Character of the Week: Brynn from The Peace Officer/the Loving Her series

Brynn, and her sister Willow, were named after nearby town by their now deceased father. But what's in a name?
                                                




Brynn Racanelli is a woman who wears many hats.

She is a dutiful daughter.

She tries to spend as much time as she can with her mother. Ralph (Brynn's father, Julia's husband) was a police officer who was shot while on duty. Julia was suddenly alone. She had two daughters to raise, a job, bills to pay. Her entire life was turned upside down. As time progressed, Willow became devastatingly sick (we'll discuss that shortly), and then Brynn graduated from the academy. Julia still carried the weight of the world on her shoulders. Not a day went by that she wasn't panic stricken about Brynn possibly having the same fate as her father. Never did a day pass when she wasn't worried sick about Willow. So Brynn came by to check on her mother and sister often. She did her best to help ease her poor mother's burden. With the death of her father, Brynn felt obligated to step up and ensure the health and well-being of her family. If she didn't, who would?



Brynn is also a steadfast sister.

She dedicated every free moment that she had to her sister. While in the academy, Willow became increasingly ill. So much so that she had to drop out of the academy. Her life was suddenly filled with doctor appointments rather than accomplishing her hopes and dreams. Brynn drove her to every appointment. She tended to her sister like a nurse. She loved, supported, and cared for her sister unwaveringly. Willow was losing her life to her illness, Brynn made sure that she didn't lose her family too. Willow and Brynn share an amazing connection. In some ways, Brynn is as dependent on Willow and their relationship as Willow is on her. At times, it seemed their sister was the only one they each had. Supporting and helping each other was synonymous with sisterhood.


She is also a police woman.

She's actually a third generation cop. It was in her blood. She couldn't imagine doing anything else. Brynn was born to be a cop. Not for the action, not for power, not for the glory. She is focused intently on helping others. She is the Peace Officer because that is exactly the type of cop she really is. Hers is a presence of peace. She brings peace and hope to a woman named Helen. She brings peace and justice to Donna and John. Brynn does her job so that she protects and serves every person she encounters. She is selfless, she is compassionate,she is gentle, she is dedicated, she is Doylestown's greatest.



Brynn is also a faithful partner.

Growing up, she had a wonderful example of love and fidelity in her parents. She saw their unending love and devotion to each other. Brynn's parents led by example. They demonstrated the work, honesty, trust, and love that are needed in partnerships and marriages. So it comes as no surprise that Brynn invests herself completely in her relationships. She and her live-in girlfriend of 3 years, Erika, share a tremendous relationship. They are completely committed to each other. Even at the end, Brynn was still loyal. Sometimes relationships just fizzle, and that is exactly what happens between Brynn and Erika. Since neither broke the other's trust, they are able to maintain a friendship over the years. Once she and Donna get together, she is again devoted and true. Brynn exemplified love and devotion for Donna. She shows her a level of commitment that Donna had never seen before. She is entirely devoted to her. Brynn commits herself completely to the women in her life.



Then there's Brynn the horse lover.

Like many girls growing up, Brynn was horse crazy. REALLY horse crazy. With parents who would do anything for their kids, she was fortunate enough to have a horse named Petunia when she was growing up. Petunia was her best friend. She and Petunia seemed to be able to read each other's minds. When they were together, they were always in sync. She could race with Petunia and feel completely free. The wind in their hair, the world around them was nothing but a blur. As Brynn discovered who she was, Petunia never judged her. Their connection was incredibly powerful. They were best friends for years and years. Even after Petunia was gone, Brynn still felt a strong affinity for horses. Hers is a passion that only gets further ignited as her story goes on, thanks to Donna.



Brynn is a woman of such great depth and character. Her multifaceted personality makes her interesting and relatable. Brynn was a character that I never initially imagined, but I'm glad I did. She is a woman that I deeply respect.

Favorite quote from Brynn: "See? Look how beautiful it is out here. This is all for you, Helen. This is your new life."

Happy reading!

http://www.amazon.com/Peace-Officer-Loving-Her-Book-ebook/dp/B00ICQWXCW/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1432428644&sr=8-7&keywords=lauren+shiro

Character of the Week: Maria from The Writer/the Loving Her series

Despite the age gap, Maria Lopez blends right in with the rest of the crew from the Loving Her series.

Maria hails from Puerto Rico. She was raised on the tropical island, and her original home was always something that held a deep meaning to her. As an older child (at the age of 12), her family came to the States, and they settled in California.

She adjusted well to her new life in America. It was a whole new world, and it was all very exciting and intriguing to the young girl. Maria's life was full of both cultures and both languages. She embraced all that was American, while still following her Puerto Rican traditions.

She was a good student. She saw and understood the unlimited potential she had if she applied herself in school. She worked diligently in all of her classes, but she especially excelled in linguistics.


She went off to Pepperdine University for her degree in journalism. She was the first college graduate in her family; she did her best to help support her other family members.

As a young professional, She attended a writing conference where she met a wonderful woman named Adelaide. The two hit it off immediately. They spent a fair amount of time together during the conference, and a friendship had been forged.

The two remained in contact with each other for quite a while.

One day, Adelaide informed Maria of a wonderful job opportunity with her. The only problem was that the position was in Philadelphia. It was a difficult decision. It was the job opportunity of a lifetime, but it would mean a separation from her family. Maria brought her dilemma to the family, to see what they thought. Her parents - and everyone around her - were all very supportive of the job.

So with some excitement, along with trepidation, Maria moved to the East Coast.

Out of kindness, Adelaide offered her home to Maria. The two lived and worked together. Maria loved her new job. She and Adelaide were great roommates, and everything seemed to be perfect.

After months of living together, Adelaide confessed  her love to Maria. Maria being the unflappable woman that she is, admitted that she had deep feelings for Adelaide as well. They were slightly backwards from most couples as they started living together before they started "dating."

The relationship went well. Considering it was the early 1980s, though, there was fear of being found out. Maria seamlessly transitioned to working for the Hispanic sister publication of Adelaide's.

Their life played out beautifully, until Adelaide got leukemia. She died thirteen years prior to when Maria's story begins.

Her story begins as she drives in the city, with the sky turning an ominous shade of black, hinting at the storm to come.

Where we meet Maria is indeed a storm. It is a time of change - and even some upheaval. She leaves the job she's had for the last twenty five years. Not only is it a career change, in a way, she severs a tie to Addie.

She creates new friendships, and reconnects with old friends. Through all of which, she meets Stephania.

Stephania is unlike anyone Maria has ever met. She is young, pushy, outspoken, unique, and full of life. At first, she grates on the quiet, reserved Maria. Once Maria opens herself up to Steph, even in the smallest way, she wiggles her way right into Maria's heart.

The idea of dating someone - especially someone so much younger - is frightening to Maria. She never opened her heart up to anyone since Adelaide died. She was content in her solitude, and she felt obligated to Addie.


As things progress, Maria is excited, fearful, and terribly confused. She enjoys Stephania's company, and all that she has to offer. But she is afraid of the depth of the relationship. She hasn't felt anything like that in a very long time. And she is puzzled. She doesn't know if it's alright to fall in love with someone else. Was she being unfaithful to Adelaide? Would Adelaide approve? What was she supposed to do?


The beauty in all this is that Stephania gives Maria all the time and space she needs. When they take their first trip together to New York, Maria is a bag of nerves. Steph does her best to try to calm and distract Maria. When she comes out of the bathroom in a sensuous night gown, though, it proves to be too much. In a beautiful, tender moment, Stephania calls Maria over to her. Rather than seducing her, she simply embraces her, and lets Maria weep. That moment was the solidifying and defining moment in their relationship.

For all of her sensitivities, Maria has a spicy side to herself as well. Whether it's chewing out telemarketers, or making sexual innuendos, Maria is always very sharp witted.

Maria brings Stephania out to California to meet her family. This was the most frightening and exhilarating thing she had done in years. Thankfully, her family loves Steph, and Steph loves them. It was perfect.


Then the clouds darkened. Just when Maria thought the storm was over, it was only just beginning. These clouds bring more turmoil. Marisol, Maria's sister, calls her with some devastating news. According to Marisol, no one in the family approves of Stephania. To make matters worse, despite years of seemingly accepting Maria as a lesbian, they actually don't. In fact, their mother does not want to see Maria until she breaks up with Steph and turns away from homosexuality, Marisol says. This is the storm's center, the EF5 tornado in the middle of it all.

Her entire world comes crashing down while she and Steph are in California again, for Stephania to shoot with Curve Magazine. Maria receives a message from Marisol. Their mother had died. Maria tries desperately to hide her tears from Steph before she goes off to shoot. When she comes back, though, Maria is weeping, and tells her the bad news.

At a time when emotions are at an all time high, and tension is strong, Maria discovers something amazing. Her family did love and accept her all along. Marisol had lied to Maria. She also lied to everyone else in the family. Marisol was the one who could not accept Maria as a lesbian, not their mother. Though Maria's heart was broken that her mother had died, she now had the most beautiful family reunion as well.

Their uncle Guillermo asked Maria to call Marisol to come see him. When Maria does, it becomes a confrontation.

Seeing Marisol get right in Maria's face, Stephania ran outside. She immediately defended Maria, and called Marisol out on her lies. She grabs Marisol by the hair, and says all the things that needed to be said. She defends Maria, their family, and even God. Once again, despite Marisol's distance, Maria's family is connected.

Family had always been important to Maria. She always loved her friends and family deeply. Personal connections were her top priority. Through the highs and lows of life, the trials and triumphs of every day, Maria remained strong and faithful to everyone in her life. She is a strong soul, an incredible woman who gave so much to everyone who knew her. She had love, she had fire, she had compassion, she had fear, she had humor, she had severity inside her. She was a woman of the greatest kind.

Favorite quote from Maria: “There was never anything wrong with you. You are perfect just the way God made you.”

Happy reading!
http://www.amazon.com/Writer-Loving-Her-Book-ebook/dp/B00K6ZEAAU/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1428031920&sr=8-6&keywords=lauren+shiro

Character of the Week: Tony from Unbreakable Hostage

How does one describe Tony Covelli? Odd? Controlling? Unstable? Confused? Desperate? Angry? Wounded? He's all of the above, and then some.

He's not the kind of character you'd really want to get to know. He's dark, unsocial, angry, peculiar, and even a bit creepy. Yet, there is so much more to him than what you'd initially expect.

Tony grew up in Fresno, California. He and his brother had fairly normal lives. Except when the family would vacation. His grandfather had built a small cabin in the woods by the Merced River. When they had reunions or take vacations, the entire family would stay in the cabin: Tony, Dominck, their parents, their aunts, uncles, and cousins. It was very confining to say the least. The real monster was Tony's Uncle Sal.

Uncle Sal was a very sick man who had his way with all of the children in the family. His illness became an illness for Dominick, Tony's brother. To some extent, it becomes Tony's illness as well, though his manifests differently.


Tony is an aimless person. He's very smart - perhaps too smart. Despite his IQ, he is unable to find a purpose or calling in life. He takes class after class, searching for an occupation. It is in such a class that he meets Lareina Oliveira.

Lareina is a small, feisty, beautiful Hispanic woman. From the first time he sees her, he is completely smitten.


Unfortunately, Tony's "illness" causes him to not respect boundaries. His smittenness becomes an infatuation which becomes an obsession, which leads to him kidnapping her.

Tony is unable to control his emotions. He can become violent, but he can also be as gentle as a lamb. He is unpredictable to say the least. Even he doesn't know what he's going to do next.

He takes Lareina to the family cabin. It's the only place he knows of that could possibly be safe, and that was secluded enough to keep the police at bay.

Unbeknownst to him, his brother Nick assaulted yet another little girl in the cabin. What he thought was a safe refuge was a target for the police.


Tony's intention was never to hurt Lareina. He just needed to have her. She was an object - perhaps even a trophy of sorts. He didn't understand - he couldn't understand that she was not a thing to be had.

He attempts to control her, he attempts to love her. Ultimately, he learns that she was never his in the first place.

It may seem odd to have some sympathy or to extend kindness to someone as sick and abusive as Tony Covelli. He is certainly no hero. He is, however, human. Sick and twisted, but human nonetheless.

Favorite quote from Tony: “That's your bed for tonight. Get some sleep. You're going to need it.”

Come decide for yourself!
http://www.amazon.com/Unbreakable-Hostage-Lauren-Shiro/dp/0615902456/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1427674225&sr=8-17&keywords=lauren+shiro

2015 A to Z Challenge: Pianissimo - Day 13 (M)

For the third consecutive year, I am participating in the A to Z blog challenge.
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

This year, we're going to go through my latest full-length novel, Pianissimo.

M's the word - uhhh...letter. And M is for Margaret.

Margaret is an interesting character. She's quiet in comparison to Agnes, yet she was bold enough to confess her love to Agnes. Music is her escape, yet it draws everyone to her.

Margaret is a good daughter, a wonderful friend, and an amazing companion. She embraces all that Agnes is and does. She shares similar passions with Agnes without ever losing her own identity.

Margaret is kind, compassionate, gentle, loving, strong, talented, unique, funny, passionate, and nothing short of wonderful.

Come get to know Margaret. She may be the best person you never meet (in person).

http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B00OEOTZMC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420832795&sr=8-2&keywords=lauren+shiro

A to Z '14 - Valiance

For this year's A to Z Challenge, I am honoring my grandfather who passed away on April 3, 2013.


V is for Valiance.


My grandfather was a very valiant man.


He served in WWII. He was an MP for a while, and eventually became a speech writer in the Army. He wrote for one of the generals. He was one of the first people to hear about D Day, and wrote a speech for the general that day.


He was valiant beyond his military service, though.


He was never afraid to take risks. Business risks, personal risks - he lived on the edge without being reckless.


Never once would he refuse to stand up for what he believed in. Defending what his right, he was brave and courageous when necessary.



He showed me that you could be brave without being pompous. He was quietly strong. Never one to start a fight, but always ready to do what was best.



Valiance, courage, bravery are all wonderful attributes to have. They cannot be used carelessly. But when used properly, they are the mark of a true hero.


V is for Valiance.