Jeanna Ellsworth ~ Inspired by Grace Blog Tour ~ Excerpt & Giveway!

Hey, Everyone! I'm delighted to be part of the Inspired by Grace Blog Tour! The lovely Jeanna Ellsworth is here today to talk about her new book, Inspired by Grace!

Thank you, Candy, for hosting me on your blog to talk about my latest release, Inspired by Grace. Many of you may be following my blog tour so far, which is over half way over and so may already be familiar with what my theme is for the book tour.  But for those of you who are new to this gossip train, I am introducing characters and the story of my book by using TV Tropes, which I will explain in a minute. All my other published works have been Pride and Prejudice variations where the history and characters were already well formed by Jane Austen herself. However, with a little nudge from a few very important people in my life, I decided to try my hand at an original traditional Regency romance.  In other words . . . I started from scratch and was presented with the challenging duty to make you fall in love with someone besides Fitzwilliam Darcy.

Although extremely fun to do, I realized that when talking about this book with readers who are unfamiliar with Gavin Kingston or Grace Iverson, I would have to explain the plot and characters to you in a unique way. After all, a blog post really should be less than 1000 words and for an author, that is hard to fit in all the excitement one has for their “baby” in so few words.

So, I will introduce the plot to you by way of TV Tropes. What is a TV Trope? It is a way to classify characters or common events that happen in media. It happened to be originally classified in the TV world, hence the name, but it translates well into writing as well. The main “plot” TV Trope that Inspired by Grace fits is the “Childhood Friend Romance Trope”.  I bet if you read the following snippet you will immediately understand how this is played out in several plots in media. Think Lion King:

Zazu: Oh, just look at you two! Little seeds of romance blossoming on the savanna. Your parents will be thrilled, what with your being betrothed and all. 

Simba: Be-what? 

Zazu: Betrothed. Intended. Affianced. 

Nala: ... Meaning? 

Zazu: One day you two are going to be married! 

Simba: Yuck! 

Nala: Ew! 

Simba: I can't marry her, she's my friend! 

Nala: Yeah, it'd be so weird.

    --- The Lion King

This theme or plot tool occurs in so many other examples in writing and other media. For example, Wuthering Heights, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, Mansfield Park, and even Harry Potter. It is no new theme, but I used it still the same. Here is the back cover blurb to whet your appetite and give you a foundation on which to understand this excerpt I plan to share. The excerpt immediately follows and is somewhat of a flashback into their childhood best friend relationship.

“She was never the demure lady who was afraid of getting her petticoat dirty. He was never the calm and collected lad who coddled her. What had started as friendship had evolved into something quite tangible . . .” 

A lady always hopes that the man she falls in love with will sweep her off her feet in a dramatic and graceful way. Well, for Grace Iverson, at least it was dramatic. Her childhood best friend, Gavin Kingston—now His Grace, the Duke of Huntsman—is still just as clumsy as ever. 

Despite their painful separation as children, a chance encounter has offered them a second opportunity for happiness. But after ten years apart, they both carry hidden scars. Trust takes time. And soon, forces from the past threaten to destroy the love they both have hoped for all of their lives. 

Can Grace’s best friend break down her emotional fortress and prove his love before she disappears from his life a second time? 

This lovely Regency romance started well before either of them knew what they wished for in a partner; but it will surely be one that stands the test of time.

 
Excerpt

He tugged his arms out of his confining coat as quickly as possible and tried to focus on the morning post. But his thoughts kept drifting back to what she had said. He wondered what she was referring to. It was true that whenever his cousins or friends had visited, Gavin had always introduced them to her. There had probably been a race or two, but what did she mean that “the biggest and bravest” would win the lady’s heart? Could she possibly be referring to that late August afternoon ten years ago? 

He pushed the post aside and leaned back in his chair. He interlocked his fingers behind his head and let himself drift off to that summer afternoon.

“I shall be leaving for Eton again in two days. I wish I could squeeze your annoying little body into my trunk and pack you along with me. You would make it so much more fun.”

“As your father has said so many times, you pay too much attention to me,” Grace told him. “I would only distract you.”

“No, Gigi, you know that is not true. Why else has he allowed us to share tutors? He knows you bring out the best in me.”

She laughed and said, “Well, around me you do trip slightly less often. It must be admitted as an improvement.”

“You sound like my father,” Gavin sighed. “And I trip much less nowadays. I have never tripped during our dance lessons.”

“Yes, I suppose you are commanding of your person during our lessons. But every other time I can safely count on whipping the breeches off you because of your lanky, skinny legs.”

He chuckled at her and tapped his finger on her nose. “Think what you must. I shall never win a debate with you. But I am glad to hear you consider me graceful on the dance floor.”

“I never said you were graceful. I said you were commanding.”

“That is the same as being graceful.”

“No, it is not. Graceful means to move smoothly with clean, imperceptible movements.”

He knew he had her now. “Ah, but with you in my arms, I am full of Grace. Therefore, by definition, I am Grace-full.” 

She gave him a small smile and said, “You will always be full of grace in that sense.”

“Did you just admit defeat?” he teased.

Grace said proudly, “I did not, and I shall not. I was only saying that I will always be your friend.”

He didn’t know why—perhaps it was the rare success in a debate that gave him the confidence—but he paused and then said, “Someday, Gigi, there will be someone who will take you away from me. He will be bigger and braver than me. I shall fight him off with a stick, but he will stake claim on your heart, and he will no longer let us be best friends. What we have cannot last forever.”

“You sound like you are saying goodbye.”

“No, I am just being realistic. Your father will arrange a smart match for you once you have your coming out, and you will be the happiest debutante in London’s upper ten thousand. I shall demand to be best man at your wedding, of course, but at some point, what we have shared these many years will no longer be.”

“How will I know he will make me happy?”

“He will be big and brave. He will be everything you have ever wanted.”

“Promise?”

“I promise. You will see. Keep your eyes wide open.”

“What if I never find him? What if I end up a spinster?”

He tapped his finger on her nose and lightly said, “Then I will marry you.”

She laughed and said, “Us? Marry? Never.” Her tone had been somewhat forced, as if she lacked confidence in her own declaration. It filled him with the slightest amount of hope. But what if she had meant it? What if she could never see him differently? The hope disappeared.

She quickly turned and headed home. She left him standing there hearing her words echo in his heart. He would never be more than a friend.

*****

I hope you all enjoyed learning about TV Tropes and are excited to read Inspired by Grace.  I love interacting with my readers. I promise any of you that if you have liked my other stories, you will love this one. In fact, one lucky commenter will win either a paperback (U.S. only) or an eBook (internationally) so make sure to tell me your thoughts!  With the blog tour almost over, there are dwindling chances to win it free! Don’t miss your chance on Candy’s blog! 

Thanks again Candy for hosting me on the blog tour! It is always a pleasure and I adore being your guest. 


It's a pleasure to have you here, Jeanna! You are always welcome!

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* * * GIVEAWAY * * *

It's giveaway time!! As Jeanna said above, she is giving away a paperback (U.S. only) Or an e-copy of her new book Inspired by Grace to one lucky person! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below and leave a comment.

Thank you, Jeanna!!

• One person will win a paperback (U.S. only) or an e-copy (open Internationally) of Inspired by Grace.
• Last day to enter: July 23, 2015, midnight PDT.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Please, leave a comment! We'd love to hear from you! Remember, to enter the giveaway you MUST fill out the Rafflecopter (shown above). If you need help entering, email me by clicking on the email icon at the top of the sidebar. Thanks!