Ross by Award Winning Author Victoria Saccenti

I’m excited to welcome Victoria Saccenti and Ross, Book 4 in the Central Florida Stories series, to this week’s blog post.

 

Background

We asked Victoria to tell us a little about where she got the inspiration for this series. Here’s what she said…

The Central Florida Stories began in a moment’s inspiration. I had finished my latest 20th century novel, the award-winning Noémie’s Journey — an interracial romance set in 1968’s segregated North Carolina — and my muse wanted to go in a steamier contemporary direction. She demanded to do a raw and gritty tale. That’s when Joe and Hunter, the MCs in Deception, book one in the series, inhabited my thoughts and propelled me to write their story. Joe Reid fought in Afghanistan with the Marines. In the opening battle scene, Joe is wounded and his young friend, Billy, commits suicide by combat. After a long recovery, Joe returns home, believing Billy’s ex-girlfriend’s letter had triggered his suicide. This sets the stage for a story of payback and revenge with an unexpected big twist…
What started out as one book expanded to a second, third, and now, Ross. My fourth Central Florida Stories book releases October 3. I’ve also published The Lovely Danielle, a related novelette. All the books are standalones. The single connecting element is Club Nexus, a fictitious members’ only BDSM club in Orlando, thus Central Florida Stories. Joe is a member. His best friend Kurt Allendorf, who also fought in Afghanistan, is co-owner of Club Nexus. Undeniable book 2 in the series, tells Kurt and Arely’s story. In book 3, Twisted Proposal, a dark romance, Ethan Ashford, co-owner of Club Nexus, shares the center stage with Sienna Maynard.
After Ross, I have two more books to complete for the Central Florida Stories. I’m already writing one. I hope to have that one published next year. Meanwhile, I’ve also begun an MC Daddies series with a character I’ve fallen in love from Ross.
The truth about me is simple. I don’t think or imagine the stories. The characters do. They’re in control and tell me where they want to go. The only thing I can do is follow their lead and obey their wishes. Otherwise, they won’t let me sleep at night.

Ross, book 4 in the Central Florida Stories

She was never meant to be his. But his heart was always hers.

Ross Michaels hasn’t laid eyes on Hadley Keller since the night she took off on the back of his younger brother’s motorcycle. Her innocent sweetness had called to him. But she wasn’t his. End of story.

But fate can be viciously unpredictable.

He’s been working at the members only, Club Nexus, when he receives an unexpected letter from Hadley. Even though four years have passed, she still has such a hold on him that when she writes, begging him to rescue her daughter, as they are both trapped in an outlaw MC, he decides to rescue both of them out of that hellhole. It’s when he sees her bruises and the helplessness in her youthful face, that the Daddy Dom in him, recognizes from her behavior that she is a Middle and in desperate need of his help.
Only, his mission isn’t as simple as loading them into his truck and driving away. Hadley’s trauma had set its hooks deep. Ross is determined to remove each one; barb by painful barb. And keep her safe from the MC that’ll do anything to silence her secrets.

Note: Ross is a standalone romance in the Central Florida Stories – Club Nexus universe. Contains DDLG dynamics. Visit the author’s website for TW.

An Excerpt from Victoria Saccenti’s Ross

“Stop! Don’t do this, Steve. Listen to me. You’re going to mess up your life.”

Ross stopped drinking his beer. That was his mother’s anxious voice. A barrage of thunderous footsteps running down the staircase followed her shouts.

He put the bottle down and dashed to the hallway in time to catch his brother, Steve, running out the door toward his chopper parked at the curb. Ross squinted; a shadowed person waited next to the bike. In a moment, Steve’s chopper roared to life.

“Oh God.” At the bottom of the stairs, his mother sobbed and spoke at the same time. “If your brother leaves, his record will be ruined forever.” She walked to Ross’s side and gripped his arm. Her face was contorted in a grimace he’d never seen before.

“Hold on, Mom.” Ross touched her cheek and went after his brother. Ross had come home an hour ago. He’d barely had enough time to hug his mother, throw his duffel on his bed, and grab a beer when the fireworks exploded.

As he jogged outside, his vision adjusted to the weak illumination from the street lights. His soul plummeted when he recognized Hadley, Steve’s on-and-off girlfriend, waiting by the idling chopper.

Not Hadley. He can’t take her.

Ross stepped in front of the bike with his arms crossed. His brother would have to run him over if he wanted to leave.

Steve swung his motorcycle helmet at him. His brown eyes flamed. “Get the fuck out of my way. You’re not gonna stop me.”

“Come on, bro.” He frowned at Steve. “I just got home like minutes ago. Why is Mom so upset?”

Steve glared. “I don’t have to tell you a fucking thing.”

“Go ahead, tell your brother,” his mother, a discreet woman who kept up appearances and hated to be the topic of gossip, shouted from the front stoop. Evidently, she was beyond caring what the neighbors overheard or thought about this argument. “Steve’s on probation. He has three more weeks to go.”

Ross raised his eyebrows. “Probation? When? Why?”

“What the fuck is it to you?” Steve barked. “Just because you served and got some fancy ribbons and shit, don’t give you the right to order me around. You’re not Dad.”

“Almost six months ago,” his mother, walking toward them, said, “he and his best buddy, Denton, got picked up for shoplifting  and assaulting the store owner when the man tried to stop them. He sent the owner to the hospital, so the man pressed charges. I paid Steve’s first fine. This was his second offense. I refuse to pay again.”

Ross grasped both handlebars and held on tight. He wouldn’t step aside. “I don’t want to be Dad. I only want to understand what happened. Help you, if I can.”

“Help me?” Steve scoffed. “Save it. Go hang out with your military friends. That’s all you have time for.”

“He’s taking Hadley with him,” his mother whimpered. “He’ll destroy her life.”

Ross swallowed and turned to the girl, who was wringing her hands furiously. She looked pale, confused, and more beautiful than ever. Under the street lamp, her auburn hair glimmered with soft lights.

Sweet, innocent Hadley.

And Steve, selfish and self-centered in the extreme, had convinced her to leave with him. His brother wanted his sexual comforts and was taking them on the road.

“Don’t do this, brother. Fuck up your future if you want. Hadley doesn’t deserve a life on the run.” Ross glared at Steve.

“Ross is right, sweetheart.” Abigail turned to Hadley. “You know I love you like a daughter. Where will you go? Where will you live? Stay with us.”

“Enough of this shit.” Steve kicked back the bike stand. “Get on.” He jerked his head at the girl.

Hadley, her green eyes huge as saucers, hadn’t uttered a word while the ugly argument between himself, Steve, and their mother had raged on.

“It’ll be okay.” She touched Ross’s arm, offering a small smile.

Ross knew she wanted to reassure or calm him down, but even the lightest contact with Hadley had the opposite effect. His skin burned. A rush of guilt battered him, and he stepped back from her touch and the bike. He didn’t have a right to feel this way. Hadley was taboo.

Frowning at his reaction, she licked her lips and nodded. Did she believe he was rejecting her?

No, you have it all wrong. He wanted to hold her, tell her the truth, beg her to forget Steve and stay. I’m not pushing you away. I want you too much.

Ross pressed his lips into a hard line.

Hadley climbed on behind Steve. She wrapped her arms around his brother’s waist, and Ross closed his eyes as a bitter taste filled his mouth. When he looked again, his mother was sobbing softly at his side, and the chopper had disappeared into the night. Only a distant roar lingered. He wrapped his arm around his mother’s shoulder.

Why is life never even?” she asked between sobs. “One son returns and the other leaves. When are you going back?

“I’m not reenlisting.”

“That’s a relief. What will happen to them?”

“Oh, Mom.” He fought to answer, his throat ached so badly. “Do you really want me to answer that?”

She turned into his chest and wept.

What Victoria Saccenti’s Readers are Saying…

Deception (Central Florida Stories Book 1) by Victoria Saccenti introduces us to Joe and the burden that he is carrying. Joe has to bear witness to his friend committing suicide in a combat zone after receiving a Dear John letter. Joe tries to save him, but is wounded in the process and loses an eye. When he returns home, Joe wants to live a peaceful life and starts working with his family’s business, until he runs into the woman who wrote the letter that killed his friend. Joe hatches a plan to bring her down in the worst way possible to pay for what she did to his friend. But along the way, Joe finds that he may have real feeling for this woman who he set out to destroy.
Fans of romance novels will definitely enjoy this read. There are also lots of twists and turns along the way that keep the narrative feeling fresh and enjoyable. The characters are interesting and compelling. There are some mature themes here, but fr those who enjoy the genre this is a great start to a series.

– (Phil Bolos – Deception, book 1 of the Central Florida Stories)

As an avid reader of author Victoria Saccenti, I knew Beloved Titanian would be extremely well written, with vivid descriptions of characters and settings. What I didn’t expect was a novella that wonderfully lays a foundation of a new and believable paranormal world.
Regina is a co-owner of a successful coffee shop in Hillsboro, North Carolina. Although not apparent to her best friend Chrissy and barista April, Regina knows there’s more to regular customer Roald and guide dog Zeus than meets the eye.
Roald has been frequenting Java Cafe for a year, watching over his fated mate Regina. The time has come to present her with truths of the Titanian world and hope she says yes to being his partner.
Beloved Titanian may be a novella but the story will fill your cup of Joe to the brim!

– (Chickie – Beloved Titanian, book 1 in the Titanian Chronicles)

Destiny’s Plan is a story of love at first sight that faces many challenges. Raquelita is leaving the only home she has ever known. Traveling with her mother and sister, she takes an empty seat next to a handsome young soldier, and her life changes forever.
Isabel, her mother, also has her own story in Destiny’s Plan. She is relocating to Florida after her divorce and will soon realize that this event has been orchestrated by one who has loved her from afar. She and Raquelita will face many obstacles to their romances, each growing in awareness and maturity as the events progress.
The timeframe of this novel encompasses the Vietnam War, and Matthew will experience hardships that threaten his happiness with Raquelita. The subject is handled with respect and lends another level of emotion to this engaging book.
Ms. Saccenti writes beautifully. “They sat in silence, each immersed in the other. Words would only be superfluous. And as Raquelita and Matthew reposed, the wizened old oak, with its ancient, shading limbs, enclosed the lovers within its benevolent protection for a long, long, while.”
Passages such as this are throughout the book and brought a smile to this lover of words. 5 stars.

– (Richard Sciandra – Destiny’s Plan, book 1 in the Destiny’s Series)

Meet the Exciting Award Winning Victoria Saccenti

Award-winning and bestselling author Victoria Saccenti writes contemporary romance, paranormal romance, and romantic women’s fiction. She explores the strengths and weaknesses of the human spirit, the twists and turns of intimate interactions, and all possible happy endings.

After thirty years of traveling the world, she has settled in Central Florida, where she splits her busy schedule between family and her active muse at Essence Publishing. However, if she could convince her husband to sell their home, she would pack up her computer and move to Scotland, a land she adores.