RELUCTANT TO WED - Anneliese Dalaba - One Free Book

Welcome, Anneliese. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I don’t purposely write much of myself into my books. However, when I wrote Reluctant to Wed and gave it to my husband to read, he said that Emma sounded a lot like me. I suppose every author’s thoughts and emotions come through in their own writing somehow.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

A few years back, my husband and I decided we wanted to see as many Michigan lighthouses as we could on our vacation. We have lived in south central, Michigan and had not seen most of the lighthouses. This was our first vacation without the kids since they were born, so we chose to be spontaneous. We picked up a book of lighthouses, packed our bags, and headed west, then north along the beautiful coast of Lake Michigan. We stopped and took pictures of lighthouses along the way. When it was close to supper time, we searched out a hotel. That’s not an easy fete in Michigan in the summertime and very expensive, but we managed. We continued our trip into the Upper Peninsula and stayed at an unimpressive but clean roadside motel for the night. The next day we reached stunning Lake Superior. We ended up getting pictures of 20 Michigan lighthouses. My husband and I still say that was one of our favorite vacations.

How fun. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

When I was twelve, I tried writing my first book. That fizzled out fast and I certainly didn’t see that desire as an indication that I would become a writer. But I always enjoyed essay questions over multiple choice or true and false in school. That should have told me something, I suppose. It really wasn’t until I was married and had my first child, and we were preparing for the mission field, that I realized my longing to be a writer. We had to write an autobiography of our life for the World Missions Department of our fellowship. It was supposed to be about 25 pages long. The man who interviewed us loved my autobiography and said, “You should be writing.” But I didn’t write my first book until years later.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

My favorite books are historical romances—all types except WWI and WWII—and they must be Christian or clean romances. I enjoy reading Christian nonfiction books that encourage me in my faith. I will sometimes read contemporary romances, but not often. I like books that are not dark and filled with grief. I love it when an author can make me laugh. But I also enjoy some drama, suspense, or mystery in a romance.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I begin my days with the Word of God and prayer. That helps to lay a firm foundation for my day. I don’t see myself as very organized. I actually get more accomplished when I’ve procrastinated and now feel the pressure to get everything done. I don’t really know how I manage it, but somehow, I do.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I found an online site that lists the popular names during the time period I’m writing in. I choose from that list the name I think best fits the character of the story.  

I often do that, especially when writing people from a specific nationality. What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

My happy and successful marriage to my husband of almost 33 years. He is also my best friend. It doesn’t have to be hard to have a good relationship with your spouse, but it definitely takes effort. You have to believe for the best in each other, stay committed to each other, pray for one another, and do your best to keep from hurting your spouse with unkind words and actions. It helps to read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and apply it to your marriage over and over again.

Very good advice. We’ve been married almost 56 years. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

I can honestly say that I’ve never asked myself that questions before. LOL! I would say a yellow lab. Family is important to me and I love mine dearly. I enjoy long walks. I don’t mind being lazy sometimes and sitting for hours reading a good book. I’m protective of my home. I love a massage. And I love cuddling next to someone I love—husband, children, grandchildren, sister, mom.

What is your favorite food?

I don’t have a favorite food. It would be easier to tell you what my least favorite food is. I don’t like any type of seafood. Aside from that, I love food from all ethnicities. I’ve recently learned how to cook two new Persian dishes. Yum! But my greatest weakness is my sweet tooth. I love cakes, ice creams, frozen drinks, puddings, crepes, chocolates, and cookies. I’m afraid I’m addicted to sugar and have to work hard at maintaining self-control.

I understand that. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Disciplining myself to sit and write. I love writing and I hate writing, but I can’t give it up. I will choose distasteful chores over writing sometimes. I don’t know why, but I think it’s because writing takes such concentration and perseverance, and it’s hard work! Procrastination is my greatest enemy. The only way to succeed in writing is to sit down and start writing. Then the ideas begin to flow and the pages fill up with beautiful words and thoughts and scenery, and characters come alive.

Tell us about the featured book.

Reluctant to Wed is about a young lady who lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with her mother, stepfather, and two brothers. Her deceased father was the second son of an English baron. Emma doesn’t know the baron, her grandfather, but he writes that he wishes to arrange a marriage for her with an English earl, Lord Devonport. The financial difficulties her parents are facing would be paid for by the baron if she would agree to his request. Of course, Emma loves her family and she cannot deny them this monetary blessing. So she embarks on a ship that takes her across the vast ocean to a land her father had turned his back on. Emma looks forward to meeting her grandfather. She’s convinced this is God’s plan for her life and she has great hopes that this will turn into a love match.

Lord Devonport is duty bound to agree to the marriage because the baron and his deceased father had signed a contract years ago that he would marry one of the baron’s granddaughters. Since the first granddaughter was already married, that left him with no choice but to marry an American. He hated the thought of it but decided he would have to make the best of it. His intention is to marry Emma, consummate the marriage, and then leave her in the country while he returned to London to be with his friends. However, Lord Devonport has never met anyone like Emma before.

Unfortunately, the good intentions of a friend and the machinations of a woman intent on becoming the next Lady Devonport cause a rift between the newly married couple. In the midst of trials, Emma’s faith remains strong. She learns to place her trust in God even if it means letting go of her own dreams. What will it take for Lord Devonport and Emma find their happy ever after?

Please give us the first page of the book.

England, 1817

Sitting in her grandfather’s traveling coach, Emma felt the impact of her decision. She watched the unfamiliar scenery through drops of rain slowly trickling down the window like the tears on her mother’s cheeks as she waved good-bye. Was it only a little over a week ago? It seemed much longer. Emma’s heart squeezed at the memory and she grieved the distance that was placed between herself and all that was familiar to her.

It wasn’t that she hadn’t considered the consequences of her choice before embarking on this journey, but once the decision was made, she’d been swept up in a whirlwind of preparations that gave her little time for contemplation. The voyage had been exciting at first. Emma had met several people and was fascinated by their stories. Her Uncle Gus, who was her mother’s only brother, had traveled from England to accompany her on the voyage back to his homeland. He shared many stories of her mother’s childhood, things Emma had never heard before.

They encountered a storm one night, which made for a turbulent few hours and caused her to miss the safety of her home. But the sun broke through the clouds at dawn and took with it the vestige of loneliness, soon replacing it with apprehension at seeing another ship off in the distance. Everyone speculated as to who might be aboard, from pirates to prisoners to soldiers to slaves. Fortunately, the ship never came near. They finally docked in London, and Emma’s eyes darted here and there trying to take in everything there was to see. Another ship must have docked before them as Emma observed people joyfully greeting each other. She saw rough-looking sailors unloading cargo off the ship. Over all the many voices, she heard the crashing of waves and seagulls flying overhead squawking and searching for food.

Her grandfather’s traveling coach sat waiting for them at the dock, along with a horse for her uncle since he preferred riding even in drizzly rain to sitting for hours in an enclosed carriage. Emma sat alone, and she found herself facing the questions she’d pushed out of her mind for the past few days: What had she gotten herself into? Had she made the right decision? Would her grandfather be a kind man or a curmudgeon? She didn’t even want to think about her soon-to-be husband. It was just too much to take in all at once.

Even the coach she traveled in gave clear evidence to the changes her decision had wrought. Emma hadn’t known such luxury in all of her eighteen years. This was the life her father had turned his back on when he left all that was familiar to him in England and set sail for America more than twenty years ago. Forsaking his life of luxury, he chose to live in a cabin on a farm in Somerset, Pennsylvania. And now Emma, who’d been raised on that same farm, had chosen to live at Wooten House, in Fenbridge, England, the home of Baron Houlton, her grandfather, and the home where her father had grown up. Having finally completed her voyage over the Atlantic, she arrived in England that morning and, as she sat in her grandfather’s coach, she knew she would now be privileged to enjoy the wealthy lifestyle her father had left behind. Would she come to regret the choice she made?

Her father had left England as a young man after marrying the local vicar’s daughter, Mary, Emma’s mother. Unfortunately, he died, leaving behind his wife and daughter to manage on their own. That was why her mother chose to marry again soon after losing her first husband. What had started as a marriage of convenience soon became a second chance to love and be loved. This gave Emma hope for the path she had now chosen for herself.

Her mother had made certain Emma clearly understood what had precipitated her father’s departure from England. She didn’t want her daughter having unrealistic expectations of what her reunion with her grandfather might entail. Emma’s mother recalled the baron having a pleasing demeanor, but warned her he was a proud and unbending man who would not listen to reason if it was contrary to his plans. Emma understood her grandfather had clear plans laid out for her, but since she had agreed to do his bidding, she imagined he would welcome her with open arms in order to see his plans set in motion. 

Now that she had convinced herself of her grandfather’s warm, if not effusive, welcome, she lay her head on the cushion of the seat. The gentle rocking of the well-sprung carriage lulled her into slumber. 

Interesting. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website: https://anneliesedalaba.com

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/anneliesedalaba

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adalaba2017/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/adalaba2017

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/AnneDalaba/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Anneliese-Dalaba/e/B073HJXLB8/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Thank you, Anneliese, for sharing this award-winning book with my blog readers and me.

Readers, here are links to the book.

Reluctant To Wed (Arranged Marriage Series) - Paperback
Reluctant to Wed: Arranged Marriage Series, Book 1 - Kindle

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