Fresh Fiction Blog | Shana Galen | Love and Marriage: Regency Style

“Love and marriage, love and marriage
go together like a horse and carriage.
This I’ll tell you brother,
You can’t have one without the other.” – Frank Sinatra

In the Regency, that period in early nineteenth century England, being in love wasn’t the first thing considered in making a marriage match. It wasn’t even the last thing. Your connections, your estate, and most likely someone else’s opinion decided your fate in marriage. It was more common to marry without love than for it. Old Blue Eyes’ lyrics would have been as foreign to the inhabitants of the Regency as the song’s references to a horse and carriage are to us in the modern world.

My hero and heroine in True Spies know all about a loveless marriage. Winslow, Lord Keating, is an elite spy for the realm. When he chose Elinor to be his bride, she was a pliable young miss, who would not question his absences. The problem for Elinor was that she did love Winn, and she was completely in the dark about his other life as a spy. After over a decade of being the undemanding wife, she decides to find some adventure of her own. Elinor is unaware when she attends a Society ball on her own that she’s about to get more adventure than she planned and attract the attention of the one man she has decided she doesn’t want—her husband.

Once she would have waited with bated breath for him to return home. Once she would have dressed carefully, anticipating his arrival. But years of whiling away endless hours, nodding to sleep in the vestibule, wearing her best gowns for the sole benefit of the servants, had made her bitter. Winn was never going to change. She did not want to be bitter about the truth. She wanted to escape it—do something exciting and absorbing so she would not have to remember what her real life entailed.

Winn deserves the wake-up call Elinor’s search for excitement and adventure affords him. To be fair, he has been trying to take some time away from spying to spend more time with his family. Despite his good intentions something—saving England from Napoleon or some such trifle—always seems to come up. His family is used to his absences and his wife has given up on him. But when Winn arrives at the ball Elinor attended without him, things start to heat up in their “passionless” marriage.

The shot of lust he felt when he saw her all but knocked him over. And before he had the chance to feel guilty for lusting after a woman who was not his wife, he realized it was indeed his wife, and then anger quickly replaced lust. What was she thinking, coming to the Ramsgate ball with her bosom all but on display? Whom was she trying to seduce? Not him, obviously. Clearly, she hadn’t known he was coming, and she never wore seductive gowns when he accompanied her. Usually she wore… well, he could not remember what she wore, because he had not accompanied her for some time, but he was certain it was something far more subdued.

Do you enjoy stories where love is rediscovered between two people who are already married or are you more drawn to novels where two people meet and fall in love?

TRUE SPIES BY SHANA GALEN- IN STORES SEPTEMBER 2014

He's Getting Tired of Deception... Baron Winslow Keating is honor-bound to finish one last mission as an elite spy for the Barbican group even though he just wants to go home and be with his family. But after years of secrecy and absence, his daughters hardly know him and his wife has given up on him...

She Wants to Try a Little Intrigue... Lady Elinor has had enough of domestic boredom. She contemplates an affair with a rakish spy, only to discover a world of intrigue and treachery that she never knew existed. Even more shocking, her neglectful husband is suddenly very attentive—quite the jealous type—and apparently there is much more to him than she ever knew...

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Shana Galen is the author of fast-paced adventurous Regency historicals, including the Lord and Lady Spy Series, the Jewels of the Ton Series, as well as the Sons of the Revolution Trilogy. A former English teacher in Houston’s inner city, Shana now writes full time, and is working on more regency romance novels! She’s happily married to the Ultimate Sportsfan and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making. Shana loves to hear from readers: visit her website at www.shanagalen.com or see what she’s up to daily on Facebook and Twitter.

Comment to win a copy of True Spies.

Comments

I can't recall ever reading a book about two people who rediscover love - only books about people who fall in love. After being married for over 30 years, perhaps I should start looking a little harder for the rediscover books!! :-) As for your book, I love the setting for starters. I always gravitate towards books that are set in England - especially that time period. You've taken a story line, and set it on its' end, so to speak. When I got done reading your posting, I couldn't stop laughing. I didn't mean to, but your description was so lifelike, that I could just picture in my minds' eye what it would be like if that was really to occur. I could sympathize with Elinor, and would probably go a little stir-crazy myself!! I can't wait to get my hands on this book, and see how this story unfolds!! It will definately be on my TBR list!! Thank you for what I'm sure will be a terrific read!!
(Peggy Roberson 8:56am September 13, 2013)

I'm looking forward to reading this one. Thanks for visiting.
(G S Moch 10:34am September 13, 2013)

Thanks, Peggy. I know we all love reading books about falling in love, but most
of us are married. I thought it would be fun to write about falling in love again.
(Shana Galen 10:51am September 13, 2013)

Thank you for taking time to comment, GS Moch. Good luck!
(Shana Galen 10:54am September 13, 2013)

I like both, I think. Both are interesting if done the proper way. I love fun, witty dialogue and they can be in both plot. :)
(May Pau 11:08am September 13, 2013)

I think it will be nice to read about someone whose dedicated his life in service to his country and then realizes what the true cost has been to him.
(Cate Sparks 11:13am September 13, 2013)

I love the premise of this book and the series. I can't wait to read TRUE SPIES!
(Jennifer Langford 11:16am September 13, 2013)

I do enjoy stories about married couples finding each other all over again. Second chances. Romance. Love. Ahhh, yes.
(Lisa Hutson 12:18pm September 13, 2013)

I've been eyeing this book on facebook. I'll be buying a copy the next time I go to the "city." I'll take an "in the wild" shot for Shana as well!
(Dot Dittman 12:39pm September 13, 2013)

Cate, it's something we don't often write about in historicals because so many of
the heroes are aristocrats.
(Shana Galen 12:47pm September 13, 2013)

Me, too, Lisa. I love all romance stories!
(Shana Galen 12:47pm September 13, 2013)

Do it, Dot! I'd love to enter you in my contest for a gift card.
(Shana Galen 12:48pm September 13, 2013)

This sounds like such a fun storyline. I cannot imagine being married to someone, but not really in a marriage and then to find out they are not who you thought they were. :)
(Sue Galuska 1:08pm September 13, 2013)

I love the idea of a husband and wife discovering new things about each other and falling in love after they are married. This book sounds like great fun!
(Cheryl Castings 2:22pm September 13, 2013)

I love your Regency historicals! Thanks for the
giveaway!!!!!!
(Linda Townsend 3:00pm September 13, 2013)

I love this series and can't wait for the next book. Do you have plans for continuing the series after that one, Shana?
(Flora Segura-Buchler 3:40pm September 13, 2013)

Who can resist a spy novel and marriage in trouble plot? The Scarlet Pimpernel was a terrific spy novel with a marriage crisis, so perhaps this one has a similar theme.
(Kim C 3:51pm September 13, 2013)

I'm drawn to a well written book. I do find here love is rediscovered between two people is often a fun read. This sound like a book I should put on my list.
(Laura Gullickson 5:00pm September 13, 2013)

Congrats on your newest release! Love the sound of this book!
(Colleen Conklin 5:11pm September 13, 2013)

It would be refreshing to read a book about rediscovered love or love found between two who have been married for a while. It's not a theme I've run across much in my reading history. With our aging reading demographic I thinks it's appropriate to read about older married couples rediscovering each other. The spy thing doesn't hurt either ;-) Thanks for the giveaway!
(Lenna Hendershott 5:40pm September 13, 2013)

I enjoy both stories a lot. Rediscovered love is always
like a blessing especially if the two people have been
estrange for a while. It's like renewing their wedding vows
again. As for two people who meet and fall in love, you get
to read about their ups and downs to reach the marriage
stage. You see their problems and how they prove they are
meant together. Thanks for the giveaway
(Sandy Xiong 7:49pm September 13, 2013)

Have loved the series so far, can't wait for this won. Maybe the 13th will be lucky for me!! Love you, Shana. Cheers!
(Sue Peterson 8:55pm September 13, 2013)

I don't think I've ever read a rediscovered love book---but if it's like second chances I'll like it.
(Sue Farrell 9:23pm September 13, 2013)

I generally am drawn more to stories where two people meet and fall in love. However, stories of rediscovered love tend to have somewhat older characters, and that's a nice change of pace.
(Janie McGaugh 10:05pm September 13, 2013)

I have read a number of books about rediscovered love, and I find them so
appealing. I enjoyed reading about True Spies, and the cover is lovely!
Congratulations on your book, and thanks for the chance to win!!!
(Linda Brennan 10:16pm September 13, 2013)

Wow, Congrats on your new book: TRUE SPIES. This sounds like
a fascinating book to win and read this Fall. Thanks for the
great contest and look out James Bond because TRUE SPIES is
here! Thank You very much. Cecilia CECE
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 11:06pm September 13, 2013)

I would be drawn to both types of stories, where love is rediscovered between two people already married and where two people fall in love for the first time. Thank you for this chance to win.
(Esther Somorai 11:58pm September 13, 2013)

I love reading about married couple who find that their marriage is not as passionless as they thought. Already the excerpt has me hook for True Spies.
(Kai Wong 12:19pm September 14, 2013)

I've recently read a modern novel of a couple who fall in romance again after their three kids and work life have exhausted them for years. The love was there but the romance and passion was missing.
(Clare O'Beara 6:56am September 14, 2013)

It was a fun story to write, Sue. I do not think I'd want to live it in real life.
(Shana Galen 3:19pm September 14, 2013)

Flora, I don't have plans for this series after LOVE AND LET SPY.
(Shana Galen 3:20pm September 14, 2013)

Yes, Kim, that's one of my favorite books.
(Shana Galen 3:20pm September 14, 2013)

Lenna, when I consider my readership, it made more sense to me to have a little
older heroine. I don't think the majority of my readers are 18. We all like to read
about people like us sometimes.
(Shana Galen 3:22pm September 14, 2013)

Great comments, Sandy. I agree. Thanks for the comment.
(Shana Galen 3:22pm September 14, 2013)

Sue F, if you like second chances, I think you'll enjoy this one. Thanks!
(Shana Galen 3:23pm September 14, 2013)

Janie, that was my thought exactly. Sometimes I like to write different
ages/situations.
(Shana Galen 3:24pm September 14, 2013)

Thank you, Linda. I love my cover designers.
(Shana Galen 3:24pm September 14, 2013)

Oh, great, Kai! I'm glad you liked the excerpt.
(Shana Galen 3:26pm September 14, 2013)

Clare, sounds like a great book. Add spies and you have TRUE SPIES!
(Shana Galen 3:26pm September 14, 2013)

I would enjoy and be drawn to both where love is rediscovered between two people already married or where two people meet and fall in love. Both are equally intriguing to me. I lived next door to a married couple who divorced, fell in love again and re-married, divorced again, then went on to do things together and remain friends, but each re-married other people. Sure is interesting and mind-boggling. This sounds like a wonderful book.
(Linda Luinstra 5:30pm September 14, 2013)

I'm looking forward to such a great read.
(Mary Preston 10:48pm September 15, 2013)

Just what I need.... a brand new start.....
(Gina Keitz 3:27pm September 19, 2013)

I enjoyed both. No one know how, when, or to who, they'll fall in love. Its natural happening
(Rina Darmayanti 5:52pm September 25, 2013)

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