Hello everyone! Today I am so pleased to welcome author Adrienne Wilder to the blog. Adrienne is here to share with us more about her His Brother’s Keeper series. She has also brought a copy of the first book to give out to one lucky winner. So please join me in giving her a big welcome!

The focus of a romance is the relationship, the journey to achieve it, and the obstacles in the way. This is no easy feat. A writer has a hell of a struggle in front of them to create characters the reader can connect with. And most people who read romance want that happy ending. They want that powerful journey to the happy ending to be as enjoyable as possible.

Most readers (myself included) read to escape the turmoil of the real world. They find solace in a story they know will end well, because their own lives are a mystery. It’s impossible for us to know what tomorrow will bring, but with a romance book we know that no matter what, everything will be okay.

Relationships might be strained but true love will be unbreakable.

Darker stories risk losing all those wonderful things. They take a reader down a path that they may not be ready to travel. The unknown is always terrifying and human nature is to avoid it. But there is one remarkable thing about darker tales, they make the characters shine their brightest. They highlight the joy and success with shadows and push those smallest victories to the level of greatness. They force the reader to appreciate what they may have overlooked before or taken for granted.

These kinds of stories are always a gamble, to read and to write, because you have no idea what the outcome will be. For the reader your emotions are fair game, for the writer failure to carry your reader into the light is eminent.

That alone makes dark fantasy or contemporary romance a risk for both the reader and the writer. But if you’re willing to put yourself to the task or weather the journey, the rewards can be wonderful.

I’m not saying give up that patch of sunshine where you don’t have to worry about your happiness being threatened, I’m simply suggesting the occasional walk outside a comfort zone might make you appreciate a happy ending even more.

What do you think of dark romance (of any genre) and does it have a place on your shelves?

The My Brother’s Keeper Trilogy

The town of Gilford has a Big and Terrible secret hidden in the ground.

Infecting those it touches.

Exploiting their darkness.

Consuming their souls.

It’s hungry. It’s vile. It’s evil.

And it wants out.

Book One: The First Three Rules

Marshal Jon Foster lost his purpose and his sanity the day he saw the image of his dead brother. The distraction saved Jon’s life but cost the lives of innocent people including his best friend and partner. It was a price for survival Jon couldn’t live with and was sure he’d never understand.

Driven by grief and guilt he tried to escape his past by fleeing to a small town in the middle of nowhere. Only instead of peace, the memories festered.

Then the offer of a stick of gum from a stranger changes Jon’s life and puts him on a road out of the nightmare he’s trapped in.

Ellis Harper has lived the past twenty years isolated from the outside world and sole caretaker for his mentally disabled brother, Rudy. While Ellis loves his brother, he longs for a life he’ll never be able to have.

Shut away, his days consist of chores, endless cartoons, and games of Go Fish.  A world that seemed to have no end until an innocent misunderstanding turns Ellis and his brother into a target for a town bully.

It’s a fight Ellis can never win on his own but thanks to a chance meeting with a stranger, he doesn’t have to.

What begins as a new journey in love for both men quickly unfolds into something neither of them could have ever imagined.

Book One Amazon buy link

Book Two: Rule Four and Five

A new chance at life comes in many forms: For Jon it’s a family made with Ellis and his brother Rudy. For Ellis, it’s Jon, who has brought the outside world into the protective life he’s built for his mentally disabled brother.

Together they have discovered true happiness and what it means to be loved.

Then one perfect disaster after the other pushes Jon’s resolve to its limit and Ellis over the edge. If they have any chance of saving what they’ve built both men must face their deepest fears.

It’s a test Jon thought he’d already passed and one Ellis never imagined he’d have to face. The journey will forever change who they are and redefine who they were meant to be.

It has to happen.

And all things happen for a reason.

Book Two Amazon buy link

Book Three: The Final Rule

Ellis and Jon need answers.

What is there to understand?

Why does it have to happen?

And what reason could ever justify losing those you love?

If only there was a simple answer. But the more questions they ask, the farther they must travel into the darkness and the things they see are not human, or even possible.

They are, in fact, Big and Terrible.

The plague is rising in Gilford. To stop it from spreading Ellis will have to embrace his destiny and Jon will have to let him go. Both men must be willing to lose everything in order to save the innocent.

It is, after all, rule number six.

Book Three amazon buy link

About the Author

Georgia bred and born, Adrienne Wilder spent most of her childhood exploring fantastical worlds hidden in her own back yard among tall grass, and shadowed kudzu tunnels. When she was not dragon hunting, she spent most of her time, reading, writing, drawing, and digging holes.

Currently Adrienne lives in Dahlonega, GA where she shares her home with a variety of dogs and one cat. She still spends most of her time, reading, writing, drawing, and digging holes. Although now she calls the reading “research,” the drawing “artwork”, the writing “books,” and the holes “ponds” and “gardens”.

If you would rather have the links:

• http://adriennewilder.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/adriennewilder
• https://twitter.com/Adrienne_Wilder
• http://cityofdragons.daportfolio.com/

Giveaway

Adrienne has brought a copy of The First Three Rules to give away to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter. The contest ends on Friday, May 9th  at 11:59 pm EST.

• By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
• Winners will be selected by random number. No purchase necessary to win.  The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
• If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner may be chosen. Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from Joyfully Jay.
• Winners may be announced on the blog following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner by Joyfully Jay.
• Prizes will be distributed following the giveaway either by Joyfully Jay or the person/organization donating the prize.
• By entering you are agreeing to hold Joyfully Jay harmless if the prize or giveaway in some way negatively impacts the winner.
• Readers may only enter once for each contest.  Duplicate entries for the same giveaway will be ignored. In the event of technical problems with the blog during the contest, every effort will be made to extend the contest deadline to allow for additional entries.
• Void where prohibited by law.