Today's Wednesday Wonders is part of a blog tour for
Road To Rosewood
by Ashtyn Newbold
About Road to Rosewood:
Lucy Abbott's carriage is besieged by highwaymen as she
returns to the country estate she fondly remembers from her childhood. A
familiar man leads the band of outlaws, and Lucy must decide if she can trust
him to safely guide her to her destination.
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Excerpt:
Rachel
stood, brushing one of my dark curls from my forehead. “I will visit again in two
months.” Dropping her voice to a whisper, she added, “And when I do, I expect
you to be at Rosewood. You must write me of all your adventures there.” Her
lips twisted into a sad smile. She didn't like to see me like this.
“I
will.” I squeezed her hand.
“When
do you plan to leave?”
My
fingers twitch over the letter in my lap. “As soon as I am able.”
She
threw me a look of suspicion. “Surely you plan to involve Mama and Papa in the
travel Arrangements? Papa will insist on everything being good and proper.”
I
bit my lip.
“Lucy.”
Rachel's eyebrow arched.
It
felt as if I were being forced to confess to a stern nanny, much less my caring
sister. “I did not plan to inform them. I need to do this on my own.”
“Lucy,
I must insist that you make proper arrangements.”
I
almost snapped at her, but saw that she was genuinely concerned. “I plan to
travel by mail coach. It is the most affordable option.”
Rachel
was quiet for a long moment.
“You
won't tell them, will you?” My heart pounded with dread. This was my grand
opportunity. I could not afford to have anyone stop me. My heart would break
all over again, this time at the hand of shattered dreams. I couldn't carry on
day-to-day with the same coastline, the same storms, the same bleak shops. The only
thing that Craster shared with the countryside was the sky, but it was a
different color there. I felt choked in confinement, seeing what I longed for
but unable to touch it. Rachel had found love, joy, and contentment. I wanted
the same.
“You
should not be angry with them, Lucy.” Rachel's voice was soft. “Mama and Papa
had their reasons for keeping away these years.”
My
jaw tightened and I looked out the window again. Yes, reasons that they would
never speak of. Secret things.
When
I didn't reply, Rachel stood, smoothing her skirts. “I will not stop you from
leaving. But please write to me often. Be safe.” When she met her husband at
the door, she gave me a final glance over her shoulder before disappearing from
sight.
What
Rachel did not know is that I had already replied to that letter from Kitty. It
had come weeks before, and I was leaving within the week.
I
had been wrong, Rachel didn't always understand completely. Mama and Papa may
have had their reasons for keeping me away from Rosewood, but I also had my
reasons for being angry. By keeping me away from the countryside, they had
deprived me of five summers—five summers I could have changed Nicholas's mind.
What if he has seen me grown up? I was no longer a little child. Year after
year, I beg to be allowed to visit again. I told my parents it was because of
my cousins, and the sunshine, and the beautiful village, and it was, but they
knew that I missed Nicholas the most.
My Book Review:
This was quite the exciting story. “Road” as it is used in
this story has more than one connotation, and all of them were interesting to
travel. The heroine, Lucy—far from perfect and a little difficult at times—finds
she must deal with challenges she never anticipated when she left home.
Although she remains single-minded about what she wants, part of the enjoyment
of this story was wondering what kind of a fix she was going to get herself into next.
The author developed the characters well, and I could
picture them in my mind as I read. I also enjoyed the window into the era as
she unfolded the plot and described the surroundings.
This was an enjoyable and exciting read that kept me in
suspense most of the story. Surprise revelations kept it interesting. The
romance elements were sweet and clean. I recommend this book to anyone who
enjoys Regency-era novels or a great romantic suspense story set in any era.
About
Ashtyn Newbold:
Ashtyn Newbold discovered a love of writing early in high
school. Inspired by regency period romance, she wrote her first novel at the
age of sixteen. Because she can’t vacation in her favorite historical time
periods, she writes about them instead. When not crafting handsome historical
heroes, she enjoys baking, sewing, music, and spoiling her dog. She dreams of
traveling to England and Ireland. Ashtyn is currently studying English and
creative writing at Utah Valley University. She lives in Lehi, Utah with her
family.
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