Welcome to 2017. I hope it is a year filled with romance and other joys. To contribute, in February I will be releasing “Bedeviled”, a novel filled with romance and a hint of mystery. I want to introduce you to our lead characters from “Bedeviled”, Charlotte and Alex, and give you a chance to get to know them a bit.
Let’s Meet Charlotte
We initially meet Charlotte Roche in “Beholden” when she tags along with her coworkers to a party. She has just relocated to Chicago for a new job at Lyons Howe, a multi-million dollar real estate investment firm. We discover in “Bedeviled” that Charlotte is Harvard educated and has come from Boston, where she has been climbing the corporate ladder of a large insurance company.
The middle child of a close family, Charlotte has two brothers of whom she is very proud and with whom she stays in regular contact. She also calls home daily or her parents worry. Although she is a successful businesswoman approaching 30 years of age, her parents still treat her like a little girl who needs to be kept close to home.
And for good reason it would seem: despite her denials, Charlotte has a problem that has followed her from Boston to Chicago, and we are about to meet him.
Who is Alex?
Alex Gaines is a ruggedly handsome Beguiling Bachelor. An avid athlete and brilliant businessman, Alex spends his spare time running, playing hockey and dating beautiful, leggy models. Business often takes Alex between Chicago and Los Angeles, which suits him just fine. He likes keeping people at arms length.
Like Charlotte, Alex is also secretive; he seems to lead a double life. When in Chicago, he prefers to hang with his small group of buddies from childhood and dotes on his younger sister. His work ethic is so ingrained that he runs an entire bank at the young age of 36.
His California life bears little resemblance to hardworking Mid-western behavior. When he hits the California Coast, he is a playboy with a different beauty on his arm every night. A marathon runner, we get the distinct impression that Alex might be running from some demons of his own.
A Match made in Heaven?
When the two meet in “Beholden” there is definite attraction. However, sparks don’t fly – they simmer, building into a conflagration in “Bedeviled”. Alex is drawn to Charlotte’s wholesome beauty, her smarts and her wit. Charlotte cannot stop thinking of sexy Alex, asking him for help she does not need as an excuse to stay close and to see his mind in action. She is drawn to his confidence but put off by his prowess.
“In Charlotte’s estimation, things were moving forward – they had been promising, in fact. That was, at least, until Alex showed up with a gorgeous and famous model at a business event late last month. Not just showed up. He actually flew the stunner in from Los Angeles just for the night. Then, to add insult to injury, the pair had pawed each other incessantly before leaving the event early with obvious plans for a night of hot sex. That episode had definitely dampened Charlotte’s spirits and until last week, she had been intentionally aloof, almost cold. Charlotte knew she had lost any ground she had gained previously. She had strongly considered just giving up. After all, the model was a strong message to just walk away, but Charlotte Roche was no quitter.”
What will she do? Give up or fight for this seemingly unattainable man? And what about Alex? After all, he finds Charlotte secretive and frustrating, and he has a bevy of beauties to choose from.
“Alex could feel it in his bones. Since they had met in June, she had been elusive and mysterious – even cryptic sometimes. If she wasn’t so damn alluring he would have walked away long before now. He had vacillated between wanting her and wanting to get away from her, but wanting her always won.”
Come get to know Charlotte as she grows acquainted with Chicago and the group of friends we have come to know and love in the earlier Beguiling Bachelor novels, “Bedazzled” and “Beholden”. See what happens when her secret past comes home to roost.
Meet Alex and join him as he struggles to unravel the mystery that is Charlotte. Will she soften his edges and lower his guard sufficiently to find a place his life? Or will Alex keep his own dark secrets even if it costs him Charlotte? You will feel the steam between them, the undeniable pull. Their posh lifestyles and privileged upbringings cannot protect them from forces closing in, or from their joining of their hearts.
“Bedeviled” will be available for preorder in January. Watch for it on Amazon and other outlets, or sign up for my newsletter and I will let you know when it becomes available.