Bewitched by Candlelight is for the ones who feel overlooked. Who feel the pressure to outperform, to handle every little crisis, while flying under the radar unseen by family or friends. The ones who have built a fence around their hearts to keep everyone else at bay, and perhaps the one who holds their head a little too high because they've had to carry so many burdens.
I so enjoyed taking Eleanor Elliott's character sketch inspired by Elizabeth Bennet, of course our lovely Lizzy from Pride and Prejudice. At the base, I didn't write a young woman who thinks she's a cut above the rest, but rather one who thinks she must be in order to compensate for the various failings of her family: parents who were actively neglectful of the younger siblings, who learned to run wild, and now that burden rests on her shoulders. She won't accept help because of the favors that will come into play later. And she's cornered into a marriage she does not wish to accept because it will simply be the most logical action for her family, one that will preserve them.
What I didn't plan on, however, was how much this reflected my Mr. Darcy's character (Mr. Coley). With his parents having passed, he's left to raise his little sister Louisa. In the ways Eleanor's parents were absent, his were literally gone, and in like fashion, he has to be tediously careful with raising his sister, managing estates, and all the things his family left for him to care for. In the ways Eleanor must grow up and mature fast, so has Mr. Coley--only in a deeper scale.
And as so often happens, when two people who are so similar meet in a less-than-ideal environment, they immediately go for the jugular.
So Bewitched by Candlelight was borne of two characters who are very much alike, who have endured the same struggles from different ends of the spectrum, who would go through fire and back again for their loved ones, and two characters who are very often looked down on by those around them. It's easy to write Jane Bennet's easy, puppy-dog romance with Charles Bingley (or Sarah and Malcolm in this reimagining), and that's sweet in its own right. But the hearty part of a love story is whether or not they can endure, and whether or not characters hardened by life circumstance can be softened by one another. And that's exactly what I explored in this cozy Christmas novella full of Regency flair and fantasy-slash-magical realism fun.
Preorders are open now through November 24th: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HCPBRRS4/
Bewitched by Candlelight is officially off with my wonderful formatter, Anna Barroso, and that means it's almost time to share eARCs! This means you'll get to read BBC before anyone else. It's very laid back; I have no solid due date for reviews. I believe BookFunnel sends out an automatic reminder on release day, but reviews are appreciated, not mandated!
If you want to sign up, the link is here: https://forms.gle/9i3mjVkeuwRSBi2E6.
CONTENT: If you're concerned regarding fantasy/magical elements, spice, etc., here's what you can expect from Bewitched by Candlelight.
SPICE: No spice! A few very chaste kisses (on hands/cheeks) is all. True to Pride and Prejudice, one character runs off with a man, intent on an anvil marriage, which is condemned.
MAGIC: Mentions of "moonweavers," people who rely on the darkness, presented in a negative light as something to be destroyed. Not glorified. A "curse/spell" is cast which is destroyed through selfless love and reliance on Christ. Magical realism is present with animals.
VIOLENCE: No on-page violence, though characters contemplate it once or twice.
FAITH: Christian elements are present throughout the book.
LANGUAGE: No language.
ARC copies will be distributed via BookFunnel in October.
DEADLINE: Signups are due by October 24th!
If you're interested in other books in The Candlelit Tales, ARC signups for the full lineup is available here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdICGTKoSu2px3vdZVUcePThA8HNRNM-IMeyegMCuIjznqwXg/viewform and I know all of us would seriously appreciate everyone who signs up!
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