Romance Writers Behaving Badly: How Music Influences Writing, and hot excerpt from Sonnet Coupled #interracialromance #newadult #romance

Sunday, October 8, 2017

How Music Influences Writing, and hot excerpt from Sonnet Coupled #interracialromance #newadult #romance

The Passion of Music

Plato once said, “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.”

When I'm creating a novel, I like to pick a playlist that sets the mood and tone for the characters. Building a world that is not only believable, but one you want to escape in requires completely immersing into the story. For my latest release with Boroughs Publishing, Sonnet Coupled, I came across a song by a British band called The Shires. The name of the song is Brave, and aside form influencing the sensuality of the love scenes, it really embodied the feel of Griffith and Sonnet's relationship. She's made an art of keeping her distance from men in favor of pursuing her dream to become a surgeon, and he just wants to love her after being through hell and back in Iraq.

Enjoy this song, and be sure to check out the playlist and excerpt below for Sonnet Coupled.

Playlist

“Brave” – The Shires
“Cancao do Mar” – Dulce Pontes
“Because We Can” – Bon Jovi
“Keep Your Head Up” – Andy Grammar
“Home” – Phillip Phillips
“For Once in my Life” – Michael Buble
“In the Still of the Night” – Boyz II Men
“All is Full of Love” – Bjork
“No Surprise” – Daughtry
“It’s Alright” – Seal
“Say Hey (I love you)” – Michael Franti and Spearhead
“Angel” – Robbie Williams
“I’ll Be There For You” – Bon Jovi
“Just give me a reason” – Pink ft. Nate Ruess
“I won’t give up” –Jason Mraz

Description:

ER nurse Sonnet Mendoza's new housemate Griffith Parker proves there is more to a man than meets the eye, and shows her there's more to life than just her career.

ALWAYS FAITHFUL

Sheltered and cosseted, Sonnet Mendoza abided by her papi’s wishes her whole life: no boys, studies first and always. Now an ER nurse in a busy Chicago hospital, medical school is so close Sonnet can taste it. Just like her father always wanted. Just like she can taste all the things she wants—like Griffith Parker, the man of her dreams and her new housemate.

Working “graves” in a large hospital as a security guard while attending the police academy during the day doesn’t leave ex-Marine Griffith Parker any personal time, but after meeting the beautiful Sonnet Mendoza, business as usual is anything but. Sassy, smart…and interested in him, too? Except, she’s made an art of keeping her distance, and she’s been clear that her plans don’t include him. But the heart wants what the heart wants. His wants Sonnet. He’ll put it on the line to win her.

Excerpt:

Sonnet put water in the K-Carafe and listened to the hiss and gurgle of the brew as she got some organic eggs and soy milk out to scramble. She decided to make Griffith breakfast, too, even if it had to wait for him in the fridge. It was nice to have someone to look after again.

Hell, after yesterday, he deserved it. She knew she shouldn’t entertain starting something with him with medical school on the horizon, but after spending time with him, a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders, and she was ready to start fresh and tackle her workweek. She sang a little, opened the fridge, and bent to retrieve the bacon from the bottom shelf. A sharp intake of breath filled the silence from a few feet away.

From under her arm she saw Griff, half naked in black sweat bottoms with the Police Academy logo. Her eyes drifted to the hard planes of his abs, a sculpted eight pack most men would give their left nut for. His stacked chest rose and fell, and his fists clenched. Like a current in the air, she could feel him trying to keep it together.

Her gaze trailed past his ribs and flat stomach, down the sharp V of his hip flexors, to the promise of what lay beneath.

Finally, her brain kicked in and she realized her bikini thong was on display with the globes of her ass cheeks parted and raised in the air, like she was waiting for him to grab hold and ride. Her hair chose the wrong moment to slide over her shoulder and into her face, and he let out a strangled moan.

Oh, God.

She stood and yanked the hem of her shirt down. “Jeez, I’m so sorry. I didn’t think you were up. I was just about to make breakfast before I got changed.”

He gulped. Her eyes flicked to the hardened bulge of his cock, which tented against his sweats. He looked like he wanted to devour her. “I…need to use the bathroom,” he growled tightly, then marched down the hall and slammed the bathroom door.

She looked at the exposed bottom half of her panties, and rolled her eyes. “Great, Sonnet. Just great.” She turned off the stove, abandoned the breakfast food, and made her way to her bedroom. A stifled moan escaped from behind the closed bathroom door as she passed, and stopped her in her tracks.

In any other circumstance she wouldn’t give it a second thought—people moaned all the time because they were tired or relieved—but she listened. It was a certain kind of moan, one she made the first night she’d met him when she touched herself.

She heard a distinctive rhythmic thwacking of flesh upon flesh, a series of muffled pants, a grunt, and soft thud against the wall, and her pussy throbbed. She clenched her thighs together and put her palm over her mouth.

Buy Links for Sonnet Coupled:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sonnet-Coupled-Roxanne-D-Howard-ebook/dp/B071RCN2NX/

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sonnet-coupled-roxanne-d-howard/1126254545?ean=2940154129517

Boroughs Publishing: http://boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/sonnet-coupled

CreateSpace (paperback): https://www.createspace.com/7095055

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sonnet-coupled

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/719258

Author Bio:

Roxanne D. Howard is a U.S. Army veteran who has a bachelor's degree in Psychology and English. She loves to read poetry, classical literature, and Stephen King. Also, she is an avid Star Wars fan, musical theater nut, and marine biology geek. Roxanne resides in the western U.S., and when she's not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and children. Roxanne loves to hear from her readers, and encourages you to contact her via her website and social media.