In Deadly Kisses, Joyce’s eighth installment in the Deadly Series, Francesca is called late one night to the home of her fiancé Calder Hart’s former mistress only to find Daisy Jones’s bloodied body and even more devastating, evidence that points directly to one suspect: Calder.
While Francesca cannot—and will not—believe that Calder is capable of such an act, she still must convince everyone else and find a way to shake the instinctive sense that Calder is lying about something. Calder is arrested for Daisy’s murder, but Francesca’s heart is not swayed. . .until a life altering secret is exposed that could destroy their future together.
“Things keep getting worse, and Francesca goes so far as to destroy evidence. This book really tests their relationship,” explained Joyce. “Most relationships wouldn’t survive this kind of stress.”
In a way Deadly Kisses breaks the long-running streak for the series by changing the mix of the storyline. “This book is about 85 percent about Calder and Francesca, which I’ve never done before,” confides Joyce. “For such a powerful man he is riddled with insecurities and demons. They could actually have a great relationship without tension if he saw himself differently. Francesca never loses faith in him. She never questions his innocence. And until she can find the real killer, she is covering evidence. This is another test of their relationship.”
Other relationships are having their toll as well since Leigh Ann, police commissioner Rick Bragg’s wife, is being blackmailed behind Rick’s back. Don’t fear, Joyce is quick to assure readers that Francesca’s commitment to Calder won’t waver. “When this book starts she’s committed to Calder, even though she will always love Rick, but differently. She’s firmly committed, but her father is dead set against the marriage, which is yet another challenge for her and Calder to face.”
If Francesca is so unwavering in her faith in Calder, what’s the bigger relationship issue in this book that makes it different from the others? Brenda says it has to do with Calder’s past. “There’s a reason he was at the scene of the crime and the arguments that he and his former mistress were having that week. But what is even a bigger test to their relationship than the idea of Calder as a murder suspect is the fact that Daisy was pregnant with Calder’s child,” explains Joyce. “Francesca knows that Hart was an unwanted child and has terrible issues about his own childhood, making him terrified to bring a child into the world and unwilling to be a father.”
“Hart’s fear of being the terrible father, his fear that this child would be unwanted and unloved was a big part of this book. Hart never thought he was good enough for Francesca and it’s always going to be in their face,” Brenda said.
So does all this intense relationship interaction lead to what readers have been anticipating for several books, the inevitable love scene between Calder and Francesca?
The short answer is, not yet.
“There’s an important reason why they haven’t had sex. Hart has slept with 500 women, if he sleeps with her before they are married, then she’s just another lover in his mind. Hart doesn’t think he’s a gentlemen and he has used women ruthlessly until her. This had to be different, he made up his mind she would have the wedding night she deserved,” Joyce stated. “Readers also need to remember that in the books it’s only June and they met at the end of January. They’ve only been together like three months in their world! When he offered marriage to her four or five books ago, she was his only friend and it was not about love, it was about a fun, sex and friendship. Over the course of several books, she’s finally fallen in love with him.”
So exactly when will it happen? “They are going to get married in the beginning of the next book,” Joyce assures readers. “But I haven’t decided where they’ll get married. I want to see what readers are thinking.” Joyce has placed a poll on her author website at www.brendajoyce.com where readers can give their input.
Other questions Joyce gets frequently from readers is what happened with the nude painting of Francesca. “I think about four hours before exchanging vows with Calder she gets and invitation to the unveiling of her portrait. Everyone is guessing who did it and I don’t even know at this point who it is. The characters will eventually tell me and it’s probably a person you’ll never suspect,” she said.
A few fans have asked about novellas. “My editor loved the idea, although it’s not in the planning stages,” answered Brenda. “I’d be open if the right collection comes out.”
Just where are the Cahill books going to go? Brenda herself isn’t sure. “When I started writing the series I saw it as a soap opera and put in a lot of strong character who could have their own story lines. Then a friend reminded me that you get to watch soap operas every day. Keeping up and catching up readers in every book would have never worked. As a result Francesca became the star of the series. Sara and Rourke might show up in a novella and at this point Maggie and Evan are fairly tied up. A lot of writers write by passion. I only write by inspiration. I believe I have a muse and if I’m not passionately inspired, I can’t hack out something. I was really tired at the time writing three books in one year and I think in Deadly Illusions it might have shown,” admits Brenda. “But in Deadly Kisses the fire is back.”
Brenda is thrilled with the reader support the Deadly series has received. “I never knew the Deadly fans would be so zealous, but their enthusiasm is above and beyond anything I could have expected. I was blown away by it. And I want to say thank you to all of the readers for that. The books never would have gone beyond book six without their support.”
In a move to give her fans even more, Brenda’s site is currently being updated with a bold new look and while most of it will be going live by Jan. 25th, a brand new members only section will be debuting in February. Membership is open to anyone, just sign up. “VIPs will get excerpts from soon to be published books well in advance of the public, as well as sneak peaks of works in progress that no one, not even my editor, has seen!” Brenda adds. Also look for a Francesca Cahill diary where you can read herentries and a blog with Calder Hart.” Go to www.brendajoyce.com to join the fun, and don’t miss out on Deadly Kisses.
reprinted with permission by Brenda Joyce-January 2006