Friendship in romance stories…

By Cara Bristol

In a romance, the relationship between the hero and heroine is primary. That they ultimately come together and find love is the focus of the story.

I’ve always believed that no single person can provide all the emotional connection that one needs, so while a spouse or partner can be primary, other relationships fill the gaps and round out our lives. And unlike family, we get to choose our friends.

Although friends don’t play a role in all my books, they do in some, and friendship in A Scent of Longing plays a special role, both in the story and in my personal life.

In the story, Lily has been turned into a vampire against her will. The only person she shares her horrible secret with is her friend Roxie, who becomes concerned that Lily is becoming reclusive. It’s Roxie who signs up Lily for Madame Eve’s 1Night Stand matchmaking service, and Roxie who stands by her at the end when Lily fears she’s lost everything.

On the personal side, I dedicated the book to “Catherine,” a friend who was like a sister to me. It was Catherine with whom I first shared my shocking secret – that I was writing erotic romance. Her response was, “it might not be my cup of tea, but you are.” She was an artist as well as a writer, had an upbeat personality and a wonderful sense of humor.

Catherine loved cozy mysteries. But she also liked the paranormal. And although I think we both agreed she might want to pass on some of my racier stories, she was looking forward reading A Scent of Longing, which is erotic, but “vanilla.”

But she never got to read it. While A Scent of Longing was in editing, Catherine was diagnosed with cancer and died.

The release of the book has been bittersweet for me.