I guess it's time for me to get busy!
This week I'm excited to talk about Cassie's Space by PK Corey.
Blurb: Meet Cassie, a former wild child, who meets her match, and creates the match of a lifetime. To nearly all who know her now, Cassie is a vivacious, sweet southern lady, who is the epitome of grace and proper behavior. Look a tiny bit closer and you’ll see that Cassie has another side – the one whose language could make a sailor blush as she drinks him under the table.
Thanks to her loving husband Tom, who even after thirty years of marriage, never hesitates to put Cassie over his knee when she strays too far from his view of ladylike behavior, few people other than close old friends know this side of Cassie exists.
Cassie and Tom show that love and passion are not the sole property of the young. Love and passion grows and changes with age. While aging may bring on challenges – the love and passion between these two people only grows stronger.
Cassie's Space takes place mostly in the present, when Tom and Cassie have been married for a number of years (decades) and goes back and forth to different incidents in their lives.
When Tom and Cassie first meet, she is a widow with too much money and time on her hands. One of the things that stuck with me from this book was early on in their relationship when Tom said something like "Didn't anybody ever care enough to make you act better?" I don't think that's a direct quote and I'm too lazy to look it up, but that's the general idea.
Which leads to my first question. Isn't it really much harder to let people know they've disappointed you and that you expect better than it is to be mad at them? Or to ignore it? And I mean this within any relationship. I treasure the friends who will sit me down and say "now, look...." and even Mr. Jones must do that sort of thing on occasion. But, I know it takes love and a bit of courage on their parts to say something.
Tom and Cassie are people of "a certain age". Though it's not always clear in the story when an incident takes place, it seems that many happen when Cassie is at least 45 and probably in her 50's.
Next question: Is there a market for love stories between people who have been married for decades? Is this the sort of story that you'd pick up and read if you were browsing in a bookstore (or Amazon)? Or would you look for something about a younger couple or new love?
Question number three: Cassie's friends know that Tom spanks her and they have some pretty strong reactions. Have you ever told your friends about your desire to be spanked? What happened?
Cassie had a pretty good explanation for her friends about why spanking worked for her and Tom. If you read the story, what did you think of her reasoning?
Next week---Renee Rose's new release Humbled
February 7--- A Bride For Lord Esher by PJ Perryman with guest hostess Patricia Green.
February 14---Aching to Submit by Natasha Knight with guest hostess Casey McKay
February 21---Mail Order Switch by Patty Devlin with guest hostess Sue Lyndon
February 21---Mail Order Switch by Patty Devlin with guest hostess Sue Lyndon
I just love Tom and Cassie. The love they have for each other shines through in every word ... and Cassie is such a hoot LoL
ReplyDeleteThese are great questions! I totally agree it takes love and courage to let someone know they have disappointed you rather than ignore the situation.
None of my family or friends know that we live in a domestic discipline relationship or that we spank for 'play'. However, I think they do pick up on the fact that I defer decisions to him.
Hugs,
Roz
Yes, their love does shine through, doesn't it?
DeleteI liked this book and I though Cassie and Tom's relationship was very sweet. And yes, you are write, it is harder to be disappointed in someone than it is to just be mad. And when you are on the receiving end of that disappointment, it feels way shittier than someone being mad at you.
ReplyDeleteAs for there being a market for romances about older married couples- maybe? I know I read anything with romance in it. Also, movies with romance, doesn't matter the age of the couple. I think often times it is more interesting to read a story about a couple who has lived their life and been together a long time because, really, how much knowledge does a 23 year old have?? So maybe not a specific market. But maybe they (older couples) just make for better stories.
I have never told anyone about the spanking thing. But I am getting less and less worried about people finding out I'm kinky and that I write smut. So time will tell...
I thought her reasoning was pretty on par with other spanking romances. She said it made her feel loved and cared for and it cleared the air of an argument. I can see why her friends thought that was a strange reason and still really didn't buy it. But I think it was a valid reason.
Overall, I thought this was a really sweet love story. I enjoyed reading it.
Of course...when I was 23, I was sure I knew everything. :)
DeleteI definitely think there is a market for older couples in romances -- for characters who are married, divorced, and widowed. Young love is great, but your needs and issues change as you get older, and it becomes increasingly hard to identity with a barely twenty-something (the "New Adult" age). But there is no go-to publisher, or genre name that helps one find books with older characters so they are scattered throughout the romance market. I think if there was better overall marketing, the "mature genre" would take off like a rocket.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great point, Cara. A genre for mature romances that aren't about cougars or sugar daddies. Or even people finding love after a certain age, but just a long term love story.
DeleteIt's much harder to know you've disappointed someone and even harder to let someone know they've disappointed you. It's hurtful on both sides.
ReplyDeleteI love this couple, have been reading about them since my initial forays into the work of spanking.
I definitely think there is a market for the older couple. Whenever I've written a story about an older couple I get great feedback that it's nice to see that not only young people are in love. Cassie & Tom as a perfect example of great passion in an older couple.
I've never told any of my friends IRL about my love of spanking. I've barely told anyone that I write spanking stories. It's just something that seems so personal. That's funny, because here it is, on the internet for all the world to see. lol
It is funny to think about what you won't tell people you know vs what you'll share w/a world of strangers.
DeleteI feel I know Cassie and Tom well through the years of reading Cassie's Space though I have not yet read the book (I am looking forward to escaping into their story soon.) Cassie feels like family to me and I love that she and Tome have been together for so many years. I think stories of people who have been together a long time in a loving and happy relationship is inspiring for others.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is inspiring.
DeleteI just finished the book last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope there's more room for an older couple's story. They were both totally romantic and into each other. I get tired of the immature girl/woman married to an older guy.
ReplyDeleteI liked both characters and liked their reminiscing - it made the book feel a little different than others on the market. I dont' really relate to the whole "clear the air" benefit of spanking though I know that is used a lot, so her telling her friends didn't speak to me.
I'm looking forward to more of Cassie's story.
Celeste, I really appreciate you having Cassie's Space for your book club discussion. I wanted to answer the questions too.
ReplyDeleteI teach 11 and 12 year olds. I could fuss or yell when they do something wrong and they can oh so quickly tune me out, when I tell them I'm so disappointed because I know that they're a better person than that they are often in tears. I don't think that ever changes. Someone goes off on me in anger, I assume they're loosing it and I ignore them. To have someone tell me I've disappointed or hurt them, I listen.
I really believe people like the older couples, I've heard from people from 18 to 80 that honestly seem to love Cassie and Tom. I think it gives us all hope for the future.
We don't really have a dd relationship, but I've told several friends about my 'kink' and that I write about it also. Those I've told have seem highly amused and encouraging.
Again Thanks Celeste, this is really nice.
My pleasure, PK. :)
DeleteIt is absolutely terrible when you disappoint someone!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love a romance story that centers on an older couple. To me it is life affirming that 'we' slightly older couples live a full, real, active love life! I have read and love Cassie from almost as long as PK has been writing about Tom and Cassie!
I have hinted to many, and told one friend out right! Not sure if she got it! LOL
I read this story last night and loved it, the only regret I had is that it sat in my Kindle so long without being read!!
ReplyDeleteIt is very difficult to let someone know they disappointed you. I had to do this recently with a hair stylist. She is a terrible gossip and I had hit my limit. I chose a different stylist in the salon and told her that I couldn't do it anymore. She cried. I cried. We hugged. I told her that I needed a break for a while and I would be back. It was one of the most difficult things I have ever done. I felt like I needed tequila when it was over.
I love stories about more mature couples. I don't care if they are married, divorced, widowed, etc. I feel a lot of authors are finding out that the over 35 or over 40 and 50 group really want the diversity older couples offer in a story. The 20 year old rock star stories can only go so far. I think Cara is right, if they grouped stories by 40+, I think publishers would be amazed at the interest in those.
I have never shared my interest with anyone but my husband (and strangers on spanking forums and blogs LOL) I shared my interest with my husband 13 years ago and to this day I blush remembering how difficult it was. My heart races remembering the anxiety in telling my soul mate. The thought of telling my siblings or neighbors, yikes. I think, however, that as the BDSM genre, Erotica, and spanking fiction becomes more popular, it is getting easier to discuss it. I know friends at work at discussing BDSM and such in the open now. There is hope!!
Being angry with someone upsets my stomach. I can't do "mad," so it's easier for me to ignore issues sometimes than have "the conversation." I agree that those discussions aren't easy and often feelings are strong on both sides. I tend to use teasing to lighten the mood, but I think it's more a defense on my part. As for older couples in romances, yes, I think there is a market, but I don't think it's a niche. Tom and Cassie may be older, but they're young at heart. I'm not sure I'd want to read a spanking romance with two seventy-year-olds, but I guess what's most important is good story telling. As for me, my friends all know about my interest in spanking from the books I write, and they still love me. At least they say they do. However, a few aren't comfortable reading my stories anymore. Sigh. You win some, you lose some. I look forward to more of Cassie and Tom in P.K's next book.
ReplyDeleteI feel I know Cassie, Tom and friends so well as I've been reading about them for a long time. Loved Cassie from the moment I found her.
ReplyDeleteDepending on how a story is written, I think there is a market for the older couple.
Funny as SG says we tell the world yet we don't tell our family or friends.
Love,
Ronnie
xx
PK here - Donna asked me to post this for her since she couldn't seem to sign on -
ReplyDeleteI'm much more affected by someone's disappointment than their anger I think the anger is theirs but the shame can be mine
I do think there's a market for older couples like Tom and Cassie - at least there's not much to choose from and I enjoy the couples that really last.
I'm a vanilla but I do have spanko friends I admit I'm still trying to figure it out and reading this helps. Thanks PK!
Donna steelestories@gmail.com