loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at candy@candycaine.com.
Visit her website at www.candycaine.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment