I don’t usually do this.
Only because Jane Hunt can’t get her reviews on Amazon. Thank you. Now do we want the Cleanser here, or not…
And as Destiny, my high functioning depressive heroine says
“Really? And I’m the Man in the Moon. I go out at night and I fly up into the sky in a pair of silver breeches and shine me light on the world.”
Indeed it is Friday the 13th, not the best day in the world to release a new book on BUT then again, it is about a curse. It is also a book about two emotionally bereft people and features a heroine who is what is called a high functioning depressive. She will be along next week to talk more about that.
I made the decision many years ago that I didn’t want to write about people–hamsters either before you interrupt–whose lives were perfect.
Which of us, in reality, has that kind of life? But, as today approached and after the many hair tearing moments I had on this book, especially trying to get in humour that was respectful to an emotional state…well… humour I know my readers expect, let’s just say there were plenty times I thought sometimes the path less chosen is indeed less chosen for a purpose.
That is why it was wonderful this morning to step online to a DM Facebook message from Jane Hunt, an author and reviewer who had an ARC rough copy and who does not shrink from pulling her punches. I want to thank her for that message AND also her review. This is my seventh book and my day, unlike when I released my first two, was to be spent getting on with my present WIP, the household tasks etc. But now I AM going to at least treat myself to a wee pre-Fri evening drink with my Mr. Oh obvi by pre I mean pre Friday nite meal with wine back here. But special days should be celebrated. I think Jane’s review has encouraged me…
…because I felt she got my leads AND after what I said the other week about this being the shortest on secondaries book I have written, she still felt the story was inclusive, the world of the two leads. So yep, I am sharing this review AND the post I wrote for her about the things that inspired Destiny You can look away now if you don’t want to know the score.
‘Cornwall in 1801 rife with smugglers and excise men trying to catch them is the setting for this clever, passionate and witty novel. Destiny Rhodes is cursed, everything she touches turns to dust. All she has left is Doom Bar Hall, her ancestral home, and now even this is in jeopardy.
Divers O’Roarke is a man with an agenda and so many secrets. He left Cornwall in the wake of tragedy, but not before he’d cursed the young woman he thought responsible. Now he’s back, the victor, but what he finds is not what he expected. What he feels is not what he thought, but he has a mission, and being turned to ashes by a cursed woman is not part of it.
The setting for this story is atmospheric and authentic. The subtle use of historical detail, lets you visualise nineteenth-century Cornwall. The sinister smugglers, the close-knit community, the rugged beauty of the coast, and the ethos of danger and suspicion, Amidst the roaring sea and windswept coastline, the story of two people, both emotionally bereft, and driven unfolds.
The dialogue is sharp and amusing, and the internal musings even more so. You spend a lot of time in Destiny and O’Roake’s minds, and they are both full of confusion and conniving.
The plot is pacy and twisty. Just trying to work out who O’Roarke is, keeps you guessing. Then there’s the exciseman Lyon, who becomes increasingly sinister. This story is inclusive, you feel part of the deadly game Destiny and Divers are playing, experience their anger, bewilderment, fear, and the passion they cannot hide. The intriguing plot comes to an intense conclusion, revealing who Destiny and Divers O’Roake are in more ways than you can imagine.
O’Roarke’s Destiny’, is historical romance for the twenty-first century. Complex mind games, passionate, sensual romance, and a fast-paced riveting plot that rides the waves of time. I’m looking forward to meeting the next ‘Cornish Rogue.’
Guest Post – Shehanne Moore – Inspiring Destiny
Firstly Jane, thank you so much for inviting me here today to your wonderful book review blog, which is such a help to authors and for your continued support. Always appreciated.
I actually got the idea for O’Roarke’s Destiny the night we sold our house back in 2014. Yep, a while ago and I actually started it when I finished the Viking and The Courtesan in 2015 and put it aside because other scheduled books got in the way. I’d lived in this particular house for almost 30 years and it was a hard house to leave for many reasons, nor was this necessarily a chosen thing. Although looking back now I don’t know what I was worrying about. Anyway, the first night the house was on sale, the second viewer arrived—the dad of one of my pupils who lived along the road. I thought they’d come about something to do with the lessons. Anyway, he soon dashed that hope when he said, ‘I will make you a good offer tomorrow morning first thing. I have already put my house on sale in the hope and prayer of this one. But I know this must be upsetting for you, so don’t show me round, I was burned on the house sale three doors along a few months ago, so you don’t have to.’ And he was as good as every word. Well, as I joked to a friend a few days later, I should have said, ‘And I come with this house. I just need a room.’ Then I thought … bingo, idea for a book there.
Ideas, mind you, are nothing like what ends up on paper. This book started as a frothy battle over a house that only starts a few years later when the hero brings home another woman, a fiancée and the heroine housekeeper doesn’t like this and she discovers her own feelings for the hero. While this had its merits, another idea—a stronger one–formed, that was to start the book at the point where the house has been lost in a card game to a man where there’s past history. But, this seemed a little contrived, given this man has been sort of lost to the world for years. What was he even doing back in the neighbourhood? So I suppose my next piece of inspiration was in the books of Daphne DuMaurier, the smuggling, piratey books I’ve long loved. Having tackled, pirates, Highlanders, Vikings, I’d wanted to do a book about smugglers. Where better to do that than in Cornwall? Why not make that world the backdrop to the story.
Books aren’t just nothing like the idea that you start with—well mine never are, alas–they are about keeping the story going. There’s only so many times two people can argue about the choice of dining room wallpaper for example or the fact that that’s the best antique dishes sitting out at the bin, so while this starts out as a battle over a house, that is only a first layer, with lids to be lifted on a couple who are slogging it out over so much more within themselves and where they are in their lives when the story opens. And that’s not actually the house at all.
Terrific review! And congratulations!!!
I wanted to share it cos of the Amazon biz but truly I did find this book difficult and I was unsure to the last if I had got the two leads right and with so few other characters the focus on them is unrelenting. So this review means a lot to me and thank you Leslie. Must have been Fri 13th sure enough. All my notifications from WP ended in spam. Got them now though xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Congratulations🎉🎊
Aw, thank you my friend and so nice to see you. Hope all is well in your world and keep up all these lovely posts of yours. Always good to see xxxxxxx
My pleasure, yes everything is great. You take care and happy weekend 💕🙏
I’m glad to hear that. You enjoy your time too with all your loved ones xxxx
Great review no wonder you couldn’t wait to crack open a bottle…I am sure those two little dudes were soon up having a boogie 🙂
Carol, thank you. As I was saying to Leslie and I said in the post, I think I heaped a ton of pain on myself with this book! It’s the one I’ve been over and over time and time again to get what I felt was the right vibe about it, get the two leads right in my mind. And truly, I was sweating re these two and whether they’d be warmed too. So I wanted to thank Jane for giving me a nice day yesterday. And I did crack open a bottle. And of course had a wee boogie x
What a great review by Jane ! I hope mine comes out so well, being as I am not a reviewer, but where there’s a gown, there’s a way.
It’s interesting that you say that ideas are nothing like what ends up on paper.
The creative process is exactly that. Again with the gowns, but that is exactly what happens to each one.
So, let me leave to read another couple of chapters. Of course once I am done, I will need some drawing time!
I always thought your idea to release on Friday the 13Th was brilliant. I’m going to have some wine to you tonight!
RESA!! You are a wonderful reviewer. I loved your Splendor review. Never do yourself down, you talented lady you. That is interesting re the gowns too. I mean I only ever start with the spark of an idea and I have no idea where the story is going. In fact that goes for the whole way. I once I said, it’s like hill climbing, I see the beginning, I see the end and in the middle I hope I don’t fall on my ass too much. But I have found that things are there for a reason, so I just let these things stay as they occur. I don’t see why I am going down a line or anything, like originally Divers was exactly what he said he was. But then Gil came out with a hint of mystery near the start of Chap 3 and Divers said what he says… and I thought… what are you doing? Now that has happened to me in at least 3 other books. There was the Lady Fury biz in Jamaica.. I thought…what biz? There was the sudden and entirely unplanned appearance of the Vikings in the Viking and the Courtesan, and the Writer and The Rake, got torn up from chap 4 onwards and entirely redone. SO, it is good to know you do that with gowns. I would love not to work this way but that is how I work. It is always encouraging to hear that other people do too. xxx
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After sewing (by hand) all morning….. change of plans!
oooooh–hoo.. sounds like books I write all the time xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx BTW, in the Depression in Scotland my granddad was a tailor, with no work–but adhering to the Nannie’s why have a dog and bark, philosophy as she stepped out there looking like something from a magazine cover, it is why I still love certain things so much when it comes to glamour. When it came to that phrase sewing by hand .she could not thread a needle, neither can I BUT I can fine embroider. I have always thought it is down to how the brain works . and how it works is something I just let be xxxx
Well done, well done!! Give the Dudes some wine too – it might cheer some of them up a little…..
Yeah….they have been terribly upset by the Cleanser, quite unable to drink their voddie since.
Great review, dear Shey, and Friday the 13th is a very auspicious day to release this book! Wish you success – the book should fly off the shelves!
Dolly my darling, thank you. I have visions of a paperback book flapping its wings now!! Well it was Friday 13th after all xxxxxxxx
Very welcome, dear Shey!
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Congratulations 💐💐💐
Luisa xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx thank you xxx
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Have a wonderful weekend, my friend xxxxxxxxxxx
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Hi,Hope you had a really good day yesterday, such a great achievement for you. Did you have a wee party? Sure hope you had some kind of celebration! Not long now until Eilisâs wedding, are you happy with your outfit? We really are so very sorry to have to pass on our invitation, as I already said. Hope it will be a wonderful day for everyone. (Enjoy). Love Irene
Sent from my iPad
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No I never had a party because sometimes the lights go out on these things for so many reasons and what we did was what we said. Remembering everything you and I did and laughed at together all the years , from that first time you came to my rescue in soaking/ pouring rain with Coreen as a wee one ,and Eilis on the way, in a new territory to me, is something I have never ever forgotten. And I never will, no matter how many days try to queue up and better Other things? You can bet I am happy with ,my outfit cos you know I am thumbing my nose at certain things. and yes I will send pics and you both should know the Mr is gonna have to change his FOTB speech re welcoming folks on diff journeys for so many reasons . And he will do that but please know he and I do not do that lightly . Even here, right now. I am not being ponsie, pansied anything to think and read thjs xxx
Loved reading about your writing process Shey, and hugeeeee congrats on this wonderful review. I’m sure there’ll be many to come. 🙂 xxx
Sistah, my writing process is utterly shambolic. My two leads and II spend the entire time at loggerheads till we basically get something that is acceptable to us all– early on in this book I had to tell her she was vile, brittle and standing all over the hero who just sat at her feet basically and that there was no reason whatsover for him to let her stay. I think she was a little surprised. Also I have no clue whatsoever where things are going next. Because I tore headfulls of hair with this book in terms of themes and the kind of leads I was eventually writing about, it did make my day to get this review. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Wow, you need a lasso my friend to keep your characters behaving! But you are doing a marvelous job! Make sure you keep some hair left on your head. I know all about hair tearing, lol. ❤ xxxxxxxxx
Oh they’ ve never behaved. they’ve thrown four of the seven books I’ve written. They will prob go on to throw more. Need several wigs at this rate xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
Congratulations on the launch, and the interview. What a fascinating inspiration. I hope your new house has proved much, much, better than anticipated and all regrets have faded.
Looking forward to picking up a copy of O’Roarke’s Destiny, soon.
Cath xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx you in every way. Truly. It was quite funny inspiration. Used to have such silly laughs with that friend that way as we shared wine and lives. Yep, that was a difficult time. But we all have them and worse and we truly were so unbelievably fortunate to get this house, a prime location, everything that was on my shopping list but in a mess, so despite the probably knock down price, it had been sitting.(Ironic that since the council had to shrink the school catchment area here, it would not only NOT be sitting, we now would not be able to afford it and it is more ironically worth more than the house we lost…) Putting that aside we are so happy and I am glad that throughout that time I had hope in my heart, even if it’s taken five years to do up. I like to think it was waiting for us!! The Fates were very kind. Unbelievably too both our girls and their partners and babbas have since moved five mins walk away from us and each other. Something that was never ever planned and as we are none of the kind of living in one another’s pockets sort, that works fine. xxx.
Shey this is a fantastically perceptive and sensitive review by Jane. I love the tag line Historical Romance for the 21st century etc. Because that is how your books strike me. You offer something new and exciting in a genre I would normally never think of reading. Your novels, I have read, are scintillating, with so many knowing nods and winks at the iconic moments of classic modern literature, stage and screen. Your depth of knowledge shines through as does your ability to write a layered well turned sentence within a layered and well turned and well paced plot. I found your interview about your house very touching. I always feel that with any author worth their salt, life’s events always somehow find the way back into their work. I always harp on about this with DH Lawrence. Off to get my copy of O Rourke’s Destiny now. Congratulations. Pxx
Aw Paul xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx you and for all your support.
I think authors squirrel. And yep that was a difficult time for me, but there, you hold tight, you step into the future and you start all over again, making new memories. Lol, you even get a book out of it in a way. Having so much to take with me in my life, I also couldn’t help thinking how it is to have nothing when a rug gets pulled. I love Jane’s review. I also found it very perceptive. I felt she got my characters and that always means a lot to me, especially when trying to write about people who are standing at the edge. and I guess I am not very good at writing historical romance per se. So that bit about the 21st century? Well? I loved it. And I do love your comment. Thank you again xxxx
Oh congratulations and beautiful sparkles galore my lovely Shey, I’ve so enjoyed this post, the extract, the review all absolutely fabulous. Wishing you every success with this book, you deserve it and the storyline looks riveting xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
My sparkling one, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx for this lovely comment and sorry for the lat4e reply. just back from our younger girl’s wedding. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Wow how exciting, a Wedding, I hope you all had a fabulous time, plenty of sparkle xxxxxxxxxxxxx
I will prob put up some pics. Just had this awful throat thing, no voice, fever, since after it ended but yeah will do it asap xxxxxxxxxxx
Did not realize what today was -happy Friday the 13th!
Always a special day to be sure x
Although yesterday’s wasn’t so good…..