About the Book

Book: The Sugar Baron’s Governess

Author: Elva Cobb Martin

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: August 23, 2022

She needs a new start…He knows a reckoning is coming.

Banished from Charleston for his misdeeds years earlier, Joshua Becket built a new life on both sides of the law in Jamaica. As sugar plantation owner and member of the governing British Assembly, he’s known and respected on the island. But he guards a secret identity. As swashbuckling Captain Jay, he leads daredevil privateering exploits on his ship, the Eagle, when the mood suits him. Currently, he needs a governess for his young daughter whose mother has passed.

Widowed gentlewoman Abigail Welch accepted the governess position, leaving behind her disintegrated life in Charleston. This new start in Jamaica might finally help her find healing for her broken heart after losing her husband in the Revolution and their infant son to yellow fever.

Joshua’s precocious, undisciplined daughter is the drawing card that brings him and Abigail together like clashing cymbals of disagreement…and fiery attraction. Can love and the miracle power of God give them a new beginning and a happily ever after?

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About the Author

Elva Cobb Martin is a wife, mother, and grandmother who lives in South Carolina with her husband and a mini-dachshund. A life-long student of history, her favorite city, Charleston, inspires her stories of romance and adventure. Her love of writing grew out of a desire to share exciting stories of courageous characters and communicate truths of the Christian faith to bring hope and encouragement. Connect with her on her web site at https://www.elvamartin.com/ .

More from Elva

I had an amazing thing happen when first beginning The Sugar Baron’s Governess. My precious husband had booked a week for us in a comfortable condo at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to help me concentrate on my plotstorming—without the “do me” call of our vacuum, washing machine, or phone calls when at home. Of course, he likes to fish from a pier while I’m writing.

The first morning I sat at the kitchen table overlooking the Atlantic, with my laptop, researching Jamaica and especially the historic Maroon settlement of warriors and escaped slaves in the mountains that could play a part in my story. I was also praying for the Lord to help get a good start on this fourth novel in my series. Should I even be including the fierce Maroons in my plot?

A knock came at the door. I had requested no room service, so I was surprised to be interrupted. When I answered it, a black male employee asked if we needed any cleaning done or fresh linens. I almost gave him a short answer, wanting to get back to my laptop, but my ear discerned a British accent. –Here’s our amazing conversation:

“Where are you from?”

“Jamaica.”

I opened the door wide and invited him in. “That’s most interesting. I’m writing a novel set in Jamaica.”

His eyes widened. “You are?”

“Yes, in fact,” I gestured to my laptop, “I’m right now researching a group of warriors in historic Jamaica, called the Maroons. Know anything about them?”

His mouth fell open. “I’m a descendant of the Maroons.”

I got a tingling chill up my arm. How likely was this kind of thing to happen? He further told me he never worked the 15^th floor but for whatever reason, had been assigned our floor that day. He told me was a Christian, and he shared several things with me about the Maroons and how they finally won their independence and rights the British government of Jamaica had long withheld. At times, because of their desperate existence, they did hurtle down from their mountain strongholds and burn sugar plantations, as history records.

I decided I had a definite confirmation to include the Maroon warriors in my Jamaican story. They are instrumental in convincing my hero Joshua Becket to turn back to God when his life and plantation are sorely threatened. Whoops, there I go giving away some of the story! Hope you enjoy Joshua and Abigail’s exciting, romantic adventure in Jamaica. Can they survive and make it back to Charleston and a happily ever after?

Author Interview with Elva

Q: What was the inspiration for this novel, The Sugar Baron’s Governess?

Elva: Glad you asked. The hero, Joshua Becket, was a villain in Book 2, The Sultan’s Captive, in this Charleston Brides series. His stepbrother, Samuel Vargas, the hero of that novel, actually forced Joshua to leave Charleston and go to a relative in Jamaica or face criminal charges for his misdeeds. I kept thinking about Joshua down in Jamaica. Could he possibly be redeemed, turn around for the good and find a happy ever after? My publisher was delighted with the idea and so... this novel was born.

Q: What was the most surprising thing you discovered while researching or writing this novel?

Elva: I had a most surprising thing happen with this research. I was in a condo at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, specifically researching the historic warrior Maroons who lived in hideouts in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica in the 1700-1800s. They were a native populace made up of early Indian groups, escaped slaves, and some pirates left after the Spanish governing years. When Britain took over the island, they posed a constant threat of revolution, burning of sugar plantations, and murdering the owners in an effort to obtain civil rights and recognition. I was reading all about them on the internet when a knock sounded at the door. I had requested no room service to limit interruptions so was surprised to see a young black male worker standing there with the cleaning buggy and linens wanting to know if I needed anything. He had a peculiar British accent. I almost shut the door, but then asked him where he was from. He said Jamaica. I opened the door wide and invited him in, telling him I was actually writing and researching a novel sat on the island. To my further amazement he informed me he was a descendent of the warrior Maroons I was researching.

Q: What do you hope readers take away from this novel?

Elva:I hope they have a wonderful read and enjoy escaping to Jamaica and the high seas in a warm romance, of course. But close to my heart, I hope they also take away the wonderful theme that no one is beyond redemption if they decide to turn to God, like Joshua. And along with that, that God is in the business of giving wonderful new beginnings to those who’ve gone through sorrow and loss like Abigail, the heroine.

Q: Who is an author you would recommend to anyone and everyone?

Elva:

Eugenia Price – wonderful, Godly historicals sat in the 1700-1800’s.
MaryLu Tyndall – exciting, inspiring pirate and sailing ship romances
Robert Whitlow – riveting Christian legal mysteries

Q: Where can readers find out more about you and your novel?

Elva: I love to make new friends! Readers can find out more about me and my novels by checking out my web site at http;/www.elvamartin.com, and signing up for my monthly newsletter on the site. They can also find me on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter by my full name, Elva Cobb Martin.