Echoes of Love
Echoes of Love
by Gina Ardito
Genre: Historical Romance
Royal governess Chesna Dubrow must protect the five-year-old king of Amatia from Napoleon Bonaparte's invading army. To do so, she'll be forced to wed one of the emperor's loyal soldiers. But Pietor Gabris isn't any soldier. Years ago, he broke Chesna's heart, forgetting the vows they'd made to love each other forever.
Pietor's return to Amatia is embroiled in subterfuge. Amidst the deceit surrounding him, he clings to the one truth he cannot ignore: his timeless love for Chesna. Yet confessing what's in his heart would sentence them both to death. To keep Chesna safe, he must portray the role of traitor, ensuring her animosity continues to blow hot and harsh.
As danger and intrigue swirl around the palace, can Chesna place her faith—and heart—with the one man she swore she'd never forgive?
“Hear me now, Pietor. I will not allow you to fill Zarek’s head with your twisted loyalties and insurrectionist thoughts. I will raise him as I see fit. Without your treasonous influence.”
“We can discuss the details of the boy’s upbringing later,” he replied blandly. “But now, you should wash up and dress while I tend to Zarek.”
Her hands settled on her hips. “You’re not listening to me. I’ll tend to him myself. I’ve cared for that boy without your help for more than five years. I’ll continue to care for him without your help.”
The morning sunlight streamed through the glass behind her, illuminating the sheer fabric of her sleeping gown and shadowing her legs to perfection. Pietor couldn’t help but stare at the curvaceous hips and tapered limbs peeking from beneath the filmy gown.
Impatient with his growing reaction to the temptations she offered, he tore his gaze away from the inspiring view and growled, “You’ll do as I say, my meek and obedient wife. I’ll tend to the boy while you prepare yourself to go downstairs and dine with us.”
Thankfully, she moved out of the sun’s path, toward her dressing closet. But she gave him a smile as cold as Lake Matya in January. “And you may go to hell, my hateful and arrogant husband. You think I’ve changed since we last saw one another? What about you? My appearance might seem different, but at least my values have remained the same.”
He quirked a brow. “Have they, Chess? When I last saw you, you were still an innocent maiden. You can’t claim that title anymore.”
“And when I last saw you, you swore on the soul of your sainted mother you wouldn’t forget me. What happened to the honorable young man who left Amatia seven years ago, Pietor? How could you follow a monster like Napoleon Bonaparte? What could he possibly offer you that your father couldn’t? Power? Glory?”
“By God, you’re such a little fool,” he chided. “You know nothing about me. You have your own view of what I should be and where my loyalties should lie. And because I don’t measure up to your expectations, you assume I’ve changed.”
“You’re absolutely right.” Although she’d softened her tone, the impact only strengthened the power of her words. “I don’t know you. The man I knew would never betray his country in so violent a manner. Tell me. Were the deaths of so many innocents worth your noble cause? Did you gain enough satisfaction from the rivers of blood that ran in the streets upon your homecoming? Does it please you to know how honorably your father died while defending his country? Was all that savagery enough to sate you? Or will you need more innocent blood shed in the name of your glorious emperor? Who will be your next victim? My boy? Tell me now so I might kill him myself before you and your army of brutes get your bloodied hands on him. I’ll show him mercy with a swift death. But you’ll destroy him slowly and then crush him like an unwanted insect.”
He winced. By God, the woman had a tongue sharper than a rapier. And worse, he couldn’t deny her accusations without divulging secrets he’d sworn to protect.
“Get dressed,” he ordered as he strode away from her vicious words. “I’ll rouse Zarek. When the boy is dressed and ready, we’ll return to escort you to the dining hall. Do not challenge me again, madam.”
“We can discuss the details of the boy’s upbringing later,” he replied blandly. “But now, you should wash up and dress while I tend to Zarek.”
Her hands settled on her hips. “You’re not listening to me. I’ll tend to him myself. I’ve cared for that boy without your help for more than five years. I’ll continue to care for him without your help.”
The morning sunlight streamed through the glass behind her, illuminating the sheer fabric of her sleeping gown and shadowing her legs to perfection. Pietor couldn’t help but stare at the curvaceous hips and tapered limbs peeking from beneath the filmy gown.
Impatient with his growing reaction to the temptations she offered, he tore his gaze away from the inspiring view and growled, “You’ll do as I say, my meek and obedient wife. I’ll tend to the boy while you prepare yourself to go downstairs and dine with us.”
Thankfully, she moved out of the sun’s path, toward her dressing closet. But she gave him a smile as cold as Lake Matya in January. “And you may go to hell, my hateful and arrogant husband. You think I’ve changed since we last saw one another? What about you? My appearance might seem different, but at least my values have remained the same.”
He quirked a brow. “Have they, Chess? When I last saw you, you were still an innocent maiden. You can’t claim that title anymore.”
“And when I last saw you, you swore on the soul of your sainted mother you wouldn’t forget me. What happened to the honorable young man who left Amatia seven years ago, Pietor? How could you follow a monster like Napoleon Bonaparte? What could he possibly offer you that your father couldn’t? Power? Glory?”
“By God, you’re such a little fool,” he chided. “You know nothing about me. You have your own view of what I should be and where my loyalties should lie. And because I don’t measure up to your expectations, you assume I’ve changed.”
“You’re absolutely right.” Although she’d softened her tone, the impact only strengthened the power of her words. “I don’t know you. The man I knew would never betray his country in so violent a manner. Tell me. Were the deaths of so many innocents worth your noble cause? Did you gain enough satisfaction from the rivers of blood that ran in the streets upon your homecoming? Does it please you to know how honorably your father died while defending his country? Was all that savagery enough to sate you? Or will you need more innocent blood shed in the name of your glorious emperor? Who will be your next victim? My boy? Tell me now so I might kill him myself before you and your army of brutes get your bloodied hands on him. I’ll show him mercy with a swift death. But you’ll destroy him slowly and then crush him like an unwanted insect.”
He winced. By God, the woman had a tongue sharper than a rapier. And worse, he couldn’t deny her accusations without divulging secrets he’d sworn to protect.
“Get dressed,” he ordered as he strode away from her vicious words. “I’ll rouse Zarek. When the boy is dressed and ready, we’ll return to escort you to the dining hall. Do not challenge me again, madam.”
Editorial
Review from Entrada Publishing:
The
old saying goes, if you love something, set it free, and if it is
meant to be, it will return. In Gina Ardito’s historical fiction
novel, she explores the idea of lost love, and bitter-sweet
homecomings.
Set
in the fictional country of Amatia, Chesna is the governess of the
young prince Mikhail, as a means to ease her broken heart. Six years
prior, her childhood sweetheart, Pietor was sent off to Russia, and
soon forgot all about Chesna. However, fate will soon bring the two
lost lovers together again, but under dire circumstances. As
Napoleon’s armies march upon Amatia, Chesna finds herself caught
between loyalty to her country, and what her heart desires.
Ardito
does a masterful job blending real-life historical events, with a
beautifully crafted love story. She crafts a suspenseful and engaging
narrative, taking readers through historical events, and the inner
conflicts within Chesna, and Pietor. The storytelling is beautifully
done as Ardito explores the concept of long-lost lovers, betrayal,
and learning to follow your heart. The narrative flows in an organic
way, with tension masterfully woven throughout. The dynamics between
Chesna and Pietor is natural, and their relationship is very well
written.
Along
with a tender love story, the author sets up a mystery that Chensa,
and Pietor must unravel before it is too late. Readers will be on the
edge of their seats, as they follow along in the race against time.
Chesna must figure out who to trust, and who she can place her faith
in.
For
those looking for a suspenseful, yet tender love story, Echoes
of Love is
a fantastic historical fiction novel. Gina Ardito is a fantastic
writer, and her novel will pull at your heartstrings, as well as
leave you breathless.
“I
honestly don’t know. If I believe you, someone whom I’ve known
all my life wants me dead. I have nowhere to turn and no one whom I
can trust. I am surrounded by enemies on all sides. Do you have any
idea how that makes me feel?”
I kill houseplants. There. Now you know one of my greatest shames. I'm not boasting. I just figure that if you're reading this, you're looking for more than how wonderful life is as a writer. You get enough of that elsewhere. Ditto for political rants, how to lose thirty pounds in a week, and creating gorgeous crafts with nothing more than twine and soup cans. My goal is to connect with you, dear reader, even if you're not a writer, not a New Yorker, not a mother, not a female. We're human (unless one of us is a spambot), and what we have in common is flaws. So here are a few more of mine:
I sing all the time. I sing songs most people don't know--jingles from television, crazy stuff I used to listen to on Dr. Demento, Broadway and movie soundtracks, and I can even bum-bum-bum through instrumental music. I sing in the car. In the shower. While I'm grocery shopping. And I headbop while I sing. When I'm not singing, I talk to myself. Just ignore me and move on. You get used to it after a while.
I don't eat my vegetables. Seriously. I only started eating salad about ten years ago, but I'd still rather have a cookie.
Given the option, I would live in a mall where I would never have to worry about freezing temperatures or too much sun. I'm extremely fair-skinned and could burn under a 60-watt light bulb.
I can't sleep without background noise so the television's on all night. If it's too dark and too quiet, all I have are my thoughts. And even *I* don't want to be alone with my thoughts.
Don't ask me to Zumba, line dance, or march in the parade. I have absolutely no rhythm.
I color outside the lines. Not because I'm a rebel, but because I suck as an artist. My artistic ability is limited to being able to draw Snoopy sleeping on his doghouse. And I don't even draw that well.
Regrets. I have more than a few.
My favorite activity is sleep, and I'm pretty good at it. I don't clock a lot of hours, but I can powernap like a Persian cat and rejuvenate within ten minutes.
I consider shopping and dining out excellent therapy for anything wrong in my life.
My feet are always cold. Always. My husband of more than a quarter century claims it's because I'm an alien sent to Earth to destroy him. (He might be right about that.)
Coming to my house for a visit? Unless you've given me plenty of advance notice, be prepared. My floor will not be vacuumed, there will be dishes in my sink, and I only make my bed when I change the sheets once a week (I'm climbing back into it ASAP. Why make it?) Housecleaning is not high on my priority list. Okay, to be totally honest, it's not on the list at all.
I can resist anything...except ice cream.
Since this is our first date, I figure I've revealed enough secrets for now. But if you've read this bio and think I might be the author for you, pick up one of my books or stalk my website: www.ginaardito.com.
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Beautiful cover! This sounds like a wonderful story!
ReplyDeleteI really like the cover!
ReplyDeleteI like the font and color scheme and idea but the photo of the girl looks a bit like a senior portrait...not high quality. Maybe go for a drawing?
ReplyDeleteI like the cover, it's sweet.
ReplyDelete