WeWriWa: The Prince Who Would Be King (Revisited) – PRINCE OF SHADOWS

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Sunday, January 27, 2019

WeWriWa: The Prince Who Would Be King (Revisited) – PRINCE OF SHADOWS


(I got left off the rotation list last week {I'm putting it down to wind chill!}, so I'm rerunning this post to keep up with the series order.)

I don’t like to play favorites, but I have to admit, Cale Terriot, the strutty, tattooed, rock and roll, bad-boy prince with his scars and attitude, is mine. Give me the thug over a pretty face any day. Keep your Jude Laws and Ryan Goslings. I’ll take the intense and brutish Clive Owens, Jeremy Renners, and Jason Stathams! And there’s something about a tough guy being humbled by the powerful love of one woman that’s hard to resist.

As one of twelve brothers vying for their despot father’s place, there’s only one thing more motivating for Cale than leading his clan away from the old brutish ways of his king, and Cale is willing to do whatever it takes to attain his goal. It’s not the crown he’s after—it’s his childhood love whose family had been branded as traitors to their clan, a gentle female held hostage in a deadly play for power. Kendra Terriot’s only means of survival for herself and her family is to play to a careful courtship game. The one she chooses from their clan’s dangerous heirs will inherit the coveted crown, keeping her their prisoner forever . . . unless she can retain her virtue until rescue arrives. Here’s a taste of their first private meeting as adults . . .


“Did you ever think of me?” he asked at last, his tone quiet.

At one time, she’d dreamed of saying so much to him, but Kendra’s answer was clipped and truthful, “Not in ways that would flatter you.” 

He studied her, his emotions masked, then came the surprise of his unfurling smile as he confessed, “Everything I’ve done has been for you, to make you my queen.” 

“I trusted you.” She turned away from the sight of him, her eyes flooding with pain as she demanded, “Were you there when my father died?” 

“I was,” Cale confessed, then when she shuddered and covered her face with her hands to shut out the horror of what he’d become in her eyes, he added in a tight throated whisper, “but I didn’t agree. I would never hurt you, Kendra.” 

“You don’t think my parents dying hurt me?” 

“I was eleven years old. . . what was I supposed to do,” he asked, his words vulnerable and searching, “die with them?” 

She closed her eyes and saw him clearly standing in the carnage of the MacCreedy living room, a soulless reflection of his own father as he watched her being led past him without a flicker of response, and her answer was a wooden, “Yes.”

With Kendra at his side, Cale knows he can become the kind of ruler his clan needs, but first he must learn how to become the kind of mate she desires by proving he’s not the beast his beauty fears . . . especially once her unrequited love (and his fierce rival) returns to free her. The only way to win her respect could mean surrendering his throne. The only way to win her heart could mean letting her go . . . even if she no longer wants to be saved. 


Next week, it’s back to Max Savoie (the returning hero in my WIP) in my first self-pubbed book, REMEMBERED BY MOONLIGHT.

If you have the inclination, jump over to visit me at Paranormal Romantics where I’m talking back to basics in Kicking it Old School.

A 1-degree visit for an oil change certainly got my weekend going! Stay warm, fellow Warriors!
 


Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their 8sunday posts.

Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.

27 comments

  1. At first, I didn't think I agreed with you about pretty boy vs tough guy. I love Jude Law but more as a side-kick (Watson to Holmes). But you're right when you mentioned Jeremy Renner and Jason Stratham (not real sure about Owens, though). So, when translated into books, the tough guy has a lot of work to convince the heroine he's not a lout. She is really hurting. While she's verbal, I sense he's hurting inside that he wasn't there for her. I love glimpses into these older books. What fun you must be having. I would.

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    1. Oh, I have nothing against a pretty face on a good actor! Must be because I come from the John Wayne School of Heroes.

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  2. Ooh, burn! She is a harsh mistress, that Kendra!
    As for the fellows, I tend to like quirky oddballs who probably wouldn't appeal to most people visually. There was a description of a character in a book that I can't remember the title of right now. The character was described as someone who did not possess the sort of ultimately boring perfection that the common person finds beautiful. They were someone who would be an interesting subject for a painting.

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    1. Love it! Sounds like a hero I'd enjoy. Too perfect is too boring.

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  3. I'm glad she answered him like that. I would have, too.

    As for heroes, I like those who have duality. They are no-nonsense and dedicated when there is work to be done. But they also have a playful and goofy side. But hey, everyone is different.

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    1. And difference is what makes writing and reading such an adventure!!

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  4. Just terrific, Nancy. I enjoyed every word.

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  5. Wow, this situation is so fraught, in so many directions...I have a feeling the untangling of all these problems will be THE best kind of edge of the seat reading. I enjoyed the snippet for sure!

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  6. Boo Yah! You captured the tension in a most excellent way. Well done.

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  7. I will keep my Jude Law, thank you very much ;). But I like tough guys too and you do them so well. I love her line "not in ways that would flatter you." Ouch!

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    1. Thanks, Alexis!! He's rather deserving of it at this point!

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  8. I very much like her first answer here!

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    1. Nothing like a supposedly timid girl who finally finds a voice - and it roars.

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  9. I wish you were dead. That's basically what she's saying.

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    1. Pretty much the you should have fallen on you sword response. At least that's her opinion at the moment. Hard work ahead to change it!

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  10. So much emotion in this scene. Fabulous writing, and an unexpected line from her at the end there. Love this!

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  11. "Yikes! That was a tough answer "Yes." Makes me wonder how she can ever get past that--past her parents dying and her being led past him like that. Great writing, Nancy!

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    1. Establishing herself in a manner he'll respect here. Truth hurts.

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  12. Well, she's certainly not pulling any punches. He's got his work cut out for him if he's going to win her. And how he does sounds like a fabulous story! Great job, Nancy!

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    1. Thank you, Jenna! She was a very different heroine for me to write but I love how she turned out!

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  13. Your dialogue is always so deep and emotional, I love it! They really wear their hearts on their sleeve. :D

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  14. So emotional. Her last word- harsh! I'm intrigued to know more.
    Love the name Kendra. :) That's my daughter's name.

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