Tags
A Flute in the Willows, Carole Brown, Catherine Castle Wednesday Writers series, Clean Reads Books, The Spies of WWII series, WWII fiction
Today I’d like to welcome Carole Brown back to Wednesday Writers. Carole loves the WWII era and will be talking today about how she injected romance into her book A Flute in the Willows, Book Two of The Spies of WWII. Take it away, Carole!
The Greatest of These is Love
by Carole Brown
My love affair with WWII began with my mother’s tales of living through the 1940s and the pictures I saw. The romance, bravery, fashions, vocabulary, the shows and music, so much nostalgia—all of it fostered a love of this period. Research was a fascinating and learning experience.
I don’t write romance novels, but I do include romance into my books. The warmth they give a book, the lightness of spirit that softens mysterious questions and the intense suspenseful drama in my books, and the emotional appeal it brings is a true and worthy incentive for me to add it. Today I want to focus on this romantic side of WWII, and specifically, how I brought that emotion to life within A Flute in the Willows, Book Two of The Spies of WWII.
You wouldn’t think romance would play a part in being a spy, but sometimes it does. Wives, girlfriends, and new friends that tie into a spy’s life—all of these relationships allow romance to blossom…and increase the danger.
Love, at times, carries fear with it. Fear of losing, fear of disappointing, fear of failing.
In this scene, Jerry’s fears for his wife’s safety overcome him and allows him to show his relief and protectiveness for her and the fear of disappointing:
From: A Flute in the Willows
Chapter 11
U.S.
With a jerk, Jerry pulled her tight against his body, his arms wrapped around her. He could feel the tension leaving her body, felt the moment she leaned into him, and tears choked his throat. How he loved this woman.
Her wild mop of hair tickled his chin as she rubbed her head against his chest, and he almost picked her up to gallop home with her.
And once again, his acute memory sprang to life. He couldn’t. He couldn’t gallop anywhere. And he’d already made that unspoken promise to her to let her go. Give her, her freedom.
Even when writing inspirational books, love can compass passionate love that is pure and right for such books. And forgiveness. Josie’s family forgives them their rash actions. Jerry and Josie’s strong personalities demand strong reactions to each other.
In book one, With Music in Their Hearts, Josie Rayner and Jerry Patterson eloped, to the heartbreak of her family. But being who and what they are, they accepted the situation and drew Jerry into, not only their lives—as he already was—but into their hearts as a son and brother-in-law.
And being—who I created Jerry and Josie as—strong, determined, and a bit on the wild side—they had to be a married couple who loved each other fiercely and passionately.
From: A Flute in the Willows
Chapter 7
Sulky eyes roved over her face. Lips tipped up in a crooked smile, defying her to deny her love for him. Muscular arms spun her away, then drew her back, close to his chest.
His sinewy arms lifted and tossed her like a light-weight, fuzzy dandelion seed, into the air, floating, floating, floating higher and higher until, as she began drifting back to the ice floor, he caught her, setting her on her skates, guiding her to yet another magical dance move…
Love can be stressful under certain circumstances…and foolish.
Injured and suffering from PSTD intensifies Jerry’s feelings when he returns home. He thinks he must let Josie go, yet his love for her, and her love for him, give him second thoughts.
Can love survive such emotional stress as the two endure? Can love surpass the doubts, fears and regrets that remind them of their unworthiness?
From A Flute in the Willows
Chapter 7
Josie searched his gaunt figure, lifted a hand and ran her fingers over cheekbones that seemed barely covered with skin. What on earth had happened to him? “Jerry?”
He wrapped his arms around her then. His shudder shook her, seeming to last forever, and she swayed with him, unable to stop it. And just when she thought he’d never let go, that life was perfect again, his arms dropped.
Love can at times increase the fear of losing something valuable and the fear of failing the person you hold most dear, of failing the person you love best.
From: A Flute in the Willows
Chapter 38
But now, the thought of her dead, without a chance to take back those awful words he’d thrown at her, to tell her he’d never let her go, that he loved her more than anything…
God, don’t let my Josie die. I’ll do anything.
Only with the love and understanding of Josie’s family—and God’s help—can these two damaged, rebellious people learn that leaning on God instead of their own selves and abilities is the right and true way to happiness…and love.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
A Flute in the Willows
By Carole Brown
Both rebels in their own way, Josie and Jerry Patterson must figure out how to keep the other’s love…and keep the German enemy at bay.
She has two loves—her skating and Jerry, her husband. But when he returns home looking like a skeleton trying to return to life, she’s scared. What happened in Germany to change a man so much? Has another woman captured his heart?
Jerry has vowed to let Josie live her own glamourous life…especially after what happened in Germany. But when his wife’s life is threatened, Jerry realizes he can’t stand by and do nothing. Jerry has to risk all for the very soul and life of himself—Josie.
These two damaged, rebellious people learn the hard way that leaning on God instead of their own selves and abilities is the only true way to love and happiness.
Want to read more? You can buy A Flute in the Willows at Amazon
About the Author:
Besides being a member and active participant of many writing groups, Carole Brown enjoys mentoring beginning writers. An author of ten books, she loves to weave suspense and tough topics into her books, along with a touch of romance and whimsy, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons?
You can connect with Carole on her social media sites:
Personal blog: Facebook: Twitter:
Today Wednesday Writers welcomes Denise Gwen who will be sharing a bit about the back story of her YA Paranormal Adventure book Covenkeepers. I hopped over to Amazon and read the first few pages of the book. For those who like fiction stories about magic, spells, and paranormal creatures, Covenkeepers promises to be an enchanted adventure. So, welcome, Denise. Please tell us about the story behind your book.
Denise Gwen has been writing for years, and CovenKeepers was one of her favorite stories to write.
Catherine Castle 