Told by everyone, including his father, he is slow-witted, Lord John Mitchell is willing to do almost anything to avoid helping run the family estate or care for his orphaned nephew. His lifelong battle learning to read and write has convinced him his father is right. 

 After the death of her husband in the Crimean War, Vivienne Ravenhill needs financial stability for her son and herself. 

 When Lord John’s father suddenly dies, he is thrown into taking on the estate and the family’s mill. Are John’s learning disabilities something he can overcome in order to handle this responsibility? 

 Will Vivienne find a place in his home...and his heart? 

 An interesting look at tackling dyslexia in 1855.

I love a good angst hero, don’t you? It’s not fun to read and it’s not fun to write characters where everything is perfect. In my Regimental Heroes series, I tackle now day issues and how they may be handled them in 1800 England. The over arching thread in the first three stories, my heroes have PTSD. After getting their butts kicked in the Crimean War, they would have returned from this bloody, brutal battle with issues. The same issues our soldiers suffer from today. Problems readjusting, night terrors, and the list goes on. 

Emotional growth for characters is essential. They must learn and grow through the course of the story. In my latest release, Redemption for a Rogue, John has dyslexia. In 1855 they had no idea what this was. His father has written him off and John believes he’s worthless and could never take the reins of the estate. Vivienne is left a widow from the war with a young son to raise. For women in those times, the choices were limited. She is desperate to find a governess position to establish a stable home for her son.

It’s great to take characters at their emotional low points and see how they change. Sometime it’s organic as I write them, going along on the journey and realizing what they need to do.

 I hope you will enjoy reading The Regimental Heroes short story series as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it.

Let's take a peek at these two, shall we?



John dismissed Collins and then lifted the tray’s lid to inhale the marvelous full-bodied aromas. He glanced to Vivienne. Hunched over the desk, she held a quill in hand. An auburn curl fell over her forehead and a delightful frown creased her beautiful brow. A feeling of complete and total well being washed over him.

Is this what life should be? Could be? Happy. Content. Had he ever felt this before? His heart twisted. After so many years of wanting, could these three people give him everything he’d wished for?

He slid the lid back over the meat and announced, “Let’s eat dinner before it grows cold.”

Vivienne looked up for a second before going back to the paper in front of her. She shook her head. “There is still which needs to be done. You and the boys eat. I will take a bite later.”

John moved to her, drew the quill from her hand, and placed it on the desk. He placed a thumb under her chin and then kissed her.

“The boys,” Vivienne said. Her cheeks blushed pink from his outward show of affection.

He tipped his head their direction. “They are playing. Nothing gets between boys and wooden soldiers. Someday these games will be replaced with a distraction of a beautiful woman.”