Love Romances? Don’t
miss… Redemption from a Dark Past
A Gothic
Historical Romance from Kelli A. Wilkins
Hi everyone,
Today I’m sharing a look at the making of my Gothic
historical romance, Redemption from a
Dark Past.
When I sit down to write an historical
romance, I never know where (or when) my story will take me. I’ve written
romances set in the Old West (Lies, Love & Redemption), the Minnesota
wilderness (Loving a Wild Stranger), Colonial Pennsylvania (Dangerous
Indenture), and Celtic Scotland (The Viking’s Witch). Redemption from a Dark Past takes
place in another unique locale, the Kingdom of Hungary.
For me, the setting conjures up images of brooding
castles perched on treacherous mountaintops, tiny villages, medieval stone
cities, vampires, and Prince Vlad. Although the book does not take place in
Transylvania specifically, this atypical location appealed to me. It seemed
like the perfect place for a Gothic novel filled with secrets, danger,
deception, and superstition.
Right from the start, we meet Lord
Sebestyen Adrik and learn that he’s a troubled hero who has hidden himself away
in his isolated castle. He’s depressed, guilt-ridden, has an unsavory
reputation, and is the subject of nasty rumors spread by superstitious
villagers.
The heroine, Katarina, is feisty, clever,
and anything but superstitious. She dismisses tales of evil spirits and ghosts,
and doesn’t have time for old wives’ tales. She’s ambitious and wants to leave
her pathetic job on the goat farm for better things. When she learns that she’s
about to be forced into marriage to a much older man, she jumps at the chance
to be Lord Adrik’s companion—despite all the terrifying stories she has been
told. Katarina’s boldness and intelligence make her the perfect person to free Sebestyen
from his dark past.
When I set about creating the mysterious
Lord Adrik, I wanted to make him a flawed and sympathetic hero. He has two
physical ailments (one most romance heroes never have – sorry, no spoilers!) as
well as several psychological scars. And as if they weren’t enough problems, he
also has a reputation as a murderer (among other things). At the start of
the book, he has just about given up on life and any hope of being happy. By
giving Sebestyen all this “baggage” I made him vulnerable and provided him with
lofty goals to reach.
As I wrote, I added layers of secrets,
built suspense, and created numerous plot twists and turns. Readers follow
Katarina’s adventures and are not sure what—or who—to believe. Can Magda the
surly, gossiping cook be trusted? How did Lady Adrik die? Is the castle really
haunted? What happened to Lord Adrik’s previous companions? Are the rumors
about him true? Katarina is left alone with Sebestyen every night, should she
fear for her safety? Everyone says she should!
Over the course of the book, Katarina
draws Sebestyen out of his shell, and just when she thought she knew him, she
uncovers a disturbing secret he’s been hiding from her. Katarina tries to make
sense of it all, while following her heart.
Not everyone in this story is exactly what
(or who) they seem to be, and this adds another level of mystery and intrigue
to the book. Combining all these elements into a sensual, Gothic romance was a
lot of fun, and I hope readers will enjoy this trip into “the Dark Lord’s
lair.”
Here’s the book summary and buy link:
Redemption from a Dark Past
Lord Sebestyen Adrik has an unsavory
reputation as a madman, murderer… and worse. Lonely and searching for love, he
seeks the companionship of local young women, hoping one of them will ease his
torment and bring him the happiness he longs for. Katarina is his last
chance—but will she fear him like all the others? Or is she the one who can
lift his curse?
Desperate to avoid a forced marriage,
Katarina agrees to become Lord Adrik’s latest companion, despite the rumors she
has heard about him. She discovers the “Dark Lord’s” secret past and realizes
he’s not the monster everyone thinks he is.
As their love blossoms, she renews his
passion for life—yet they cannot escape the ghosts of the past.
When a meeting of the nobility goes
horribly wrong, Sebestyen’s world unravels, and his enemies plot to destroy
him. As all seems lost, a mysterious stranger arrives at the castle. Sebestyen
must decide if he is a friend or a foe…and if he can find redemption in his
love for Katarina, or lose her and everything else that he holds dear.
* * *
Order
Redemption from a Dark Past and read reviews here:
https://www.kelliwilkins.com/redemption-from-a-dark-past
I hope you enjoyed this inside look at the making of Redemption from a Dark Past.
I welcome comments and questions from readers. Be sure to follow my blog for
the latest updates and visit me on social media!
Happy
Reading,
Kelli A. Wilkins
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has
published more than 100 short stories, 24 romance novels, and 9
mystery/thriller/horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and
she likes to scare readers with her horror, mystery, and thriller fiction.
Her latest book, The Route 9 Stalker, was
published in January 2026. This mystery/thriller is set in Central NJ and
follows Detective Jim Rourke on a disturbing new case. Meet him for the first
time in The Route 9 Killer.
Kelli's 24th
romance, For Love’s Sake, an epic historical/fantasy
romantic adventure, was published in January 2025.
In 2024, she
released Surreal Escapes, a collection of 7
speculative/spooky stories. Anything can—and does—happen in this anthology.
Follow Kelli on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins
and visit her website/blog www.KelliWilkins.com
for a full title list, social media links, and more.
No comments:
Post a Comment