So, when I was writing this book, I thought this would be the end of the story, but, I should have known better. I was naïve right up until practically the end. You know how authors say their characters are in control and we’re just telling their stories? That is absolutely true. I had no clue what was going to happen or that it would create the need for three more books.
In fact, when I opened the document for book four, I had no idea what I was going to write, who Zarah’s love interest was going to be, or what her story was going to be about. Nothing. All I knew then was that she needed her chance at happiness because someone had taken it away from her at the end of book three.
This post isn’t about book four though–we’ll get to that next week.
Book three wraps up Zane’s and Stella’s stories. Not completely, as they don’t disappear in books four through six and they feature in the series’ epilogue, but they do get their happily ever after, even if they have to tackle some difficult situations later on.
Zane was in love with Stella from the second he saw her, and I do feel bad it took them three books to find their happiness. But Zane… he’s different from other heroes I’ve written in the past. One of which is, he’s younger than any of the male characters I’ve published so far. His age makes him vulnerable, too trusting in the wrong people, and naïve. He’s mourning the loss of his parents and hiding from the obligations their deaths put on his shoulders. Because of this, sometimes he makes poor choices, and I won’t be surprised if I get a review or two telling me they don’t like him. That’s okay. He’s flawed and makes mistakes, but I think, as you read his and Stella’s stories, you’ll find his heart was always in the right place. He just doesn’t know what to do with his feelings most of the time.
Stella fell in love at first sight, and she put up with a lot. There were times when she didn’t think she could do it, and in books two and three, their relationship is shaky at best. Through it all, though, she never gave up, and in the end, Zane turned into the man she needed him to be. Maybe readers will think she put up with too much and she should have walked away. Zane certainly thought that. But Stella stands up for what she believes in, and despite his mistakes and her doubts, she believed in him. He’ll always love her for that.
Can a character be too flawed? I guess I’ll let you be the judge of that.
Here’s the cover and the blurb:
Zane
I thought everything would end the day Ash and his father, Clayton, were arrested for my parents’ deaths, heading a prostitution ring, and selling weapons on the black market.
But I was wrong.
The true reason why Ash hated Stella comes out, and it does more than ruin what little trust I’ve managed to repair between us.
It tears us apart.
There’s nothing that will redeem me in Stella’s eyes. All I can do is wait her out and hope that love, just this one time, wins.
Stella
Growing up in foster care, the only thing I’ve ever wanted was to find a family. I thought I had when Zane asked me to marry him. I would have a husband who loved me, and Zarah would be my sister.
But as the FBI sorts through the Blacks’ illegal activities, they find more than what we bargained for.
Now I have to choose between Zane and the family I thought I never had.
I don’t know if I can keep both, or if, after everything I’ve been through to destroy the Blacks, I have the strength to try.
As always, for reading and subscribing to the blog, you can download My Biggest Mistake, a free, full-length ugly duckling billionaire novel. You can find it here: https://BookHip.com/CMSVSNK
Thanks for reading!
VM Rheault 