THE DARKEST SECRET
I don’t harbor many deep dark secrets, but like every person ever born, there are a few. Little failures of character that accumulate alongside the triumphs. Things that embarrass me. Things that might complicate, compromise, or destroy my relationships with others.
When I met the man I could share those secrets with, I knew he was the one for me. That he could listen with a forgiving heart, or laugh at my foibles, or offer insights meant that I didn’t have to live in fear. I was loved for myself–my whole self. And that’s true love.
Consequently, it always saddens me when I meet other women who say that they keep secrets from their spouses. Sometimes I think I’m writing the stories I write just for them, because the turning point in my love stories almost always revolve around the precise moment of maximum vulnerability…when the deep dark secrets come pouring out…and true intimacy is achieved.
In The Fever & The Fury my heroine’s secret is so deep and dark, she dares not even share it with herself. She’s an ancient fury, a minion of the Greek Goddess of Battle, Athena, and she’s been unleashed to mete out vengeance. Once, she valued her role as a force of justice in the world, but over the centuries, Phaedra’s life as a fury has become more and more monstrous…to the point that she no longer feels like a force for good in the world. She’s come to hate her job, she’s come to hate her life, and she’s come to hate herself. When she admits that to herself, and to her victim, he offers her compassion. It’s something so foreign to Phaedra that it makes her unravel and it allows her to feel love for the first time in her life, even if that’s an emotion that threatens her entire existence.
I loved writing that scene–the one in which a man who is being tormented is actually capable of offering comfort to his tormentor. It made me fall in love with Lieutenant Luke Lazaros just as Phaedra does…because if you can forgive someone who has done you wrong isn’t that the strongest test of your humanity?
Of course, just because Luke has a soft heart under the hard-bodied exterior doesn’t mean that he’s an easy man to love. Luke has secrets of his own and when Phaedra uncovers them, it leaves them both vulnerable and raw. Just the way a hero and heroine should be when slip into the pleasures of a torrid love affair!
Stephanie will give away a copy of her book The Fever & The Fury to a lucky commenter!
Stephanie Draven is a multi-published award-nominated author of myth-inspired paranormal romance. Writing for HQN Nocturne, Stephanie’s Mythica series asks the question: What if the monsters of ancient mythology still walked the earth…and what if you found out that you were one of them? Currently a denizen of Baltimore, that city of ravens and purple night skies, Stephanie lives there with her favorite nocturnal creatures–three scheming cats and a deliciously wicked husband. And when she is not busy with dark domestic rituals, she writes her books.
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Laura Kaye Voted Breakout Author of the Year in the 2011 GraveTells Readers’ Choice Awards, Laura is the bestselling and award-winning author of a half-dozen books. Hearts in Darkness is a finalist for the EPIC eBook Award for Best Novella, Forever Freed won the NJRW Golden Leaf Award for Best Paranormal of 2011, and North of Need, the first book in the Hearts of the Anemoi series, was named GraveTells’ Best Book of 2011 and won their 5-STAR Gold Heart Award, and won Sizzling Hot Read of the Year at Sizzling Hot Books. Laura lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.
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* The draw has been made. The winner is Bakinstuff! *
Great post. What an interesting and intriguing story. You guys at Bandit Creek know how to write a story. Thanks for the giveaway.
AprilR
Thank you! I’d love to hear your thoughts on it if you read it!
Great post, Stephanie! I agree with you about keeping secrets from your spouse. I’ve never understood that. I’ve always appreciated reading a book where the main romantic pair are able to freely share all those dark, ugly things that make us human (or not so human…) and achieve that level of intimacy. Part of why I love romance so much!!
Yes, and isn’t it horrible when whatever disagreements the hero and heroine have could be resolved with a good conversation? I’m writing a piece now where the characters keep having the conversation…it’s just that my heroine doesn’t BELIEVE him.
Stephanie, I also agree that NO LIES between couples is necessary to have a long-lasting, marriage. It isn’t always easy but it is so worth it when you find the right person!!
Sounds like the Lt. is a very forgiving and loving man to show compassion to his torturer!
Thank you for participating in the giveaway!
books4me67 at ymail dot com
You’re right, it’s not easy, Books4Me! But it is soooo worth it.
As for the Lieutenant, he isn’t so much loving as he is compassionate. When he realizes just how much pain Phaedra is in, how lonely and lost she is, he reaches out to help her. And it startles her; she doesn’t understand it. But he tells her that how you treat people is sometimes more about who YOU are than who they are. That’s a hard lesson to learn, but I’m so in love with heroes (fictional or otherwise) who know this.
When I meet my special someone I would love to be able to share my secrets with him -all my fears and dreams. I think sharing this creates a bond and stronger foundation for a relationship. The good thing about romance is that it’s never too late give love another chance and air all those secrets out.
Oooh, second chance romances. I love those!
Great post Stephanie. True about secrets between couples. That will usually kill the relationship. Been there, done that.
Oh, me too, Vivi. Me too!
I’ve added this to my must have list; I can’t wait to read it.
Thanks,
booklover0226 at gmail dot com
Can’t wait to hear your thoughts, Booklover!
Hi Stephanie … I loved your heartfelt words about secrets. Without honesty, where is trust? And thank you for sharing the blurb from your book. It sounds like a wonderfully intriguing romance.
Thanks Sheila! You’re right. Trust is the bedrock of a good relationship.
Loved the blurb from your book and the underlying premise of secrets effecting people’s relationships. Putting it on my TBR list.
Yay, I look forward to hearing what you think of it.
Your book sounds wonderfully compelling! Great post too. What you’ve written about relationships is so true.
Thank you! It surprises me that so many married people haven’t discovered this truth.
I don’t have many secrets either, but I agree that if you feel like you have to keep secrets from someone, the relationship is probably not going to last. I love that you recognize that and build it into your stories – can’t wait to read this one!
Thanks Sara. I’m not sure if you heard Amanda Quick speak at RWA a few years back but she talked about finding your central story. I started analyzing mine and finding that these moments of revealed secrets keep coming up again and again.
This really is a great topic, Stephanie! Enjoyed the post a lot!
Thanks Laura!
Enjoyed your blog. How true! My husband is my best friend and I tell him everything. I think he knows me better than I do.
Isn’t that the best?
Hi Stephanie,
What a great post. I have to agree with Roxy, I’m fortunate in my hubby as well. I have a lot of friends who made the mistake of keeping something important from their significant others – it NEVER ends well.
Thanks for sharing and can’t wait to read this one.
It’s so strange, Kymber. I’m often surprised at how many women are afraid to share even “secrets” like sexual fantasies. You’d think you wouldn’t want to marry somebody who was totally down with your fantasies.
great post, Stephanie. My life is so open, it’s TMI. and relationships don’t survive secrets. Lucky is the couple who have this total openness and honesty.
Great post Stephanie! Thanks for sharing
I’m an open person but my husband is the one who truly knows me – and loves me despite the ugliness 
We need to have at least one person in our lives like that.
Right on Stephanie!! Secrets are a huge no-no around here. I feel horrible if I stash an extra bag of dark chocolate somewhere and “forget” to share it’s location. LOL. It is life altering, but I believe it could be and lead to worse things. I love knowing I can tell him any and everything and he loves every bit of me. At the end of the day, no secret is worth losing that <3
I’m not a person big on the idea of keeping secrets that could destroy others either. Embarrassing things about myself sure, but nothing that could hurt someone else.
yadkny@hotmail.com
I enjoyed reading your thoughts. This book sounds very good. I’m looking forward to reading it.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
Secrets can ocassionally be necessary, tho. Sometimes a secret can topple entire empires.