We have guest author Rebecca Royce visiting with us today. She was supposed to be here on the 23rd of April but due to a scheduling goof on my part she wasn’t here on that day. Since she missed her appearance on the 23rd through no fault of her own I’ve put up her post for the 23rd along with her post for today one after the other. Be sure to scroll down and check out her post about the most emotional scene in her novel Love Beyond Sight just under this post.
For THIS POST ONLY Rebecca is giving away a $50 gift certificate to someone who comments at one of her blog stops on this tour (for Darkest Wolf). You can check out the other stops on her tour here. Feel free to post multiple comments here. I like it when the comments section evolves into a multi-faceted conversation as it sometimes does.
For this post I started by asking Rebecca why she made the heroine in Darkest Wolf ugly. But in order for the question and answer to make sense I’m going to include the blurb for the book ahead of Rebecca’s answer.
The Blurb For The Darkest Wolf:
Rex Kane has always known he was different than his brothers, down to the fact that when he shifts into his wolf form, his coat is completely black. Always in trouble, he is given one more chance by his brother Tristan, the Alpha of the Westervelt pack, to bring back to their island a witch who can stop some of the magical assault that has plagued their war-torn home. Rex knows he has one last chance to set things right. Everything depends on him and he cannot fail.
Elizabeth Willow has been cursed to look so repulsive no human eyes can bear to view her. Raised in a gentle coven of witches, she is ill prepared for the realities of the harsh world she now lives in. Raised to mistrust wolf-shifters as witch-killers, she cannot seem to help being drawn to Rex. Even if she doesn’t believe she is his so-called mate. He can see her as she really is and is the first person to look her in the eyes in years. Although she is not naturally devious, she sees no choice but to use Rex to gain her own freedom and her families’ safety.
Together, Rex and Elizabeth will see just how evil the people around them can be. If they can trust their hearts, perhaps they will survive another night. If not, both of their battles will never be won.
Rebecca Talks About Why She Chose To Make Her Heroine In Darkest Wolf Ugly
Elizabeth is a witch capable of a lot of power. When her coven is infiltrated by dark witches, she is cursed to be so ugly that humans cannot stand to view her and sent out into the world to baby-sit the coven leader’s two grown daughters who are spoiled and selfish. She cannot get help because no one can stand looking at her long enough to listen.
But she is strong and she believes that one day she will have the opportunity to free herself and her family from their servitude to the dark witches.
I’m not really certain where the idea of Elizabeth’s ugliness came from. Other writers will understand if I say that she told me her story herself and I had little to do with it.
Rex can see Elizabeth as she really looks. He is the first person in years to be able to do so. He gets really upset with the way she is treated by everyone else and it brings out his aggressive Alpha tendencies.
But Elizabeth hates wolves and Rex hates witches. Her ugliness is just another way in which they both have to get past the external to find the people underneath.
About Rebecca Royce:
As a teenager, Rebecca Royce would hide in her room to read her favorite romance novels when she was supposed to be doing her homework. She hopes, these days, that her parents think it was well worth it.
Rebecca is the mother of three adorable boys and is fortunate to be married to her best friend. They live in northern New Jersey and try not to freeze too badly during the winter months.
She’s in love with science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal and tries to use all of these elements in her writing. She’s been told she’s a little bloodthirsty so she hopes that when you read her work you’ll enjoy the action packed ride that always ends in romance. Rebecca loves to write series because she loves to see characters develop over time and it always makes her happy to see her favorite characters make guest appearances in other books.
In Rebecca Royce’s world anything is possible, anything can happen, and you should suspect that it will.
Very intriguing characters.
It’s part of the real world, not everyone can be beautiful, etc.
Thank you for having me
You’re very welcome Rebecca. It was my pleasure.
I like the idea that he can see past her looks and see the real her. I do like that makes him want to protect her when everyone else doesn’t and treats her badly.
Rebecca, have not yet told you the your cover who make me get your book, love covers.
Dina
dlsmilad at yahoo dot com
I just love this series and can’t wait to get this latest book. Rex is one of my favorites. I’m glad he gets to see the real Elizabeth and not just what the curse shows the world.
Thanks for sharing a little bit with us.
reneebennett35@yahoo.com
Thank you for having me!
Are you “bloodthirsty,” Rebecca? That’s an interesting description. It is odd that Elizabeth is so physically repelling. You don’t generally get that in romance novels. It speaks a lot about the way that people see us; the importance of appearances.
This is one of my favorite series. I love Rex and he is now one of my favorite alphas.
I think it’s great that Rebecca lets Rex see Elizabeth as she really is and not just the curse. This book sounds amazing. Can’t wait to read it. I can’t believe that it’s book seven already.
Thanks for the blog tour. I had fun and learned a lot.
e.balinski(at)att(dot)net
I love it when a hero or heroine is not “physically perfect.” Most of us are not living in perfectly proportioned bodies in which everything works, except for our noses which the hero thinks is cute anyway.
It’s REFRESHING to see a hero or heroine who ISN’T perfect in a physical sense. What I like about the blurb for this book is that the heroine isn’t just plain…she doesn’t just think her hips are too wide, or her nose is too big. She is downright UGLY in the view of the people around her. I like it. It’s refreshing. It’s different. I can feel for a heroine who is beautiful on the inside but who is cursed with an ugly body on the outside.
I have really enjoyed following your tour. Each stop is as interesting as the one before. I love that the characters are able to see below the surface of their appearances.
Thank you for hosting Rebecca today.
You’re welcome. It is my pleasure.
I love that Rex has to see past the external ugliness & I am assuming he does. Wolves & Witches – wonderful!!
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com