The hero in my book, The Millionaire’s Revenge, Luke McCall, has a twin brother, Rafe who is the hero in my book The Millionaire’s Deception. They’re identical twins because…well…I’m a writer and identical twins sounded like a cool idea.
My background is in social work, so it’s fascinating to me how life circumstances can impact who we are as adults. Part of who we are is woven through life experiences. Did we feel secure growing up? When we fell down, was someone there to pick us up? Did we feel loved? Did we feel like an outcast? So when I think about characters for books, I want to know the answers to these questions and many more. Everyone has some kind of baggage from their past—some people more than others. And its how we’ve learned to cope with that baggage that makes us who we are.
Luke and Rafe came from a dysfunctional family—their father was an alcoholic and there was domestic violence in the home. The two boys were survivors, moving around when their father got fired from jobs, keeping their distance from their father’s wrath, and fending for themselves even at young ages. They left the house as soon as they turned eighteen, went their separate ways and never looked back. Luke and Rafe’s drive to be successful and at the top of their game is the same—neither one wants to end up like their father. Because of their experience growing up, they believe they’re unlovable so naturally push people away.
Ah…sounds like the perfect combination for a tortured hero in a book doesn’t it? That’s the birth of a book. After you’ve figured that out, you have to think of a strong female character to balance out what is sure to be an Alpha male. The woman has to stand fast in her convictions and know who they are and what they represent to others–and Grace was born. She has baggage of her own with an uninvolved father for most of her life and a distrusting outlook toward men in general. But when Luke walks into her life, her perspective starts to change.
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EXCERPT:
Grace struggled to catch her breath. After fifteen plus years of dance lessons, recitals, and the like, she’d never seen a step kick, slide, and thrust more titillating. An evocative smile twitched at the corners of Luke’s mouth, while his dark hair fell ever so slightly across his forehead. Chocolate-brown eyes roamed her body as if she were naked, while the suggestive movement of his hips brought a flush to her face. The man took no prisoners. And she was okay with that.
Testosterone simmered in the air as predatory male stormed her senses. This man was six foot plus of sex-laden dynamite.
Not only did the guy keep up with the three of them, he had a group of people—mostly women—cheering him on. Yep, when she lost a challenge, she lost it big.
“Let’s see if those fifteen years of dance classes really paid off.” Luke’s hand remained intertwined with hers; his lips resting slightly below her cheekbone brought flutters down her back.
Before she could focus, he drew her into a tight hold as Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud began to play. His arm pressed her closer, and the hairs at her nape stood at attention, along with every female part she possessed.
About The Millionaire’s Revenge:
Real estate tycoon Luke McCall has a plan to take down the underhanded competitor messing with his livelihood. He intends to romance the man’s daughter, gain her trust, and get the information he needs to put his rival out of business once and for all. He just didn’t plan for the way she makes him feel.
Grace Wilson is tired of men using her smarts, social position, or her father’s status for their personal gain. It’s time for a new philosophy: Test. Screw. Dump. But after she meets Luke, she’s not sure she’ll be able to walk away. Not only is he sexy and charming, but he survives every test she puts him through. But can she trust a guy who seems too good to be true?
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About Wendy Byrne:
Wendy has a Masters in Social Work and worked in the child welfare field for twelve years before she decided to pursue her dream of writing.
Between teaching college classes, trying to get her morbidly obese cat to slim down, and tempering the will of her five-year-old granddaughter, who’s determined to become a witch when she turns six so she can fly on her broom to see the Eiffel Tower and put hexes on people—not necessarily in that order—somehow Wendy still manages to fit in writing. She spends the remainder of her days inflicting mayhem on her hero and heroine until they beg for mercy.
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