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Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Guest Post with Author Karyn Good and Giveaway

Today I would like to welcome to the blog author Karyn Good. Karyn is currently on tour for her book Backlash and has stopped by today to chat about reunion stories. Before I give the floor over to Karyn, let's get to know her a bit.

I grew up on a farm in the middle of Canada's breadbasket. Under the canopy of crisp blue prairie skies I read books. Lots and lots of books. Occasionally, I picked up a pen and paper or tapped out a few meagre pages of a story on a keyboard and dreamed of becoming a writer when I grew up. One day the inevitable happened and I knew without question the time was right. What to write was never the issue - romance and the gut wrenching journey towards forever.
Places to find Karyn:


I love reunion stories. There’s something about getting a second chance at love that pulls at me. The ultimate happy ending with a hero and heroine forced to wait for theirs, but also given the chance to grow, to learn what it was about their mistakes or their preconceptions that pulled them apart the first time around. I like to think that if two people are meant to be together, it will happen. I’m tempted by stories where the main characters have lost love and are given a chance to find it with each other again.

I think we can all relate to the allure of second chances. The charmed do-over. You’re determined to do it right this time. Whether it’s a time to try again or gain closure. It can be an opportunity to demand answers. This is the case in Backlash. The hero, Constable Chase Porter, disappeared from their small town of Aspen Lake ten years ago. Now he’s back and my heroine, Lily, wants answers. Wants to be able to finally close the whole ‘Chase’ chapter of her life.

Part of the appeal of reunited lovers is what caused the break-up the first time around. As readers, we ask ourselves: How did these two people who obviously had very strong feelings for each other get so off track? The fact that they let love slip through their fingers, or were forced to abandon their feelings, makes them seem more human somehow. It’s the baggage. And we all carry some. In reunion stories, we get a chance to see it unpacked, dealt with, and resolved.

As a writer, there’s an advantage to penning reunion stories. There’s a history to build on. The conflict is there from the very beginning. Of course, the downside is all that backstory that wants to make its way onto the page. The challenge is to create a story that’s more than a mere misunderstanding, or easily resolved. But with a conflict worth the effort, enough temptation to fan that buried spark back into a flame. It’s very satisfying when you can lay the past to rest and move the story forward. It then becomes about the future and facing it together. The knowledge that they’re better together than they are apart.

I’ve got some favorites. Like Sherry Thomas’s Not Quite a Husband, or Nora Roberts’ Face the Fire. What about Breaking Point by Suzanne Brockmann, or Tara Janzen’s Loose Ends? Sigh. How about you? Have a favorite reunion story?


What he’s sworn to protect, she’s willing to sacrifice to save those she loves...

When dedicated teacher Lily Wheeler interrupts a vicious gang attack on one of her students, she vows it won’t happen again. But her rash interference puts her in the path of a cold-blooded killer and the constable tracking him—a man she has little reason to trust, but can never forget.

Constable Chase Porter returned to Aspen Lake to see justice done, not renew old acquaintances. But when he rescues the woman he once loved from a volatile situation, he realizes his feelings for Lily haven’t lessened over the years.

Now, the dangerous killer Chase has sworn to capture has Lily in his sights. Can Chase and Lilly learn to trust each other again before it’s too late—or will old insecurities jeopardize their future?

Places to Purchase:

“I remember you.” His arms tightened.

Her heart sighed, and the scent of him cast a spell. A trace of soap, a whiff of man, and a fragrance so familiar it made her think of bush parties, bonfires, cheap wine, and the back seat of an ’86 Firebird.

She remembered every little detail.

“What’s this about, Lilypad?”

That he remembered that awful nickname he’d labeled her with when they were kids was a visceral punch to the gut.

She wrinkled her nose. “I hated that name.”

“I know. I’d have been disappointed if you hadn’t.”

“Why ‘Lilypad?’”

“I don’t know. I thought of it one day when a bunch of us were catching frogs.”

“You’re such a sweet talker.”

He hadn’t moved an inch, yet he seemed closer. “You don’t want a sweet talker. Remember?” He ran a finger down the side of her cheek. “You want someone who’s going to let you know exactly what he plans to do to you. And believe me, there won’t be anything sweet about it.”

In the second needed to catch her breath, she changed her mantra to: Live in the moment. Forget Tessier and his bag of terrors. Forget everything. For the next hour. One more hour.

Want to win some goodies from Karyn? Check out what's up for grabs.


Up for grabs:
  • 1 lucky commenter from the ENTIRE tour will win a $25 Amazon Gift Card.

To Enter:
  • Leave a comment answering the question: What is your favorite Reunion story? 
  • Please leave your email address along with your comment to be entered. 
  • Giveaway ends June 15th.

Good Luck =)

48 comments :

  1. I can't think of many reunion stories that I have read, but I do like Kathy Love's Getting What You Want.

    I love the excerpt for Backlash! Thank you for the giveaway! :)

    amethystfaerieATmsnDOTcom

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  2. I don't know that I have a favorite re-union story, but they can be wonderful to read. So many reasons why couples break up & then find their way back together.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  3. Hi States of Decay! I'm glad you enjoyed the snippet! I'm definitely going to check out Kathy Love's book.

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  4. Hi Marybelle! Another excellent reason why writing them is so much fun. The possibilities are endless!

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  5. I dont have a fav reunion story but i do love to read them,thanks for sharing the excerpt :)

    reginamayross@gmail.com

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  6. Wonderful post Karyn. I love 2nd chance romances too....it's something I really can't put into words, but there is nothing so sigh worthy as a couple who once loved each other rediscovering their passion.

    Congrats on your release...love the cover and the excerpt!

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  7. Thank you for the giveaway. :)

    Becky01x@gmail.com

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  8. Hi Regina! There's just something about them, isn't there? The appeal of maybe getting things right the second time around.

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  9. Thanks, Christine! You're so right. They are sigh worthy! We've all made bad decisions and that makes these stories very personal.

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  10. Nice blog post, Karyn. I asked on my Facebook page yesterday what type of romance readers enjoy most--Cinderella, Beauty and The Beast, etc. A number of readers said they like the second chance story. One of my favorites is a classic--Jane Austen's PERSUASION.

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  11. I know I love reunion or second chance stories, but right off hand I can't think of a favorite title. But since this is a romance book, what was the most romantic thing one of your characters said or did?

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  12. Thanks, Mary! I'm glad some of your fans voted in favor of reunion stories! I have to say though, that I also love Beauty and the Beast story lines. I wonder what our reading preferences say about us? Might be interesting to find out.

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  13. I think this story sounds awesome. I love reunion stories. I must say, since I love Jane Austen, that her story Persuasion was my favorite reunion story.

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  14. Hi Karen! Another reunion story fan! I think because my hero is not the hearts and flowers type that the first line of the excerpt is one of the most romantic things he says,or maybe it's the feeling he puts into it. His home life was dysfunctional to say the least, and she was his saving grace. That he did remember everything about her, and is admitting to some of those feelings, is romantic for him.

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  15. Hi MomJane! Thanks so much. It's now time for me to confess to having never read Persuasion. I'll have to add it to my list!

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  16. Thanks for the great post and giveaway! I'm definitely adding this book to my wishlist :)

    I'd have to say Wedding of the Season by Laura Guhrke. It's my fav reunion of this year I've read :)

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  17. Aggh, can't think of a favorite reunion story offhand...oh, maybe MJ O'Shea and Piper Vaughn's MOONLIGHT BECOMES YOU.

    vitajex(at)aol(dot)com

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  18. Hi Erin! Thanks and hope you enjoy BACKLASH when you get a chance to read it! I'm going to have to check out Laura Guhrke's Wedding of the Season :)

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  19. Hi Anonymous! Thanks for the author recommendations!

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  20. Sorry I Dont Have One As Of Yet. butterfli262002@yahoo.com

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  21. Hi April! Thanks for stopping by!

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  22. My favorite reunion story would be Persuasion by Jane Austen.
    kassandralopez32@yahoo.com

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    1. Hi Starry Blue! Another vote for Persuasion by Jane Austen! I'm really going to have to read that book!

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  23. I like If You Desire by Kresley Cole.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. Hi bn100! Another recommendation I haven't read! My list is growing!

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  24. Tremendously educational many thanks, I reckon your trusty readers would definitely want even more writing like this carry on the excellent hard work.

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    1. Hi Vibram Five Fingers! Thanks for the lovely compliment!

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  25. Hmmm... Welll... Persuasion comes to mind. It's one of my favorites... along with Pride and Prejudice of course...

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    1. Hi May! Jane Austen wins the day! Thanks for adding to the recommendations!

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  26. The only reunion story I can think right now is from the book Where She Went by Gayle Forman! My sister cried while she was reading that book and told me I had to read ASAP, of course I did and now is one of my favorite books!

    Thank you so much for the giveaway!
    ilepachequin(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  27. Hi Gisele! Any story with the power to make the reader shed a tear deserves a place on the list!

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  28. Hi Karyn,
    thank you for the chance at such a great giveaway. i love the cover of the book, it's beautiful and the book sounds wonderful.

    i don't have a particular favorite, i pretty much love to read them all. :D

    tammy ramey
    trvlagnt1t@yahoo.com

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    1. Hi Tammy! Thanks for the compliment. The cover artist's name is Tina Lynn Stout and I have her and the wonderful folks at The Wild Rose Press to think for it!

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  29. Ooo, Backlash sounds like a good story. I love reunion stories that have danger thrown in. I just finished reading "Pleasures of a Tempted Lady" by Jennifer Haymore and I have to say that has to be my favorite reunion story so far.

    Adria
    adria(.)rose_03(at)yahoo(.)com

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    1. Hi Adria! Happy to hear from another reunion story fan! Will have to check out Jennifer Haymore!

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  30. My favorite reunion book is Heir of Deception by Beverley Kendall!!!

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    1. Hi Joy G! Another great suggestion! We're putting together an amazing list!

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  31. my favourite reunion story is from movie 'sweet home alabama'
    thx 4 the giveaway :)

    chikojubilee(at)gmail(dot)com

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  32. my fav reunion story? i think is the darkest seduction by gena showalter... thanks for a chance to win ^^

    sunshine_pinkystar(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Your welcome, Leev! Thanks for adding your recommendation!

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  34. While I do love the idea of reunion story I can´t really come up with any reunion storyline books I love. If I had to answer though I´d probably say Lara Adrian´s Ashes of Midnight... but since I don´t really have a reunion story that blew me away, maybe this book could seal the deal! :)

    janinaehrhart@web.de

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  35. My face reuion story is at the end of pandemonium by lauren oliver!
    Thanks for the great giveaway!
    red_tigergirl2@hotmail.com

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