What I have Now

Accusations, assumptions and comments are easily made about things people do not fully understand or have all the facts on.  Though, for personal reasons, I was discontinuing this blog, it is still open but will be discontinued in the near future.
 
That being said, despite my many accomplishments and successes, my life has not always been fantastic.  I came from an abusive home with both an abusive mother, step-father and grandmother and no one to save me but my grandfather who was the light of my life.  He was my best friend, my confidant and my absolute everything.  He passed away unexpectedly when I was 22 years-old.  Since then, I can not tell you how many times I have picked up the phone to call him and share with him something new that has happened every single day of my life.  He's the one that, no matter what was happening in my life, understood. 

After watching my mother battle to save her marriages continually and never understanding fully why until I had my own marriage that fit the criteria hers did, it was an eyeopener.  I have made it a point to try to not be like my mom.  I didn't believe in divorce, didn't want a divorce and felt like anyone could work through anything just so long as the love, passion and desire was still there. 

With my first marriage I lived by that rule.  I was very young and very stupid when I married my first husband.  I desired security and didn't want to be alone.  After having been a model and dating the standard "desirable" guys and found they were one hundred percent into themselves, jerks, and only wanted "arm candy" I took a step back and re-examined my life.  I wanted someone to love me for who I was, not what I had accomplished, not because of my families money, not because of my looks but for me.  I had known my first husband growing up as kids.  I figured if anyone would treat me like an equal and well, it would be him.  I could not have been more wrong.  He wasn't safe or secure in his own appearances or successes and therefore, I was more the enemy and someone to compete against rather than someone to love.  My family, their successes, myself and my successes, drove him to madness, rage and thus, an abusive marriage that started out verbally and quickly became physical.  I was nearly thrown through the bedroom window after I bought my first new car, out of bitter rage.  He drug me backwards down the hall choking me.  He screamed, yelled, cursed, called me names, degraded me and then began to have affairs.  I still stayed.  I blamed myself.  It was my fault.  I must have done something wrong.  He was overcome with jealousy when another man talked to me, he couldn't stand for me to be happy or have nice things.  I made quite a bit of money in my profession working in the medical field.  He took every penny I had and I was aloud, sometimes, to have one hundred dollars a month and he got to decide what I spent it on.  I was not aloud to see my family, have friends or talk on the phone.  I could go to work and come straight home.  Towards the end of my marriage, I stopped caring.  I took a step back and began to see the bigger picture.  He was an abusive pig with low self-esteem and a natural born "mommas boy" and I was young and wanted so much more for my life.  I didn't love him, I didn't like him and the sight of him sickened me.  For my privacy, I have left out a lot more abusive details, very few know and that is how I intend to keep it.  After making the decision to file for divorce, he became insane with fury, anger and depression.  I was "ruining his life" "I was the only "thing" he had ever loved" and more.... My life had begun to hang in the balance, literally.  He threatened killing me, himself and once asked me if my life insurance was paid up. 
I have been a successful writer for quite some time.  He use to demand that I "sell more books faster! I want a house in Miami on the beach and a Maserati" his list of demands went on and on.  He went so far as to one day tell me, after an interview with a journalist. that "Your books mine as well be worth toilet paper because they aren't worth shit" and then he'd rave to his friends about what a success "my wife is", which I found quite mind boggling.  He never picked up one of my books to read and yet loved the money that came in from them and enjoyed spending it on things for himself such as new X-box(s), games. paintball guns, equipment, tournament fees and partying with his friends, new house etc. He always had plans for "my" money and I never saw a penny of it. 
After filing for divorce, filing reports with the police department and providing evidence of abuse against him, life turned topsy turby.  He began to buy handguns, bullets and then load and cock them where I could hear it. He would leave them lying around, point them at me as I walked past.  The police department informed me that if I left the house before a lawyer had a chance to file, I gave up rights to the house.  I stayed, not wanting to give up my 5 bedroom, 3 bath house, office with a sun room, game room and kitchen that I loved and had decorated myself.  After hell and torment, I finally threw in the towel and said keep it.  I took the dogs and moved into a perfect little apartment but not before one day I was standing at the sink washing dishes and he decided to attack me. That was the last straw.  That was the day I fought back and I won.  He had knocked me around for the last time.  I warned him to let me go.  He didn't.  I had a nearby cookie sheet and as he had me pressed against the sink, using the weight of his near 300 pound body to cram me against it, knocking the air out of me, I grabbed the cookie sheet, gave one more warning to let me go and when he laughed, I swung clocking him upside the head.  Shocked from the impact, he staggered backwards then came at me again.  I hit him again bending the cookie sheet from the impact.  He roared with anger and took a running start at me.  Unable to get around, fight or flight took on new meaning.  I pushed off the counter behind me, kicked my feet out in front of me and connected with his stomach sending him bellowing and gasping for air and leaning over, gripping his stomach.  I grabbed the back of his head, and slammed it into my knee, knocking him to the floor.  Not giving up, apparently this had no effect on him, he jumped to his feet, lunged at me with his weight to which I countered sending him face first into the sink.  I backed up towards the entryway hoping to make an escape but he took another running start at me.  I, once again countered, and sent him flying into the wall in the hallway.  He sat there and stared at me blankly.  I took this opportunity to run to the bedroom, grab my purse and keys and ran out the game room door and then drove to my friend Heather's house. 

After leaving my first husband, I was finally free.  Free of drama, free of madness, free of abuse and free to live my life the way that I chose. 
This is when my now husband, Eric, came into my life.  Unable to resist his charm, whit, humor and the fact that he was the father to his children that I never had for myself or my sisters, I fell head-over-heels in love with him.  We, like now, have the best times together.  I knew he had children, I knew he had an ex-wife.  What I didn't know was the disasters that came with that.  I can not tell you how many relationships I turned down or walked away from after finding out they had a "past."  This was because I had watched my mom struggle with her marriages because of such factors.  The ex-wife that always caused problems and tried to make as much trouble as she could.  One even went so far as to burn my mom and her husband at the time(s) house to the ground.  He had just had it built and it was gorgeous! They had to start over and despite my moms urging to send her to prison, he declined stating "she's the mother of my children."  Much like my mom, I would have said the same thing.  Every marriage was like that, that had children or an ex-wife involved. 
I really thought it was her bad luck. She just chose the wrong man.  I have hundreds of stories from other people who have been through the same exact thing.  It's shocking that some people behave the way that ex's do and they aren't all just women.
A philosophy to keep is "When it's over, it's over.  Especially if they have moved on." 

Though I do have a fairtyale life and a wonderful marriage, it has been trying but only because of what his past entails. 

My writing is my passion.  It's what I have.  It's what I have always had.  Despite the comings and goings in my life, I have always had my writing to keep me alive, happy and fill the spaces that are left open or are missing something.  I can write any character that I want, make them into any profession or person that I want them to be.  I can write a passionate love affair or a brutal blood scene for murder and mayham.  My writing has no limitations. 

I work hard for everything that I have, including my marriage, which because of one factor, has not been a cake walk at all.  Despite the desire to have children, I do not, as of yet, have any of my own, which would make my life complete.  The fact remains that everything else in my life is just that, mine.  This includes where I live, what I drive and the happenings in it, including any success I had before my new marriage.  We both brought something from our pasts.  We've both made the best of opposition because that was then and this is now. 

If you're unhappy with what is happening in your life or the path that it is on, only you can change it but do not blame someone else for your unhappiness when they haven't done a thing to you.  I have no bearing on the past that came with my husband, I can only make the best of it and I've tried.  My life is just that.  It's mine and it has no bearing or effect on anything that came before me.  It is completely separate just like my writing has no bearing on him because I had it and was doing it long before he ever came along. 

The Rave, The Buzz and the Reviews Continue for Country Heels

Country Heels

"The Rave and the buzz don't just stop at reviews. Author Shaunna Rodriguez is peaking the best sellers notoriety list with just a preview/snippet of upcoming novel Country Heels." (Reader's personal response to book and author)  

"The interview requests are continuing to pour in but this author is only "giving it up" to two aforementioned sources, right now. Not depraving anyone of interview prospects, she's still keeping in step with agreements for other interview spots as the requests come in." (Via an authorized spokesperson on behalf of Shaunna Rodriguez)

"It's definitely an exciting experience to have written something that many have found entertaining and leave behind their own mark feeling that what they've read is worthy of praise. It's also a very humbling experience for me as well considering not everyone likes what every author writes. This comes with the knowledge that with as many free previews that have gone out in just under 24 hours and the reviews that are coming back on them is astounding and found to be praise worthy." (Shaunna Rodriguez in response to one critic and reviewers curiosity of her personal take.)

"Reviews can make or break your book. Without the readers, what have you got? You've got a good story that's fun for you and the whole family to read over and over again. When you choose to share your work with the world, it's something that you're proud of and when they come back with excitement and praise, it makes it just that much more worthwhile. It's always a thrill to know you've got a new review but terrifyingly exciting at the same time to see if they thought as much of it as someone else." (Shaunna Rodriguez)

"I have to say, it is true what readers say about covers "If I can't get past the cover, I won't read it." "If I see the cover and it looks interesting, I might flip it over to read the back and if the back sounds interesting I open it to the first page." "If the cover doesn't grab me, I don't care what's on the inside." These are just a few responses from readers coming from their perspectives on book covers. The phrase "Never judge a book by its cover" leaves nothing to be desired to their minds. It's all about the cover, then what's inside, then who wrote it and what their success has been in the past, which can drive a reader to a book or particular author. (Shaunna Rodriguez)

Fortunately for me, my success for my writing is my own but my success in books that draw the readers in is shared with Laura LaRoche, my very good friend as well as "notoriously" wonderful cover designer and professional photographer. Of course, when the book reads like a dream and the readers can spend their time focusing on the story and not grammatical errors, punctuation and wondering who accidentally uploaded a rough draft instead of the actual book, that credit goes to my incredible friend and Chief Editor, Julie Cusimano. Without these two leading ladies, despite how good the story is, it just wouldn't turn heads the way that it does now. Let The Reviews Speak For Themselves It's been less than 24 hours and already several reviews have come in. It's not often the same day a book is purchased it turns around reviews. Sometimes it takes days, weeks, months or even longer to get a review back. A big thank you to everyone who has submitted their reviews thus far. I look forward to sharing in everyone's experiences and getting your feedback! The rest of the novel is in editing currently and will be released very soon. Julie, it's in your very capable hands now! (Much love dear friend.)

Ready for More! April 25, 2012 By J.

I don't know how she does it, but Shaunna Rodriguez has a knack for painting a mental picture. I have read her other works and have found the same knack in those, as well. In this work of fiction, however, one almost feels as if one actually knows both families involved with the story this far. This sample will leave most romance readers clamoring for more! Way to go, Mrs. Rodriguez, you have done it again!!!

Review by: holy angel on April 26, 2012 :

i have been refreshing the page many times.. but then got it that it ended... waiting for full book to b released... loved the half part.. :)

Review by: Julie Wall on April 25, 2012 :

This first three chapters - they grab you by the head and by the heart and leave you needing more! I am not a HUGE romance fan, but I picked this up, because I’d read Mrs. Rodriquez’s “Her Obsession” and loved it so much, I wanted to see what her fiction was like, and if it was as good. I would have to say absolutely, YES! Give Country Heels a spin. I promise you won’t be sorry!

Review by: Evangeline Love on April 25, 2012 :

This was a great read, was really disappointed when it ended the way it did. Looking forward to reading the full book.

Review by: Catona Spyker on April 25, 2012 :

I love it. I was so into it and at the end my heart just stopped I cant wait for the rest of the story to be released.

Review by: New York Book-Lover on April 25, 2012 :

It seems so peaceful and serene. A country love affair, boy meets girl.... I was way wrong. The country scene drew me in immediately, the history between these two people is astounding and I physically felt the attraction for them. Shaunna Rodriguez has a book that's on fire with heat, passion, lust, torment and desire. Just when you think you know what will happen next, the direction of the book changes and keeps you guessing until the last page. I must admit that going from reading Her Hostage and Her Obsession to reading Country Heels, a romantic/drama was a change of pace for me but I figured if Shaunna Rodriguez wrote it, it must be good! I took a chance and I'm certainly glad I did! It made me laugh, it made my heart race with anticipation and her descriptions are incredible! It was just like watching this in movie form rather than reading it! I actually forgot where I was, I was so lost in Country Heels and caught up in a whirlwind, passionate love affair between Brooke and Brad! This is a must read! I hate that it was a Preview of the book and not the whole book but I am licking my lips in anticipation as we speak and waiting for the release of the full book! Outstanding! Definitely leaves the reader needing, wanting and desiring more! Shaunna Rodriguez kills it and leaves a flaming trail of desire with this book. She is definitely author of the year and an up and coming best selling author! I'll read anything Author Shaunna Rodriguez puts out there! 3 books and all home runs with 67,000 plus recommended must reads!

More Great Reviews for Shaunna Rodriguez & Country Heels

Review by: Evangeline Love on April 25, 2012 :
This was a great read, was really disappointed when it ended the way it did. Looking forward to reading the full book.

Review by: Catona Spyker on April 25, 2012 :
I love it. I was so into it and at the end my heart just stopped I cant wait for the rest of the story to be released.

Ready for More! April 25, 2012

5 STARS ON AMAZON.COM!

By J. Wall

I don't know how she does it, but Shaunna Rodriguez has a knack for painting a mental picture. I have read her other works and have found the same knack in those, as well. In this work of fiction, however, one almost feels as if one actually knows both families involved with the story this far. This sample will leave most romance readers clamoring for more! Way to go, Mrs. Rodriguez, you have done it again!!!

More Great Reviews for Country Heels FREEVIEW

Review by: Evangeline Love on April 25, 2012 : 5 Stars This was a great read, was really disappointed when it ended the way it did. Looking forward to reading the full book. (review of free book) Review by: Catona Spyker on April 25, 2012 : 5 Stars I love it. I was so into it and at the end my heart just stopped I cant wait for the rest of the story to be released. (review of free book)

New Country Heels Reviews

Country Heels

Review by: New York Book-Lover on April 25, 2012 :

It seems so peaceful and serene. A country love affair, boy meets girl.... I was way wrong. The country scene drew me in immediately, the history between these two people is astounding and I physically felt the attraction for them. Shaunna Rodriguez has a book thats on fire with heat, passion, lust, torment and desire. Just when you think you know what will happen next, the direction of the book changes and keeps you guessing until the last page.
I must admit that going from reading Her Hostage and Her Obsession to reading Country Heels, a romantic/drama was a change of pace for me but I figured if Shaunna Rodriguez wrote it, it must be good! I took a chance and I'm certainly glad I did! It made me laugh, it made my heart race with anticipation and her descriptions are incredible! It was just like watching this in movie form rather than reading it! I actually forgot where I was, I was so lost in Country Heels and caught up in a whirlwind, passionate love affair between Brooke and Brad! This is a must read! I hate that it was a Preview of the book and not the whole book but I am licking my lips in anticipation as we speak and waiting for the release of the full book! Outstanding! Definitely leaves the reader needing, wanting and desiring more! Shaunna Rodriguez kills it and leaves a flaming trail of desire with this book. She is definitely author of the year and an up and coming best selling author! I'll read anything Author Shaunna Rodriguez puts out there! 3 books and all homeruns with 67,000 plus recommended must reads!

New Book Reviews For Her Hostage

Her Hostage

March 4, 2012

By HBRasberry

This book was riveting. I loved it! I was amazed at the trouble roommates cause.
I am excited and can't wait to read more! The Roommate crisis was as good
As the first book, if not better. I hope the next books come soon.

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Review by: New York Book-Lover on April 25, 2012 :

 

Just as "Thrilling" and unbelievable as Her Obsession! Her Hostage is a must read thrill ride! From one hellish fiasco to another, being held hostage at knife point and the events that transpired from one roommate left my jaw dragging the floor and as sick as it is, I wanted to read more! I wanted to see what happened next! Would Author Shaunna Rodriguez, escape? What would CC do to her if she tried to leave? The anticipation of what will happen next is numbing. I could not put this book down! I just finished reading Her Obsession and it is as good, if not better than Her Hostage. It's a must own for everyone's library! Hanging onto the edge of my seat is an understatement. I could barely sit down. My stomach turned and I had waves of nausea as I read through this hellish ordeal of one womans obsessed love scheme to hold hostage her love obsession and another woman, Author Shaunna Rodriguez, fight for survival and sanity. Intriguing and I am dying to read more!

 

New Book Reviews for Her Obsession

Her Obsession:

Crazy Takes on a WHOLE New Meaning! April 22, 2012

 

5 Stars 

By J. Wall

Wow...Just Wow! I found Shaunna while perusing Twitter one slow weekend while looking for someone to read. There was a tweet about Roommate 911, and I downloaded and read it, and then found "Her Obsession" just last week.

I had read a sample and was hooked, so downloaded the rest of it, as well as "Her Hostage," which I have yet to start.

"Obsession" starts out on a fairly even keel, but starts twisting and turning shortly thereafter, with something as seemingly benign as a car caught out of the corner of one's eye. Initially I thought this was fiction based on fact, but when I found out that these events actually happened to the author? Talk about a read one can't put down.

I finished this yesterday (Saturday) after having started it on Thursday afternoon. It kept me on the absolute edge of my seat. CC's insanity, even though she doesn't really seem too aware of it, is spine chilling on a fictional level, never mind on a reality-based level.

Shaunna's journey through this nightmare will keep you riveted and you will almost feel as though you are right there with her.

This is an e-book you won't be sorry you downloaded!

Review by: Brandy Whip on April 25, 2012 :
Shaunna Rodriguez may have been put through hell but she handled the situation with grace and an incredible head on her shoulders. I have read this book 5 times since it was published and I can see why over 67, 000 people have recommended this book. It has been said before that this is definitely not a book you will regret downloading or buying!
It ROCKED! To say the very least! I was mind boggled to think that a roommate could be as crazy as CC was! She fell in love with Author, Shaunna Rodriguez, threatened to kill her, held her hostage twice! (spoiler alert!) At knife point! Wanted to have a baby with her husband, then she wanted to make her leave him! She was controlling and just insane! It makes for a fantastic thrill ride for sure! I was captivated and unable to put this book down and when I finished it the first time, I just started it over again because I just had to read it again to make myself believe it! It's the best book I have ever read! This is a must buy, must own, must read and must share book!
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