ER Pierce

Guest Post by ER Pierce

Guest Post

Can you have too much angst in a (paranormal) romance novel?

First, let me say a big thank you to Cloey for having me on her blog, and for participating in my book tour for Fractured Moon. I appreciate it so much. Now, I wanted to talk about angst in romance novels, specifically, paranormal romance.

I admit I enjoy torturing my characters occasionally. Not necessarily in the knives, guns, or wounds sort of way, but in a will they fall in love or won’t they fall in love, way.

You know what I’m talking about, right?

Picture this, your hero walks into a bar, bumps into you, and you just know instinctually, that he belongs to you. Something about him calls to every piece of your body and mind. His scent burns into your brain. You reach out to touch him, and he brushes by you, walks out the door, and you stand there, confused and crushed.

Left alone.

This is what happens to Aurelia Fridell and Ceithin Starkley in Fractured Moon. In romance novels, I have a hard time when one of the star characters is in a relationship (or married) and then suddenly meet their ‘soul mate’ and immediately start cheating. There is more leeway in paranormal romance, I think, but it’s a hard line, and can get really sticky to work around. You don’t want your readers hating your characters! So, imagine my surprise when I started writing Fractured Moon, and Tessa walked around a corner and stamped Ceithin as hers, right in front of Aurelia. My mouth hung open in shock!

To be honest, I was kind of pissed off, but I let the story unfold as I wrote.

Before you get mad at Ceithin, he’s a sexy alpha wolf, of course he might be seeing someone. It wouldn’t have made sense if he were lonely and sad. However, once he’d caught Aurelia’s scent, his wolf went a bit crazy and poor Ceithin, well, let’s just say you’ll have to read Fractured Moon to see how I tortured him, and Aurelia. Ha, poor wolves pined for each for a year before they met again, but when they did meet, it was explosive. Literally. I still laugh every time I read their encounter at Astrid’s Tattoo shop. (And, I feel the need to tell you, Ceithin is an honorable wolf, and never cheated. I’d hate to turn you off the book before you even start it, if such things bother you as a reader.)

Anyway, I’m getting ahead of myself, and giving away the story. Can you have too much angst in a romance novel? There has to be a balance (in my opinion) between when the characters meet and you throw them into certain situations, and then they finally, finally…. get naked. Right?

I remember I read a romantic suspense novel where the hero and heroine danced around each for nearly 85% of the book, and then they wham, bam, thank you ma’am, and then poof. Book was over. I felt a little cheated. I wanted more oomph, more substance. More relationship. However, I’ve also read plenty of books where the hero and heroine are knocking boots ten pages in, after just meeting, and are instantly in love, lust, and then the angst begins with forces tearing them apart, and I’m left frantically turning pages to see if they’ll find each other and make it work, or whether their hormones drove them instead of real feelings. It’s hard to rely solely on ‘fated mates’ to drive a story.

As a reader myself, I want to feel the characters are genuine.

How do you like your romances? Angst laden, or devoid of too much drama? What, as a reader, makes you irritated when it comes to the romance of your couple?

A big thank you for reading my rambling angst session. I’m interested in your opinions as readers. If you’d like to know what happens in Fractured Moon, pick up a copy, and then tell me how you felt about their romance.

Fractured Moon
Aurelia Fridell
Book One
ER Pierce

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Date of Publication: May 27, 2014

ISBN: 978-0692213216
ASIN: B007GOGXZO

Number of pages: 300
Word Count: 76K

Cover Artist: ER Pierce



Book Description: 

Aurelia Fridell is a freak. The only werewolf who can't shift.

As her thirtieth birthday approaches, isolation creeps in, and worry settles in her gut. She accepted her status long ago, and yet lately, she's felt off-kilter. Eyes follow her, prickling her senses, and her headaches are getting worse.

Is she paranoid, or is someone, or something, stalking her? Watching. Waiting. Drumming fingers to a sinister beat she can't hear.

Time will tell.

Ceithin Starkley isn't looking for a mate. Especially now. In fact, he doesn't believe in true-matings at all.

While he is being recruited for a new job, a scent on the wind stuns him, and he finds himself fighting an inner battle he never wanted, yet can't ignore.

Sparks fly, as Ceithin and Aurelia fight fate, and race against a clock neither knows is ticking.

Will he claim Aurelia before he loses her?

Warning: This book contains a drool-worthy Alpha male, and a sassy heroine with brains and brothers you'll adore. A best friend every girl would love to have, and a terrifying road no one will see coming


Book Trailer http://youtu.be/8VV1ppg_h5g

About the Author

I'm a work in progress who adores dark chocolate, the fresh mountain air, and the sound of rushing rivers.

I enjoy the salted breeze from the ocean, and the warmth of the sun heating my body as I sit on the rocks listening to the waves and gulls. Just thinking.

My mind is a chaotic mixture of realism and dreams, tempered by my four spirited children and creative husband.

I'm a multi-genre author at the whim of my erratic muse. I'm a yoga enthusiast, natural food lover, and I love body art.

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