I’ve always had a fascination with the Mafia. Be it my Italian heritage or the fact that I grew up in the 50s and 60s when the mob was prevalent in the news, their way of ‘doing business’ was shockingly at odds with their strong sense of family and faith. Who doesn’t remember the infamous Baptism
scene in “The Godfather” while Michael Corleone participates in the revered Catholic ceremony for his nephew, praising God and renouncing Satan, while at the same time his hitmen carry out orders to murder his enemies?
So as I was plotting my story for our Christmas Stocking Sweethearts series, I wanted my hero, Griff Marcello, to be plagued by his past. I wanted him to be as different from my heroine as I could make him. I wanted clouds and sunshine. And since I always have a villain in my books, I thought of having him commit a crime when he was younger, but it still troubles him when he’s older.
Of course, in the West, thieving, pistol-toting gangs abounded, but I was determined to find something different. Since my book is set 1874, I wondered if the Mafia had infiltrated the United States yet. To my surprise and pleasure, they had, indeed.
The New Orleans Mafia put down their tentacles along the Gulf Coast and busied themselves with criminal activities like racketeering, extortion, gambling, prostitution, narcotics distribution, money laundering, loan sharking, fencing of stolen goods, and murder. The usual stuff, right? And not so different than their more modern-day counterparts.
In the mid-20th century, the Marcello crime family became notorious in New Orleans. Led by Carlos Marcello, who emigrated with his Sicilian parents in 1911 and settled in a decaying plantation outside of New Orleans along with his eight siblings, he eventually assumed the role of boss. The crime family wielded heavy influence until the 1980s when Marcello was sent to prison, and in spite of his downfall, it’s believed remnants of his Mafia remain in New Orleans today.
Remember those eight siblings I mentioned? One of them was Anthony Marcello, who was far more elusive than his brother, Carlos. Thus, he became the perfect character as the father to my hero, Griff. And a shadowy villain, too.
Lest you think JOY TO THE COWBOY is something dark and un-Christmas-like, trust me, it’s not. The New Orleans mobster is only backstory, transplanted from another time, but what a cool villain he could be. Stay tuned!
And now… drum roll, please!…I’m thrilled to share with you my book in the Christmas Stocking Sweethearts series! We’ve only just launched the series, and you’re among the first to see!
She was sunshine. He was clouds. Until a sprig of mistletoe changed everything.
Griff Marcello must live with the shame of the crime he once committed for his mobster father. As he grows into a man, he’s found security as a cowboy living in Glory Hill, Nebraska, but the memory of his sin never leaves him.
Joyanna Hollinger is devoted to the community of Glory Hill, and with Christmas approaching, her plans for a special Christmas Eve service consumes her. All her efforts are falling into place–until she loses a key part of the celebration.
When Griff receives an unexpected gift from his former piano teacher, he never thinks her kindness will fill him with the spirit of Christmas, even when Joyanna needs him most.
Could the simplicity of a hand-stitched stocking and the Christmas carol tucked within chase away the clouds in his heart and warm him from the sunshine of Joyanna’s love?
Tropes:
Holiday Romance
Grumpy & Sunshine
First Love
Small Town
Sweet Historical Western
All books in the Christmas Stocking Sweethearts series will be released during Cowboys & Mistletoe, starting December 1st. But you can preorder each one now.
See all the books on our SERIES PAGE ON AMAZON
Do you prefer a villain in your books? Or do you prefer a story less suspenseful? What’s your favorite kind of villain? Scary or well-intentioned? Do you have a favorite villain from a movie or a book?
Pam has written 30 romances, most of them historical westerns, but she's proud of her contemporary sweet romances featuring the Blackstone Ranch series published by Tule Publishing, too! Stay up on the latest at www.pamcrooks.com
I don’t mind a redeemed villain.
Good morning, Denise. A redeemed villain can be satisfying and contribute to a happy ending. It’s human nature to make a mistake (crime?) and then regret it. It’s even harder, though, to be genuinely repentant. It’s up to the author to make it believable.
Thanks for stopping by!
I’ll agree with Denise; villains can add tension and ratchet up the suspense, but they shouldn’t be irredeemable! Even Dickens’ Scrooge turned over a new leaf. And I really enjoy some (or even a lot) of mystery/suspense in novels. Must have been all the Nancy Drew books I read as a kid…
Scrooge is a great example, Mary! His character arc is the reason The Christmas Carol has endured and become such a huge classic and family favorite. I rarely watch movies or plays twice, but The Christmas Carol is exception. Scrooge fell hard from his unlikability, and then soars to be a good and generous person. What’s not to love?
Hey Pam! Your book sounds good! I like bad boys turning good! My husband I had a conversation last night about a good villain. Bruce Dern was one of the best villains we think. My husband said he would forever be a bad one since Killing John Wayne! LOL
Looking forward to the Christmas series! Best wishes!
Howdy, Tracy! Oh, yes, Bruce Dern could be a mean one, couldn’t he? He just has that look about him where he comes off as untrustable. LOL.
I think a villain can add interest to a novel. Roger Plant was also an early gangster in Chicago.
Good morning, Janice! Villains do kick a story up a notch, don’t they? And my goodness – Chicago was LOADED with gangsters. They really started to gain a foothold in the late 1800s, and then it got even worse. Chicago and New Orleans crime families were taking shape at the same time, and of course, there was New York, St. Louis, Omaha . . . my goodness. The list goes on and on!
Oh Pam! I’m so glad you wrote another book! Suspense, villains, and wrongs made right are right up my alley! I love redemption stories too. Beautiful cover as well! I’ll be getting on board with this new series. Thank you for making my day! Christmas Stocking Sweethearts series will be fun to read. Yay! I’m thrilled!
You and I have the same reading tastes, my dear Kathy. Thank you for your enthusiasm, as always. Stay tuned – lots to come in the reading group and here on the blog very soon!
Your book s sounds intriguing. I like suspense in a book especially when it’s has redemption in it as well.
Hi, Karijean! Redemption seems to be a common preference this morning, but for me, I think there’s a certain satisfaction in having a hard villain get his comeuppance in the end, too. That good triumphs over evil.
Luckily, we authors can write villains that best fit our story, eh?
I always think of JR from the Dallas tv show as a great villan!!
Oooh, great mention, Teresa! Yes, we all loved JR for his nastiness. He was truly the star of that show!
sometimes I like a book with a villain. especially if he/she comes to know Christ. I love to read the journey that comes their way.
Lori, yes, that’s a popular trope these days. I’m sure Jesus loves it, too, when that happens!
I don’t mind a villain or some suspense in a book, as long as it holds my attention. Sometimes I figure out the villain too early in the book and it takes away some of the suspense. I also prefer a happy ending over a cliff hanger, but that could be because I am a incurable romantic.
Oh, I agree, Danielle. Villains have to be so good, they make the book a page-turner and keeps the reader guessing.
That said, my husband is a master at figuring out villains and lots of other plot points, too. Me? I just like to be swept along with the story. 🙂 🙂
I love suspense in a story. It doesn’t matter what kind of villain.
I’m with you, Barbara. Suspense in some form is a must for me. Otherwise, I’m bored and will quit reading if everyone is just too happy as they skip along the book pages. 🙂
I LOVE suspense in books, and you have to have a villain, though he doesn’t have to be scary! I mean, don’t we all love that “bad boy” who really isn’t so bad?
Of course! Every bad boy needs a character arc to show his change. That’s what readers love to read!
I prefer less suspense in my books,most of the time.
Howdy, Bridgette. You know, just like there are all kinds of villains, there’s all kinds of suspense, and all kinds of books. Something for everyone, right?
I love a villain, suspense and different things in books, I especially love to read of a redeemed villain. And I love, love Christmas books. Your book sounds like a great read and the cover is intriguing! Thank you for sharing about your book . Have a great day .
Thank you for your kind words, Alicia. You’re such a sweetie.
I like villains sometimes in my books and movies. I always think of Snidley Whiplash from Dudley Do-Right! A fun mafia story: when my mom was a kid in Arkansas in the 50s, her father sold hunting dogs and had a lot of repeat customers. Mom said that every year, or sometimes twice a year, some men would show up at their farm driving fancy cars, with funny accents and darker skin than hers. They would always pinch her cheek and tell her how pretty she was, and give her candy, so she absolutely loved when they came. They always took her father’s toughest dogs. It wasn’t until she was grown that she realized that they were mafia members, most probably on their way to or from Hot Springs, Arkansas! She said her dad probably knew, but he treated all of his customers equally, provided they dealt fairly with him. It’s interesting to think my family had (small) ties to the mafia!
Wow!! What a story, Kim!
I think some gangsters weren’t necessary violent killers like the Mafia is often portrayed. They just deal in criminal ventures. 🙂
Even so, I hope your grandpa was close by your mom when they came to buy their dogs!
Since my husband’s distant family is “connected”, and from Sicily, I am really looking forward to reading your book! I think we women are all intrigued by a “bad boy”, and even though they are not necessarily really bad, it is an attraction.
Hey, Karin. I do want to clarify that the hero’s gangster father is all back story at this point, although he was behind my hero’s crime when he was young, which is major conflict for him. But I have set the scene for future books. 🙂
JOY TO THE COWBOY is very festive and Christmas-ey otherwise!
I enjoy a good villain in a book to add a little suspense to it.
Me, too!
I like suspense in the stories I read. It can be serious, dangerous suspense or just who is the secret admirer leaving thoughtful, little gifts. No one choice for the type of villain. It really does depend on the story. Some times a truly evil person is needed. Others it can just be the mean girl who always has a nasty remark about the hero or heroine, and probably everyone else. Off hand, I can’t think of any particular villain that is a favorite in a good way. One who stands out as evil, but in a culturally acceptable and reasonable way is Magua from the Last of the Mohicans movie. He was well played by Wes Studi. I hadn’t seen him in anything else before then and really considered him the epitome of evil. He is a good actor. I assigned that personality to him for a long time before I saw him in some other roles.
Well said, Pat! There are definitely different levels of ‘villainy’ in characters which appeal to different levels of readers, right? 🙂
My husband and I watched Orlando Bloom’s latest movie, Red Right Hand. I probably wouldn’t have picked it out, but my husband likes this type of movie. It was a bit violent, and the language was rough, but Andie MacDowell was probably the scariest villainess I’ve seen in a long time. I was still thinking about her the next day!
Thanks for chiming in, my friend.