Amy Rose Bennett's Blog

I’m so excited that my first-ever romantasy book THE NANNY’S HANDBOOK TO MAGIC AND MANAGING DIFFICULT DUKES is available to pre-order! It has the most gorgeous illustrated cover that I’m absolutely in love with. My publisher commissioned the fabulously talented illustrator Dawn Cooper to create it, and I’m so thrilled that she’s included so many wonderful little story details in the design. She’s truly brought my characters—my sassy nanny heroine and my horologist duke hero and his pet raven—and the setting of London in 1851 (albeit with a slightly alternate history which includes a sprinkling of magic) to life.The fabulous India Holton (yes THE India Holton) recently had this to say about my book … “The Nanny’s Handbook to Magic and Managing Difficult Dukes is a whimsical, wonderfully romantic treasure trove of laugh-out-loud delights with a spirited heroine who proves a worthy successor indeed to Mary Poppins. I had such a fabulous time reading this book and can’t wait for the next in the series!” —India Holton, USA Today bestselling authorTHE NANNY’S HANDBOOK TO MAGIC AND MANAGING DIFFICULT DUKES will be out in print, ebook, and audio on September 30th in the US with Kensington ! There’ll also be an Australian and UK edition with Simon & Schuster that’s out on July 29! You’ll find all the pre-order links on each publisher’s website.Want to learn more? Here’s the back cover copy for THE NANNY’S HANDBOOK TO MAGIC AND MANAGING DIFFICULT DUKES! Mary Poppins meets Bridgerton in a feel-good blend of cozy fantasy magic, historical romance, humor, and Victorian era charm, as a recent graduate of the Parasol Academy for Exceptional Nannies and Governesses finds her supernatural abilities are little help when it comes to falling for the shy, mysterious inventor who happens to be her employer… Emmeline Chase, 25-year-old widow and new alumna, may be more high-spirited than the Academy would like. Few graduates, however, could turn a mismanaged teleportation onto a duke’s rooftop into an offer of employment. But Emmeline’s circumstances, along with her desperation to support her bankrupt, incarcerated father, have made her dauntless. Which seems the primary qualification to work for expert horologist Xavier Mason, Duke of St. Lawrence, and manage his three rambunctious wards. Yet Emmeline soon discovers that the nobleman’s heart-melting voice and captivating mind present an entirely different sort of trouble. She cannot risk losing her license by fraternizing with her employer . . .Xavier’s wards have sent two nannies packing in a month thanks to frogs, firecrackers, and general mayhem. In addition, Xavier’s professional reputation is on the line. He’s already considered odd, with his talking raven companion and his fascination with timekeeping instead of pleasure-chasing with his peers. Charming, vivacious Emmeline seems intrigued with his quirks—but Xavier must have absolute peace to design London’s “King of Clocks” for Westminster Palace before the competition closes. Emmeline can no doubt restore order. As long as he doesn’t fall under her spell . . .Yet, with a possible saboteur in their midst, and the attraction flaring between them threatening to become a deliciously disastrous distraction, a touch of magic may be required . . .

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Have you heard my latest book deal news!? I’m absolutely over-the-moon thrilled to announce that my light fantasy historical rom-com, THE NANNY’S HANDBOOK TO MAGIC AND MANAGING DIFFICULT DUKES, the first title in a new three-book series, is coming out with Kensington and Simon & Schuster Australia! I can’t wait until it’s time to share more about my sassy nanny heroine with magic up her sleeves and in her pockets, and her starchy duke employer, an expert in horology, who’s also trying to deal with three lovable but mischievous wards and a spate of domestic disasters. Think of a Mary Poppins reimagining but with romance, a dash of badassery, and a smidge of mystery. Thanks must go to my amazing agent Jessica Alvarez at BookEnds Literary for her brilliance and unstinting support along the way!

The post A New Book Series from Amy Rose Bennett! appeared first on Amy Rose Bennett.

I’m over-the-moon thrilled (and more than a little bit gobsmacked) to learn that three of my books – A MOST UNSUITABLE COUNTESS, CURLED UP WITH AN EARL, and TALL, DUKE AND SCANDALOUS – are finalists in the Favourite Historical Romance Category of the Australian Romance Readers Association’s Awards for 2023 !!! What an absolute honour .

Thank you to all the ARRA readers for the nominations and good luck to all my fabulous fellow finalists!! Because what a list!!

Favourite Historical Romance 2023:

A Most Unsuitable Countess by Amy Rose BennettCurled Up with an Earl by Amy Rose BennettHer Worthy Rake by Charlotte AnneSnapshots from Home by Sasha WasleyTall, Duke and Scandalous by Amy Rose BennettThe Bride Wore White by Amanda QuickThe Heiress Swap by Maddison MichaelsThe Homecoming by Alison StuartThe Laird’s Bride by Anne GracieThe Vagabond Viscount by Sasha CottmanWe’ll Meet Again by Cheryl Adnams

The winners of each category will be announced on Friday 8 March 2024 at a special dinner in Brisbane! You can check out the full list of finalists right here.

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In March 2024, I will be signing at the Australian Romance Reader Association’s “A Romantic Rendezvous” in Melbourne! These multi-author signings will be held in four Australian cities and will feature up to 30 authors at each event. Two amazing special guests – NYT bestselling historical romance author extraordinaire Cathy Maxwell and USAToday bestselling contemporary romance author Kate Meader – will also be in attendance along with a host of other fab Aussie authors! You can find all the details including the full list of signing authors in each city here. Tickets are now on sale here! Hope to see you there!

The post A Romantic Rendezvous ARRA Book Signing Event in 2024! appeared first on Amy Rose Bennett.

I have some exciting book news! I’ve just released a sizzling-hot, five-flame, melt-your-stockings-off Regency romance novella, MY LORD OF MISRULE, Book 2 in my very Wicked Winter Nights series!? If you’re looking for a read to spice up your New Year—it’s FFM—this might be just the book for you!  

It’s out right now on all ebook retailers and only 0.99c!! Here’s the blurb and UBL…

This bespectacled bluestocking is about to throw all the rules out the window this Christmas…

Even though Lady Mary Fellows harbors secret, forbidden desires, she’s always tried to behave like a proper tonnish young lady… But not this festive season. In fact, Mary has just the nobleman in mind—a braw Scots earl who she’s often fantasized about from afar—to help her bend polite society’s rules, perhaps even break them. She just needs to convince the rakish Lord Skene to take part in her scandalous plan…

Angus, Lord Skene, is at home minding his own business when Lady Mary Fellows, the bespectacled sister of one of his good friends, arrives unexpectedly on the snowy doorstep of Skene Castle in the far north of Scotland. When the usually reserved bluestocking asks him to tutor her in all things “erotic” over Christmas—she argues that she can hardly agree to become anyone’s wife unless she actually enjoys bed sport with a man—he’s shocked but also tempted to play his part…especially when he discovers Lady Mary might also fancy his neighbor and sometimes paramour, the flame-haired and sexually adventurous Nell, Lady Balmuir.

As Angus and Nell help Mary embark on her journey of self-discovery, passions and hearts are set aflame. Who Mary will choose—if anyone at all—to spend her life with is uncertain. Although, there’s no doubt at all that a cold winter’s night is always hotter when the Lord of Misrule comes out to play…

Reader Advisory: This FFM erotic Regency romance novella is scorching, five-flame hot. It contains explicit lovemaking scenes that include light kink elements such as consensual spanking, light bondage, and voyeurism. Of course, because this is a romance, a happily-ever-after is guaranteed! (Fans and cool beverages also recommended while reading to help relieve the sizzle.)

Universal Buy Link

The post My Lord of Misrule is out now! appeared first on Amy Rose Bennett.

Did you know that the I Like Big Dukes and I Cannot Lie anthology is out now? And the ebook is currently a #1 bestselling title on Amazon in the Kindle store in 3 categories and a top 10 bestseller on Barnes&Noble? In this fab anthology you’ll get nineteen brand-new novellas from some of your favorite historical romance authors including my sizzling hot contribution, An Improper Duke! All this gorgeous duke-filled hotness is just one click away… And it’s still only 99c! Grab it here before the deal ends soon and the price goes up to $5.99! The anthology is also out in paperback!

Featuring stories by: Annabelle Anders, Amy Rose Bennett, Clair Brett, SCinders, Alyssa Clarke, Emmanuelle de Maupassant, Tamara Gill, Caroline Lee, Carrie Lomax, Beverley Oakley, Ebony Oaten, Eve Pendle, Sky Purington, Amy Quinton, Stacy Reid, Lily Reynard, Ellie St Clair, Mariah Stone, Laura Trentham.

More about I LIKE BIG DUKES AND I CANNOT LIE…

From the delightfully debonair to the devilishly dangerous, these dashing dukes can’t help but command your attention. And let’s not forget the real stars here—the dazzling, damsel-not-in-distress heroines who don’t need a title to rule. These are ladies of wit, grit, and not a little bit of mischief. Every one of these novellas has a duke for its leading man. They’re haughty, they’re naughty, and they’ve got estates large enough to lose a spouse in. But beneath their stony aristocratic exteriors, beat hearts ready for passion… and the right touch of scandal.

Dive into the pages of “I Like Big Dukes and I Cannot Lie,” where the tea is strong, the dukes are stronger, and the heroines are an irresistible force of nature. After all, you know what they say— the duke-ier, the merrier!

More about Amy Rose Bennett’s AN IMPROPER DUKE…

Having an affair with a heart-stoppingly handsome, much younger duke is all kinds of improper…but when he’s also your stepson’s best friend, it’s positively scandalous.

Bookish Celia Wyndham, the widowed Lady Ashdown, has been half in love—and shockingly in lust—with her stepson’s best friend, Hugo Dehavilland, the very eligible Duke of Tremayne for the longest time. When Hugo attends a week-long house party at Ashdown Hall—and then accidentally discovers he’s the object of the viscountess’s erotic fantasies—he suggests they embark on a passionate affair…a wicked proposition that Celia simply cannot refuse.

 

The post I Like Big Dukes and I Cannot Lie is out! appeared first on Amy Rose Bennett.

 

In case you haven’t heard, A Most Unsuitable Countess, Book 3 in my Scandalous Regency Widows series is out in the world! The ebook can be purchased at all major retailers and the print book will be available as a print-on-demand title in the next few weeks. An audiobook version will be produced by Tantor Media so stay tuned for further updates! In the meantime, here’s a little bit more about A Most Unsuitable Countess…

A match most unsuitable. A love that’s undeniable.

Catherine, the widowed Lady Rosemont, is considered a most unsuitable countess by polite society. Whispers about her checkered history follow her wherever she goes. Was she once a courtesan? Is her young son really the late Earl of Rosemont’s child or a by-blow? And worst of all, is she a murderess? Despite the scandalous rumors, Catherine navigates high society’s treacherous waters with her head held high. For the sake of her beloved son, Louis, she must never sink. But when she receives threatening letters and young Louis’s life is endangered, she desperately turns to a past paramour for help…the man who once left her heartbroken. The far-too-honorable Earl of Dalton.

Adam St Clair, Lord Dalton, has always been one to adhere to family duty no matter the cost. Five years ago, he set aside his all-consuming desire for his mistress, the beautiful and mysterious Catherine Delacourt, and took a conventional ton bride. Now, newly widowed, fate decrees he should cross paths with Catherine once again. When she shares a stunning secret and implores him for protection, Adam is torn. With danger lurking around every corner, keeping Catherine and her son safe is undoubtedly the right thing to do. Nevertheless, Adam must decide whether he’ll risk his reputation—and his family’s—for the only woman he’s never been able to forget… The one woman who might just steal his heart…

Tropes include: second chance romance, marriage of convenience, secret baby, class difference, courtesan heroine, and a mystery-suspense plot. While it’s the third book in the Scandalous Regency Widows series, it can easily be read as a standalone title. It’s also a steamy read – 4 flame heat level.

You can find all the buy links here on my website. You can also read a sample from Chapter One right here!

The post A Most Unsuitable Countess is out! appeared first on Amy Rose Bennett.

I’m thrilled to be sharing the news that my SCANDALOUS REGENCY WIDOWS series has had a mini makeover! Gorgeous new covers, brand-new epilogues for Books 1 & 2, and a third installment—A MOST UNSUITABLE COUNTESS—is out on June 27 and can be pre-ordered right now! All three books are available at loads of ebook retailers and will be available in print very soon. Also stay tuned for news about the audiobook versions which will be produced by Tantor!

Click on the book title below for all the purchase links… 

Book 1: Lady Beauchamp’s Proposal

Book 2: The Ice Duchess

Book 3: A Most Unsuitable Countess

The post Scandalous Regency Widows News! appeared first on Amy Rose Bennett.

Happy Holidays! Even though this year looks quite different from a typical holiday season, some things remain the same. Carols on the radio, sparkly lights around the neighborhood, holiday cards, a craving for cookies, and our annual Historical Romance Cookie Exchange Hop!

Thirty historical romance authors are sharing a favorite cookie/dessert recipe with you and a fun fact or tid bit about the holiday season. So hop from site to site to see what we’ve found while researching our historical books and choose some new cookie recipes to try.

Hop to all the sites for a chance to win a $150 gift card to the online store of your choice! Imagine how many books you could buy! Dukes, Highlanders, Pirates, and Warriors, OH MY!

That is another thing that has not changed… Books! When life is uncertain and full of stress, take a break and dive into a past world with thrilling adventures and golden-hearted heroes. With romance, you are guaranteed a happily-ever-after!

Here are the simple directions for the hop:

Hop to each link (posted on 12/4), which will take you to a historical author’s FB page, web site, or blog. While you’re there please like, follow, or sign up for a newsletter if you wish to stay up-to-date on our new releases and author happenings.



Learn a fun historical fact and discover a new cookie recipe on each site.



Collect all the names of the cookies, paired with the names of the authors, and e-mail the total list to  Heather@HeatherMcCollum.com . Make sure to put Historical Romance Authors Are Sweet in the subject line. The list must be turned in by 11:59 PM ET on December 12th. 



One grand prize winner, of a $150 gift card, will be selected randomly from those who collected and turned in the name of all the treats by the deadline. The winner must respond within 24 hours to claim the prize, and we will announce the winner hopefully by noon ET on December 13th. So authors will have their own giveaways and will post their own winners on their sites.

Easy, delicious, and fun! Thanks so much for hopping along!

Readers start your ovens. Three … two … one … Let the cookie collecting begin! And have a fantastic holiday season!

**No purchase or sign up necessary to enter. Participation is completely voluntary. Your e-mail address will not be shared or added to any lists unless you specifically sign up for a newsletter list. Winner must be at least 18 years of age and have an e-mail address to accept the gift card.**

N.B.: COOKIE HOP STOPS… Please return to the Historical Cookie Hop events page on Facebook to find all the other stops. CLICK HERE!

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Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! I’m going to share a Christmas cookie recipe which is dear to my heart – Latvian gingerbread or ‘pepper cookies’ or piparkukas. My dearly departed mother was Latvian and I have fond memories of making these as well as Latvian bacon buns or piragi with her at Christmas time. I haven’t made these cookies for a while, so I thought I’d try my hand at them this Christmas.

Ingredients

1/2 cup golden syrup125g unsalted butter1/2 cup caster sugar1 egg1 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 teaspoon ground ginger1 teaspoon allspice1/2 teaspoon ground cardamon1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg1/4 teaspoon ground cloves1/2 teaspoon bicarb soda2 & 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (plus extra for rolling)extra egg for egg wash

Instructions

In a large saucepan, heat golden syrup with the spices, sugar and butter until melted, then bring to the boil. Remove from heat. Cool for 30 minutes.While this mixture is cooling, sift flour and the bicarb soda together in a large bowl. Add 1/2 cup of this flour mix to the cooling syrup, sugar and butter mixture. Stir until smooth.Lightly beat the egg then add to cooled syrup, sugar, butter, and flour mixture in the pot. Stir vigorously until well-combined.Add the remaining sifted flour, about half a cup at a time. Mix until combined. The dough will be slightly sticky but that’s ok. Gather together with your hands to form a ball.Place the dough on a bench liberally dusted with flour and gently knead until it forms a smooth ball. Press the dough into a flat disc shape, wrap in plastic wrap, then place in the fridge for an hour to rest. You can even leave it overnight.Before baking, take the dough out of the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature or until soft enough to roll out.Preheat the oven to moderate or 180 °C . Line two large baking trays with baking parchment.Sprinkle some flour on your work bench and then roll out the dough to a thickness of 5mm. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters and carefully transfer to the lined baking sheets. I used hearts and star shapes.Whisk another egg and then lightly brush the tops of the cookies with the egg wash.Bake the gingerbread in the oven for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool before decorating. (I piped royal icing onto my star cookies to turn them into snowflakes and dipped the hearts in melted dark chocolate. Because, chocolate! You can also serve them plain. Enjoy!

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As Christmas will soon be here – and because I also write historical romance – I thought I’d share a few tidbits about the history of the kissing bough!

I love including kissing boughs–wreaths or ball of mistletoe that are hung about the house–in my Regency era Christmas novellas. But how and when did this tradition of kissing beneath the mistletoe begin in Britain? And what’s so special about mistletoe?

Mistletoe is an evergreen plant with glossy leaves and white berries. It’s actually a parasite which commonly grows on apple trees and the branches of other species such as hawthorn, lime, poplar, and sometimes oak. It grows in abundance around London and in the south-west of England–the Midlands area in particular–and in Wales. While rare, it can also be found farther north in England and in Ireland and Scotland.

While researching the history of the kissing bough, I discovered that mistletoe was revered for its apparent healing properties and has long been a symbol of fertility and love. It was sacred to the Celtic Druids of Britain of the 1st century A.D. Because mistletoe still thrived during the depths of winter, the Druids viewed it as a sacred symbol of life and they administered it to both people and animals to restore fertility. Mistletoe also features in the Norse myth of the sun god, Balder. In this legend, Loki, the god of mischief, kills Balder with a spear fashioned from mistletoe. When Balder’s mother, Frigg, the Norse goddess of love, fertility and marriage, weeps over her son’s body, her tears revive him. In some retellings, a grateful Frigg then declares mistletoe to be a symbol of love and she promises to kiss anyone who passes beneath it.

Although there are accounts that kissing boughs were popular Yuletide decorations during the Tudor period, the custom of kissing beneath the mistletoe appears to have become all the rage during the eighteenth century. The kissing bough could be a simple arrangement of a mistletoe ball or posy tied together with ribbon, or quite an elaborate arrangement–mistletoe and other evergreen boughs such as holly, ivy, and rosemary were woven together and other decorations such as spices, nuts, apples, oranges, candles, and ribbons could be incorporated into the design. The kissing bough would then be strategically hung in places where people were likely to pass–for instance, any sort of entrance or doorway, or suspended from the ceiling or a chandelier–thus affording many opportunities for exchanging embraces or claiming kisses. A single sprig of mistletoe held aloft by a would-be suitor would also suffice. There were also varying beliefs about the kissing custom. According to one tradition, a berry had to be plucked each time a kiss was bestowed, and the kissing had to stop when all the berries were gone. Another tradition holds that a woman who refused a kiss would not marry within the next year.

In any event, it seems kissing beneath the mistletoe was a common Yuletide tradition during the Regency era. And because it’s so much fun–who doesn’t fancy sharing a heart-melting kiss with one’s romantic partner?–it’s one I quite happily include in all my Christmas stories!

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I’m also going to offer a separate GIVEAWAY as part of the blog hop fun. Up for grabs are TWO of my Christmas novellas–the ebook choices are listed below, both sweet and spicy–(a bit like my Latvian cookies)–for one lucky winner. To be in the running to win, simply tell me who you would like to kiss beneath the mistletoe this Holiday season in the comments below! The giveaway will close at 11:59 PM ET on December 12th and the winner will be announced on this comment thread the following day (on December 13th). So, do pop back to see if you’ve won.

Happy Holidays to all and much love!

Amy Rose Bennett xx

You can find out about each novella on my ‘book page’. CLICK HERE!

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N.B.: COOKIE HOP STOPS… Please return to the Historical Cookie Hop events page on Facebook to find all the other stops. CLICK HERE! You can also find all the other hop links below:

Alanna Lucas: www.alannalucas.com

Amalie Howard: https://amaliehoward.com/

Amy Jarecki: https://amyjarecki.com/historical-romance-cookie-hop

Amy Rose Bennett: https://amyrosebennett.com/historical-romance-cookie-hop/

Christina Britton: http://christinabritton.com/

Deb Marlowe: www.DebMarlowe.com

Diana Lloyd: www.DianaLloydBooks.com

E. Elizabeth Watson: https://eelizabethwatson.com/happy-holidays/

Elizabeth Langston: https://elizabethlangston.net/holiday-hop/

Elizabeth Keysian: https://elizabethkeysian.com/2020/12/04/historical-romance-cookie-hop-prize-draw/

Eliza Knight: www.eknightauthor.com

Heather McCollum: https://www.heathermccollum.com/historical-romance-holiday-cookie-hop-2020/

Jacki Delecki: https://www.facebook.com/JDelecki

Jane Charles: https://www.janecharlesauthor.com/christmas-fun

Janna MacGregor: www.jannamacgregor.com

Jennifer Siddoway: www.jennifersiddoway.com

Jerrica Knight-Catania: www.jerricasplace.com

Jessica Clements: https://www.jessicaanneclements.com/holiday-hops

Kate Parker: www.KateParkerbooks.com/holiday-cookie

Kathleen Bittner Roth: https://www.facebook.com/Kathleen.bittnerroth.author

Liana De la Rosa: www.lianainbloom.com

Lori Ann Bailey: https://loriannbailey.com/rugelach/

Madeline Martin: http://www.madelinemartin.com/2020/12/wwii-carrot-biscuits/

Nadine Millard: https://www.facebook.com/nadinemillardauthor

Patricia Kiyono: http://www.patriciakiyono.com/post/historical-romance-cookie-hop

Renee Ann Miller: https://reneeannmiller.com/category/blog/

Samantha Grace: https://www.samanthagraceauthor.com/holiday-cookie-hop

Tara Kingston: https://www.facebook.com/TaraKingstonAuthor/

Tina Gabrielle: https://www.facebook.com/TinaGabrielle

Tracey Devlyn: https://traceydevlyn.com/events/63/historical-romance-holiday-cookie-hop

Remember to email your completed list of author names, with their treat names, to Heather@HeatherMcCollum.com with the heading: “Historical Romance Authors are Sweet” to be entered into the $150 gift card grand prize random drawing.

My Scottish historical romance The Laird of Blackloch will be released with Escape Publishing on 12th March! I’m totally in love with the cover and can’t wait for Alexander and Sarah’s story to hit the ebook retailer shelves! Stay tuned for all the pre-order buy links in February …

Following the Battle of Culloden, Alexander MacIvor returns to his ancestral home, Blackloch Castle, only to find the Earl of Tay, chief of the rival Clan Campbell, has laid waste to everything he holds dear. In the face of such devastation, Alex seems doomed to live the life of a fugitive Jacobite … until a stroke of good luck allows him to escape the Highlands and begin again.

Years later, styling himself as a wealthy Englishman, Alexander reclaims his forfeited estate, becoming the new Laird of Blackloch. But it’s not nearly enough to quench his thirst for vengeance. Hell-bent on destroying Lord Tay, he single-mindedly sets about driving his nemesis to bankruptcy. When he learns the earl intends to marry the very beautiful English heiress, Miss Sarah Lambert, thus escaping penury, he devises a devious plan: kidnap Miss Lambert and ransom her to hasten Tay’s ruin.

When Sarah Lambert learns Lord Tay is not the man she thought he was during a masquerade ball in Edinburgh, she is devastated. Reeling from her discovery, things go from bad to worse when a mysterious yet charming guest by the name of Alexander Black turns out to be a true devil in disguise. Abducted and whisked way into the wild Highlands by Black, Sarah is imprisoned in a remote, island-bound tower. Refusing to be a pawn in Black’s diabolical plan for revenge, she determines that somehow, some way, she will regain her freedom. If only she could unlock Black’s secrets …

Living in such close quarters, Alexander quickly discovers the spirited Sarah is more than a match for him, and even the best laid plans can go awry when passion flares and the spark of love threatens to revive his long-dead heart. When the shadows of the past begin to gather, will Alexander and Sarah find their way forward … or will the threatening darkness destroy them both?