An arranged marriage, sight unseen. Or have they met before?

George Howell, a viscount and the most eligible bachelor in Munro, has almost given up on finding a bride. The ladies of the ton only want him for his title, mocking him behind his back for his tongue-tied ways. So when he hears of Ellena Trenton—beautiful, unjaded, and raised to know her duty—he seizes the chance to claim a wife who might accept him as he is.

Ellena believes herself fated to repeat her parents’ joyless marriage. When her ambitious father negotiates her betrothal to Lord Howell, without her even having met him, it seems her worst fears are about to come true. But fate has other plans. As she reluctantly journeys to the city of Munro, a carriage accident leaves her stranded overnight in a woodland cabin with a handsome stranger.

Torn between duty and the stirrings of real feeling, Ellena faces a new challenge when her unscrupulous cousin, driven by greed, stirs up trouble with the viscount. With both her engagement and any hope of a happy marriage at risk, a desperate Ellena decides to take matters into her own hands, with disastrous results.

Lord Howell finds his betrothed a lot more trouble than he expected. What is worse, he suspects her heart lies elsewhere. If only they had had a chance to make a proper first impression… But maybe, just maybe, they can start again.

Note: This series is part of Dragonblade’s Sweet Dreams line, so this is a sweet, wholesome Historical Romance where passion beyond the bedroom door is left to the reader’s imagination.

All five books in the series will be available by the end of the year:
1) Sophia’s Letter (already available)
2) Ellena’s Secret (already available)
3) Verity’s Choice
4) Jillian’s Wild Heart
5) Irene’s Fall

I’m sure you’d agree that the worst possible way to end a book is to say, “It was only a dream.” But what if that is where the book starts? Or, at, least, where the idea of it starts?

We authors sometimes find our inspiration for a book in a random fact we discover during our extensive research. Or we are guided by the lyrics and mood of a poem or song. Very often, a minor character from one story will creep into the author’s heart and demand a story of their own.

Or, as unlikely as it sounds, the germ of an idea will appear in a dream. That is exactly what happened with “Ellena’s Secret.” There is a scene in chapter ten that I literally dreamed up one night. The image of it lingered in my mind even in my waking hours and I began to build a plot around it.

More I cannot tell you because it is part of Ellena’s secret. 

Have you ever had a dream that you thought would make a great novel, or the start of one?

In the attached graphic are the main tropes for “Ellena’s Secret.” My favorite is “hidden identity.” It lends itself to all sorts of wonderful plot twists. Do you have a favorite?

“Hero without confidence” is not a particularly common trope. One would imagine a handsome, wealthy viscount would be very sure of himself. But Lord Howell was not always handsome or a viscount. Childhood bullying can leave its mark even when one is an adult.

If he had had more faith in himself, he wouldn’t have chosen an arranged marriage where the young lady could not reject him. Ironically, this choice will force him to deal with all sorts of challenges he wasn’t expecting. Not the least of which is Ellena’s secret…

How do you feel about a less confident hero? Would you prefer a charming rake?

Take a closer look at the series title in my book’s cover. “Ladies of Munro” is wrapped around with leaves. Well, here’s a little juicy detail the cover artist didn’t know when she included it….

When my husband and I met, he told me I reminded him of a poem called “Song of the Flower” by Kahlil Gibran. In particular, he had the following lines in mind:
But I look up high to see only the light,
And never look down to see my shadow.
This is wisdom which man must learn.

Alan said I was always positive, always looking for the silver lining, the bright side of life.
I, in turn, told him he symbolized the leaves, folding around the flower to keep her safe when she felt vulnerable.
Imagine my delight when, without being asked, artist Dar Albert included flowers (see each individual book) and leaves (in the series title) as a theme throughout all the covers in the five-book series!

Do you have any romantic symbolism in your life?

Purchase Links:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKG71KFK
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DSQHVQSL

Where to find Elizabeth
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093280712789
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/35270040.Elizabeth_Donne