by Maisey Yates, author of The Life She Left Behind (ebook prequel novella to The Santina Crown series, Harlequin Presents, March 2012)
When I was asked to write this novella for the Santina Crown continuity, I was really excited. But I’d never written a novella before, and I knew it was going to be a task to fit the love, passion and conflict that I normally put into 50,000 words into 15,000 words!
So I started by thinking about love. What it is. What it means. Because I knew that ultimately, that’s what the book would be about. Love is the primary focus of all of my books, after all.
Love is more than a feeling. If someone feels something for you, but never gives you words, how do you know? How can it really mean something to you?
Love isn’t just words either. If someone says they love you, but they never demonstrate that love, then there’s no weight behind the words. No real meaning or truth to them.
I’m married to the best man ever. It’s true. He does some really great things. He buys me flowers, chocolate, etc…but to me, the real moments where he demonstrates his love for me are maybe less romantic…to some. But they mean the world to me.
We have small children, a lot of them. Three, ages 5, 4, and 2. So it’s been a very sleepless few years. But back when our kids woke up every few hours, he would always take his turn getting up with the baby.
There are days when I go out to the office to work and I come home to a spotless house. He changes diapers. He even installed a new bathroom floor last weekend.
To me, all of those things demonstrate what he’s told me: He loves me.
Now, the hero of my novella, Taj, doesn’t really understand love at the start of the book. Taj understands feelings only as they pertain to himself and his own happiness. Years ago, he became fascinated by oil heiress Angelina Carpenter and he set out to make her his wife. To possess her. So he cuts a deal with her father, a business deal, in exchange for marriage to Angelina.
Well, Angelina being Angelina, wasn’t about to become some spoiled sheikh’s convenient bride. So she ran.
When she and Taj meet again they can’t deny the attraction that still burns between them. But that night has lasting consequences, (the kind that require midnight feedings!) and now she finds herself facing a necessary marriage to the sheikh. Again.
Taj is accustomed to having his way. When he wants something, he buys it. Anything to ensure his own comfort and happiness. I think it’s best summed up in this scene, when he and Angelina are talking just after she’s come to the palace.
“Everything is lovely,” she said, her focus on her dinner plate.
“And yet you sound like a petulant child who has been denied a pony for Christmas.”
Her head snapped up, her green eyes glittering. “Do you think so?”
“I know so.”
“Quite the pronouncement. Especially coming from a man who’s never been denied anything.”
“It’s true. I had seven of my own Arabian horses by the time I was six. They were not considered ponies.”
So there you are. Taj is a bit spoiled. And his journey was to find out what love really is. That he has to do more than think it, or feel it, or say it. That he has to show her. That he has to love her and her happiness even more than he loves his own. That love is about more than simply keeping someone with you because you have the power to do so. That love doesn’t seek its own, but cares more for the other.
What is love to you? What are the best ways someone has shown you they love you?
Note from Amy: The Life She Left Behind kicks off the Santina Crown series on March 1. Look for it tomorrow wherever ebooks are sold! The first full novel of the Santina Crown series is The Price of Royal Duty by Penny Jordan, which will be in stores in North America in May and for advance release in print and ebook on Harlequin.com in April.
Maisey, I can’t wait to read this, it sounds completely brilliant and I completely agree with your definition of love. It’s so much more than diamonds, (although if someone wants to give me diamonds, please don’t hold back. I’m a willing and grateful recipient of all things shiny)
I’m so excited about the whole Santina Crown series
Sarah, you’re too good to me!
I too will willingly accept diamonds as demonstration of affection. Shiny things are highly acceptable!!
I’m really excited for the continuity as well!
What is love to me? Baked goods. I think people giving you baked goods such as cookies, cakes and cupcakes shows a person that you love them.
Emma, baked goods are absolutely a sign of love and affection. IMO, baked goods with buttercream frosting elevate the gesture.
Hey Maisey,
I’m lucky enough to have one of those too- my hubster changes diapers, gives me 3 out of 4 nights off so that I don’t have to wake up at all with the baby, lets me lie in Saturdays (Sundays is his turn) and so many more things each and every day..:-)
Can’t wait to read the Santina Crown series…
Aw, Sri that’s fabulous! What a wonderful hubby!
Ooh this sounds fab, looking forward to the whole series now! Bring on the Love! x Abby
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Loved this blog; can’t wait to read the Santina Crown series! The ‘Life She Left Behind’ Sounds fantastic! Well done!
Hi everyone,
We’re having some issues getting THE LIFE SHE LEFT BEHIND onto the Harlequin.com ebook store, so apologies if you are looking for it and can’t find it! Our ebook store team is working on getting it onto the site ASAPand the ebook is available from other ebook sites if you can’t wait to read it.
Sorry for the delay!
~Amy from Harlequin
Update: “The Life She Left Behind” is up on the Harlequin ebook store now
http://ebooks.harlequin.com/ContentDetails.htm?ID=DA6877BB-99FA-4AD0-8848-66A44D75C8C1
~Amy
Thank you, Indigo! I’m really excited for the whole series.
Amy, thank you so much for the work you put into getting it straightened out. You’re amazing!
Definitely looking forward to reading this new series. As an FYI – Amazon is offering the Kindle version of this ebook for free today. How does that affect you Maisey? Won’t you be losing royalties on the “free” books that are sold?
Lidia, YES! Th ebook is free on B&N, Sony, Amazon and Harlequin.com for next few months! I was contracted to do this book, knowing up front that it would be offered for free, and I was paid a certain amount upon writing it.
So no worries about me!
Thank you so much! I just downloaded your book. I can’t wait to start reading it.
Conny, you’re very welcome! Thank you!