For Love of a Wounded Man

Far From Broken, the first book of my Seasons of Invention series focused on Jasper and Callie, who were trying to find their way back to each other after a terrible event changed their lives forever. Callie had lost both of her legs, a hand, and an eye, and she’d been dealing with a lot of anger about it, while her husband had guilt up to his eyeballs and fear that he was going to lose the only thing that mattered to him even if, technically, she was going to live. There was a lot for them to wade through before they could even think about being happy again, and at the end of the book I felt glad for them that they would make it, but I wanted to show readers that it still wasn’t going to be an easy road.

That’s why I really enjoyed writing book 2, Broken Promises. I was able to go deeper into the lives of these two people, explore their healing process, and the extent of their love for each other in more depth.

But in book 2 we also meet Captain Jamie Dunsmoor, who has also been wounded in the line of duty, also been transformed by the War Office’s advanced medical, and isn’t happy about it. It’s cost him everything. His family. His career. His freedom.

Now I’m starting to plot for Dunsmoor’s book, and while I don’t necessarily want to have to become immersed in another character’s pain again, I know his story is going to have some darkness. I still haven’t found the right heroine to balance that, the one to bring him back into the light. But I’m working on it. I think she’s going to have to have a lot of spunk, and a lot of strength.

How much darkness do you want in the books you read? Do you want the nitty-gritty moments to be thick and black like oil and pull no punches, or do you read to get away from all that?

JK Coi

www.jkcoi.com

J.K. Coi is a multi-published, award winning author of contemporary and paranormal romance and urban fantasy. She makes her home in Ontario, Canada, with her husband and son and a feisty black cat who is the uncontested head of the household. While she spends her days immersed in the litigious world of insurance law, she is very happy to spend her nights writing dark and sexy characters who leap off the page and into readers’ hearts.

Broken Promises (Book 2, Seasons of Invention)

Former ballerina Callie Carlisle is determined to rebuild her life with her new mechanical limbs. She's just learned to accept the enhancements that saved her from certain death when she experiences uncontrollable twinges and flashes of light that obscure her vision. Terrified of literally falling apart, she resists telling her husband. Jasper's already vowed to keep her out of harm, and she doesn't want to worry him further.

When the War Office's General Black arrives with an urgent mission—rescue the doctor who created Callie's enhancements—she has no choice but to accept. A rogue agent and former patient of the scientist believes the biomechanical modifications he received are killing him, and he's out for revenge.

Callie must reach the doctor before it's too late. But with an overprotective Jasper at her side, and her alarming symptoms getting more frequent, will she be able to hold herself together long enough to save the doctor...and herself?

Available now! 

Carina Press / Amazon  /  Barnes and Noble

Keeping the Romance Alive

Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, and I ask myself every year whether hubby will surprise me with something, but you know what?

He rarely does.

Some people would say he isn’t romantic, or that he doesn’t care. But I know the truth.

My big bad Italian hubby isn’t one for telling me he loves me. I may not get roses on Valentine’s Day, and we may not go out to an expensive dinner. But two weeks ago my husband, who has said for years that he will never get a dog because they’re too much work…told me I could have a puppy. And you know why he did it? Because he knew it would make me happy and he loves me so much he’ll put up with pee on the kitchen floor, and chewed running shoes, and that wet doggy smell.

I’m all for a day of romance as much as the next person, but even more important are the days when there aren’t any expectations yet the coffee is made for me when I get up in the morning, and the laundry has magically been folded while I was writing madly to make a deadline. My husband knows that my favourite treat is a cannoli (Mmmmm Cannolis) and one random day that really meant nothing in the grand scheme of things, I came home to find that he’d looked up a recipe, gone out for the ingredients and made some from scratch. Those were the best cannoli’s I have ever had.

So no, I don’t expect fancy declarations, or anything else tomorrow. And that’s perfectly fine. I probably won’t make a big deal out of Valentine’s Day for him either…then again, he’s going ice fishing next week and I know when he gets home he’ll really appreciate seeing a big pot of my homemade squash soup and fresh bread waiting for him.

What little things does your loved one do for you throughout the year to show their love, besides the big gestures?

And don't forget to enter our Valentine's Day giveaway here!

JK Coi
www.jkcoi.com

Got some popcorn?

I was having trouble deciding what to write about for today. You see, while I have a new release on November 25, it’s not paranormal or fantasy. It’s a straight contemporary with cops and mobsters, strippers and guns. So while I’ll be ever-so-slick about slipping that link in here for you to check it out at your convenience (*cough* BRAZEN GAMES *cough cough*), I’m not going to plug it on the Here Be Magic blog because that’s not really what we do here.

So instead, I’m going to take it easy and talk about some of the movies I’ve seen lately.

We rented Captain America this weekend and I really liked it.  Not as much as Iron Man, but more than Thor. I liked the hint of steampunk and the retro, 1940’s feel. I didn’t like the tacked-on romance they wrote in as an afterthought, but it seems most of the marvel movies have that in common. Overall, though, it was a great final lead-in to the Avengers movie coming up in May 2012.

My husband and I also went to watch In Time when it came out two weeks ago. This is the one with Justin Timberlake as poor kid from the hood who finds himself gifted with time. And time is a really hot commodity since people are genetically engineered to only live until age 28—that is, unless they can manage to earn more time, doled out by the minutes and hours as a substitute for money. I thought this was a fantastic premise and it had huge potential, but the director/writers/actors, none of them really went as far with it as they could have, which was ultimately really disappointing.

Actually, now that I think about it, that’s about it. I don’t get out much. Especially during NaNoWriMo. However, I’m still hoping to see Immortals, Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows, and of course as the new year rolls around…The Hunger Games. OMG. Did you see the trailer!??!! If not, then check it out here!

So what have you liked on the big screen recently? For those who are writing, how has your NaNo been coming along?

JK Coi
www.jkcoi.com

An Antho for Christmas

I was very lucky to have been chosen to contribute to Carina Press’s Steampunk Holiday Anthology – A Clockwork Christmas – with my novella FAR FROM BROKEN. I feel even luckier now that I’ve had the chance to read the three other stories to be included in the collection because they are SOOOOO awesome!

Christmas can't come fast enough, and as I await this special release day, I'm going to keep myself busy getting ready for the holidays at home. What am I doing that I have to get started now, even before Halloween has come and gone?

Well, I like to make ornaments out of stained glass. I love the way they glitter and shine with the lights shining behind them when they're hung on the tree. Since each one will take me at least an evening, and I tend to make a good couple dozen (to give to family and friends) I have to get an early start.

What do you do at home to get ready for the holiday? (Whichever holiday you might be celebrating at this time of year)

WANTED: ONE SCOUNDREL by Jenny Schwartz

All suffragette Esme Smith wants is a man. A scoundrel to be precise. Someone who can be persuaded to represent her political views at men-only clubs. As the daughter of the richest man in Australia, Esme can afford to make it worth the right man’s while.

Fresh off the boat, American inventor Jed Reeve is intrigued by Esme’s proposal, but even more interested in the beauty herself. Amused that she takes him for a man who lives by his wits, he accepts the job—made easier by the fact that he already shares her ideals. Soon, he finds himself caught up in political intrigue, kidnapping and blackmail, and trying to convince his employer he’s more than just a scoundrel…


THIS WINTER HEART by PG Forte

Santa Fe, The Republic of New Texacali, 1870

Eight years ago, Ophelia Leonides's husband cast her off when he discovered she was not the woman he thought she was. Now destitute after the death of her father, Ophelia is forced to turn to Dario for help raising the child she never told him about.

Dario is furious that Ophelia has returned, and refuses to believe Arthur is his son—after all, he thought his wife was barren. But to avoid gossip, he agrees to let them spend the holidays at his villa. While he cannot resist the desire he still feels for Ophelia, Dario despises himself for being hopelessly in love with a woman who can never love him back.

But Dario is wrong: Ophelia's emotions are all too human, and she was brokenhearted when he rejected her. Unsure if she can trust the man she desperately loves, she fears for her life, her freedom and her son if anyone else learns of her true nature...


CRIME WAVE IN A CORSET by Stacy Gail

Roderick Coddington is on a mission to make Cornelia Peabody pay. After identifying her as the thief who stole a priceless Faberge egg from his dying sister, he finds her and shackles a deadly timepiece to her arm. If she doesn't return the egg by Christmas morning, she will die.

Normally seven days is more than enough time for Cornelia to carry out the perfect crime, but Roderick's intrusion into her life is beyond distracting. He challenges her mind, and ignites her body with desire she's never felt before. But worst of all, he threatens the independence she values above all else…

As Roderick spends time with Cornelia, he realizes there's a lonely soul hidden beneath her beautiful but criminal veneer. Falling for a thief wasn't part of Roderick's plan, but plans can change and he has no intention of letting another priceless treasure get away from him.

FAR FROM BROKEN by JK Coi

Soldier. Spymaster. Husband.

Colonel Jasper Carlisle was defined by his work until he met his wife. When the prima ballerina swept into his life with her affection, bright laughter and graceful movements, he knew that she was the reason for his existence, and that their love would be forever.

But their world is shattered when Callie is kidnapped and brutally tortured by the foes Jasper has been hunting. Mechanical parts have replaced her legs, her hand, her eye...and possibly her heart. Though she survived, her anger at Jasper consumes her, while Jasper's guilt drives him from the woman he loves. He longs for the chance to show her their love can withstand anything...including her new clockwork parts.

As the holiday season approaches, Jasper realizes he must fight not just for his wife's love and forgiveness...but also her life, as his enemy once again attempts to tear them apart.

What's in a Name?

I once saw this very old movie called Amelia and the Angel, for a class. It’s a very amateurish movie by a photographer named Ken Russell that was made by the BBC in 1958. There really wasn’t anything extra special about it except that the photography was really good, and the name-Amelia and the Angel-kind of stuck with me.

It was about a young girl who has gotten the part of an angel in her school play, but her wings are broken and she needs to find a new pair. She sees a woman, an angel, and follows her into a dark building, upstairs into the attic where Amelia finally gets the wings she's been looking for.

When I sat down to write FALLING HARD (which is available TODAY by the way!) this movie came back to me and I knew my angel’s name had to be Amelia. It’s funny how names come to you sometimes and just fit perfectly with the world you’re trying to create. Even the opening of the book was originally a scene with Amelia ascending a set of stairs in an old apartment building, her black leather trench coat flaring out behind her. At the top of the stairs she finds herself walking a dark and dingy corridor, approaching a room at the end of the hall.

This scene represented the beginning of my Angel’s journey to find herself and really earn her wings. (Yes, she technically has wings already, but there’s a metaphor there, I promise.)

Sadly, I cut the scene from the final version (it was really more of a Prologue, and we all know how editors feel about those), but as a special treat for Release Day you’ll be able to find it as an extra on my website, here.

Gabriel was another story. Traditionally, the Archangel Gabriel is known as the Messenger of God, and in John Milton’s Paradise Lost, he was the angel set to guard Paradise and when he found Satan there, he ordered him to leave. In Falling Hard, my hero carries Lucifer’s soul, and that was such a great burden to bear that I wanted him to have the name Gabriel as a counterpoint to the darkness inside him.

As a reader, how often do you read a book and really think about what the characters names mean? Have you ever thought the character in something you’re reading doesn’t suit the name he or she was given? As an author, do you put a lot of thought into naming characters and do you really think your readers notice?

To celebrate Release Day, I’ll be giving away a copy of FALLING HARD to a randomly chosen commenter here, but I’m also blogging at The Vauxhall Vixens, Maria Zannini’s blog, Julia Knight’s blog and the Romance Writers Revenge, and there will be chances to win on Twitter and Facebook.

Come Celebrate with me!

FALLING HARD

After a life filled with tragedy, rocker Gabriel Gunn thinks he's finally getting the better of his personal demons. Then he's attacked after a concert—and rescued by a warrior goddess brandishing a sword and white wings. As hard as it is to believe in an angelic bodyguard, Gabriel must face an even more impossible truth: he carries the devil's soul within him.

Amelia has been watching over Gabriel for years, using her angelic powers to prevent Lucifer's return. Now she must also protect him from warring angel factions with their own agendas. Amelia would do anything to avert another angelic war, even sacrifice her own emotions to avoid temptation. Yet with Gabriel she feels things she no longer wants to deny, and pleasure she never imagined.

But the closer Gabriel and Amelia get, the stronger Lucifer becomes. Will Amelia be forced to kill the man she's come to love to stop the war she's always feared?

J.K. Coi is a multi-published, award winning author of contemporary and paranormal romance and urban fantasy. She makes her home in Ontario, Canada, with her husband and son and a feisty black cat who is the uncontested head of the household. While she spends her days immersed in the litigious world of insurance law, she is very happy to spend her nights writing dark and sexy characters who leap off the page and into readers’ hearts.

Website: www.jkcoi.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jkcoi