I’ve seen some great reviews go by in my social media over this book, doesn’t the cover look wonderfully mysterious? Welcome Joanna to the Index!
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Raina Bretton is a rag woman in London’s east end when a handsome stranger appears in a dank alley and offers her a glittering smile and a chance for adventure. Rothburne Abbey has a unique position for her, one that will take her away from her hardscrabble life and give her a chance to be a lady. Things she could only dream of might be coming true. But some dreams turn out to be nightmares. Though Raina has traded squalor for silk and satin, something about the abbey is deeply unsettling. As she wrestles with her true identity, the ruin, decay, and secrets she finds at the heart of the old mansion tear at her confidence and threaten to reveal her for who she really is. Only one man stands between her and the danger that lurks within–and only if he decides to keep her biggest secret hidden. |
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Questions about Joanna’s Story
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
Finding Lady Enderly is just such a unique plot for me to work on, and I loved the surprises that came even when I was writing it. The big question of the book is, where’s Lady Enderly? What’s happened to her? And that truth changed many, many times in the book—which was incredibly fun for me to keep up with! The dynamic between the hero and heroine was also fabulously different than the typical tropes. They must pretend not to know one another, which makes it challenging to keep them engaging each other on the page—the resulting relationship dynamic was absolutely my favorite romance element of any book I’ve written. It was just a blast to write these two and their love story.
What character in your book turned out to be your favorite?
Definitely the hero! The heroine has lots of pluck and street smarts, with just a huge heart, but that Sullivan McKenna blew me away. Sully, as he’s called, is a spirited Irish/English fiddle-playing sailor with a big, joyful personality and a deep, deep love for the heroine.
Which scene is your favorite, the one you never tired of working with? Give us a reason to look forward to it.
There are some pivotal moments of surprise that were absolutely delicious to write, but the scene that catches my heart through every single edit is in chapter 16, and it’s a moment of truth for the heroine and her hero. They’ve spent the entire book having to communicate in secret (and often romantic) ways, but in this scene they are actually allowed a few private moments to speak face to face. That’s when deep things are dealt with and the authentic love between them is almost palpable. I loved writing that scene so much and I’d never tire of going back to tweak it!
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Questions about Joanna’s Reading
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Who is your favorite Christian Historical heroine? This would definitely be Pearl in Susie Finkbeiner’s depression-era novels. She’s crafted with such an authentic voice that, although her life is terribly hard, never begs pity from the readers. She’s simply telling about her world and everything she encounters, and Finkbeiner captured her beautifully. |
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If your job was to sell one author’s historical fiction (besides your own) which author’s wares would you want to peddle? And which is your favorite by that author? Kristy Cambron never ceases to amaze me. Her work only grows better with time. Her stories are rich and achingly beautiful, from the setting to the heart-wrenching characters and their journeys. She handles a split-time story model so well and you just ache for every character by the end. My favorite of her books so far is the Lost Castle series—those are magnificent books. |
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What was the last Christian Historical Novel you read, and what was your favorite thing about it? Michelle Griep’s third book in the Bowstreet Runners series, called The Noble Guardian was the most recent, and it’s terrific! I loved the adventure that’s paramount to all her stories, but in this one in particular, there are just so many terrible things that happens to that poor heroine—and the way she rises above them is stunning. I often find role models in Griep’s characters, and her prose is magnificent! Rich in period detail and flavor from each character, the lines of her books just suck a reader in for the whole ride. |
Joanna is giving away THREE paperbacks (USA Only). Enter the Rafflecopter below!
**If you don’t want to enter Rafflecopter, tell me in a comment below: “I’m not entering the rafflecopter, but please throw me in the hat” so I can manually put you in there for a chance.**