BLURB:
How
many times can a heart be broken? How
many times can love be denied? Sarah and
Alexander were destined for each other but after just four short weeks of
marriage, their lives were torn asunder.
Alexander,
Earl of Thorne thought he had found his ideal mate but, when Sarah absconded
shortly after their marriage, his world came crashing down. Now, five years later, he discovers her in a
remote Yorkshire village.
Sarah
had thought she was safe, but when, severely injured in a freak accident, her
husband is thrust once more into her life, she fears her dark secrets and the
fact she has a son, will become known.
Despite
her own desperate longings, she continually repudiates Alexander’s efforts of
reconciliation. However, fate conspires against her, and when her home is made
uninhabitable by floods, she and her young son are forced to accept his aid and
return to her former home.
Discovery
threatens and, despite her breaking heart, she plans to leave Alexander’s
life. What is this secret that makes it
so imperative that she should abscond from him yet again? Can two broken hearts cleave and emerge
victorious or will life's cruel forces tear them apart forever?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT:
His
body felt numb as consciousness slowly returned. He could hear the rumble of
the cart wheels and was aware that they moved, but he felt no sensation in his
body. His eyes opened and she was there. For a brief moment, his senses refused
to comprehend the fact and confusion reigned.
Sarah’s
breathing caught as she felt the shock of his eyes upon her. She knew not what
to say or how to respond.
“Why?” was all he said, his voice, full of
confusion, scarcely above a whisper.
She
understood his question but had no words of explanation to offer. Now was not
the time for the confrontation that must surely come. Instead, she deflected
his question and concentrated on the immediate situation. Leaning close to him
she asked, “Do you have pain?”
He moved his head from side to side in silent
negation. “I feel nothing.”
“I’m
taking you to my home, and the doctor has been called,” she said.
He
drifted into unconsciousness once more and she wondered what damage had been
wreaked on his frame by the heavy cask.
The
cart halted before a riverside cottage with thatched roof, situated on the
northbound road. A well-tended garden with a low stone wall separated it from
the roadway, but the gate remained open. Hastily dismounting from the cart, she
hurried to her front door.
“Rose!
Rose!” Sarah called as she entered the small hallway. A round motherly figure
instantly appeared from the parlor.
“It’s my husband and he’s injured,” Sarah
offered in hasty explanation.
Rose’s
eyes widened. “Your husband? Here? What shall we do?”
Sarah
remained calm. “We shall tend to his injuries,” she said, holding the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
INTERVIEW:
1) Where did you get the idea for the
novel?
It was a premise that developed slowly over
a matter of weeks. I can’t remember the
exact moment the story all fell into place but I had my hero and the accident
that disabled him from the beginning.
The fine tuning came later when I got the first words he utters at the
beginning of chapter one, “Why now? Dear, God, why now?” and I knew where I
wanted the plot to go. The rest came
from listening to my characters and repeating the story they wanted to tell.
2) Your title. Who came up with it? Did you ever change your title?
The title became very clear to me about a
quarter of the way into the writing process and I never changed it. It fits the book exactly and really explains
the whole.
3) Why did you pick this genre? What do you like about it?
I write what I know and love. I did not so much choose the genre as it
chose me. I love the romance and
elegance of the Regency and Georgian eras and it is this I hope to recreate in
my work.
4) Since becoming a writer, what’s the most exciting thing to ever happen to you?
I think it was when I held my first print
book in my hand and realised I had written every word between its cover. The thought that people across the world were
going to read it was amazing.
5) What book are you currently reading or what was the last book you read?
It was a re-read of Laura Kinsale’s Flowers From The Storm. I had to go into hospital and read it on my
Kindle.
6) What is your writing process?
I don’t write to a formula but have the
luxury of being able to write as and when I like. However, I do prefer the house to be empty so
that I can concentrate on my characters.
7) At a book signing, do you just sign your name or do you write a note? How do you come up with stuff to say?
I ask the reader their preference and then
sign the book accordingly.
8) What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
My other ruling passion is animals and at
the age of sixty-six and unable to ride, I am now part-owner of four
horses. We are a family of many animals
and I love them all.
9) How do you react to a bad review?
I try to take it in my stride – everyone is
entitled to their own opinion.
10) How did you celebrate the sale of your
first book?
We all went out for a celebratory meal,
which is what we do for any happy occasion.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Hazel Statham began writing
at the age of fifteen, finally committing to paper the stories she spun as a
child. Writing has been her passion ever since, although marriage, motherhood,
and career left time for little else. Once she retired, however, she was able
to devote herself to writing full-time, publishing her first novel in 2007. A
long time student of history, she writes mainly in the Regency and Georgian
eras, though she has been known to dabble in the medieval as well. She lives in
Staffordshire, England, with her husband, Terry, and their beloved yellow
Labrador, Mollie.
Hazel loves to hear from her
readers and promises to answer all mail.
Website address www.hazel-statham.co.uk
Purchase links (available
from all Amazon domains)
Amazon.co.uk
Paperback:
Kindle
Amazon.com
Paperback:
Kindle:
GIVEAWAY:
Hazel will be awarding winner's choice of either a Cream Coin
Freshwater Pearl necklace or a digital copy of DOMINIC or HIS SHADOWED HEART
(international giveaway) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and a
Choice of either Rhinestone Crystal Butterfly and Pearl earrings or a digital
copy of DOMINIC or HIS SHADOWED HEART (international giveaway) to a randomly
drawn host.
The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The
tour dates can be found here:
Many thanks for hosting me today. It is very much appreciated and I look forward to the comments of your visitors.
ReplyDeleteThe excerpt makes me want to read more.
ReplyDeleteIn the interview, you mention having lots of animals. In addition to horses and your yellow lab, what other animals do you have? I've read that in the UK, they will begin requiring microchips for dogs or face a big fine. Do you have an opinion on that?
catherinelee100 at gmail dot com
Hi Catherine, I am very much in favour of microchipping and it was in yesterday's papers that the goverment are bringing it in as law in the not too distant future. Of course, policing it is an entirely different matter and there will always be those who ignore it. All our dogs and horses are microchipped.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is a PDSA veterinary nurse so you can imagine how many animals have found their way to our house over the years. Now, fortunately, she is married and it is now her husband who has to cope with the volume of animals :-) Of course, being an animal lover, I share in the deligh of the 3 dogs, a cockatiel, parrot, 2 hamsters, a rabbit and two snakes that reside at her home, plus the four horses we share. Mollie is now the only dog that lives with my husband and I. Mollie has Addison's and it is less stressful for her to live as the only dog - although she is extremely sociable.
Nice interview and question about signing books.
ReplyDeletebn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
I love having contact with my readers and am always happy to sign books.
DeleteEveryone has a different taste even when it comes to books. I've read books before which I loved but other didn't & vice versa.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to get the chance to read your book & form my opinion of it!
thumbelinda03@yahoo.com
You must let me know how you find it.
Delete