Today I’m bringing you a touching family story that is a roller coaster of emotions. Enjoy an excerpt from Choosing Love Over Pride by Marielle de Vassoigne. You can also get to know the author a little better in this Q&A. Follow the tour for even more. Best of luck in the giveaway!
“Max, do you remember the proposal-gate?”
“How could I ever forget, sweetie? You made sure no one would. Why do you ask?”
“Was it worth it? I mean, I recall being a fierce advocate for the ‘I do.’ But when I think of how much Dad and you have suffered because of love I wonder. Was it worth it?”
Maxime’s stepdaughter refers to her father’s legendary attempt to propose in New Beginning in Vancouver, the prequel to this book. This new stage of Maxime’s life navigates us through a rollercoaster of emotions while she must face new joys and challenges.
I hope you will enjoy, laugh and cry reading their story as much as I did when I wrote it. I offer you an opportunity to complete the experience of reading this novel appealing to all senses with a soundtrack, available on my author website: marielledevassoigneauthor.com.
Finally, as I identify as a BIPOC and LGBTQ+ ally, this book reflects once again my core belief: a rich life is filled with kindness, curiosity, and exploration, as well as values of diversity and inclusion.
Enjoy!
Read an excerpt:
However, the sight of Lilian makes me tighten my grip on Gabriel’s hand. Our last encounter was her summoning me to try to find a way to put an end to our relationship because she couldn’t let my marriage to Gabriel happen. We grew up in different worlds and she didn’t feel I was right for her grandson.
Gabriel immediately senses my sudden edginess and gazes at me with his hazel and honey-coloured loving eyes. “Max, love. Are you all right?”
“Yes. Lilian seems glad to see us. It’ll be fine,” I say as I try to convince myself of that fact, surrounded by my husband and stepson.
As we get closer, in a rare public display of affection, Gramps brings his wife closer with a hand on her shoulder and kisses her temple. “They’re all ours Lil’.
They’re all ours.”
“Yes, Charles. And our boys are happier than I’ve ever seen them.”
PURCHASE LINKS
AMAZON.COM – https://www.amazon.com/dp/0228883989
AMAZON.CA – https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0228883989
AMAZON KINDLE – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BV4SWRQV
BOOKTOPIA – https://www.booktopia.com.au/choosing-love-over-pride-marielle-de-vassoigne/book/9780228883982.html
BARNES & NOBLE – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/choosing-love-over-pride-marielle-de-vassoigne/1143060418
BOOK DEPOSITORY – https://www.bookdepository.com/Choosing-Love-Over-Pride-Marielle-de-Vassoigne/9780228883982
SMASHWORD – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1338396
IBOOKS – https://books.apple.com/us/book/choosing-love-over-pride-the-sequel-to-new-beginning/id6445731289
Describe your book in one sentence or fewer than 25 words.
Sequel to “New Beginning in Vancouver”, this contemporary romance driven by value of diversity and inclusion, offers new and more psychological twists and turns.
Which character was your favorite to write?
Ask a parent which of their kids is their favorite… I love them all. Maxime, the lead character, and I share a backstory, I love her mix of benevolence, cheekiness and naivety.
For each character there was a moment when they were my favorite. Even the “bad guys”. And writing about Maxime’s interaction with her loved ones made me love them twice as much. With a maternal care for my creations, but also which Maxime’s feelings. Writing about those relationship, for someone like me who is just learning how to embrace relationships, was a real self-growth experience.
Yet, two of them make me blissfully sight when I think of them: Bloom and Senior. They grew so much on me, that they made me change the plot of the story several times.
Why should we read your book?
I started this book because I couldn’t leave behind the world I had created for Miss Maxime and the other characters in its prequel “New Beginning in Vancouver”. A world driven by curiosity of other realities, life exploration, and benevolence. But also, a world full of twits a turns, darkness, and vulnerability.
You should read “Choosing Love Over Pride” for the rollercoaster of emotions it will navigate you through. If you are a reader enjoying a bit of challenge to remain open-minded while rethinking relationships and their structures, to promote inclusion and acceptance, you should put “Choosing Love Over Pride” on your summer readings list… Even more so that my books are part of a wider sensual experience, as the story is scattered with the taste of tea, the smell the flowers and fresh baked pastries, the sight of beautiful British-Columbia, so many touches, and musical references. The soundtracks to the novel are available on my author website www.marielledevassoigneauthor.com.
By then, I invite you to discover Miss Maxime’s world and the blessings and hardships she faces in the prequel.
What is your writing routine?
Writing is one of my slide line activities.
Although, it’s the one that allows me to unload my mind in a parallel world of my making. Not “La la land” but one that makes it easy to unwind and live deep emotions I might not have access to in real life. Therefore, it’s imperative for me to write regularly to keep that world and its characters alive and to stay attuned with them.
Even though, I strive to write or review my writing daily, a strict and structured routine wouldn’t fit with my mindset. I need flexibility, options, and exploration. I’ve also learned since my first novel that when the Muse decides to whisper news ideas to my ears, I must listen and take notes. Otherwise, the price might be her heartfelt absence for days, sometimes weeks. It then takes much effort to dive back into her world.
So, in a nutshell, my writing routine is to at least note some ideas daily, ideally write a few pages, and go to my favorite Café weekly on weekends to write some more. But more than the writing routine, my ideas gathering one is made of observation of people and events around me, long walks listening to music, and daydream of my character’s world.
What would you do if you won the lottery?
Without any hesitation, hire an agent and marketing team to promote my book while I focus on writing and growing my skills into this new passion of mine. I’d love to share Maxime’s story to many, in several languages, audio books… And undoubtedly, make a TV-series out of Maxime’s story.
After spending half her life in Montréal, Marielle de Vassoigne moved to Vancouver during the pandemic in January of 2021.
Just like her main character Maxime, she was born in France and grew up in Martinique, a French Caribbean Island, before moving in Canada.
An organic writer, she’s publishing her first novel, which is an outcome from her many experiences. The story has been influenced by her core belief—that a rich life is filled with kindness, curiosity, and exploration—as well as values of diversity and inclusion.
CONNECT WITH MARIELLE DE VASSOIGNE
WEBSITE
https://web.facebook.com/marielledevassoigneauthor
https://www.instagram.com/marielledevassoigneauthor/
Marielle de Vassoigne will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thank you for hosting!
Sounds like a book I will enjoy.
Great excerpt and giveaway. 🙂
The excerpt sounds good. I like the title and cover.
I really like the cover and the excerpt.
intriguing
I’m excited to read this book!
What inspires the themes of your books?
Hi Tracie, I started to write the prequel when I made the decision to leave Montreal for Vancouver.
Instead of overthinking what the future would hold for me, I decided to create an alter-ego and give her a fulfilling life, 2 years after she moved to Vancouver. The inspiration for this sequel is the attachment I grew for my characters and the rollercoaster in their life… and I just couldn’t stop.
Do you have a favorite part of this book?
I laughed and cried out loud while writing p. 72 to 74. I guess, that’s one of my favourite part because it got me… And the “Accidents happen” chapter.
This sounds like a really good read.