Hi everyone,
Imagine this scenario: a young woman moves to a new town to
work for a family. She is on her own and has to adjust to her employer’s rules
while adapting to life in a new environment. After she arrives, she discovers
the job isn’t exactly what she thought it would be and realizes she has gotten
herself into a troubling situation. All seems lost until she meets a handsome
young man…
This premise could be the basis of any number of romances: a
Victorian-era story about a governess moving to a remote estate, a contemporary
tale about a physical therapist or teacher relocating across the country, or,
in the case of my historical romance, Dangerous Indenture, an Irish indentured
servant leaving everything behind to start a new life.
Dangerous Indenture is set in Pennsylvania Colony and blends
a sensual romance with mystery and suspense. Right from the start, readers (and
the heroine, Shauna) are warned about Stewart House: “It’s got more haunts than
the Tower of London.”
Here are the book summary and links:
DANGEROUS INDENTURE
Indentured for five years… how long can Shauna resist her
master’s son?
Desperate to escape her past in Ireland, Shauna Farrow signs
on to become an indentured servant to Joshua Stewart, a wealthy man in
Pennsylvania Colony. But a life of servitude quickly turns to drudgery, and
Shauna’s hopes for starting over and creating a better life for herself are
waning—until she meets her master’s roguish son, Ashton.
Ashton needs to redeem himself in his father’s eyes and earn
the respect he has always longed for. Meeting Shauna turns his life around, and
he sets out to win her heart. Torn between propriety and passion, Shauna
struggles against her growing attraction to Ashton as long as she can.
But amidst their flirting, something dark stirs. Shauna soon
discovers why no other servants wanted to work for the strange Stewart family.
Stewart House has an unsavory reputation: a previous servant
died there under mysterious circumstances. When another servant goes missing in
the middle of the night, Shauna is convinced that a member of the family is
responsible.
Shauna’s investigation leads her close to the truth, and yet, she’s not sure who she can trust. Events take a deadly turn when she confronts the murderer and discovers the mystery of the Stewart family.
Will Shauna be rescued before time runs out, or will she meet with the same fate as the other servants?
Available here:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PJVQ7XJ
All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/3JyROP
***
When I wrote the book, I wanted to evoke a sense of danger
and mystery around every corner. This wasn’t going to be a typical romance with
the hero and heroine from different classes falling in love and having a
forbidden affair. Nope.
The romance is almost a sub-plot of the book, and when the
story begins, finding love is the last thing on Shauna’s mind. She’s more
concerned about doing a good job than getting involved with Ashton (even if he
is handsome).
I liked creating the incredibly dysfunctional members of the
Stewart family. They all have secrets and practically have dual personalities.
Joshua (the patriarch) is a big bear of a man who comes across as gruff and
insensitive, yet at times can be caring. Colin (Joshua’s son) appears to be a
respectable married businessman, but underneath his proper exterior lurks a
dark and dangerous manipulator (among other things).
Colin’s beleaguered wife, Minerva, is mentally unstable and
trapped in a terrible marriage. Readers and the other characters in the story
aren’t sure if she’s truly mad or not. And she might be a murderess…
Our hero, Ashton Bailey, is flawed and has a lot of problems
to overcome. For starters, he’s the black sheep of the family and has been sent
home in disgrace. He drinks too much, womanizes too much, and has nearly given
up on life. He’s a failure in his father’s eyes and wants to redeem himself,
but isn’t sure how. Ashton knows that Stewart House is a terrible place and
vows to protect Shauna while she’s working there.
This cast of characters and their interactions (fighting,
name-calling, secrets, and lies) carry the plot. Everyone has an agenda, and
readers learn that not everyone is telling the truth… or is exactly what they
seem. Ashton wants to become respectable, Colin wants him disowned, Minerva
wants Shauna gone, Shauna wants to stay out of trouble, and Joshua just wants
some peace.
Writing the twists and turns of the mystery was a lot of
fun. When the new servant, Lila, goes missing in the middle of the night, Shauna
is convinced someone in the house killed her. But who? Shauna is a clever
amateur sleuth, and when she starts to solve the mystery, she realizes that
she’s in danger.
The book has a “Dark Shadows” feel to it. A mysterious
house, a strange family, everyone has secrets… In fact, several of the
character names in the book (Colin, Joshua, and Minerva) appeared in the
original “Dark Shadows” series.
Readers and reviewers love the mystery elements, too. Here
are a few kind words:
“5 stars! This novel will keep you riveted from start to
finish! I was hooked from page one and did not put it down until I finished it.
I cannot say enough wonderful things about this novel. If you love romance with
mystery then pick up a copy of this one today and get lost in the story. I
certainly did. It’s perfectly written to keep you turning page after page, and
I promise, you won’t be able to guess the ending! If you’re looking for a great
romance story with a whole lot of action, drama, and mystery then this is your
book!!! Definitely a MUST READ!” - April P., Reviewer, My Book Addiction &
More
“Combining mystery with romance, this novel keeps the pages
turning. Shauna and Ashton are well-developed characters readers can root for.
Overall, a great beach read.” - Emily Thompson, SUNY-Oswego, Library Journal
“Kelli A. Wilkins delivers a colonial-era mystery that will
appeal to mystery and romance readers alike.” - Lisa Marie Wilkinson, author.
"4 stars! This book was a thrill a minute! No leisurely
stroll through the gardens in this romance, but non-stop danger and drama. A
flawed hero and heroine fight for their lives and their relationship to get to
their HEA." - Paula, Amazon Reviewer
I can’t add anything to that!
I welcome comments and questions from readers. Be sure to
follow my blog for the latest updates and visit me on social media. I also made
a Facebook page for my historical romances:
https://www.facebook.com/Historical-Romances-by-Kelli-A-Wilkins-1703805359922371/
Happy Reading,
Kelli
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has
published more than 100 short stories, 20+ romance novels, 7 non-fiction books,
and 5 horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes
to scare readers with her horror stories.
Her latest novel, In Another World is a contemporary mystery/romance set in the world of the paranormal.
She also released two horror shorts, More Than I Bargained For and Silent Sentinel in 2021.
Kelli posts on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins
Visit her website/blog www.KelliWilkins.com for a full title
list and to find all her social media links.
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