Jacob Z. Flores Guest Post: Accidental Marriage!

The Accidental Marriage Trope

Hi, everyone! I’m so glad to be here today, promoting my October 15 release of Suddenly Yours, the second book in my One Fine Day series. I must admit: I had one heck of a good time writing this story. In fact, my muse had so much fun we completed the novel in just under a month. If you know anything about my (sometimes) stubborn muse, you know that’s quite the feat!

So what was it about this novel that appealed to my muse and me so much? Honestly, a lot had to do with the Accidental Marriage trope.

I know. As tropes go, this one stretches credibility a bit more than most others, especially in our modern American society that requires both parties to acquire a marriage license before the wedding. In most states, a waiting period is also pretty standard. Getting “accidentally” married isn’t an easy thing to do.

But you know what? That’s what made writing this book so much fun!

I had to create a believable situation for two very different characters that would explain how and why they “accidentally” traipsed down the aisle. In most instances, a couple who suddenly finds themselves married would immediately head to divorce court. I know I would be gnawing off my own foot if that was the only way out.

But that’s not what happens and that’s what’s so great about this trope. It turns the traditional romance novel on its ear. The end goal of most romance novels is either a wedding or the promise of a marriage, but in these types of books, the two characters start out married and basically work backwards. Sure, there was some spark between them at their first meeting that made them act rashly, but the two main characters weren’t in love when they said their I Do’s and now they have to deal with the consequences, and there are always consequences.

It’s those consequences that make the accidental marriage trope fun because the two characters need a reason to stay together instead of cutting bait and running. Where would the fun be in that?

Whatever their reasons are for remaining married, the characters decide to stick it out and in doing so start learning about each other and what they discover makes the reasons for their hasty marriage obvious to the reader, even if the characters haven’t quite figured it out yet.

That’s one of the reasons I love this plot device so much. Characters in these novels normally wouldn’t get married to anyone, much less each other. They are often fiercely independent and lead lives much too busy for romance, but because of this plot twist, the two characters discover the benefits of love, romance, and marriage, and the reader gets to go along for the ride.
To me, that’s the beauty of this trope. Even though the main characters might not have ever wanted a lifetime commitment, we get to see them grow into even stronger characters than they were before. To me, that’s the ultimate power of love.

Title: Suddenly Yours (One Fine Day #2) (Dreamspun Desires)
Author: Jacob Z. Flores
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: October 15, 2016
Genre(s): M/M Contemporary Romance
Page Count: 244 pages
Blurb:

What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas.

Cody Hayes is having one epic morning-after. The hangover following a Vegas bachelor party is nothing new to him, and neither is the naked man in his bed.

His apparent marriage is a different story.

Carefully plotting every detail of his life carried Julian Canales to a Senate seat as an openly gay man. A drunken night of Truth or Dare isn’t like him… and neither is marrying a man he just met. He’d get an annulment, but the media has gotten wind of his hasty nuptials. If Julian’s political career is going to survive, he has to stay married to a man who’s his opposite in every way.

Now he must convince Cody that all they need to do is survive a conservative political rival, a heartbroken ex, their painful pasts… and an attraction neither man can fight.

Pre-order Links

Excerpt

Cody let out a long breath and peeked into the bathroom, where Linda Blair had finally stopped spewing pea soup. Thank God. “How are you feeling, sweet cheeks?”

“Don’t call me that.”

Had Julian been this much of a party pooper last night? Cody recalled a frosty reception when he had first introduced himself. While most other men would have turned around and left, Cody hadn’t. Julian’s aloofness presented a challenge, and Cody never ran from a challenge. It had excited him—like the first time he went scuba diving. He was nervous but couldn’t wait to jump in feet first.

That was exactly what he’d done. No, that was exactly what they’d both done. Julian clearly hadn’t remembered that yet.

Cody leaned against the door and grinned. “Do you prefer honey bunny, or do you like to keep it simple? Something like babe or love?”

“Julian works just fine,” he said into the bowl before another wave of gross left his body.

This was the worst honeymoon ever!

Since his groom wasn’t interested in playful morning banter, Cody took it upon himself to survey the body the state of Nevada had recently declared all his. No wonder he put a ring on it. Julian was smoking hot, even with his face shoved inside the porcelain god.

His short dark hair, which stood up at rakish angles, complemented his naturally dark flesh, and boy did Cody love him some dark-skinned men. He pursued them like it was his job or something. Julian also had a lean, muscular chest, nicely developed arms, and a cute, tight butt.

Score, score, and double-oh-my-God-I-could-eat-that-all-night score.

If Cody weren’t so nauseous, he’d be doing his Go, Cody dance, which was basically the cabbage patch with a few high kicks thrown in for good measure.

Still, no matter how awesomely yummy Julian’s body was, why did Cody even walk down that aisle in the first place?

Julian took his head out of the toilet, staring up at him with his big, dark chocolate brown eyes, and flashed him a smile that turned Cody’s legs into Silly Putty.

Oh yeah. That might’ve had something to do with it.

One Fine Day Series

Author Bio

Jacob Z. Flores lives a double life. During the day, he is a respected college English professor and mid-level administrator. At night and during his summer vacation, he loosens the tie and tosses aside the trendy sports coat to write man on man fiction, where the hard ass assessor of freshmen level composition turns his attention to the firm posteriors and other rigid appendages of the characters in his fictional world.

Summers in Provincetown, Massachusetts, provide Jacob with inspiration for his fiction. The abundance of barely clothed man flesh and daily debauchery stimulates his personal muse.

When he isn’t stroking the keyboard, Jacob spends time with his daughter. They both represent a bright blue blip in an otherwise predominantly red swath in south Texas.

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