I think I first met Georgie Lee this past March at the California Dreaming writer's conference, and we hit it off right away. Our friendship has grown over the months, and last month I won one of her books – a Harlequin Historical called The Courtesan's Book of Secrets. The title alone makes me want to read it! Now, after reading her guest post here, I'm going to buy Lady's Wager the minute it goes on sale! 😀
Please welcome my friend and fellow author, Georgie Lee!
I recently read Becoming Jane Austen by Jon Spence, a non-fiction account of Jane Austen’s life and the elements in her background and family that shaped her and her writing. The book offers an interesting look into Jane Austen's background while painting a vivid picture of Georgian and Regency England. Despite the manners and elegance of these eras, they were very harsh times, especially for women without money.
However, these difficulties gave rise to a great deal of strength and resilience. For example, orphaned Phila Austen, Jane Austen's aunt, was penniless with little more to look forward to than a career as a milliner in Covent Garden. Instead of accepting fate, she made the brave decision to travel to India and create a new life for herself.
Stories like Phila’s remind us that only by rising to the challenges of life, instead of avoiding them, can we hope to achieve success. This is an excellent lesson for writers since the writing and publishing process is full of challenges. Jane herself must have learned this lesson from both her own career and the lives of her remarkable female relatives, and I’m glad she did. Where would we be if she had given up? Can you imagine a world without Mr. Darcy? I can’t.
Persevering in the face of adversity is a central theme in my Regency novel Lady’s Wager. Despite a number of problems, including betrayal by a former fiancé and having to escape a war, Charlotte, the heroine, doesn’t allow her troubles to stop her from supporting charities, or trying to live life on her terms.
Edward, the hero, has also faced his share of problems, from losing his mother to watching his father suffer in a disastrous second marriage. The heartache of his life hasn’t made him give up on searching for someone who loves him and not his money and title. Both Charlotte and Edward refuse to buckle under the weight of their troubles or fears, and their lives are richer for it.
So, when the going gets tough and you think of giving up, think of Jane and Phila. Rise to the challenge, you never know what might happen.
Lady’s Wager by Georgie Lee is a sweet Regency Romance available for $0.99 from July 7 -14, 2015! Check it out:
Charlotte Stuart is an heiress dedicated to charitable causes who's been betrayed by the false love of a fortune hunter before. Ridiculed by Paris society for her mistake, she vows never to fall victim to the weakness of love again. Driven back to England by the collapse of the Peace of Amiens, she enters London society and meets Lord Edward Woodcliff, a handsome Viscount in straightened circumstances. Falling for Edward means risking being humiliated again.
Edward has come to London to find a wife. Made leery of marriage by his father’s disastrous second marriage, Edward feigns poverty in order to find a woman who loves him and not his wealth. He loses his heart to the independent and spirited Charlotte, but her fear of being betrayed, and his hesitation to make a matrimonial mistake, prove difficult to overcome.
All seems hopeless until Edward challenges Charlotte to a wager. If he wins, he gains her hand in marriage. If he loses, then Charlotte is free of him. Charlotte accepts the wager only to lose her hand and her heart to Edward. Now Charlotte must put aside her fears of being betrayed by love long enough to let Edward into her life and admit he is the man of her dreams.
About Georgie Lee
A lifelong history buff, award winning author Georgie Lee hasn't given up hope that she will one day inherit a title and a manor house. Until then, she fulfills her dreams of lords, ladies and a season in London through her stories. When not writing, she can be found reading non-fiction history or watching any movie with a costume and an accent. Please visit www.georgie-lee.com to learn more about Georgie and her books, and to sign up for her newsletter.
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