A guest post on Claire Gillies’ favorite men from fiction plus an excerpt from ON THE EDGE, a paperback giveaway, and a #99cents sale

My favourite men from fiction : Love interests by Claire Gillies

Patrick Flannagan is the love interest in my latest novel On The Edge. He is a playful, friendly guy who doesn’t take himself too seriously. The attraction he has for Cat is strong, but a series of events makes it difficult for them to declare their feelings. I wanted Patrick to be cheeky, but underneath it all, something else was lurking. I thought it might be fun to look at my favourite love interests in literature, all of whom are pretty different to the dishy Irish musician Patrick…

These are not in any particular order of preference, but I love these characters, they have stayed with me these long years!

Mr. Darcy – The ultimate swoon-able love interest. When I think of the romantic trope – Enemies to Lovers, then Pride and Prejudice sure springs to mind. I adore Mr. Darcy; proud in the beginning, and when we finally see his softer side to Lizzie, it’s so satisfying. But of course, he would fall in love with Elizabeth! who wouldn’t? she’s a great lass!

Ross Poldark – I haven’t read Poldark, I am just going on my impressions from watching the 1970s show and the more recent BBC adaption. Ross Poldark is very stubborn, proud but also compassionate to the less fortunate. His personality is admirable…but very maddening! I’m not sure if you class him as the love interest, as the story revolves around him, but his intensity as a character is very appealing for the love interest. You can never be too passionate! Well not in Poldark’s case!

Mr. Rochester – The main man from Jane Eyre, and such a bad boy! Are you seeing a theme here? We love the bad boy, and just want him to be misunderstood. Luckily for us, Mr. Rochester seems to be just the ticket! His playful energy is captivating, and how he brings Jane out of her shell is wonderful to see.

Captain Frederick Wentworth – I have a soft spot for Mr. Wentworth from Persuasion. A self-made man who after many years being away, returns home. When he bumps into Anne, he is mad at her for jilting him. This is my number one Jane Austen book, and my favourite love story between two characters; their love had never stopped, even after all those years apart.

John Thornton – Very intense moody northern self-made man who runs a mill. At the very beginning we see a bad boy who clashes with the heroine, Margaret. Their relationship is again the enemies to lovers, and we see how much Mr. Thornton softens in his personality as he falls for her.

I never really thought about what common trait these love interests have – they are bad boys! With each love story they follow an enemies to lovers romance. The love story between Patrick and my protagonist Cat is very different to my picks above. They don’t start as enemies to lovers…but that’s not to say they don’t encounter this further in the book!

On the Edge
by Claire Gillies
GENRE:   Women’s Fiction, romance,

BLURB:

Catherine MacGregor spends life daydreaming her way out of the perils of a dead-end job, and a dwindling love-life. Rather than face imminent redundancy, Cat finds herself giving up her life in the city, and moving to a remote Scottish island for a fresh start.

Unlocking her passion for art, things have never looked better, until the handsome but elusive musician Patrick Flannagan takes to the stage, complicating her best-laid plans.

Cat’s past could be catching up with her at last. Can she unlock her own secrets, and learn to love again, in time to save her brave new beginnings?

Excerpt

Maybe she was a terrible friend, and didn’t give people enough time to be themselves?  Johnny was going through a crisis in love and here she was making all sorts of assumptions about what he wanted from life.  She stepped out into the road and at that moment her stiletto heel caught in the cat’s-eye in the middle of the road, making her trip and fall.  It was at that exact moment a van turned the corner, speeding towards her.  Cat stared helplessly at the fast-approaching vehicle; it was too late for her to move, and she closed her eyes thinking this was the moment she would die.  Her mum’s eyes flashed in her mind and then… no pain came.  The van had stopped, just in time, right in front of a cowering Cat who looked up at it, terrified.  Patrick got out of the driver’s side.

“Cat…! Are you OK?”

Cat got to her knees and couldn’t help the rage from building inside her.  “What is the matter with you, you could’ve killed me?” She pressed her hands onto the cold tarmac road and slowly got up.

“I’m sorry…” Patrick tried to help her up but she shrugged him off.  “I didn’t expect to see someone lying in the middle of the road…?” He put his hands up letting her compose herself.

“You were driving really fast!” Cat looked at her bleeding knees and wanted to cry.  But she was determined not to cry in front of this individual, that was all she needed.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Born and raised in the Highlands of Scotland, Claire’s homeland continues to be a stream of inspiration for her. A clothing designer too, Claire (Lorna) creates one-off bespoke garments using Scottish tweeds and tartans.

Claire currently splits her time between Scotland and Australia with her lovely Irish husband. She is a cat lover (without the cat) and can be found either drinking coffee, researching the best cake haunts, or watching yet another costume drama!

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The book is on sale for only $0.99. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B094V7XX9B/

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