Book Lovers Inc.
Romance Novel Reviews, Author Interviews, Commentary
Guest post by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez + Giveaway
Today we are happy to welcome back to Book Lovers Inc Melissa Bourbon Ramirez who just released a sexy romantic suspense novel, Sacrifice of Passion in Entangled Publishing’s new category romance line: Deadly Sexy. When glimpsing the blurb of this novel the first question that arises in every reader’s mind is why did Melissa include a mythical creature, the chupacabra in a contemporary romantic suspense story? Well read on to hear about her inspiration and if you comment you could even win a copy of the book!
I’ve always been fascinated by legends, and I have a natural-born love of the Mexican culture. My husband is Mexican-American, we try hard to instill the Mexican culture into our kids’ lives. When I starting writing, I wanted to bring in elements from this culture I so love being a part of (I like to say I’m Latina-by-marriage). I started with the Lola Cruz mystery series. Lola’s a Latina and who I imagine my daughter might be in a lot of ways. She’s Latina, but American, and I love her! No legends in the Lola series. But when I decided to try my hand at a romantic suspense, I went dark. DARK.
Enter chupacabra.
An urban legend. A mythical blood-sucking goat-like creature. And the perfect backdrop for a romantic suspense novel. They’re creepy, and I was intrigued with the idea of building a story around this legend.
So, what is a chupacabra? A blood-sucking goat-like creature.And the villain in Sacrifice of Passion.
Truth be told, I wasn’t 100% sure I could write a really great romantic suspense, but the legends drew me in and wouldn’t get out of my head and so I had to try. It was surprisingly fun to write, I found out (the second book, Curse of Passion, revolving around the legend of la Llorona, comes out in early 2013). Writing a stand alone book is different than writing a series. With my Lola Cruz Mysteries (and my Magical Dressmaking Mysteries), everything’s about creating sustainability with the characters and their world. There’s never complete resolution with the main characters because their stories keep going.
With a stand alone romance, the happily ever after is a must and so the story has to be wrapped up, which means you go in fast and dig deep. And boy is that an experience. Getting into Vic and Delaney’s heads, delving into their backstories, making them real, living, breathing people was challenging at times, but so rewarding, and in the end, I absolutely love them. Anjana Vasa, a blogger, wrote in a review of Sacrifice of Passion:
“Delaney and Vic are quite honestly, two of the most real characters I’ve ever come across, they’re both imperfect and yet you can see what makes them special. I couldn’t help but admire Delaney’s strength through the entire novel, sure she has her weak and scared moments but she shows that you can make your way back from anything.”
To hear readers say you hit the mark with the characters in a book is the entire reason writers write. It’s a thrill! Writing Sacrifice of Passion has become one of the best book writing experiences I’ve had. Mexican legends seem to be working for me, and for this book if the reviews are any indication. I guess I’m doing okay with romantic suspense!
Vic Vargas and Delaney West’s story is epic. Intriguing. Evocative.
I hope you love it as much as I do!
Tell me: Have you heard of the legend of chupacabra, and do you think legends like this make good backdrops for romantic suspense novels?
Check out these awesome reviews of Sacrifice of Passion by super bloggers Anjana Vasa and Kayleigh from K-Books. I’m still flying high because of the reviews!
Sacrifice by Passion by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez
Book #1 in the Deadly Legends series
A tall, dark, single dad Texas rancher finds himself facing more than his stubbornly silent son when the chupacabra, a supposedly mythical blood-sucking beast, starts killing his livestock—and stalking the town’s newly returned veterinary assistant, the sensual woman who ran from the altar and broke his heart twelve years earlier. Determined to purge his sizzling memories of her from his all-too-vivid imagination, he seeks her help to get to the bottom of the disturbing animal mutilations, only to have her break through to his sullen son…and rekindle the love he’d thought was lost forever.
But her refusal to share a terrible secret sends her running straight into the lair of the chupacabra, plunging her back into her worst nightmare, and forcing them both to confront the wrongs of the past in order to stay alive for the future they desperately want.
Melissa Bourbon, who sometimes answers to her Latina-by-marriage name Misa Ramirez, gave up teaching middle and high school kids in Northern California to write full-time amidst horses and Longhorns in North Texas. She fantasizes about spending summers writing in quaint, cozy locales, has a love/hate relationship with yoga and chocolate, is devoted to her family, and can’t believe she’s lucky enough to be living the life of her dreams.
She is the marketing director at Entangled Publishing, is the author of the Lola Cruz Mystery series with St. Martin’s Minotaur and Entangled Publishing, A Magical Dressmaking Mystery series with NAL, and is the co-author of The Tricked-out Toolbox and two romantic suspense titles.
Visit Melissa at her website | Twitter Page | Facebook Home | Goodreads | and Books on the House, a website bringing books and readers together!
Also available from Melissa Bourbon Ramirez: Deceiving the Witch Next Door, a sexy and fun paranormal romance with Entangled Publishing’s Covet line, and Bare Naked Lola a funny cozy mystery with Entangled Publishing.
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~*~*Giveaway*~*~
Entangled PUblishing has generously offered an ebook copy of Sacrifice of Passion by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez to a lucky commenter!
All you have to do is answer Melissa’s question: Have you heard of the legend of chupacabra, and do you think legends like this make good backdrops for romantic suspense novels?
(You can read our full giveaway policy here)
Please be sure to include a valid email address in the comment form (need not be in the actual body of the comment).
This giveaway is open to all!
Giveaway ends on Saturday, 11 August 2012; we will announce the winner on Sunday.
Good luck!
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this sure sounds interesting, and yes, I have read about the Chucapabra’s before, in a great paranormal series by Robin T. Popp. I really enjoyed it. Stonelike by day, creature by night.
Thanks for a great post and congrats Melissa on the new release!
I haven’t really read too much about the Chucapabra except for an occasional news story when someone claims to have a pic and it’s really a dog/fox w/ mange.
I’ve heard the term “chupacapra” but I don’t know the legend it refers to. I’d love to hear the whole story though. I like paranormal elements so I think it’s great to incorporate legends into romantic suspense.
No, I’m afraid this is the first time that I’ve heard about the Chupacabra legend. But this sounds interesting. And I think it all depends on how the legend is incorporated into the stories. If it is well done, then I think it would be a very good idea.
I have heard the name before but never read about but I think legends in books make it very interesting.
I have heard of the Chupacabra. They actually have a Scooby Doo movie about the Chupacabra that my kids like to watch. LOL. However the legend I have always heard Chupacabra described as was more like Big Foot. I am interested to read it in the book. I think it will make it interesting.
I’ve heard of the legend. I think it’s a good idea for a book.
I love the myth of the Chupacabra. This is the only book I have ever seen that incorporates it. Very creative. I look forward to reading it.
I heard of the chupacabra when I was visiting Texas. I can’t wait to read this book. Sounds exciting. I just finished another book worth mentioning. It is called, “The Masada Protocol” by author Lee Broad. This a fiction thriller novel based in Israel in which a former black ops officer has taken on an intelligence assignment that takes him into a Middle East conspiracy that he must solve along with the help of a beautiful under cover agent from the Mossad. http://www.leebroad.com/ It is one of my favorite books I’ve ever read.
I have heard of it. And I do think legends make great backdrops. Often they are interesting and a bit on the unbelievable side that can really add adventure and more to the story
bacchus76 at myself dot com
I have heard of the legend of chupacabra and I do think legends like this make good backdrops for romantic suspense novels because they aren’t overdone in so many books and I suppose there is a basis of some kind to every legend, right? So to me it makes it a little more suspenseful:)
I have read supernatural romance books about every kind of superstition or monster that you can think of but the Chupacabra was never in any of them. I think that’s a very fresh direction to go in.
I have come across the Chupacabra before. Personally I think legends like these make an excellent backdrop for romantic suspense, urban fantasy or any other kind of fiction. The more unfamiliar a legend, the better! 🙂
Hi, great post! Never heard about Chupacabra. But I guess it gonna be interesting story to used urban legends as background theme.