Romance authors spend a lot of time talking about the heroes in their novels while the heroines are often overlooked. Today I'm thrilled to have author Rosanna Leo on my blog as she shares with us how she turned a once female villain into the heroine in her newest release. Quite the challenge, but if anyone can pull it off, it's Ms. Leo...and Fleur.
MAKING A BAD GIRL GOOD
With my new release, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to share the journey behind this particular story. If any of you follow my Gemini Island Shifters series, you’ll be familiar with my newest heroine Fleur Bissette. Fleur, a wolf shifter, is the heroine of Predator’s Rescue, Gemini Island Shifters 7. She is easily the most flawed heroine I’ve ever written. In fact, she was once a villain.
However, every villain has a backstory and so does Fleur. She wasn’t born evil but she did fall in with a vile crowd, the Alpha Brethren. This group of shape shifters, led by the vicious August Crane, took advantage of Fleur, brainwashing her. So for a long time, all she knew was negativity and anger.
Without revealing any spoilers from the previous books in the series, I can share the fact that Fleur is now rehabilitated and ready to be “good.” She’s seen misery and pain and no longer wants to be an instrument of vice.
So how does an author make this sort of character sympathetic? When I decided she needed to be my next heroine, complete with a sexy hero and love story, I knew I had my work cut out for me.
The key was sharing Fleur’s background and the circumstances in which she grew up. Her transition couldn’t be immediate. She continues to make mistakes but learns from them. Fleur had to deal with an abusive father, a junkie mother and dozens of men who used her for her looks and sex appeal. She never had anyone in her life who said they were proud of her or who encouraged her to reach for the stars.
This is where hero Jani Fodor comes in. Jani, my growling tiger shifter, has seen something in Fleur from the start, something no one else has ever seen. Little by little, he chips away at her defenses and claims her heart. I love their journey and I’m so happy my readers are enjoying Fleur’s transformation to “good girl.”
Oh, and don’t worry. Fleur is no wimp. Good or bad, she’s still as badass as they come.
Predator's Rescue:
Tiger shifter Jani Fodor should have washed his hands of Fleur Bissette long ago. However, when she disappears from the shape shifter sanctuary on Gemini Island, he can’t forget her, and launches a fraught two-week search to find her. He thinks she’ll be grateful but the petulant she-wolf resents his intrusion in her life.
Jani recently liberated Fleur from a vicious cult of shape shifters, where she was brainwashed by the sadistic August Crane. The wolf shifter terrorized their friends at the Ursa Fishing Lodge and Resort on Gemini Island. Labeled a “bad girl” all her life, Fleur knows she’ll never fit in with the good guys at the Ursa, no matter how much Jani tries to convince her of their regard. Besides, she can’t stay with Jani. Although he’s the closest thing she’s ever had to a friend, their chemistry is explosive in the worst way.
When a new menace arises, in the form of a vicious drug dealer with a grudge, Jani is adamant Fleur accept his help to rehabilitate her addict mother and remove her from the influence of her dealer. Fleur accepts Jani’s assistance but as they work together, friendship erupts into passion. Neither can deny their lust-struck spirit animals and before long, they realize their connection runs deeper than they ever expected.
Despite the threats posed by the drug dealer, the worst danger of all dwells inside Fleur. Haunted by the spirit of August Crane, Fleur is inundated by visions that torment her. She is consumed by guilt and plagued by old hostilities. Can this bad girl make good? And is Jani’s love enough to save her from her demons?
Liquid Silver Books: http://www.lsbooks.com/predators-rescue-p1125.php
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Predators-Rescue-Gemini-Island-Shifters-ebook/dp/B01CC2JRX4
GooglePlay:https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Rosanna_Leo_Predator_s_Rescue?id=ffSaCwAAQBAJ
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/predators-rescue/id1088029644?mt=11
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/predator-s-rescue
Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28451478-predator-s-rescue
Tiger shifter Jani Fodor should have washed his hands of Fleur Bissette long ago. However, when she disappears from the shape shifter sanctuary on Gemini Island, he can’t forget her, and launches a fraught two-week search to find her. He thinks she’ll be grateful but the petulant she-wolf resents his intrusion in her life.
Jani recently liberated Fleur from a vicious cult of shape shifters, where she was brainwashed by the sadistic August Crane. The wolf shifter terrorized their friends at the Ursa Fishing Lodge and Resort on Gemini Island. Labeled a “bad girl” all her life, Fleur knows she’ll never fit in with the good guys at the Ursa, no matter how much Jani tries to convince her of their regard. Besides, she can’t stay with Jani. Although he’s the closest thing she’s ever had to a friend, their chemistry is explosive in the worst way.
When a new menace arises, in the form of a vicious drug dealer with a grudge, Jani is adamant Fleur accept his help to rehabilitate her addict mother and remove her from the influence of her dealer. Fleur accepts Jani’s assistance but as they work together, friendship erupts into passion. Neither can deny their lust-struck spirit animals and before long, they realize their connection runs deeper than they ever expected.
Despite the threats posed by the drug dealer, the worst danger of all dwells inside Fleur. Haunted by the spirit of August Crane, Fleur is inundated by visions that torment her. She is consumed by guilt and plagued by old hostilities. Can this bad girl make good? And is Jani’s love enough to save her from her demons?
Liquid Silver Books: http://www.lsbooks.com/predators-rescue-p1125.php
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Predators-Rescue-Gemini-Island-Shifters-ebook/dp/B01CC2JRX4
GooglePlay:https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Rosanna_Leo_Predator_s_Rescue?id=ffSaCwAAQBAJ
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/predators-rescue/id1088029644?mt=11
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/predator-s-rescue
Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28451478-predator-s-rescue
Author Bio:
Rosanna Leo is a multi-published, erotic romance author. Several of her books about Greek gods, selkies and shape shifters have been named Top Picks at Night Owl Romance and The Romance Reviews.
From Toronto, Canada, Rosanna occupies a house in the suburbs with her long-suffering husband, their two hungry sons and a tabby cat named Sweetie. When not writing, she can be found haunting dusty library stacks or planning her next star-crossed love affair.
A library employee by day, she is honored to be a member of the league of naughty librarians who also happen to write romance. Rosanna blogs at www.rosannaleoauthor.wordpress.com
Rosanna Leo is a multi-published, erotic romance author. Several of her books about Greek gods, selkies and shape shifters have been named Top Picks at Night Owl Romance and The Romance Reviews.
From Toronto, Canada, Rosanna occupies a house in the suburbs with her long-suffering husband, their two hungry sons and a tabby cat named Sweetie. When not writing, she can be found haunting dusty library stacks or planning her next star-crossed love affair.
A library employee by day, she is honored to be a member of the league of naughty librarians who also happen to write romance. Rosanna blogs at www.rosannaleoauthor.wordpress.com
You can find and follow Rosanna almost anywhere:
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Rosanna-Leo/e/B007X5P4I8
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5826852.Rosanna_Leo
Tsu: http://www.tsu.co/RosannaLeo
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rosannaleo/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rleoauthor1
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/LeoRosanna
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Rosanna-Leo/e/B007X5P4I8
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5826852.Rosanna_Leo
Tsu: http://www.tsu.co/RosannaLeo
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rosannaleo/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rleoauthor1
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/LeoRosanna
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