The Warmth of Snow
By Heidi Eljarbo
There must be a way to thaw a heart long frozen. Can she help him, or does he have other plans?
Sweden 1810.
August Brandell, the count of Linborg, has returned home after four years of war against the French Empire under the direction of Napoléon Bonaparte. Wounded and downtrodden, he is a meager shadow of the man he used to be.
One day, a lovely young woman comes calling. She’s strong and bright and, unlike the rest, seems unaffected by his wealth and unfortunate disability. He soon discovers he wants more than a sweet friendship, but a life of caring for him would not be fair to such a beautiful soul. Oh, how dearly, deeply he loves her and secretly wants her to stay, but he cannot and will not ask such a sacrifice from her…especially not when it’s out of pity for him.
Erica Gustava Ebbesdotter has primarily been left to herself since she was orphaned at an early age. Although grateful to her aunt and uncle for taking her in, they pay her no attention and even keep her in the dark about her parents.
Hearing about Count Brandell’s unfortunate fate on the battlefield, she knocks on the door at Castle Linborg to leave him a card of encouragement.
Meeting Count Brandell changes Erica’s entire world. Falling for him is utterly unexpected. Soon, he fills her heart, but he is far above her station. How can a man like him see beyond her less refined clothes and past? Worst of all, he is already betrothed.
This is a sweet and wholesome historical romance—a hauntingly beautiful tale of two hearts meant to be together.
Publication Date: 24th October 2023
Publisher: self-published
Page Length: 212
Genre: Sweet Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Scandinavian Literature
This novel is free to read with #KindleUnlimited subscription.
SNIPPET
If God would take him to Heaven then and there, he’d gladly go. His bones ached and he was empty, as if he’d said everything there was to say, and there was nothing left to talk about.
Now, he just wanted to sleep.
Ulrik helped him to bed and heated a brick to place under the blanket by his feet. The night was unpleasantly cold, and the winds howled around the castle corners, sounding like ghouls and banshees wailing and shrieking on his behalf about the pain in his legs.
As he closed his eyes, the young woman appeared in his mind, smiling, beckoning him to live—not only to exist but for the joy of being alive. Was she a fairy or a human being? There was something mesmerizing and whimsical about her, but at the same time she appeared grounded and sensible.
Heidi Eljarbo is the bestselling author of historical fiction and mysteries filled with courageous and good characters that are easy to love and others you don't want to go near.
Heidi grew up in a home filled with books and artwork and she never truly imagined she would do anything other than write and paint. She studied art, languages, and history, all of which have come in handy when working as an author, magazine journalist, and painter.
After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She and her husband have fifteen grandchildren—so far—in addition to a bouncy Wheaten Terrier.
Their favorite retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summertime and ski the vast, white terrain during winter.
Heidi’s favorites are family, God's beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.
Thank you for hosting Heidi Eljarbo today, with an enticing snippet from The Warmth of Snow.
ReplyDeleteCathie xx
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