Hello all! I hope you had a great new year. Welcome to 2022.
I didn’t meet my goal for NaNoWriMo, but I did get a lot of writing done, so I feel that it was an accomplishment. I’m hoping to write more in the coming new year.
A couple of years ago, I contributed to an indie anthology with some other writers. The story is called Promise to Keep, which is an urban fantasy/paranormal romance between a beat cop, who is also a mage, and her superior, the captain of the police force, and a werewolf. In this world, magical beings have lived a long time alongside humans in society. The two characters come out of a deadly situation and realize their feelings for each other.
The anthology recently was taken down from Amazon, something that had to do with Brexit, so I wanted to make the story available again by itself. I submitted it to Amazon yesterday, and it’s ready for purchase.
Of course, it’s free on Kindle Unlimited. The price will be going down in a couple of days due to its short format. Here is the beautiful cover!
Color Rush is a Korean BL drama about two boys who meet at school and have their own struggles that bring them together. In the case of Yeon Woo, he was born with the inability to see color, living in only shades of grey and considered a Mono. When he meets Yoo Han, everything changes when he looks into his face and feels a color rush, giving him the chance to see color only when Yoo Han is near. He determines that Yoo Han is his Probe, a corresponding fated soul mate, in a sense.
Color Rush is an alternate reality of the modern world. Monos and Probes are common occurances, and they are often depicted on the news as tragic stories, usually the Monos losing their sanity to possess the Probe at all costs, sometimes under the means of torture, kidnapping and abuse. Yeon Woo’s own mother was a Mono, and has since gone missing, so Yeon Woo stays with his aunt, who is on a tireless hunt to locate her sister.
This causes Yeon Woo’s aunt to be highly cautious and protective, often making Yeon Woo change schools if he comes across any bullying as a Mono or she senses some danger about him coming out as a Mono.
When he starts at this new school and meets Yoo Han, who is instantly entranced by him. As his Probe, he proposes to teach Yeon Woo about all color, trying to help him cope with the onslaught of color rush that causes him to pass out. Yoo Han usually wears a mask to cover his face, but when he pulls it down and stares into Yeon Woo’s eyes, Yeon Woo can see an explosion of color, which is sometimes too much for him to bear.
However, Yeon Woo gets addicted to the chance to see color and he indulges Yoo Han. In the beginning he tries to stay away from him, but the allure of color and Yoo Han’s attraction to him become impossible to resist. Yeon Woo even fears losing himself to what Monos are known for, becoming violent and abusive toward their Probe in order to keep them all to themselves.
Yoo Han just adores Yeon Woo. Gif credit to kdramadaily on Tumblr.
Not too spoil anything about Yoo Han, there is a striking reason he adores Yeon Woo so much. Yoo Han has his own intentions for keeping Yeon Woo close, and he’s even willing to run away with him so they can be together. The two boys clearly love each other as time goes on, and even though it’s a struggle for Yeon Woo not to possess Yoo Han violently, the two adopt some kind of synergy that just makes their relationship work, even if they have to go against their guardians to be together.
Color Rush is just a fascinating series, and it has an even more fascinating world behind it. The series is only eight episodes long, and it really could benefit from another season as there are lot of plot holes and things left unsolved. For one, Yeon Woo never finds his mother, and the concept of Probes and Monos are so interesting, you are left wanting to know more about this world.
Color Rush when Yeon Woo looks at Yoo Han. Gif credit to beomgyu01 on Tumblr.
The actors are gorgeous, and they have good chemistry. The show has beautiful visuals, and the supporting characters have enough depth that you feel for them too. I definitely recommend seeing this show, but the only downside is that it leaves you craving more.
Here is another short Japanese drama, Coffee & Vanilla, which is based on a very steamy josei manga. The manga targets young women and is more explicit when it comes to sexual and adult themes. To be frank, the manga is very beautiful with wonderfully drawn characters, and yes, it’s full of a lot of smut.
The show itself is about 10 episodes and does have a bit of implied adult themes, more so than your typical Japanese romance and dramas.
The show follows the premise of a shy, reserved college woman named Risa who is so beautiful she is constantly leered at by any male who encounters her. Sometimes men get aggressive bordering on assault.
She is basically almost assaulted in the first episode at her favorite coffee spot by some random dude (stalker) who insists she go out with him. Luckily she is rescued by a gorgeous businessman named Hiroto Fukami who manages to scare off the flies buzzing around her and save her from possibly being raped or dragged off by men who don’t take no for an answer.
The problem with Risa is she is very meek and does not seem to have the backbone or agency to successfully ward off dudes on her own.
Enter Hiroto, who comes to her rescue and in the end, asks her to dinner. It’s okay though, he’s rich and handsome so he poses no threat, right? It helps that he’s played by Dori Sakurado, Japanese heart throb with a smoldering gaze that would make a table swoon.
Risa is predictably smitten, they have dinner and he’s so incredibly sweet and caring he convinces her to stay the night with him (oh, and she also gets drunk at dinner because she cannot hold her liquor).
Dori Sakurado – smoldering Japanese beauty (photo credit: IrozukouSubs)
I mean, as much shit as I’m talking at “I-have-no-agency-Risa”, I would bang him too. Not gonna lie. No alcohol is required.
The story after this is filled with misconceptions, Risa’s unending insecurities, other men who try to swoop in and break them up and just sugary sweet romantic scenes.
At one point Risa gives up on Fukami, only to come back to him easily which just makes you wonder in the end if she could actually live her life without him. He dries her tears, makes grandiose business plans for her, and gives her this comfortable little “cage” to keep her protected from the big scary world.
I didn’t care for the story itself, but I admit I didn’t mind watching 10 episodes of Dori Sakurado, sometimes shirtless. Okay so I’m trash. I did indulge in the whole series and enjoyed the romance and any scene Dori is in, even when he’s being possessive of Risa. I just got annoyed by Risa’s meekness, which I guess if you could get over, this is a show for you. I just prefer strong or quirky female leads (like Makino from Hana Yori Dango).
I kinda feel bad for the actress Haruka Fukuhara, who played this wet rag of a role. I know she’s awesome after her work on Good Morning Call.
Still worth the watch if you have time to kill and love pretty boys.
Credit to Photo by Aiony Haust on Unsplash of the beautiful woman. The gorgeous man was found and paid for from Dreamstime. Graphic design by Stargazer Heather Designs.
Soon I’ll be releasing another short story within an anthology with a group of talented writers. The anthology itself will be a collection of magical stories, and I’m very excited to share this with you. The release is right around the corner; though, I don’t have a definitive date yet.
I will post an update once the ebook is live!
My contribution is a story called Promise to Keep about a modern-day mage, Katrina, and a werewolf police captain Alastair! (I’ve always liked that name.) The story has action, urban fantasy, and two-knuckleheads in love — oh, well, they have feelings for each other, but one of them has a problem keeping them from making that first move…
Here’s a short preview except of the story…
Lightly and carefully, she pulled Alastair out and leaned him against her for support. She looked around, glad that there weren’t any onlookers. It was late enough in the night, yet there was still potential for people to stop by and see them. ‘Try to stand upright and not look so wounded. We don’t want people to get suspicious.’
He made a ragged noise of affirmation and straightened up as best as he could. He steadied his breathing, trying to hold back the pain.
When they got inside the building, one of his night volunteers, Raye, rushed over to them.
‘Oh my God, what happened?’ she exclaimed, immediately helping Katrina prop him up. They steered Alastair into the office with the sofa and laid him down.
He sighed in relief when his back met the soft cushions, but when Katrina started inspecting his wound, he flinched. Pangs of agony throbbed through him.
‘He was attacked. Go get the medical kit and my healing herbs in my desk,’ she said, and Raye turned dutifully.
Stay tuned for updates on the release of this anthology.
In the meantime, I plan on finishing War Fury soon. The recent death of one of my dogs, as well as my full time job’s demands have made it a challenge to keep up. Mod Fury will get its sequel soon.
Well, by accident I tried to set up a free promotion for the Spirits Abound anthology for today, and ended up setting up the wrong book. Because obviously I don’t pay attention to things…
Spirits Aboundwill go up for FREE on Kindle tomorrow, but today, I guess I’m also running another FREE promotion on Unbridled! So the kindle version is free until Sunday. Get a copy if you haven’t yet!
Today is the last day, folks! Unbridled is free for today and then will go back to regular price tomorrow. If you have not gotten a copy yet, please go to Amazon and download my debut novel.
IT’S TOTALLY FREE!
Summary: Two orphan brothers are taken in by their rich cousins, only to become involved in a dangerous and risque romance with their beautiful daughter. And as each brother falls for her further, dark secrets arise weakening their strong bond.
It’s true. My writing schedule is sort of paused right now. I’ve been insanely busy, dealing with some anxiety and trying to find any motivation in these subzero Chicago temperatures. It’s been brutal. I feel the cold so deep in my bones it’s been hard to do anything productive. I’m most useful at my job, it seems, because that’s how I have to be. Otherwise, I’m just energy drained.
Here are some things that passed across my Facebook feed that I felt I needed to share:
I hope those links help out! For those of you dealing with the snow and cold, stay warm! For those of you in the warmth and sunshine, enjoy it, you lucky bastards!
H.K. Rowe 