It took a tornado and the near destruction of his home for Jason, a professor of history, to learn that his family had once owned his neighbor David’s family. While repairing the damage from the storm, friendship and more blossom between David, Jason, and Marina, Jason’s submissive wife. Determined to ease Jason’s guilt over his family history, Marina proposes a unique way of putting old ghosts to rest.
Love’s Captive:
Victoria Padgett is working the front lines as a nurse during WWI. She has just finished celebrating her first wedding anniversary with her husband and Duke of Willby, Ashton Padgett, in Paris. Together they decide it would be best if she returns to England, open up the ducal estate as a hospital and treat the wounded there where she will be safe and can practice the medicine and sanitary practices she thinks will aide in recovery. She returns to Belgium and the front line to turn in her resignation but while there she is kidnapped and held hostage in a château dungeon by Ashton’s once best friend who thinks Victoria should’ve been his. Will Ashton be able to save his Victoria before war and a madman takes the love of his life from him?
Get to Know Kristi Ahlers!
Fun Facts about Me!
Well, I love water, any form of water (except for fresh water lakes, I don’t know why but that kinda water creeps me out…Yeah, I know makes zero sense) and I adore the ocean. A year ago I finally realized the dream of cage diving with SHARKS! Yup, off the North Shore of Oahu I jumped into a cage and swam with the water puppies. It was to date one of the most amazing things I’ve done!
Aside from loving water, and sharks, I adore the ballet! Giselle is my favorite and one day I would love to see the Bolshoi Ballet perform on their own storied stage. However, I think I might have a better chance of marrying a Duke then that happening.
I am a former Flight Attendant, I love flying, I love the whole process, the taking off the coming down out of the clouds, but I’m terrified of heights, go figure. No, I didn’t quit flying because of that. LOL.
Writing my current love story Love’s Captive was very important to me. I love history and the history of WWI both intrigues me and breaks my heart. I chose this back drop as it allowed me to really dig deep into the history and facts of what actual field hospitals were like and what the living conditions for those wounded and those who treated the men. I wanted to see research the mind set and the people who literally were balancing on the cusp of a new world with how things changed after the war. This has been one of my favorite novellas. I loved coming back and visiting with my two characters Ashton and Victoria.
DID YOU KNOW???
I love trivia and I always look up trivia facts before I start a story to see if I can incorporate it somehow into my stories. Here are some facts I found for Love’s Captive.
WW1 sparked the invention of plastic surgery
Shrapnel was the cause of many facial injuries in WW1 and unlike the straight-line wounds inflicted by bullets, the twisted metal shards produced from a shrapnel blast could easily rip a face off. Horrified by the injuries he saw, surgeon Harold Gillies, took on the task of helping victims and pioneered early techniques of facial reconstruction in the process.
Blood Banks were developed during WWI
The British Army began the routine use of blood transfusion in treating wounded soldiers. Blood was transferred directly from one person to another. A US Army doctor, Captain Oswald Robertson, established the first blood bank on the Western Front in 1917, using sodium citrate to prevent the blood from coagulating and becoming unusable. Blood was kept on ice for up to 28 days and then transported to casualty clearing stations for use in life-saving surgery where it was needed most.
From Love's Captive:
"Let's both return to England, Ashton." She covered her mouth the second the words slipped past. Damning words, words that smacked at the very heart of who her husband was and would continue to be despite her fear. Her selfish request hung like a black cloud between them. "I'm sorry, Ashton, forgive me."
He pulled her close to his body, to feel his strength and heat. "I love you, my Duchess. A day doesn't pass where you aren't in my thoughts. But, I must return. I know you understand this. I'm only sorry I can't honor your request right now."
Victoria smiled, tears slipped down her cheeks and she didn't bother to hide them. What was the point? She hated this war, she hated this impending sense that something was going to go wrong.
"All will be well. I am to be moved back behind the lines. You know that. I'll be away from the fighting this go around. I will have more leave in July, I'll come back to England and everything will be as it should."
They took a cab to the train station. Her train to Belgium wasn't leaving for another hour or so, so she walked Ashton to his platform. The train was already in place and men in uniform swarmed the cars. Sweethearts embraced and whispered to each other. The cacophony of the station gave her a pounding headache.
"I love you." Ashton rested his forehead against her own. "I promise I will be careful. I promise I'll come back to you."
"Shhh. Don't make a promise you can't keep."
"No matter what happens to me, Tori, I'll come back to you."
He pulled her close to his body, to feel his strength and heat. "I love you, my Duchess. A day doesn't pass where you aren't in my thoughts. But, I must return. I know you understand this. I'm only sorry I can't honor your request right now."
Victoria smiled, tears slipped down her cheeks and she didn't bother to hide them. What was the point? She hated this war, she hated this impending sense that something was going to go wrong.
"All will be well. I am to be moved back behind the lines. You know that. I'll be away from the fighting this go around. I will have more leave in July, I'll come back to England and everything will be as it should."
They took a cab to the train station. Her train to Belgium wasn't leaving for another hour or so, so she walked Ashton to his platform. The train was already in place and men in uniform swarmed the cars. Sweethearts embraced and whispered to each other. The cacophony of the station gave her a pounding headache.
"I love you." Ashton rested his forehead against her own. "I promise I will be careful. I promise I'll come back to you."
"Shhh. Don't make a promise you can't keep."
"No matter what happens to me, Tori, I'll come back to you."
Anarie Brady
Kristi Ahlers
Kristi loves to hear from her readers and can be reached at katahlers@gmail.com
visit her at her virtual home at www.kristiahlers.com
Up for grabs:
A print novel and goody bag signed by the model, Vikkas!
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ReplyDeleteGreat read!
ReplyDeleteSounds great
ReplyDeletelove the cover, it's gorgeous and the book sounds wonderful. i look forward to reading it. thank you for the chance at such a great contest.
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