Bitter Secrets Delay
You don't know how disheartened I am to make this announcement, but I wanted to give everyone fair warning before I cancel the pre-order this week. For the book to be released on the 24th, the final manuscript needs to be turned in to certain retailers by the 10th and I'm not going to make it. There is still a portion of the book that I feel is incomplete. I would rather refund everyone’s money than release a story that shortchanges the characters or readers.
Like Carmen’s books, Bitter Secrets is turning out to be twice as long as I expected. I mentioned in the "Background on Bitter Secrets" blog that I scrapped almost all of my original ideas and went in a direction that I think gives the story more depth. Bitter Secrets documents the full year that Roth and Jasmine are married. I know that most stories jump around a lot in the timeline, going six or eight months in the future, but I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to show the real progression of their relationship and that's in the quiet moments, in the day to day. I didn't want to force a conclusion that rings false and potentially ruins the rest of the series. This couple is so different from any other I've met. The tension between them, that fucking angst that spills from them and splatters all over these pages is so unique. I want to give them as much time as they need to tell their story. So much between them is unspoken and so nuanced, I have to do one or two passes to catch everything. Because I spent so much time away from this story, I was able to come back and view it in a whole new light.
Being blackmailed into an arranged marriage is a common trope, especially in those old Harlequin novels (a guilty pleasure of mine. LOL). But, I've never read a book that really explores the mental and emotional toll this would take on someone who is forced to keep up a charade like this for such a prolonged time. Jasmine is married to a man she doesn’t trust and who rouses so much doubt, fear, and anger in her. She doesn't know what his motivations are, how he sees her, and what he's hiding. Can you imagine being married to someone you don't trust? Even worse, can you imagine being married for a second time to someone who is a complete stranger? Despite that, she has to convince everyone (society and her family) that this is a love match, even knowing at the end of the year, she’ll be made a laughingstock once they divorce. But she can't let herself think about that. No, she just has to get through one day at a time. Twelve months and then she'll be free…
This book is really tricky to write and I want to get it right. I know this extra time will produce excellent results. With that said:
This is unedited and some things may change in the final manuscript.
I recently deleted my social media, but I will post updates on this blog or you can join a Facebook group being run by my personal assistant, Emily, who will convey my progress as I go through revisions, edits, and a polish.
For those of you who want to follow along as I complete Bitter Secrets, join my Patreon. This platform is a monthly subscription service where you get access to exclusive content by supporting my writing journey. If you want to get your hands on raw, unedited scenes, deleted snippets from previous books, access to my exclusive reader community on Discord, attend Q & A's, see the cover reveals before anyone else and so much more, check out the tiers I offer:
This is not a requirement to show your support for me. This is an option for those who want behind the scenes content and extras I've never shown before.
Once again, I can't apologize enough, especially to those who have been waiting since Bitter Heat was released. Know that I am working on getting this book out ASAP.
In the meantime, here are some recommendations from those in the FB group to pass the time until Bitter Secrets is released (all of these affiliate links go to Amazon):
The Twist Me Series by Anna Zaires
Monsters in the Dark Series by Pepper Winters
The Mindf*ck Series by S.T. Abby
Deliver by Pam Godwin
Consequences Series by Aleatha Romig
Brie's Submission by Red Phoenix
Diamonds are Forever Trilogy by Charmaine Pauls
The Santiago Trilogy by Catherine Wiltcher
Made Series by Danielle Lori
And some of my personal favorites:
Kristen Ashley: Mystery Man, The Gamble, Sweet Dreams, Rock Chick
Linda Howard: After the Night, Overload, Heartbreaker, Loving Evangeline
Dominic by LA Casey (New Adult Romance)
Love Left Behind by SH Kolee
Real by Katy Evans
Shiver by Suzanne Wright
Johanna Lindsey (historical romance): Hearts Aflame, Captive Bride, Prisoner of my Desire, A Gentle Feuding