Please Note: The Houseon Black Lake has been adapted to screenplay. Go to Home Page to see trailer (with acts of betrayal) and haunting new music video "Dangerous Shadows" inspired by novel.
An act of betrayal by a lover or mate is generally acccompanied by severe emotional distress by the betrayee. Cheating is the most common form, but the act can take many forms, including emotional betrayal. Few women (or men) can forgive and forget such a transgression, as trust is severed with the act. However, when one is deeply in love the decision to walk away can may extremely difficult. Generally, there must be a long period of groveling and the belief that the transgressor has truly learned a valued lesson and can be trusted to maintain integrity in the future. This process is a torturous one for both individuals.
Although living through such an experience is pure hell, it can be therapeudic to vicariously live through the experience of a character in a novel. In fact, much can be learned of human behavior through this process. In the House on Black Lake Alexandra is betrayed at every twist and turn on her journey. Both men and women betray her throughout the story. However, each character is forced to confront the ramifications of their selfishness, while Alexandra's character is strengthened as she learns to become more self reliant, intuitive, and emotionally grounded. Ultimately, when it appears she has been betrayed by them all and most cruelly by Ramey Sandeley, the object of her obsession, her dorment strengths are awakened. Metamorphosis is possible following an act of betrayal. And that is its greatest gift.
The top romance novels featuring acts of betayal are listed below. The list was culled from romance forums and discussions with readers. In no particular order.
Please Note: The House on Black Lake has been adapted to screenplay. Go to Home Page to view provocative trailer filmed by award winning cinematographer.
Scene From "The House on Black Lake" Trailer
The story of The House on Black Lake teems with jealousy and obsession. World-weary Alexandra Brighton travels with son Samuel to visit the man who has haunted her heart for years. She seeks resolution to an obsession that has brought her former life to ruin. But the fire is only stoked by charismatic Ramey Sandeley. Ramey is a man who has never heard the word "no" and expects life to give him everything he desires. But he has never tasted the drug of love or any desire beyond the physical. The feelings awakened in him by Alexandra are twisted to jealous rage when he learns she has given herself to seductive young French artist Andre Labat. When she returns to the house he confronts her and threatens to administer a whipping for her discretion. This is only the beginning of a battle of wills that will lead the couple to the edge of destruction and threaten the safety of those caught in their orbit.
Yet, they are not the only ones driven by obsessive feelings. The lake's inhabitants are caught in tormented web of frustrated desire and and the drive to create unity at any cost.
Christian Grey, of Fifty Shades of Grey is the latest in a long line of dark lovers. Crazy in love, jealous, obsessive, possessive males make intense romance heroes. The top alpha picks (taken from personal surveys and popular romance forums) can be found in the following novels, in no particular order.
1. A Rose to the Fallen by April Bostic
2. The Smoke Thief by Shana Abe
3. Queen of Dragons by Shana Abe
4. Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
5. Dark Desire from the Carpathian's Series by Christine Feehan
6. Halfway to the Grave Night Huntress Series, Book One by Jeaniene Frost
7. The Game Series Complete Collection by Christine Feehan
8. Guild Hunter Series by Nalini Singh
9. Dangerous Games Tempting Seals Serices by Lora Leigh
10. Killer Secrets by Lora Leigh
11. Darkyn Series by Lynn Viehn
12. KGI Serices by Maya Banks
13. Dangerous Secrets by Lisa Marie Rice
14. Bitten, Women of the Otherworld, Book 1 by Kelley Armstrong
15. Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison
16, Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
17. A Hunger Like No Other by Kresly Cole
18. Forever Mine The Moreno Brothers 1 by Elizabeth Reyes
18. Always Been Mine The Moreno Brothers 11 by Elizabeth Reyes
19. Under the Cowboy's Control by Lynda Chance
20. Blackmailed into Bed by Lynda Chance
21. The Madness of Lord Ian McKenzie by Jennifer Ashley
22. Tempt the Devil by Anna Campbell
23. Playing Easy To Get Immortals After Dark 1 by Kresly cole
24. Pleasure of a Dark Prince Immortals After Dark Series by Kresley Cole
25. Clockwork Angel The Infernal Devices, book 1 by Cassandra Clare
26. One Bite With A Stranger The Others Book 6, by Christine Warren
27. Submissive Desires by Carolyn Faukner - SD chronicles a woman's journey of complete submission under control of dominant ex navy seal. The book is erotic and too extreme for most, but well written for those who enjoy or desire insights into world of BDSM.
I was recently interviewed about obsessive, possessive love. Here are my thoughts.
ATTENTION READERS: New Romantic Fantasy, The Chamber of Curiositiesis NOW AVAILABLE. Be the first to read, review, and start discussions on forums. The seductive tale, set in a carnival in an ancient land, features a host of characters with intense love obsessions who experience jealousy and rage at loss of control over beloved.
Ramey Sandeley from The House on Black Lake experiences his first taste of jealousy when Alexandra Brighton and her son Samuel visit the summer home he shares with his wife Ruth and five young children. Ramey has never heard the word "No" and is not accustomed to being turned down or having romantic feelings towards anyone. He views his business and personal life as a series of conquests, and is always the winner.
His first taste of the bitter drug of jealousy comes on the day Alexandra spends a long afternoon in the arms of seductive young French artist Andre Labat. His confrontation following her liaison illuminates untapped feelings and reveals a darker, cruel side. Ultimately, jealousy is the agent of transformation and catharsis for both Alexandra and Ramey and sets in motion a string of events with profound consequences.
Based on votes from romance forums the best jealous alpha males in romance literature are as follows (in no order of preference):
1. Jake from Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire - hot book fast on the rise
2. Dragos from Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison
3. Seth from Out of Control by Shannon McKenna
4. Lachlain from Hunger Like No Other (Immortals After Dark Series) by Kresly Cole
5. Jacques from Dark Desire (Carpathian Series) by Christine Freehan
6. "Iceman" from Dangerous Games by Lora Leigh - erotic
7. Lord Ian from The Madness of Lord IanMackenzie by Jennifer Ashly
8. Tristan from A Rose to the Fallen by April Bostic
9. Bones from Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost
10. Raphael from Guild HunterSeries by Nalini Singh
The world has gone mad for Christian Grey in Fifty Shades of Grey. But he is preceded by a long line of dark lovers in film and literature.
Wade Gotwals and Anastasia Blackwell in Scene HOBL trailer
ATTENTION READERS: New Romantic Fantasy, The Chamber of Curiosities is NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER. The e-book will be delivered to your Kindle on Sunday, May 14, 2017. Be the first to read, review, and start discussions on forums. The epic story, set in a carnival in an ancient land, features an obsessive, possessive romance hero and heroine, as well as supporting characters with intense love obsessions.
Nothing is more rewarding than delving into the psyche of an obsessive, possessive, romance hero. A sexy, powerful man possessed with love has undeniable allure.
Ramey Sandeley from The House on Black Lake is an obsessive, possessive male who has never heard the word "no". Ramey first appears in the novel sweaty and burnt, fresh from branding animals with his custom tools. He believes his preternatural good looks, charm, wealth, and power afford him the right to own whatever and whomever he desires. But he meets his match with Alexandra Brighton, who, after having been possessed by her previous husband, and having made a vow at a shrine to be true to her manifest destiny, will no longer allow herself to be owned or controlled by anyone.
The night Alexandra arrives at Black Lake with her young son she is world weary from a brutal divorce, and in a highly vulnerable state. Soon after she is rowed out by Ramey and his wife to stay in a deserted Victorian in an island, with no way out. That night she dreams she is tied to a four poster, waiting for a burning brand to seal her wedding vows. Their battle of wills will lead them both to the brink of self destruction, and threaten the lives of those caught in their orbit.
To be adored to the point of obsession is truly a rare and beautiful thing. Possessed film heroes can be found in - Twilight, Legends of the Fall, The Phantom of the Opera, Cruel Intentions, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Meet Joe Black, Possession, King Arthur, The Last of the Mohicans, Ladyhawke, Tristan and Isolde, The Thorn Birds, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Man Who Cried features Johnny Depp as a gypsy who rides a beautiful white horse, and Original Sin offers some of the sexiest scenes on film as Antonio Banderas outplays Angelina Jolie at her own dangerous game, with her possessive brother played to perfection by Thomas Jane (of Hung). There are also notable darkly seductive tortured souls in literature, and many of the aforementioned tales began as novels.
Following are a few novels that feature such brooding males:
The Carpathian Series by Christine Freehan
An Independant Wife by Linda Howard
Immortals After Dark Series by Cresley Cole
The Madness of Lord Ian McKenzie, by Jennifer Ashley
The Misted Cliffs,by Catherine Asaro
The Silver Devil and The Flesh and the Devil, by Teres Denys - Note: These are cult classics and can be expensive
The Wolf and the Dove, by Cathleen Woodiwess
To Love an Earl, by Elizabeth Thornton.
The Devil's Embrace Catherine Coulter's first novel. Some have called it creepy, cruel, and disgusting, but everyone has their own tastes.
The Ground She Walks Upon, by Meagan McKinney
The House of Rohan- Ruthless, Breathless,Reckless, by Ann Stuart
Shadow Heart, by Laura Kinsdale
Uncommon Vows, by Mary Joe Putney
Double Standards by Judith McNaught
Gold Ring of Betrayal, by Michelle Reed
Murder Game, Ghostwalkers series 7, by Michelle Freehan
Into the Dark Lands, by Michelle Sagora
The Dark Jewels Trilogy, by Anne Bishop
Prince of Dreams, by Lisa Kleypas
The Twilight Saga, Stehanie Meyers.
Julie Garwood, J.R. Ward , Fallen Angel and Black Dagger Brotherhood SeriesGena Showalter- are other notable authors who specialize in the genre.
Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen
Wuthering Heights, offers the supremely perfect, dark, brooding hero, Heathcliff, Emily Bronte's masterpiece.
Gone with the Wind. gives us Rhett Butler, who is in a class of his own.
For those who desire a darker, more erotic experience the following are well written in this genre:
The Man in the Black Leather Mask follows a female attorney's transformation from powerful woman to submissive beneath the hands of a ten years younger dominent colleague
Kidnapped for Christmas by Evangeline Anderson - Average, overweight woman's skinny sister plans her own kidnapping as a sexual lark, but man takes wrong woman and the more conservative sister finds herself a submissive to a very sexy man
Surrender To Me, by Shayla Black - a woman's secret desire is met by her boyfriend in a Las Vegas trick where he consents to menage with friend, who also happens to be Navy Seal. An obsession is sparked between the woman and her new friend and nothing is the same for the two.
Master of the Mountain by Cherise Sinclair - an less than figure perfect ad agency artist complies with boyfriend's request to visit remote swinger's cabin. During her stay she sees boyfriend with other woman and realizes her relationship is over. However, she meets a man that is emotionally scarred and afraid of commitment who takes her on a journey into the underworld of dominence and submission.
Submissive Desires by Carolyn Faulker. Very severe story of a woman's five year journey to complete submission in the hands of a fiercely powerful and possessive ex Navy Seal.
What will it take to relieve him of his torture?
Obsessive, possessive, brooding romance hero
I was recently interviewed about obsessive possessive love and the character of Ramey Sandeley. Here are my thoughts:
