Sunday Snippet ~ Brede~ by Connie Vines #Sunday Snips

Welcome to Sunday Snips.  This is a Blog Hop of sorts, a chance to sample a snippet of each participating author's work.  Today I'm sharing a snippet from Book 2 of my Rodeo Romance Series, "Brede", published by Books We Love.

I hope you enjoy this Romantic Suspense story!

------------------------------------

Prologue

Audralynn Maddox heard her own soft cry, but the pain exploding inside her head made everything  else surreal. distanced somehow by the realization that someone had made a mistake.

A terrible mistake.

He caught her wrists, pinning them behind her and shoved her, face first, against the van, "Nobody double crosses J.B., bitch. Nobody!"

His attack had come so unexpectedly that Audralynn hadn't seen his face. His voice didn't sound familiar, yet she delved into the depths of  her subconscious, trying to pin a name to the voice.  She jerked and heaved against his grip, trying to gain her freedom, but he was far too strong.

"I don't know any J.B.," she whimpered. She wanted to scream the words, but her head pounded. Tears of pain stung her eyes and ran down her cheeks.

He laughed. The hateful sound mocked her growing terror. Her pitiful struggles only increased his cruelty, but she dared not stop.

"Thought you could go back on the bargain, did you?  We've been watching your place. Your friend didn't want to cooperate, either.  Too bad she put up such a fight."

Vikki  What did you do to Vikki?

He shoved her face against the door.  "She didn't cooperate.  Stupid bitch.  I only wanted the photos."

The man's hot, rancid breath assaulted her senses as he grabbed her by the shoulders to still her struggles. "  Now, you're a smart little piece," he hissed. Don't cause me any more trouble and maybe I'll let you go.  Where'd you stash the photos?"


---------

Brede is avaiable at Amazon in ebook format for 99 cents!
www.amazon.com/Connie-Vines/e/B004C7W6PE

Please visit the links to other participating authors.



Ginger Simpson

Tricia McGill
http://yesterrdayrevisitedhere.blogspot.com/ (Juliet Waldron)



If you have enjoyed my blog page, please share via the posted social links.

Outlander Series aka Men Wearing Kilts

For those who turned "Outlander" into an international bestseller, seeing the characters brought to life, with Scotland as the backdrop,  will be a 'must, watch. For me, the resulting series a snooze -- beautiful Scottish country side, but and too flaccid to make hearts go pitter-pat. 

"People disappear all the time," says Claire (Caitriona Balfe), a British army nurse introduced at the end of World War II delivering a novel-esque voiceover that runs throughout. Weary of bloodshed, she seeks to reconnect with her husband, Frank (Tobias Menzies), as the two embark on a scholarly search (think Ancestory.com) through the countryside.

Developed by "Battlestar Galactica's" Ronald D. Moore from Diana Gabaldon's book, the premiere certainly takes its time before getting to the main event -- namely, Claire being inexplicably whisked back in time, where she finds herself under the protection of the brutish MacKenzie clan. (It's not till the second episode that we learn the date is 1743.)

Claire's keepers include the imperious war chief Dougal (Graham McTavish), who's only one of the bearded ruffians who think about raping her; and Jamie (Sam Heughan), a clean-cut Adonis who endeavors to protect Claire's honor when he isn't exchanging meaningful glances with her. Menzies also lingers in a dual role as Frank's ancestor, a sadistic British officer who has a yen for the ladies.

Still, "Outlander" meanders along so slowly that it needs to immerse viewers in its atmosphere and rhythms -- something that might appeal to ardent fans of the book, but my the attention span and patience was sorely tested.

The principals are perfectly fine, and the period touches have been assembled with care (and filmed in Scotland), the long speeches in un-translated Gaelic have a way of yielding diminishing returns.  I may sit through an episode or two, but I won't be a fan of the series.  Sorry Starz.  I'll be viewing reruns of Longmire, with the beautiful backdrop of Wyoming. The scrips are rather uneven, and a bit sketchy at times, but the story moves along and the heroes are a Bonny match for the men of the Scottish Highlands.

Round Robin Blog Topic: You Loved the Blurb--What Happened?

April's Round Robin Blog topic:
You loved the blurb. First page sounded interesting. You bought the book. What makes you throw the book you're reading against the wall, stomp on it and go find another?

The blurb on the back cover or the inside sleeve of a book is supposed to draw you in and make you want to buy the book. It is supposed to be intriguing, giving you a flavour of the novel. 

Catchy Blurb: "One of the best-known horror stories ever. Victor Frankenstein, a Swiss scientist, has a great ambition: to create intelligent life. But when his creature first stirs, he realizes he has made a monster. A monster which, abandoned by its maker and shunned by everyone who sees it, dogs Dr Frankenstein with murder and horrors to the very ends of the earth . . ."

Deciding to read Frankenstein was a bit of a whim. I wanted to see how different it was from the twentieth-century film versions, and since I loved B Stoker's "Dracula" i expected to add this classic to my "keeper" shelf.

I can't blame Mary Shelley for some of the things I disliked. I find early 19th century fiction to be strangely peppered with sensitive, high-born protagonists who suffer nervous fits. But these delicate lords who require six months of recuperation try my patience. And Victor Frankenstein has so many nervous fits -- and spells of madness -- that it's a wonder he ever gets a chance to build a monster in the first place.

II can't excuse Victor Frankenstein's justifications for his actions. I could see it if Shelley were ultimately condemning Frankenstein for being such a lazy, selfish, ineffectual, and cold-hearted but she isn't. The only thing Frankenstein did wrong was to play God by delving into the secrets of nature.

The fact that he totally abandoned his "monster" is not seen as irresponsible. And when that monster found itself alone and terrified, spurned by all humans, unable to find companionship even from the man who created him-- Victor Frankenstein doesn't think this is particularly sad. When the monster decides to get revenge of those who rejected him -- Frankenstein (and Shelley) both label the monster as "cruel" and "bloodthirsty."

Almost half of the book is about the monster's good deeds and his heart-wrenching attempts to join a society that will never accept him. The other half is about Victor Frankenstein running away from every responsibility he has.

 When describing geography, Shelley entranced me. When it came to characterization, however, I could only care about the monster...and I don't think she intended it that way.  (The book gave me nightmares.  Not because of the monster but because of the "abandonment").  

Thank you for stopping by to view my blog post today.  

Next on the blog tour: Beverley Bateman - http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/

Happy Reading,

Connie

A complete list of this month's guest bloggers:

* Anne Stenhouse athttp://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com
* Diane Bator at http://dbator.blogspot.ca
* Fiona McGier at http://www.fionamcgier.com
* Margaret Fieland at http://www.margaretfieland/blog1/
* Ginger Simpson at http://mizging.blogspot.com
* Geeta Kakade at http://geetakakade.blogspot.com/ 
* Connie Vines at http://connievines.blogspot.com/
* Beverley Bateman - http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/
* Rhobin Courtright - http://rhobinleecourtright.com