I love writing intricate worlds. It’s one of the reasons I enjoy paranormals and futuristics, I can really dig into a world, make it my own. I love just creating it all, making it work, giving it rules. When I write contemporaries, I often like to dig into darker emotions, pasts people work to get over, mostly the threats are external and it’s the couple together against the threat.
Always cover
But sometimes I like to write books that are simple. No car crashes, no one is sick, no stalkers or threat of cheating or the shadow of an ex. Sometimes I like to write about the every day sorts of challenges people face.
Always, a contemporary romance releasing April 14th from Samhain is one of those stories. It’s about a woman who put her life on hold for her fiance in the past and paid for it because things fell apart and she gave up several of her dreams for him and had to start over. Into her life walks a man she had a relationship with some years before while on a summer work visa.
Eamon Blake had been a friend and a fun, sexy fling but Caitlin came back to the US and went on with her life at the end of the summer. She didn’t pine for him, didn’t think he was the great love of her life.
Back into her life, as she’s in her second year of law school, Eamon turns up in her life again, but they’re both different people. They begin their relationship again, long distance from Seattle to LA and back, but as time moves along, Caitlin realizes she’s in love with Eamon but that doesn’t change her need to stay in Washington and fulfill her dreams.
I liked switching the roles a bit, having the man be the one faced with the decision to move away from his house and his life, having him have to decide if it’s worth it to sacrifice, to make the choice to be with a woman on her terms. So many times in books, it’s the heroine who has to move and give up things. I wanted to write a story where it simply makes sense for him to do it. Not that the choice would be easy, making hard choices never is. But love isn’t enough. The people in a relationship have to decide to be in it, have to decide to take on the burdens as the relationship changes and grows along with the external lives of the people in it.
At it’s heart, Always is a simple love story about the complexity of being in love with someone enough to choose to make hard choices and to make that choice willingly.
I hope you all enjoy Always!
Do you all like a simple story now and again? If so, do you have any recommendations (I love to add new books to my TBR pile!)
Wanna win an ARC? I’ve got my author copies now and if you’d like to win one, I’ll choose a winner from the comments by noon pacific on Thursday the 9th! All the FYI stuff: This is an electronic book, FYI and while it’s classified as a sensual romance and it’s not as graphic as my erotic romances, the sexual encounters do use all the big sexin words. Winner will be announced here and needs to claim prize no later than seven days after the announcement.
WINNER: Via random.org - commenter #6 Jane. Jane, email me with your format preference and I’ll get the book your way! Congratulations and thanks to everyone for all your recommendations and comments!
April 6th, 2009 at 4:39 am
Two of my recent faves in this category are office romances: SEXY SECRET SANTA by Liz Andrews and THIS IS WHAT I WANT by Megan Hart.
April 6th, 2009 at 6:14 am
That is such a beautiful cover, Lauren! And it sounds like a great read.
April 6th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Love reunion stories where they hero and heroine live life and have learned from their experiences and find each other again. Sounds like a great story.
April 6th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
I love simple stories now and then. Some of my favorites have been the early Nora Roberts.
April 6th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
I really like the sound of this one. I love the simple idea behind the story. For me a good book doesn’t have to have a bazillion twists and turn.
April 6th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
I do enjoy simple stories every now and then where you don’t have to suspend reality.
April 6th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Hi Lauren:
A friends to lovers story is my favorite them in contemporary romance alone with reunited lovers. “Always” sounds like a little of both. The cover art is really lovely!
I just finished a wonderful e-book by Beth Kery called “Flirting In Traffic”, that was a simple story but beautifully written.
Love your books Lauren!
Best Regards
Lea
April 6th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Oh, yay! A straight a head contemp from you. My favorite!
So crazy this week, I can’t think of a single rec, but I know I have tons. How pathetic is that?
April 6th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
I love “simple” romances - it’s why I read romances, really.
Recommendations… the newest Sarah Mayberry, and really I’d say Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas. No crazy gun fights, no fireworks, just fabulous writing. [Ok, ok, so yes, there is outside drama... but not like... the hero and heroine running from the mafia, etc.]
April 6th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
*waving both hands* me, me, I want!
*ahem*
I like both the complex stories and the straightforward (i.e., simple) ones. It’s all about the writing. If the author can make me believe in these people’s feelings, I’m sold.
Best of luck, Lauren!
April 6th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
I admit that I’m burned out and my reading reflects that. I don’t grab paranormal, mystery/suspense or historical books as often as contemporary books now.
April 6th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Sometimes I do. Always sounds great!
April 6th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
I love to jump into a simple romance story. Its more too like comfort reading. It can sometimes me humorous romance for me with a simple story. I find them in other genres as well.
April 7th, 2009 at 7:04 am
I love paranormal, I love fast paced romantic suspense too. But there’s something incredibly satisfying when you can fall onto the sofa with a sweet, straight ahead romance. A story about two people falling in love….
April 7th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Sounds like a great read, Lauren. Congrats!!
April 7th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
This sounds like an awesome book!
April 8th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Hi Lauren~
This sounds amazing and I love the cover. I would love to be entered.
April 9th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Thank you everyone for all the great recommendations!
April 9th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Congrats, Jane!
April 14th, 2009 at 7:40 am
Congratulations Jane!