Blurb
THE DIARY OF NARCISSA DUNN is a ghostly love story that combines historical fiction with romance and paranormal elements. Set in New England, pre-Civil War, the story deals with racial issues of the time and reveals the complex relationship between a father and daughter. When Olivia’s father tries to force his daughter into an unwanted marriage, mysterious events occur, leaving the family on edge. Meanwhile, Benjamin Pratt, desperately in love with Olivia, discovers an old diary that reveals shocking secrets. He becomes an unwilling messenger, torn between revealing a truth that will shatter her identity and destroy her family, or keep the secret and watch her marry another. Either way, he’s bound to lose her unless a mysterious woman intervenes.
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Biography
Elaine is a veteran English teacher and holds a BS in English Education from the University of CT and an MS in Educational Leadership from Central CT State University. She presently teaches public speaking part time at a local community college. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, CT Romance Writers (CTRWA) and Charter Oak Romance writers (CORW). She resides on the Connecticut shoreline with her golfing husband, Drew, and delights in being a wife, mother, and grandmother.
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Excerpt
(I love to include meddling, humorous, and often wise aunts or servants in my books. In this excerpt, Lovena, the housemaid, is there for Olivia in every crisis.)
Lovena’s head snapped toward the sound of the slammed door, nearly dropping the dish she’d just dried. “Livie, what’s wrong?”
Olivia’s eyes blurred with unshed tears.
Setting down the dish, Lovena went to her. “You better take a seat and breath. I’m guessin’ you and your beau had a fight.” She led her to a chair.
“Has he left?” Olivia lips trembled as her eyes darted toward the closed door.
Lovena walked over to the window that faced the porch, the one she used to keep a cautious eye on her charge. “He’s climbin’ into his carriage and he lookin’ none too happy.”
Olivia walked to the table and sank into a chair. “William is not my beau though it appears everyone else believes so. He has done a better job courting my father than courting me,” Olivia burst out before covering her mouth and looking toward the parlor.
“Your father’s gone up to bed. He left me to keep an eye out for you. You look like you need to talk.”
“William believes it is God’s will we marry. He’s already talked to Father and received his blessing. What was I to say? Do I even have a voice in the matter?”
Lovena’s large bosom lifted and sagged. She shook her head. “You been spending time with Mr. Tapley, goin’ for walks and carriage rides. Didn’t you plan to go with him to the spring dance the town been plannin’ after Easter? In his mind, you and him were courtin’ in a respectful way.”
“Most of the time he was conversing with Father.” Olivia’s shoulders slumped. Had she led him to believe she was expecting a proposal? “I admit I was flattered by his attentions at first, but I hadn’t considered our relationship went beyond friendship…until recently.”
“A man’s attentions to a pretty young woman ain’t never a desire for only friendship.”
“I hadn’t meant to lead him to thinking I’d want to marry him.” She covered her face with her hands.
Lovena pushed out a chair and sat beside her. “I think you been enjoyin’ Mr. Tapley’s attentions until the Pratt boy started showin’ up.”
Olivia couldn’t deny it. At first she was flattered by William’s desire to spend time with her but deeper feelings hadn’t grown, despite the time they spent together. Even his kisses were forgettable. It was so different with Ben. Her heart leaped in her chest the minute she saw him arrive to begin his work. Her body tingled into the depth of her womb when they were together.
Lovena wiped away a tear that rolled down Olivia’s cheek. “We can’t control those feelin`s inside, Livie, when the right boy stirs ‘em up.”
“What am I to do?” she pleaded. “Father will understand, won’t he? He can’t expect me to agree to marry a man I could never love.”
Author Links
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Buy one get one free!
Buy REGAL REWARD, Book One of the Blackstone Brothers’ Saga. Message me on Facebook with a copy of your receipt, and I’ll send you Book Two for free! http://amzn.com/B013TRQ9C8
REGAL REWARD Snippet: York Blackstone is obsessed with reclaiming title and lands lost to him when his father is falsely accused of treason. He’ll make the villain who destroyed his family pay for his evil deeds, even if it means using the woman he loves as a pawn in his quest.
