Sanctuary for a Lady, by Naomi Rawlings - FREE BOOK

Tell us about your book.


Running to freedom, she found love . . .

The injured young woman that Michel Belanger finds in the woods is certainly an aristocrat, and in the midst of France’s bloody revolution, sheltering nobility merits a trip to the guillotine. Yet despite the risk, Michel knows he must bring the wounded girl to his cottage to heal.

Attacked by soldiers and left for dead, Isabelle de La Rouchecauld has lost everything. A duke’s daughter cannot hope for mercy in France, so escaping to England is her best chance of survival. The only thing more dangerous than staying would be falling in love with this gruff yet tender man of the land. Even if she sees, for the first time, how truly noble a heart can be . . .


Can you give us a sneak peek?

Sure. This is from the first page:

Silence surrounded her, an eerie music more haunting than that of any chamber players. It soaked into her pores and chilled her blood. Isabelle surveyed the shadowed trees of northern France, so different from the wide fields she’d grown up with in Burgundy. The woods lay still, most animals caught in winter’s slumber. Her breathing and the crunch of her shoes against the road formed the only human sounds amid acres of forest and earth and animals—or the only human sounds of which she knew.






She clutched her cloak and glanced behind her. Did someone follow?






Her feet stumbled over the hard dirt road, her body trembled with cold, her gloved fingers stiffened until they nearly lost their grip on her valise and her vision blurred. Fatigue washed through her like waves lapping higher and higher on a shore. The long periods of dark through which she had traveled stretched into one another until the ninth night seemed no different from the first but for the growing blisters on her feet and cramps in her arms. One more day.






She was close, so terribly close. If she could just survive tonight.


What inspired this book?

My own imagination, mostly. I’ve always had a knack for reading something history related and saying, “My goodness, how did people surviving that?” So that’s where most of my stories come from. I find impossible historical situations and plunk some characters down in the middle.

I remember briefly studying the French Revolution in high school and college, so somewhere in the back of my mind, I asked myself, “What would it be like to be an aristocrat with the world at your feet, then have your family killed and your riches ripped away. How would I stay safe? How would I survive?” And so I have the premise of my novel.

What has been your most challenging experience writing a book?

Having sustainable character motivation throughout the novel. One of my strengths is that I can write really great scenes, full of conflict and leaving the reader aching to see what happens next. The downside is I tend to make my characters do things that I know will cause conflict in a certain scene because it makes the moment good. But I do this without stopping to figure out whether the character’s motivations for acting in such a manner make sense in light of the entire story. I can’t tell you how many scenes I’ve had to rewrite because I had glaring character motivation problems.

What is your favorite thing to write about, (i.e., forgiveness, rebellion, etc)?

Love, both human and divine. I find something completely rewarding in writing about the sacrifices and trials loving someone can bring about.

What do you hope readers will take away from this book?

I write primarily to entertain, not to teach or give the world my views. Mostly, I hope the story draws readers into another world, makes them hold their breath and laugh and cry, and provides a bit of an escape from the stress of everyday living.

What is your favorite color?

Purple! Though since I live with three men (one big and two little) a lot of my house is decorated in green and tan. Those seem to be pretty neutral colors .

Do you have a favorite recipe?

Yeah, one somebody else makes for me. But here’s a link to a recipe for one of the best chocolate cakes on the planet. It’s not simple, but it’s awesome. I’m finding myself making it for every birthday that comes around. My husband and boys can’t seem to eat enough of it. http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Chocolate-Truffle-Cake/Print


If you could travel back in time when and where would you go?
Well, right now it would be the French Revolution/Napoleonic Wars, since I’m planning to write more stories in that era. But I’d like to be a spectator. I wouldn’t want to live through some of the things the French and British faced.

What project are you currently working on?

I’m finishing up a western meets Gilded Age novel that I’d started before Sanctuary for a Lady sold. But next I’m hoping to go back to the French Revolution and tell the story of my heroine’s brother. And then the brother’s step-daughter will have a story, as will a couple of the step-sons. Then my hero and heroine’s children from Sanctuary for a Lady will be old enough to find love . . .

There’s so much conflict between the British and the French from the 1790’s through the 1810’s. It’s really interesting for me to mix these British and French characters with different ideals, goals and values. So I make to people fall in love and try to figure out a way for them to permanently be together when society and historical events make it nearly impossible.

Naomi has offered a free copy to one lucky winner. At least 10 people need to leave a comment for there to be a contest. OR you can email me at srstormo@yahoo.com and put "contest-sanctuary" in the subject line. Winner announced April 8th, 2012
 

Text Copyright: 2012 by Naomi Mason

Cover Art Copyright: 2012 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

Permission to reproduce text granted by Harlequin Books S.A. Cover Art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved. Trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited or its affiliated companies, used under license.