[Today I have a sneak peek for you from Ramona Flightner's historical romance Banished Love. This is part of her blog tour. Enter using the Rafflecopter widget at the end of the post for a chance to win a $50 bookstore gift certificate. ~ Lisabet]
Blurb
Blurb
Free-Spirited…
Clarissa
Sullivan dreams for more from life than sipping tepid tea in stifling
parlors in Victorian Boston. She defies her family’s wishes,
continuing to teach poor immigrant children in Boston’s West End,
finding a much-needed purpose to her life.
Radical…
As
a suffragette, Clarissa is considered a firebrand radical no man
would desire. For why should women want the vote when men have
sheltered women from the distasteful aspects of politics and law?
Determined…
When
love blossoms between Clarissa and Gabriel McLeod, a struggling
cabinetmaker, her family objects. Clarissa’s love and determination
will be tested as she faces class prejudices, manipulative family
members and social convention in order to live the life she desires
with the man she loves.
Will
she succeed? Or will she yield to expectations?
Banished Love follows Clarissa Sullivan on her journey of self-discovery as
she learns what she cannot live without.
Excerpt
“If
you don’t mind me saying so, Mr. McLeod, you seem quite
domesticated,” Savannah said in a haughty tone.
Gabriel
laughed. “Like a favorite pet, Miss Russell?” He glanced toward
her with humor. “I always think domestication ruins the better part
of the beast.”
“But
you wouldn’t want a wild dog in your house,” Savannah protested.
“And horses must be tamed.”
Gabriel
nodded. “I would hate to think you compared me to a horse or a dog,
miss. I hope I have better manners than that?” he asked, raising
his eyebrows mockingly toward Savannah. “Though, I agree, horses
are most useful for our purpose when tamed, but I wonder if they
truly enjoy working for us?” He looked toward me, although he did
not push me into the conversation.
He let
out a long theatrical sigh. “Domesticated cats, dogs. Domesticated
women. Wonderful creatures. Wouldn’t you agree, Miss Sullivan?”
He looked toward me wickedly. I had bolted so hard in the rocker at
his words I had nearly flown onto the floor. I watched him with wide
eyes, wondering why he pushed Savannah so.
Savannah
replied, “Now you are offensive, sir.” She vibrated with anger.
“Isn’t
that what all young women long to be?” Gabriel asked Savannah,
setting down the filled mugs with a clunk. “Domesticated. Demure.
Tamed to the needs and ways of their husbands?”
“You
know perfectly well you are describing the ideal wife,” Savannah
spat out.
“Am
I?” he asked, sounding unconvinced. “What do you think, Miss
Sullivan?” he turned to me. “Is that what you long to be, a
domesticated woman?”
“No!”
I blurted out before I could stop myself.
“Rissa!”
Savannah scolded me, eyes flashing. She had begun to breathe heavily,
and I feared she would faint with her tightly laced corset.
I
blushed but met Gabriel’s eyes. “No,” I said. “I have no
desire to match that description. Slightly less clumsy, perhaps,” I
muttered.
“Yes,
I agree,” Gabriel said, causing me to worry he agreed with my
assessment about my clumsiness. “Domestication is akin to docility
which is an unattractive trait in a woman.” He smiled knowingly at
me, and I felt a flash of pleasure.
“Do
you speak in earnestness, sir, or are you in jest?” Savannah
demanded. When Gabriel merely turned to look at her, she continued.
“Men want docile, demure women,” she expounded, as though
teaching a rudimentary fact to Gabriel.
“Well,
pardon me, ma’am, for not learning my lessons well,” he replied,
nodding his head deferentially.
I
watched Savannah’s face become flushed red with anger and was
worried she would erupt. She generally kept her temper under control,
but, when it blew, it was a frightening thing to behold.
“I’d
actually like to meet a young woman who can think for herself and
doesn’t want only what her father or husband wants.” His quiet
statement made my pulse quicken.
Savannah
scoffed, “That path leads only to misery.”
“Or
tremendous contentment,” Gabriel countered.
Savannah
stood, knocking into the table with such force she caused tea to
spill out of the mugs. “I will not sit here any longer and listen
to your insolent beliefs,” she declared. “Rissa?” She turned
toward me expectantly, then headed toward the door.
I looked
at Gabriel with remorse, wanting to have spent longer time in his
company. “I enjoyed our conversation. Maybe we could continue it
one day at the school?” I watched him, hopeful he would agree.
He
smiled, releasing a sigh of relief. “I would enjoy that very much,
Miss Clarissa.”
I had
forgotten how his voice could feel like a caress. I closed my eyes
for a moment, having missed hearing his gentle baritone. No matter
how much I had enjoyed his letters, I had missed him.
Get your copy of Banished Love today!
Get your copy of Banished Love today!
About Ramona
Ramona
Flightner is a native of Missoula, Montana. After graduating from
Tufts University with a B.A. in Spanish, she earned a Masters degree
in Spanish Literature from the University of Montana. Her Master’s
thesis, Chilean Testimonial Literature: the collective suffering of a
people, highlighted her continued interest in the stories of those
who were at risk of being forgotten or silenced.
She
studied nursing at the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with
a Master’s in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She has
worked for ten years as a family nurse practitioner providing care to
the poor and under insured at two community health centers, first in
Wilmington, Delaware and now in Boston, Massachusetts.
An avid reader, she began writing three years ago. She enjoys the demands of research and relishes the small discoveries that give historical detail to her books.
Ramona is an avid flyfisher and hiker who enjoys nothing better than spending a day on a remote Montana river, far from a city. She enjoys research, travel, storytelling, learning about new cultures and discovering new ways of looking at the world. Though she resides in Boston, Massachusetts, Ramona remains a Montanan at heart.
Her dreams are to see the plains of East Africa, marvel at the wonder of Petra in Jordan, soak in the seas of the South Pacific, and to continue to spend as much time as possible with her family.
Banished Love is her first novel and is the first in the forthcoming Banished Saga.
AUTHOR WEB PAGE: http://www.ramonaflightner.com
TWITTER:
http://twitter.com/ramonaflightner
PINTEREST:
http://www.pinterest.com/ramonaauthor
21 comments:
This is my favorite excerpt from the blog tour! Thanks for sharing.
ilookfamous at yahoo dot com
Thank you for hosting, Lisabet!
I'm glad you enjoy, Elise. Thanks for following the tour!
What I liked about this post is that I got introduced to an author I have yet to read. Thanks for that
JWIsley(at)aol(dot)com
Thanks for sharing. This book sounds like its gonna be good
It was wonderful learning about you and your book... definitely sounds like a book I would enjoy!
I really like their chemistry!
Vitajex@aol dot com
Loved this excerpt too.
I enjoyed the excerpt! Thanks for sharing it and the the giveaway. Sounds like a great book. evamillien at gmail dot com
Good excerpt, and I really like the cover! :)
aelnova@aol.com
Enjoyed the excerpt. Thanks for the giveaway.
Great excerpt! Thanks for sharing :)
callie.dyess@gmail.com
I really enjoyed the excerpt ;) definitely going to be checking out this book! Thanks for sharing!
I enjoyed learning about an author I haven't read before. I also like the fact that the story is about a suffragette. I don't think I have ever read a story with a suffragette.
I liked the excerpt because it introduce a new to me author's work. It gave a look into history that modern women don't tend to think about.
devynsmom95@yahoo.com
Wonderful excerpt. I'll like to see what type of things Clarissa will be willing to give up to achieve her goals and see her decisions.
humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com
Hello, Ramona,
Sorry to be so late in welcoming you, but it looks like my followers have done a pretty good job.
I was eager to host your book because both the period and the premise really appealed to me. I had a hard time choosing between your three excerpts - they all did such a good job at revealing character. Oh, and I know Boston well - have set several of my own books there.
Good luck with the novel!
thanks for the contest and hope your book does well and good luck
Nice sneak peek
Historical Romance is one of my favorite genres.
The excerpt!
Thanks for the chance to win!
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