Wicked Fun with Wicked Villains on Wicked Wednesday by C. Becker

WICKED WEDNESDAY

Oh readers! Today's Wicked Wednesday is particularly wicked fun. My guest, C. Becker, gets us up close and personal to a wicked villain.

I’m always intrigued when a reader feels sorry for a story’s villain. Wicked villains make us pause to consider the character’s circumstances. If the villain had been brought up differently, would he/she have been so evil? When I began the Euphoria trilogy, I created one evil villain, Manuel Mendoza, but as the next two stories unfolded, I realized he wasn’t so evil. Yes, he was misguided, but deep down he had a good heart. Although he was money hungry, his thirst for power stemmed from his abusive life led by his wicked father José. José de Mendoza is as ruthless as they come. In the final book of the trilogy, he’s the prime target of the story and he’s out for merciless revenge. A drug lord and human trafficker, José went so low as to destroy his son’s chance with happiness at every turn. Jose is the wicked villain I’d like you to meet in this interview, and I’m heading out before he either kills me for revealing him or sells me to his contacts on some remote island. (Exit: Door slam)

Where did she go? I heard her voice. The conniving author who smuggled me into the U.S. shouldn’t have exposed me to her readers. Maybe I’ll kill her before I head back to Colombia—after I finish taking care of the others. My troubles began two months ago when my son Manuel brought his five-year-old bastard daughter back to Colombia. Now the girl will inherit everything my wife owns. Hijueputa! Over my dead body! Manny never even let me to see the girl. He was afraid I’d sell her off to the human traffickers—like I did that with his first girlfriend. Women! Nothing but trouble! Now I’m stuck in the U.S. trying to clean up his mess.

For the past six years, Manny pined over a new love, a U.S. scientist who served prison time for him. Why couldn’t Manny focus on the family cocaine business? (cough) I can’t keep the drug trade going by myself forever. I should’ve killed Manny’s puta and her sidekick Hailey Langley when I first caught them prowling around my home. Langley dug into my computer files a few years ago and handed the trade contacts over to the government. Now my soldiers can’t get shipments out on the damn drug routes because the authorities capture all the narcosubs. Hailey Langley should’ve kept her nose out of my business. She never learns. When her husband died in a fire last year, Hailey started popping anti-depressants. (snicker) Too bad I swapped her mail-order prescription and slowly poisoned her with bixine, a drug from the worthless Euphoria shrub Manny keeps in the greenhouse.

When Manny kidnapped his bastard daughter this summer, he ordered his minions to kill Langley, but she got away. Dammit! That secret agent is slicker than a coral snake. Now that I’m in the States, I’ll finish the job. I broke into her house this afternoon with plans to finish her off, but she wasn’t there. As I was leaving, an old gringo entered through the front door. I didn’t have a gun so I hid upstairs and pushed him down the stairs. I’m heading to Boston to kill Manny’s bastard and sexy puta, but I’ll come back and make Hailey pay for the trouble she’s caused. If my contact doesn’t get me a gun soon, I’ll have to use other ways to exact revenge. (cracks fingers) Then I’ll decide how to knock off my wife. I’ve spent too many nights at the brothel since she stopped sleeping in my bed. Need to figure out a way to keep her estate before I deal with her….

Blurb:
Hailey Langley tries to wrap her mind around the news her husband survived a fire she thought had killed him. Before she can search for him, Hailey has a promise to keep that takes her to Colombia where she must face the drug lord behind her husband’s attack.

Mark Langley is suffering from his own plight and insecurities, including burns and PTSD. Beneath Mark’s scarred exterior is a man seeking acceptance from a wife he refuses to see. Uncertain if he will ever reunite with his family, Mark struggles through his therapies, hopeful an experimental drug from the Euphoria plant will heal his scars.

When another villain from Colombia seeks revenge, Hailey and Mark must learn to trust and love again as they battle their newest threat and find their way back to each other.

Buy links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Euphoria-C-Becker-ebook/dp/B0DSG8XQ3X
B&N:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/embracing-euphoria-c-becker/1146791353
BAM:  https://www.booksamillion.com/p/9781509259809
The Wild Rose Press: https://wildrosepress.com/product/embracing-euphoria/ 

C. Becker is a romance suspense writer, musician, and lover of crafts. She has a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology and worked in the clinical hospital setting until she began raising a family. As her children grew older, she never outgrew the attraction of using science in everyday life. She turned to teaching, music, and eventually to writing stories. She considers herself a “jack of all trades,” and readily admits she is a “master of none.” Yes, she even does home improvement projects! Becker has published three romance suspense novels in the Euphoria trilogy, several poems, and over a dozen children’s books (under Colleen Driscoll). Becker enjoys hanging out with her family and Jack Russell, playing the piano, reading, traveling, and gardening.

Contact Links:

Email: cbeckerauthor@gmail.com

Website address: http://cbeckerauthor.com/

Twitter https://twitter.com/cbeckerauthor

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CBeckerauthor/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/beckercee/

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19026691.C_Becker

New Fiction Sheds Light On Burn Victims by C. Becker

 MUSE MONDAY

It's great to have C. Becker back to Discover... on Muse Monday. Her new release sounds fantastic. Please join me in enjoying a great guest post.

Near my town in PA, an accident occurred at a cogeneration plant where four employees were scalded and burnt. More than twenty years later, my heart still aches for the victims and families. One succumbed to the burns; two of the three treated were transported to a burn center 90 miles away. As I began writing Saving Euphoria, I wanted to bring more awareness of burn injuries and the fight patients face in dealing with afterburn care. You may already know someone burned by a fire, wounded by a hot object, electricity or chemical. Their recovery can often take long, painful years.

Though I could never portray all aspects of burn recovery, my protagonist’s husband is set on fire when he tries to protect his family from a drug dealer. I introduce him months after the incident when he is medically stable for rehab. In his chapters, I touch on some elements of a burn injury through his rehab and daily living as he finds his way back to his wife and kids, both physically and emotionally. Through his journey he never gives up on his family, and his wife never gives up hope that he’s alive. Having suffered a minor burn three years ago, I’ve developed a new respect for burn patients and their medical & rehab teams. They are unsung heroes who deserve our attention.

Blurb:

Hailey Langley and her children struggle to cope with the shocking and mysterious death of her husband Mark. Her teenaged son is rebelling, and Hailey is dealing with physical and mental challenges as well.

Tom Parker, Hailey's former partner from the Special Crimes Agency, comes back into her life. He warns her to trust no one even as he tries to rekindle the flame that connects them.

Everyone has secrets, even Parker, and some of those from the past threaten to destroy the present. Hailey fights to move forward after losing Mark, but she needs to figure out if she can trust Parker and risk taking another chance on love.

PG Excerpt:

He moved closer, his breath warming her face. “I don’t want to be a friend. I want more.”

Her eyes blurred. “It’s only been six months since Mark died.”

“Life goes on, Hailey. Mark’s gone.”

“Six months, Parker.” Tears burnt like acid splashing in her eyes. Six months was not nearly enough time to let go.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say it that way.” Parker reached over and held her hand.

The tenderness in his touch made an instant connection to her heart. Ashamed at her heart’s betrayal, she yanked her hand away and wiped a tear off her cheek.

He held her hand again and whispered. “I love you, Hailey. I always have. Somehow, life or fate, or whatever it is you want to call it, got in our way. I kept my distance when you married Mark, but I never stopped loving you.” He tightened his grasp on her hand. “Now I feel like an idiot because I waited too long.”

“Parker, please. I’m not sure I even want to get involved with someone again.”

“You’ve become so miserable. You’re a strong woman.” His face hardened. “Mark wouldn’t want you to waste your life grieving. He’d want you to go on—and at least try to be happy.” He caressed her cheek with his thumb. “I think deep down, you know it.”

Few people had her pegged so well. She bit her lip, “I do.”

BUY LINKS

AMAZON

THE WILD ROSE PRESS

B & N

iTUNES

C. Becker is the author of Finding Euphoria and Saving Euphoria. She is currently working on the third book to the Euphoria trilogy. As a medical technologist in a former career, Becker has never outgrown the attraction of using science in everyday life.

Becker enjoys hanging out with her family and Jack Russell, playing the piano, reading, and gardening. 

And here is how to reach C.Becker or get more information about her books:

Website https://cbeckerauthor.wixsite.com/cbeckerauthor

Twitter https://twitter.com/cbeckerauthor

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CBeckerauthor/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/beckercee/?hl=en

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60471332-saving-euphoria?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=ZlQNFmJQAc&rank=1

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/books/saving-euphoria-by-c-becker

Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/C.-Becker/e/B07NRWPWX3

Get to know C. Becker better by signing up for an email newsletter https://mailchi.mp/7a51fa024f7a/cbeckerauthor

Inspiration from Burn Victims #NewRelease by C. Becker

MUSE MONDAY

It's great to have C. Becker back to Discover... on Muse Monday. And what a special day it is. Release  Day for her newest novel with a real punch behind it! Please join me in enjoying a great guest post.

Near my town in PA, an accident occurred at a cogeneration plant where four employees were scalded and burnt. More than twenty years later, my heart still aches for the victims and families. One succumbed to the burns; two of the three treated were transported to a burn center 90 miles away. As I began writing Saving Euphoria, I wanted to bring more awareness of burn injuries and the fight patients face in dealing with afterburn care. You may already know someone burned by a fire, wounded by a hot object, electricity or chemical. Their recovery can often take long, painful years.

Though I could never portray all aspects of burn recovery, my protagonist’s husband is set on fire when he tries to protect his family from a drug dealer. I introduce him months after the incident when he is medically stable for rehab. In his chapters, I touch on some elements of a burn injury through his rehab and daily living as he finds his way back to his wife and kids, both physically and emotionally. Through his journey he never gives up on his family, and his wife never gives up hope that he’s alive. Having suffered a minor burn three years ago, I’ve developed a new respect for burn patients and their medical & rehab teams. They are unsung heroes who deserve our attention.

Blurb:

Hailey Langley and her children struggle to cope with the shocking and mysterious death of her husband Mark. Her teenaged son is rebelling, and Hailey is dealing with physical and mental challenges as well.

Tom Parker, Hailey's former partner from the Special Crimes Agency, comes back into her life. He warns her to trust no one even as he tries to rekindle the flame that connects them.

Everyone has secrets, even Parker, and some of those from the past threaten to destroy the present. Hailey fights to move forward after losing Mark, but she needs to figure out if she can trust Parker and risk taking another chance on love.

PG Excerpt:

He moved closer, his breath warming her face. “I don’t want to be a friend. I want more.”

Her eyes blurred. “It’s only been six months since Mark died.”

“Life goes on, Hailey. Mark’s gone.”

“Six months, Parker.” Tears burnt like acid splashing in her eyes. Six months was not nearly enough time to let go.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say it that way.” Parker reached over and held her hand.

The tenderness in his touch made an instant connection to her heart. Ashamed at her heart’s betrayal, she yanked her hand away and wiped a tear off her cheek.

He held her hand again and whispered. “I love you, Hailey. I always have. Somehow, life or fate, or whatever it is you want to call it, got in our way. I kept my distance when you married Mark, but I never stopped loving you.” He tightened his grasp on her hand. “Now I feel like an idiot because I waited too long.”

“Parker, please. I’m not sure I even want to get involved with someone again.”

“You’ve become so miserable. You’re a strong woman.” His face hardened. “Mark wouldn’t want you to waste your life grieving. He’d want you to go on—and at least try to be happy.” He caressed her cheek with his thumb. “I think deep down, you know it.”

Few people had her pegged so well. She bit her lip, “I do.”

BUY LINKS

AMAZON

THE WILD ROSE PRESS

B & N

iTUNES

C. Becker is the author of Finding Euphoria and Saving Euphoria. She is currently working on the third book to the Euphoria trilogy. As a medical technologist in a former career, Becker has never outgrown the attraction of using science in everyday life.

Becker enjoys hanging out with her family and Jack Russell, playing the piano, reading, and gardening. 

And here is how to reach C.Becker or get more information about her books:

Website https://cbeckerauthor.wixsite.com/cbeckerauthor

Twitter https://twitter.com/cbeckerauthor

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CBeckerauthor/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/beckercee/?hl=en

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60471332-saving-euphoria?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=ZlQNFmJQAc&rank=1

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/books/saving-euphoria-by-c-becker

Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/C.-Becker/e/B07NRWPWX3

Get to know C. Becker better by signing up for an email newsletter https://mailchi.mp/7a51fa024f7a/cbeckerauthor

Finding Euphoria by C. Becker #adoption #drugs

MUSE MONDAY

Today's guest post is by C. Becker. She's tackled a heavy subject. It's a tug on your heart subject. Read on!

Adoption is one of the main topics found in Finding Euphoria, the first story in the suspense Euphoria trilogy.  Hailey Langley endured the hardest decision any woman would want to face. At seventeen years old, she became pregnant after she was kidnapped and sexually assaulted. She put her child up for adoption. Her strong will allows her to pull through the adversities. Keeping the sadness and guilt bottled up inside, she creates a new life, but never forgets.

PBS.org lists there are around 135,000 children adopted in the U.S. each year. Of these adoptions, 15 percent (over 20,000) are from American woman voluntarily putting their babies up for adoption. The individual reason for one’s decision varies, but what is important is the emotional heartache the woman feels afterwards. I’m thankful for those mothers who can find comfort in support groups, friends, and family members. No one should grieve alone over the choice of adoption.

I’ve known several women who have adopted children as babies and witnessed the love for the child. I’ve personally met even fewer mothers who have put their babies up for adoption.  Maybe it’s because the pain is too great to talk about, or they fear others will judge them. I can only imagine the sadness and grief one carries. Each birth mother wants their child to live a happy life, surrounded by love and support of the new adoptive family.

My novel incorporates the birth mother’s sadness and guilt through Hailey. The pain hidden deep in her heart from putting her child up for adoption surfaces when the adoptive father seeks her out and begs her to help save her first-born son after the now teenage child falls into a coma from using a new street drug.  Finding Euphoria is much more than finding the drug Euphoria—it’s a woman’s road to forgiveness and finding peace and joy in her life again.

Book blurb:

Hailey Langley refuses to be a victim and has moved on from her traumatic past. But her marriage problems worsen when a deadly illicit drug threatens to draw her into the life she left behind.

Mark Langley has allowed his job to interfere with his marriage, but he never suspected the secrets in Hailey's past might hold the key to solving both of his current investigations.

Together, they must unravel the mystery of the drug called Euphoria and find a way to save not only their marriage, but countless lives, before it's too late.

Buy links:

The Wild Rose Press Finding Euphoria ebook link

Amazon Finding Euphoria ebook link

Amazon Finding Euphoria paperback

Barnes & Noble Finding Euphoria ebook link

Apple itunes Finding Euphoria ebook

Kobo Finding Euphoria

PG Excerpt:

He turned the bottle around in his hand and set it on the end table. “Don’t put me in this position. You know what would happen. Grace is his mother. She’s the one who needs to stay with him.”

Regret tugged at her heart. “I wouldn’t take any time away from her.”

Parker groaned. “Just you being there would make her feel uncomfortable.”

“Why?”

“You know why.”

“But I’ve stayed away for seventeen years,” she whispered.

“That was the adoption arrangement.”

She bit her lip. “I can’t stay away any longer.”

“You agreed to those terms in the contract. You terminated all parental rights.” Parker stood and paced to the kitchen.

“But it’s not fair!” She put down her water and began wringing her hands.

Straightening his arms, he leaned against the bar. “Hailey, please don’t start. I know how you feel…”

“You couldn’t possibly know how I feel. I need to see him.” She fought to control the bitterness in her voice.

“No.”

She rose, knocking over the water bottle. “He’s my son!”

“Not anymore, he isn’t.”

The rebuke stung. “He’ll always be my son!”

“When you gave him up, you promised to keep your distance.”

“I have.”

“Forever.”

The reminder lanced her heart. “You’re being unfair. He’s dying.”

He slammed his fist on the bar. “Don’t say that. He can’t die.” Parker pushed himself up and stomped near the window, raising his hands to rest on top of his head as he faced the curtain.

A muscle twitched in her hand. Her knees buckled. She sat on the edge of the couch, wringing her hands. “I was young. I couldn’t give Justin the life he deserved. I’m not asking to take him back. I only want to see him.”

Rubbing his jaw, he walked back to the couch and sat. The hard lines on his face softened. “The adoption papers were clear. No contact.” He placed his hands on top of hers and stilled them. “If the decision was mine, I would allow it, but Grace would lose it if she found out you’re Justin’s biological mother.”

Her hands squeezed into tight fists. The urge was unbearable. “I wouldn’t tell her.”

Parker ran a hand through his hair. “Argh! Don’t you understand? She’d take one look at your face and know the truth. Don’t forget, you’re the one who wanted us to protect him.”

She stood. “Well, you did a hell of a fine job, didn’t you? You divorced Grace and deserted him. Parenting takes sacrifice, Parker. You were too busy changing careers, and now he’s messed up with drugs. How did that protect him?”

Standing, he reached for her.

“No. You stay away from me.” She extended her hands and backed up a step. “Justin’s dying! Dying, Parker! And I don’t know him…You won’t let me see my own son.”

He wrapped his arms around her.

She pushed him, pummeling her fists against his chest with all her strength.

He silently took his beating.

Website address:

http://cbeckerauthor.com/ or C. Becker website

Social media profile links (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc):

Twitter C. Becker author

Facebook C.Becker Author

Amazon Author Page C. Becker

Instagram C.Beckerauthor

A short author bio:

A native of western Pennsylvania, C. Becker earned a B.S. degree in Medical Technology and MT (ASCP) certification. She has worked in clinical settings analyzing body fluids and testing drugs of abuse. As an author, C. Becker has published multiple stories in various genres.