Fridays at Ofelia’s | Change of Plans by Addison Albright

Today, I’m delighted to say that fellow JMS Books writer Addison Albright is here on a visit. Welcome, Addison!

Thank you so much, Ofelia, for having me here on your fabulous blog today! Hello, Ofelia’s wonderful readers! I’ve got a new release out—my first in over a year—and I appreciate the opportunity to share a little bit about my story.

First of all, I should point out that this story completes a trilogy. I carefully inserted enough background information so that a random reader picking it up would not be completely lost, so the story can stand alone, but it is definitely not written as a standalone.

Since my new novella, Change of Plans, contains a few of my favorite tropes, I’ve written a trio of guest posts for fellow JMS Books writer-friend’s blogs, each highlighting one of those tropes. Today let’s discuss Memory Loss.

The marketplace isn’t exactly saturated with books featuring the Memory Loss trope, but it’s probably safe to say it’s over-represented compared to its existence in real life. Not that I’m complaining, because it’s long been one of my favorite tropes because there are so many ways to have fun with it. I think I usually see it as a segue into a second chance romance when the amnesia patient thinks he’s still with his ex, who kindly goes along with that the plan since it would apparently (?) be bad to tell them the truth instead of letting them remember naturally. Fun, right?

I used the trope before in my novel, To Love and To Cherish (final book in my Vows series, but it can stand alone, featuring different MCs than in the earlier books). In that story, Nash had becomes jaded about love after being dumped weeks before his wedding back in book one of the series. He’d decided he wasn’t capable of a true love match, and after reviewing what is important to him in a potential partner, he simply wants a relationship with a like-minded man. A monogamous friends-with-benefits marriage, if you will. He no sooner makes a spur-of-the-moment decision to become engaged to his perfect logical match, than…boom! Accident! Amnesia! His memory is rebooted back to when he was still engaged to one of the book-one MCs. He quickly learns he’s actually engaged to someone else, now, but he’s no longer jaded-Nash and naturally assumes it was a love match. Hilarity (and plenty of “aww” moments) ensues. 😁

In my new novella, Change of Plans, the MCs are deliberately “poisoned” with a memory-wiping toxin that erases a couple moon cycles worth of memory from its victims, taking our newlywed princes’ memories back to a few weeks before they’d met back in book one. Permanently.

Oh no!! Why would I tear away all that relationship and personal growth?!?! Never fear! Perfect as their relationship appeared, it was built upon the foundation of formality back in naïve young Prince Marcelo’s homeland, where they’d met and wed. Think of the potential for a more fun and relaxed relationship they could build restarting as they do in Prince Efren’s more relaxed realm. No worries regarding Marcelo’s personal growth in book 2 of the trilogy, either. He has the opportunity to prove himself again in Change of Plans. ❤️

What are some of your favorite Memory Loss stories? Why do you enjoy them?

Look for my discussion on the Hurt/Comfort trope on Nell Iris’s blog (https://nelliris.wordpress.com/2021/07/17/new-release-spotlight-change-of-plans-by-addison-albright/) back on July 17, and look for my discussion on the Arranged Marriage trope on A.L. Lester’s blog (https://allester.co.uk/interivew-change-of-plans-by-addison-albright) back on August 9.

Excerpt:

(From Chapter 8)

Marcelo, present day

Why, oh why, with all that was going on, was Marcelo finding it so difficult to focus on anything other than Efren’s fingers as he manipulated his utensils? And Efren’s mouth as he opened it to take bites then slowly chew?

Deliberately slowly chew his food, if Marcelo wasn’t mistaken.

Had Marcelo been obvious in his observations? Were Efren’s actions in response to Marcelo’s interest? Or had Efren purposely drawn Marcelo’s attention in the first place?

Or was Marcelo reading too much into Efren’s simple movements?

Marcelo swallowed a bite of his own and told himself the reason he was so distracted was because the royal family had ceased to talk about the drama going on in the castle since it was their policy not to discuss politics at the table, and there was nothing more to do other than baselessly speculate until they gained more intelligence from the people out making inquiries anyway. Attending to the everyday chitchat between Rolland, Merewina, and Tristan as they attempted to maintain a sense of normalcy didn’t take too much concentration.

Sure, that was all it was. Marcelo’s newfound obsession with another man’s hands and eating process had nothing at all to do with memory flashes of Efren’s unshaven skin rasping tantalizingly around Marcelo’s mouth when they’d kissed in the not-dream. Marcelo stilled his hand that had started toward his mouth to rub a phantom tingle and suppressed a self-depreciating snort.

“You are each enamored with the other.” Once again, Erich’s words echoed through Marcelo’s mind, and despite everyone’s assurances that Marcelo had previously conducted himself in some kind of brave, heroic manner, regret churned in his belly that he hadn’t had the courage to open his eyes during that kiss.

Or better, to have tossed caution to the wind and embraced the moment…and Efren.

But to be fair to himself, not being able to ascertain how he’d come to be in a stranger’s arms in an unknown place was what had been so terrifying, rather than the situation itself. Surely thinking one had somehow lost their mind would be spine-chilling to most.

When Merewina’s ill-disguised snicker broke his reverie, Marcelo’s fork slipped from his fingers and landed with a clink that seemed unnaturally loud.

“Really, Efren,” she said, “it’s all I can do not to break all semblance of decorum to toss a sticky bun at you.”

“Do I want to know why?” The deepening lines around Efren’s eyes answered his own question. If Marcelo was reading his husband correctly, he already knew why, yet had no objection to hearing his sister’s explanation.

Marcelo turned his gaze to Merewina.

Her eyes narrowed at her brother. “You are utterly merciless.”

Efren’s eyes widened theatrically. “Me?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about. You are shameless, teasing poor Marcelo like that.”

Marcelo’s face warmed. Yet a thrill coursed through his veins. He’d been right about Efren’s actions, and just as Erich had said, this handsome and powerful man was also drawn to him.

Efren’s lips quirked into a smile that curled Marcelo’s toes. “Dear sister, I assure you”—he winked at Marcelo—“I’m detecting no displeasure from my lovely young husband.”

Marcelo’s cheeks had to be flaming red, they felt so hot, but he held Efren’s gaze, and his own lips twitched into a sheepish grin.

Change of Plans

Fantasy Romance: novella / 32,026 words / 108 pages

Once upon a time, two handsome young princes fell in love, faced down adversity, and lived happily-ever-after … until one romantic evening, they unwittingly ate a confection laced with a mind-wiping toxin.

Crown Prince Efren of Zioneven blindsided Prince Marcelo of Sheburat when he used The Contingency Plan embedded in a peace treaty to marry the naïve young prince. Now, Marcelo is shocked again when he awakens in an unfamiliar bed, in an unfamiliar land, in the arms of a stranger who’s taking such liberties!

Will that ignominious new beginning to their relationship doom their chances at rekindling their love? Or will Efren’s giddiness and the less formal surroundings of Zioneven propel them toward a more teasingly fun rapport?

Marcelo and Efren have forgotten more than their love. On their journey home to Zioneven, their Best-Laid Plans went awry when Marcelo was abducted. Now, neither remembers the unexpected strength of character and ingenuity Marcelo manifested to survive his harrowing ordeal, or Efren’s frantic search for his new husband.

Were Marcelo and Efren specifically targeted for the Forget-Me-Not poisoning, or were they the victims of a random assault? Is this new attack related to Marcelo’s abduction and his sister’s death? Will Marcelo revert to his old mild-mannered, unassuming self, or will he step up to prove he’s the same brave man his new family claims he is amid the fresh danger swirling around them?

Buy Links

Book 3: Change of Plans – Publisher :: Universal Link
Book 2: The Best-Laid Plans – Publisher :: Universal Link
Book 1: The Contingency Plan – Publisher :: Universal Link

About Addison

Addison Albright is a writer living in the middle of the USA. Her stories are gay romance in contemporary, fantasy, paranormal, and science fiction genres. She generally adds a subtle touch of humor, a dash of drama/angst, and a sprinkle of slice-of-life to her stories. Her education includes a BS in Education with a major in mathematics and a minor in chemistry. Addison loves spending time with her family, reading, popcorn, boating, French fries, “open window weather,” cats, math, and anything chocolate. She loves to read pretty much anything and everything, anytime and anywhere.

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