Monday, July 7, 2014

Haley Whitehall's SOLDIER IN HER LAP


So pleased to have fellow Decadent Publishing author Haley Whitehall with me today, to chat about her new Decadent release, SOLDIER IN HER LAP.  Here's Haley!



I’d like to thank fellow Decadent Publishing author Taryn Kincaid for having me on her blog today. It is a pleasure to be here. Soldier in Her Lap is my first Decadent release and my first Civil War era romance. The War Between the States has fascinated me since I was in the fifth grade. There are countless romances already written during this era. I wanted my first Civil War romance to be somewhat different.

I wrote Soldier in Her Lap to give a voice to the poor Southerners during this terrible war. There are countless romances with dashing officers, sprawling plantations, and beautiful belles. Yes, Scarlett O’Hara suffered during the war too, but it wasn’t the same as those already breaking their backs each day to scratch out an existence.

I write historical romance about the underclass and outcasts. Sometimes I wonder why I don’t write about kings and queens. While romance is about being transported into a fantasy, I find that I relate better with common characters. I don’t know what it is like to wear a crown, but I do know what it is like to hoe a garden, hike in sweltering heat, and be bullied.

Sophia Carpenter and Lucas Grady are “real” people. They are worthy of finding a happy ending. Want to know more about their story?

Blurb:
Sophia Carpenter feels like Cinderella working the dirt farm for her alcoholic papa. After being wounded, Confederate soldier Lucas Grady jumps out of the ambulance wagon and deserts, making it to Sophia’s farm before collapsing. Will he turn out to be her prince charming or nothing but trouble?

Excerpt:
Excitement threaded through her. Was she finally getting a man? A handsome, caring and courageous man at that. God had outdone himself when he’d answered her prayer.
“We have to keep this from Papa.” Mr. Grady hadn’t taken the musket with him to the barn. Her old man could come out here and shoot him at any time.
“We can, for now. If that is what you wish, Miss Carpenter.”
Sophia exhaled. “That is what I want,” she said, shifting her weight. If they were going to court, they needed to know more about each other. One question had been plaguing her since the evening she’d sewn up his leg. “I’d like to know about the battle.”
His eyebrows knitted together and he leaned back. “What would you like to know? War isn’t a ladylike subject.”
She didn’t care whether it was proper or not. Papa had never treated her like a lady. “How did you get shot?”
“Charging the Yankees,” he replied, a playful undertone to his voice.
She’d learned he wasn’t much of a talker, but she wanted a better answer than that. Maybe she should start with a more direct question. “What regiment are you from?”
“The 4th Georgia Infantry.”

Good. I can work off that. “So you’re from Georgia, then?”
“No, miss. Tennessee. But I transferred here.”
“Oh. All right, but why did you end up on my doorstep instead of with your regiment?”
“Not much left of the Fighting Fourth, miss,” he replied curtly. Color drained from his face, and a haunted look filled his eyes.
She swallowed hard. It had been wrong to bring up the difficult subject now. They’d talk more about this later, when he was ready.
“I understand,” she whispered. “I’m sorry.”
“One good thing came out of that battle,” he said, his gaze lifting to hers. “I met you.”
Her heart flipped. Yes, she was Cinderella, and he was the nobleman coming to her rescue. Talk like that would charm her silly. Already she had a hard time keeping him off her mind, continually pausing in the middle of working in the garden to glance over at the barn.
One thing continued to bother her though. He seemed to be holding something back. Why hide something unless you were ashamed or worried or afraid? Maybe all three. Except Mr. Grady didn’t seem the type of man to do something wrong—always acting the perfect gentleman. “Mr. Grady, seeing as how we’re courting, I think it would be all right if you called me Sophia.”
Mr. Grady grinned; his eyes no longer looked haunted. “In private, of course, Sophia,” he said. “And you may call me Lucas.”
“I look forward to getting to know you better, Lucas.” She had so many questions. Hopefully their next conversation would be smoother. This one had been as bumpy as a toad’s back.
When the clock struck twelve, would her dream come true or fade away?

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About Haley
Haley Whitehall lives in Washington State where she enjoys all four seasons and the surrounding wildlife. She writes historical romance set in the 19th century U.S. When she is not researching or writing, she plays with her cats, watches the Western and History Channels, and goes antiquing. She is hoping to build a time machine so she can go in search of her prince charming. A good book, a cup of coffee, and a view of the mountains make her happy.






Haley loves to connect with readers! Find her here: 

4 comments:

Taryn Kincaid said...

Welcome, Haley.

Haley Whitehall said...

Thanks for hosting me, Taryn! I love your website. :)

Taryn Kincaid said...

Thanks!

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