*Guest Post & Giveaway* with Amanda Bonilla

SHAEDES IF GRAY by Amanda Bonilla

Publisher: Signet
Release Date: December 6th
Genre: Paranormal
336 Pages

In the shadows of the night, Darian has lived alone for almost a century. Made and abandoned by her former love, Darian is the last of her kind-an immortal Shaede who can slip into darkness as easily as breathing. With no one else to rely on, she has taught herself how to survive, using her unique skills to become a deadly assassin.

When Darian's next mark turns out to be Xander Peck, King of the Shaede Nation, her whole worldview is thrown into question. Darian begins to wonder if she's taken on more than her conscience will allow. But a good assassin never leaves a job unfinished...

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About the Author: (from Amazon) Amanda Bonilla lives in rural Idaho with her husband and two kids. She's a part-time pet wrangler, a full-time sun worshipper, and only goes out into the cold when coerced. When she's not writing she's either reading or talking about her favorite books.

Guest Post:

Three’s Company, or Three’s a Crowd?

First of all, I’d like to thank VampFanGirl and Lovin’ Me Some Romance for hosting me today!

I’ve noticed that when it comes to love triangles, readers are very opinionated. They either love them or hate them. Period. There doesn’t seem to be much leeway, not a luke-warm feeling anywhere. I suppose that to those who despise the love triangle, they only see a spoiled, inconstant character who gets off on stringing her love interests along, making them pine after her in agony until she decides she’s finally ready to make a decision. For the lovers, well, they’re drawn to the fantasy of being a woman with multiple suitors. It can be exciting to feel pursued, and the excitement levels only rise when multiple men throw their hats into the ring.

I happen to be on the side of the lovers. That’s not to say that I want to see a love triangle where someone is inevitably hurt, or see characters needlessly strung along. But when a love triangle lends to the character arc, count me in!

What is a love triangle, anyway? Does the heroine have to be involved with both love interests at the same time? Or can a love triangle occur when the heroine has separate relationships with two different men over the course of a few books. Let’s start by breaking it down by the different types of love triangles out there:

The “But I Love You BOTH” Syndrome:

This is the one that I think bothers most readers. Done wrong, the heroine comes across as heartless. There’s some level of relationship, be it physical or emotional or both with the two love interests simultaneously. One of the main plot lines of the book usually centers around the heroine deciding between the two guys. Both love interests are generally good guys, and by choosing, the heroine almost always leaves one of the guys broken hearted.

The “Complication”:

I owe this one to my sister. She pointed out that a love triangle doesn’t always have to involve a romantic entanglement between three characters, but rather, can involve a third wheel who inadvertently thwarts the coming together of the heroine and her love interest. A good example of the third wheel is Garrett in the Charley Davidson series. He hasn’t exactly put the moves on Charley, but there’s tension there. He seems to show up just at just the right moment and Reyes isn’t exactly a card carrying member of the Garrett Swopes fan club. My brilliant sister also pointed out that a character doesn’t necessarily have to be alive to fit into this category. Take Welsie in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Tohr’s memory of his late wife will more than likely throw a monkey wrench or two in his future romantic entanglements.

The Shoulder to Lean On:

This triangle could also be considered a sub-category of the “Complication”. The third wheel in this triangle is usually a close friend, or potential romantic interest, and though there is no romantic entanglement between the MC and her friend, it adds another dimension to the romantic relationship between the hero and heroine, making it difficult for them to truly be happy. A good example of the shoulder to lean on would be the Annika, Devlin, Creed relationship from the Syndey Croft ACRO series. Even though Annika and Devlin aren’t involved romantically, Devlin takes care of Annika’s emotional needs, while Creek takes care of her physical needs. This is a plot point that causes friction in Annika and Creed’s relationship, as he wants to be that emotional outlet for her as well. Another example of this triangle is Rhevenge from J.R. Wards BDB series. Though he’s not necessarily in love with Marissa, their friendship causes tension in Marissa’s blossoming relationship with Butch.

The “This is My Life and I’m Going to Live It”:

Okay, this one is my favorite and in my opinion is more realistic than the “I love you both syndrome”. Over the course of a series, the MC is going through one big character arc. She’s changing, learning, growing as a person, just like people do in real life. And just like in real life, relationships suffer ups and downs. People break up and get back together. And in the course of that character arc, the heroine might form a relationship with a second love interest. The relationships don’t happen simultaneously, the heroine usually becomes romantically entangled with guy #2 after a breakup or separation from guy #1. Like the, “I love you both syndrome,” the heroine must ultimately decide between the two guys, but it happens after growth and reflection, with the heroine coming to the conclusion that one of these guys is the best match for the person she has become.

If it’s written the right way, a love triangle can be more about the heroine growing into who she is rather than being about “choosing a guy”. Romance is about so much more than who’s got the tighter abs or who makes your stomach flip for whatever reason. I admit to being a little turned off when a heroine can’t identify why she’s falling for someone. That’s when a love triangle can become tiresome. It’s possible to have chemistry with more than one person. But readers can get a bit frustrated when the heroine can’t seem to make up her mind.

Whether you love them or hate them, love triangles can add another layer to the storyline. A sometimes steamy sub-plot to entice readers or cause them to add the book to their DNF pile. How do you feel about love triangles? Are you a lover or a hater? Do you have a favorite love triangle?

Thanks again to Lovin’ Me Some Romance for hosting me today!

Giveaway Details:

Amanda Bonilla is giving one copy of SHAEDES OF GRAY to one lucky winner. Here's how to enter:

*Comment with an answer to Amanda's Question: How do you feel about love triangles? Are you a lover or a hater? Do you have a favorite love triangle?*


**Comment a Valid Email Address (Entrants that do not leave an email address will be disqualified)**

***Contest Open to US and Canada Only***

****Contest Closes Sunday, December 18th at Midnight U.S. Pacific Standard Time and the Winner will be Chosen Randomly and Announced Monday, December 19th****