Mary Ellis – Romantic Character Interview – Part 1 of 2

Shannon here: Mary Ellis shares insight into her characters’ romance from her latest historical romance, The Lady and the Officer. Comment on any post dated August 6 – 8 to enter the drawing for a copy. Deadline: August 16th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Mary:

1. Do your hero and heroine have a favorite song?
I guess that would be the Battle Hymn of the Republic since both central characters are devoted to restoring the Union during the Civil War. He serves his country as a general, while she works first as a nurse and then as a spy behind enemy lines.
2. What’s the most romantic present your hero ever bought your heroine?
My hero purchased my heroine’s pride-and-joy, a horse she raised from birth. Her horse was “procured” by cavalry troops that were desperate for replacement mounts. Despite being in between segments of a battle, General Downing pulls out all stops to find this horse among hundreds.
3. What simple gesture does your heroine do that melts your hero every time?
My heroine tucks a St. Christopher’s medal into the general’s breast pocket to offer protection during the upcoming battle. St. Christopher is the patron saint of travelers.
4. Who is most romantic, your hero or your heroine?
Definitely my hero is more romantic. General James Downing arranges a romantic dinner by the fire in a charming bed and breakfast (separate rooms, of course!), a trail ride into the spring countryside, and picks wildflowers in the meadow, all during wartime, no less. This is in addition to all the other hero-like feats like saving her life and proposing on bended knee.
5. What is the most caring thing your heroine has ever done for your hero?
My heroine risks her life behind Confederate lines to obtain intelligence that saves my hero’s life and the lives of his soldiers. She became a spy for the Union Army so that my hero could have advance warning of planned attacks.
6. Who said, “I love you” first, your hero or your heroine?
My hero says “I love you” first. At the time, my heroine was a recent widow and not prepared to make the same commitment. But she soon fears she’ll never be given a second chance to make her feelings known.
7. If you hero and heroine end up married, where will they go on their honeymoon?
This is nineteenth century America in the aftermath of the Civil War, so romantic cruises and tours of Europe are out of the question. James takes her to Philadelphia on their honeymoon to meet his parents, and then back to Gettysburg where he rebuilds her house that had been destroyed by artillery fire.
About Mary: Mary Ellis has written twelve bestselling novels set in the Amish community. Before “retiring” to write full-time, Mary taught school and worked as a sales rep for Hershey Chocolate. Living in Harmony, book one of her last series won the 2012 Lime Award for Excellence in Amish Fiction. Love Comes to Paradise won the 2013 Lime Award.
Her most recent Amish book is A Plain Man.
She is currently working on a three-book series of historical romances set during the Civil War for Harvest House Publishers. The Quaker and the Rebel released in January and The Lady and the Officer releases in July. Learn more and connect: www.maryellis.net, www.maryeellis.wordpress.com, https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Mary-Ellis/126995058236
About the book – The Lady and the Officer:
Love, loyalty, and espionage…how does a lady live with all three?
As a nurse after the devastating battle of Gettysburg, Madeline Howard saves the life of Elliot Haywood, a colonel in the Confederacy. But even though she must soon make her home in the South, her heart and political sympathies belong to General James Downing, a Union Army corps commander.
Colonel Haywood has not forgotten the beautiful nurse who did so much for him, and when he unexpectedly meets her again in Richmond, he is determined to win her. While spending time with army officers and war department officials in her aunt and uncle’s palatial home, Madeline overhears plans for Confederate attacks against the Union soldiers. She knows passing along this information may save the life of her beloved James, but at what cost?
Can she really betray the trust of her family and friends? Is it right to allow Elliott to dream of a future with her? Two men are in love with Madeline. Will her faith in God show her the way to a bright future, or will her choices bring devastation on those she loves?
Come back August 8th for Mary’s excerpt!