As you all know we at Romance Book Haven love romance and HEA! So we invited Australian author Annie West to tell us about her unique latest release which has a blind and scarred hero! The classic Beauty and the Beast story!
Thank you for inviting me to share a little about my latest story, UNDONE BY HIS TOUCH. This book is a change for me as well as being a return to home ground. After writing books set all around the world, including most recently in a fictitious middle eastern kingdom, this story is set in my home territory, Australia.
Part of the book takes place in central Sydney, in a plush harbourside apartment with a mouthwatering view of the harbour. The rest is centred around the Blue Mountains west of the city - a gorgeous wilderness area with stunning scenery as well as gorgeous mountain hamlets and exclusive retreats. If you're interested in the area, check out my website.
On the other hand this book is a real change from the other stories I've written because it follows the Beauty and the Beast theme, for the first time. I've read lots of other romances that feature wounded 'beast' heroes, and I've definitely written books where the poor hero is emotionally wounded. This is the first time my hero is wounded both physically and mentally and it gives him a whole new outlook. It makes him a very brooding and intense hero. He was scarred and blinded in an accident on the mountains but instead of escaping the area, he stays there, where so many things remind him of the accident and the brother he lost in it. Fortunately Chloe is a heroine who's determined and strong enough to vanquish the shadows that tie him to the past.
Back Blurb
Revealed in the darkness… Cast into a world of black, Declan Carstairs is a man in torment. Consumed by guilt, he sees no way out of the darkness his life has become. Only one thing drives him: finding the woman who caused his brother’s death and the accident that took his sight. Housekeeper Chloe Daniels refuses to pity her devastatingly gorgeous boss, but treating him as the strong, capable man he is soon proves dangerous. As Chloe falls deeper under Declan’s spell, awakened by his touch, she forgets all about the secret she keeps that may destroy them both…
So what about you? Do you like wounded heroes? Are you put off by the idea of a physically scarred hero, or does that add to his intrigue? Do you have any favourite reclusive heroes?
I think romance fiction is all about emotions and unless a person is very visual, I don't think that being flawed in appearance is a barrier to a good romance story. I read a book by Trish Wylie recently where the hero was going blind, but the romance took place when he was still sighted. I'm looking forward to reading this story.
ReplyDeleteI actually love stories where the hero has a physical flaw. Violet Winspear, one of the founding Presents authors wrote a lot of injured heroes. IIRC her blind heroes regained their sight but one I read the other day had lost an arm. I'm looking forward to reading Annie's book.
ReplyDeleteBoth of these books sound wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI remember Troy from V.C. Andrews' Heaven series. He was a recluse and one of my favorite characters from a novel.
These books both sound great. I like main characters to have a hidden flaw that eventually reveals itself.
ReplyDeleteSince you love romance, you might like this Janet Evanovich quote Evanovich quote
ReplyDeleteI really do like reclusive heroes, I think they're very intriguing. I can't really remember reading a book with a physically scarred hero, though - that would be an interesting twist.
ReplyDeleteI loved Annie West's new hero in Undone By His Touch as he was blind at first and used his other senses to interact with the heroine.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for coming along to read this post, Annie will be here shortly to chat with you so if you want to ask any questions, you're welcome to ask Annie West about her scarred and blind hero or about The Blue Mountains to Sydney, her setting for this book!
Looking forward to reading this Annie. How could I resist something set in the Blue Mountains? :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Annie,
ReplyDeleteUndone By His Touch sounds a wonderful story! Love the Banner on top of your book, Girl in a Bedouin Tent! A Sheikh book!
Hi Maria,
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading this post!
@Princess Fiona, you won't go wrong with Annie West's Undone By His Touch!
@Medeia, I also remember Troy- though I hated him at the time!
@Sharon, thank you for coming along to read this post!
@Carole, Hi! Thank you.
ReplyDelete@Susan, thank you for your comment!
@Keziah, The Blue Mountain settings is lovely!
@Laura,
Check out the banner at http://rbh-chicklit.blogspot.com/
which RBH made for Undone By His Touch! There's another one at
http://rbh-historical.blogspot.com/
Just back and saw all the posts on this blog. Wow!
ReplyDeleteMaria, do you happen to remember the name of Trish Wylie's book about the hero going blind? I'd be fascinated to read it.
Princess Fiona, you mentioned one of my fave Presents authors. I used to love the way Violet Winspear used to put her hero and heroine together in such tense circumstances. She was so good at that. I'd forgotten about her injured heroes but you're right of course. I'll have to try and track some of hers down.
ReplyDeleteHi Medeia, I've never read the Heaven series. I'm wondering what made Troy so special. Personally I love a recluse. I always feel like they're a mystery waiting to be unravelled and I expect emotional layers as I read.
ReplyDeleteSharon, now that's really interesting about characters having a hidden flaw that eventually reveals itself. I'm wondering how you feel about ones who are obviously damaged right up front but we don't know all about them. I tend to like characters that I know are going to have something interesting in their character, though we don't know it immediately. I suppose that's what you're talking about.
ReplyDeleteCarole, thank you so much for the link to the Janet Evanovich quote. That's so timely. I'm giving a talk about life as a romance author tomorrow at a library and I'll use this - brilliant!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I love your avatar. Is it from the north island of New Zealand?
Hi Susan, it's interesting to me that you like reclusive heroes too. And they can be reclusive while still functioning in society. In this book Declan is still running his business but he's working from home with the help of his trusted staff, rather than getting out and about.
ReplyDeleteDeclan's my first physically scarred hero but I just realised my first book for Harlequin Mills and Boon featured a heroine with real body image problems, partly from being overweight as a teenager, but partly as a result of scarring from a recent car accident. She was wonderful to write about.
Hi Nas,
ReplyDeleteI have to apologise for being late here. I left home quite early this morning and have just got back. Must say it's the sort of cold, wet day when I'd far rather be chatting about romances with other readers!
Hi Keziah,
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy the book if you do get it. With your expert knowledge of the Blue Mountains I'm sure you'll be able to visualise it. That was one of the things I adored about writing 'Undone' - the fact that the setting was so vivid for me as that's an area I love.
Hi Laura,
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you like the sound of 'Undone'. It's always interesting hearing what appeals to other readers.
As for the banner for 'Girl in the Bedouin Tent' - isn't it glorious? The marvellous Nas put it together and I can't see it too often. It makes me smile whenever I see it. It really captures the feel of 'Bedouin Tent' which was me enjoying the sheikh fantasy to the full. Where else in contemporary romance can you start a book with the heroine chained to a bed? And before you wonder - no, my hero wasn't responsible for that.
Hi Annie,
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds really great ! For me I do not mind a wounded hero infact it really does make him more interesting and so much more of a "fun" read. It just adds that little bit more of mystery and I really love it!
Desere
Hi Desere,
ReplyDeleteI'm finding it interesting that several people now have referred to wounded heroes being more interesting. Maybe I should write more of them! Several of them have been emotionally wounded so perhaps it's something I do without thinking about it. I must give that some more thought.
Hi Annie! Hi Nas! Nas, love the banner! Annie, this is such a wonderful story - I think you do Beauty and the Beast beautifully! As you know, I have a soft spot for tormented heroes. So much at stake. And I love the way you give Declan and Chloe their happy ending after all their tribulations. Loved that you had an Aussie setting too.
ReplyDeleteHi, Annie!
ReplyDeleteI do like a wounded hero. (Oh, dear, that sounds a bit sadistic!) But that's because I kind of like an underdog, someone to cheer for as he overcomes physical or emotional pain.
Congrats on the release of Undone By His Touch!
Hello Anna!
ReplyDeleteFriends meet historical author the fabulous Anna Campbell!
Thank you for saying that you like the Banner! I'm all blushy now!
Mr Rochester was the first hero to stir my blood. Jane Eyre was meant and sent to be with him.
ReplyDeleteRomance. We all need more of it! Love wounded heroes. They are just like us. We're all wounded one way or the other. I'll look for Undone By His Touch. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like such a great story! I'm a sucker for Beauty and the Beast type stories, whether the "beast" is physically or emotionally scarred (or both.)
ReplyDeleteBeauty and the Beast was probably the fairy tale that had the most profound effect on me. It always made me work on seeing past a persons looks to their heart. I don't think there's a better life lesson than that. The book sounds terrific.
ReplyDeleteHi Anna, isn't the banner just gorgeous?
ReplyDeleteI'm laughing at you saying you have a soft spot for Beauty and the Beast stories since that's your speciality! How many B&B books have you done? So I'm particularly chuffed that you liked Declan and Chloe's story. I think you're right about there being so much at stake in this story. For me it made the happy ending seem so well deserved.
Hi Vanessa, thank you for the congratulations. I don't think you're sadistic at all, liking a wounded hero. Actually, that's an interesting link you've made - to us liking the underdog. With a wounded hero it's great to see them overcome their wounds and move onto a new outlook and a new life.
ReplyDeleteHi jabblog,
ReplyDeleteMr Rochester really is the archetype for a wounded hero, isn't he? I still marvel at the way he and Jane are such perfect fits for each other despite being so different. It's far more than the simple 'opposites attract'. She did such a good job of writing them, didn't she?
Robyn, I hope you enjoy 'Undone' when it comes your way. You're right about us all being wounded. Maybe that's what we relate to in a wounded hero - they reflect us but usually more so!
ReplyDeleteShelley, it sounds like Undone might be one for you then. Poor old Declan is physically and emotionally scarred. While the physical scars are obvious, I found the emotional issues the ones that most intrigued me (and were by far the most difficult to overcome).
ReplyDeleteLeslie, how interesting that the B&B story had such a profound effect on you. What a great way to learn a life lesson! They say that writers often focus on old (often fairytale) themes in their stories, especially the ones they knew when they were young. I came to B&B late so maybe that explains why this is my first B&B story, though there have been elements of it in previous books.
ReplyDeleteWow, this sounds such a great book. I think there is a delicate balance with a wounded hero. He needs to be sympathetic with his vulnerability and not too bitter. The beauty and the beast plot is a winner for me.
ReplyDeleteYay for another Aussie author! I love the setting for UNDONE BY HIS TOUCH. (Yep, I'm a little biased).
ReplyDeleteHi Shelley,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree about the balance for the wounded hero. I'm currently writing an emotionally wounded heroine and her immediate response to challenge is to lash out. It's interesting watching that change as she does, but it's also something I need to keep an eye on to ensure the pace of change is right.
Hi Lynda,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like the setting for 'Undone'. I haven't read many books set in this particular location and it was a real indulgence for me. It's an area I love.
Sounds great! I'd love to visit Australia for real one day :)
ReplyDeleteCarol, I hope you manage the visit to Australia one day. There's a lot to see here. Lots of variation from place to place. I'm glad you like the sound of 'Undone'.
ReplyDeleteOhhh! I love a scarred hero. Earlier I read a blind hero in a Blaze- Samantha Hunter's Straight to the Heart- and loved the extra sensory details depicted in the story. Fiona Lowe has a blind neuro-surgeon in her latest release Sydney Harbour Hospital: Tom's Redemption.
ReplyDeleteI just know I'd love Undone By His Touch.
Riya.
Hi Riya, I'm glad you like the sound of 'Undone'. I haven't read any of Samantha's books yet but I've read a number of Fiona's - they're great reads with lots of realistic emotion. I'll have to check this one out.
ReplyDelete