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On tour with Prism Book Tours…
Lancaster House by Taylor DeanPaperback, 304 pagesPublished June 7th 2012 by CreatespacePremise: Zoe Grayson needs a change. So, she moves to another state, purchases an old, dilapidated 1920s Victorian Mansion, and sets out to restore it to its former glory. As she begins the restoration, she finds herself falling in love with the old house . . . not to mention its illustrious builder, Mr. Lancaster. Zoe becomes obsessed with the house as she discovers its secrets; hidden rooms, secret passageways . . . and a mysterious man who seems to think the house is his. Who is he? More importantly, how does he live in her home unseen and unheard?The unexpected answers leave her reeling—and questioning everything she’s ever known. To her dismay, Zoe’s actions land her in the local psychiatric hospital, scheming for ways to return to Lancaster House . . . and the love of her life.
by Taylor Dean
Paperback, 356 pages
Published November 26th 2012 by Create Space
Premise:
Zoe Grayson is back in Lancaster House, ordered to bed rest for the duration of her unexpected pregnancy. Doctor Wade Channing, her overzealous psychiatrist, is living in Lancaster House, taking care of her, waiting on her, and tending to her every need. It seems to be the perfect arrangement.
There’s just one catch.
She has to tell him her story—everything that has happened in her life since the moment she escaped from Serenity Hills. It’s been quite an adventure to include renovating another home and a walk down the middle aisle.
But, that’s all over now. Nothing is real. It never was.
How did she end up in this miserable situation?
The Doctor: An
excerpt from Lancaster House
excerpt from Lancaster House
*If you missed
yesterday’s post which included an excerpt from The Middle Aisle using slang
from the nineteen-twenties, then put down your tea and slip out of this hidden sitting room back to icultgen. . .
yesterday’s post which included an excerpt from The Middle Aisle using slang
from the nineteen-twenties, then put down your tea and slip out of this hidden sitting room back to icultgen. . .
Doctor Wade Channing
is the psychiatrist in the Lancaster House series. In writing him, I found
myself debating his personality traits. Should he by the stereotypical ‘evil
psychiatrist?’ Nah, to overdone. Should he fall I love with Zoe? Nah, to
unprofessional and the reader will lose all faith in him. Should he be a main
character or just someone Zoe rehearses her story to?
is the psychiatrist in the Lancaster House series. In writing him, I found
myself debating his personality traits. Should he by the stereotypical ‘evil
psychiatrist?’ Nah, to overdone. Should he fall I love with Zoe? Nah, to
unprofessional and the reader will lose all faith in him. Should he be a main
character or just someone Zoe rehearses her story to?
In the end, Doctor
Wade Channing becomes the kind, benevolent doctor who truly wants Zoe to see
the error in her ways. He really wants to help her realize her delusions. He
loves her, yes, but he loves her as his patient, not in a weird-creepy way.
Doctor Channing very much becomes a main character in that he is the person Zoe
fears, the person who has the power to take her life away from her and keep her
from Andre. That reason alone makes him the enemy. I consulted my
psychology-degreed daughter as I wrote Doctor Channing. How would he act in
this situation? What would he say? She helped me immensely. Otherwise I
wouldn’t have had a clue as to how to write him!
Wade Channing becomes the kind, benevolent doctor who truly wants Zoe to see
the error in her ways. He really wants to help her realize her delusions. He
loves her, yes, but he loves her as his patient, not in a weird-creepy way.
Doctor Channing very much becomes a main character in that he is the person Zoe
fears, the person who has the power to take her life away from her and keep her
from Andre. That reason alone makes him the enemy. I consulted my
psychology-degreed daughter as I wrote Doctor Channing. How would he act in
this situation? What would he say? She helped me immensely. Otherwise I
wouldn’t have had a clue as to how to write him!
That being said,
here’s one of my favorite exchanges between Doctor Channing and Zoe:
here’s one of my favorite exchanges between Doctor Channing and Zoe:
Doctor
Channing rubbed his forehead in pain, his legs propped up on his desk. He let
out his breath as it whistled through the cracks between his teeth. He studied
her contemplatively. So far, he’d been completely unsuccessful in breaking down
Zoe’s belief in her story. He couldn’t even break off a chink in her armor and
he was frustrated. After sitting in silence for several minutes, Zoe finally
asked, “Don’t you have anything to say?”
Channing rubbed his forehead in pain, his legs propped up on his desk. He let
out his breath as it whistled through the cracks between his teeth. He studied
her contemplatively. So far, he’d been completely unsuccessful in breaking down
Zoe’s belief in her story. He couldn’t even break off a chink in her armor and
he was frustrated. After sitting in silence for several minutes, Zoe finally
asked, “Don’t you have anything to say?”
“Do
you wish you could have saved your father, Zoe?”
you wish you could have saved your father, Zoe?”
“What
kind of a question is that?”
kind of a question is that?”
“Is
is true that he died in your arms?”
is true that he died in your arms?”
Zoe
visibly paled. “Yes,” she said almost inaudibly. “He had a heart attack right
before my very eyes. I held him while awaiting the ambulance. He was gone
before they even arrived. I’ve never felt so powerless in my life. I suddenly
knew nothing was in my control . . . nothing.”
visibly paled. “Yes,” she said almost inaudibly. “He had a heart attack right
before my very eyes. I held him while awaiting the ambulance. He was gone
before they even arrived. I’ve never felt so powerless in my life. I suddenly
knew nothing was in my control . . . nothing.”
“So
you created an immortal being, one that feels no pain, can never die, and never
leave you. He awaits you forever. All you have to do is go home and there he
is, waiting for you. It’s all very opportune, isn’t it, Zoe?”
you created an immortal being, one that feels no pain, can never die, and never
leave you. He awaits you forever. All you have to do is go home and there he
is, waiting for you. It’s all very opportune, isn’t it, Zoe?”
Zoe
said nothing. Her eyes lowered and she stared at the ground.
said nothing. Her eyes lowered and she stared at the ground.
Wade
knew he was on to something. He stayed completely calm, sitting in his casual
manner, yet he verbally attacked her, letting his words roll off his tongue as
they hit her with striking force. “You’re right, he’s the perfect man. A man
who scoffs at porn, a man who can only take intimacy so far, a man who sees the
sheer goodness in you, a man who loves to help you redecorate the house . . .”
With each statement, he didn’t hide the dripping sarcasm in his voice.
knew he was on to something. He stayed completely calm, sitting in his casual
manner, yet he verbally attacked her, letting his words roll off his tongue as
they hit her with striking force. “You’re right, he’s the perfect man. A man
who scoffs at porn, a man who can only take intimacy so far, a man who sees the
sheer goodness in you, a man who loves to help you redecorate the house . . .”
With each statement, he didn’t hide the dripping sarcasm in his voice.
“Stop
it.” Zoe paled and her hands shook in her lap.
it.” Zoe paled and her hands shook in her lap.
“A
man who would never dream of hurting you in any way, a man who loves to simply
look upon you day after day, a man who needs nothing as he doesn’t need to eat
or even sleep, a man who spontaneously gives you piggyback rides, a man who
puts you to sleep when life gets rough . . .” His words were thick with
disdain.
man who would never dream of hurting you in any way, a man who loves to simply
look upon you day after day, a man who needs nothing as he doesn’t need to eat
or even sleep, a man who spontaneously gives you piggyback rides, a man who
puts you to sleep when life gets rough . . .” His words were thick with
disdain.
“Shut
up.” She was becoming defensive, tense.
up.” She was becoming defensive, tense.
He
was only just warming up. It was time for her to face reality. “A man who can
never cheat on you, a man who can never leave the house, a man who kills for
your honor, a man who can read your mind, a man filled with tender emotions, a
man who loves to simply touch you and nothing more, a man who no other woman is
after as you are the only one who can see him—it’s all very convenient,
wouldn’t you say, Zoe? What woman wouldn’t fall in love with such a paragon of
a man?”
was only just warming up. It was time for her to face reality. “A man who can
never cheat on you, a man who can never leave the house, a man who kills for
your honor, a man who can read your mind, a man filled with tender emotions, a
man who loves to simply touch you and nothing more, a man who no other woman is
after as you are the only one who can see him—it’s all very convenient,
wouldn’t you say, Zoe? What woman wouldn’t fall in love with such a paragon of
a man?”
The
only way he was aware of her reaction was the pronounced rise and fall of her
chest.
only way he was aware of her reaction was the pronounced rise and fall of her
chest.
“You
know nothing,” she said through gritted teeth.
know nothing,” she said through gritted teeth.
“I’d
say I hit the nail on the proverbial head. Andre is a combination of your
perfect father and what you wished Connor was, all rolled into one faultless,
handsome little package. Only everything is in your control. You say when,
where, and how. You say sit, stay, and roll over. Did you pat Andre on the head
and say, ‘good boy.’ Did you give him a treat for good behavior?”
say I hit the nail on the proverbial head. Andre is a combination of your
perfect father and what you wished Connor was, all rolled into one faultless,
handsome little package. Only everything is in your control. You say when,
where, and how. You say sit, stay, and roll over. Did you pat Andre on the head
and say, ‘good boy.’ Did you give him a treat for good behavior?”
Zoe
shot to her feet and screamed at him, “Shut up!” The orderly was in the room
immediately and held a writhing Zoe in his strong arms. She struggled
frantically. “You know nothing about love, you cocky, little jerk!” And then to
the orderly, “Let go of me!” She turned on Wade again, “Go ahead, sit behind
your safe little desk like the coward you are. Who do you think you are? You have
no right to judge me! None!”
shot to her feet and screamed at him, “Shut up!” The orderly was in the room
immediately and held a writhing Zoe in his strong arms. She struggled
frantically. “You know nothing about love, you cocky, little jerk!” And then to
the orderly, “Let go of me!” She turned on Wade again, “Go ahead, sit behind
your safe little desk like the coward you are. Who do you think you are? You have
no right to judge me! None!”
The
orderly took her away and as they walked down the hallway, her screams could be
heard throughout the hospital.
orderly took her away and as they walked down the hallway, her screams could be
heard throughout the hospital.
Wade
smiled, pleased with her reaction. He’d hit a nerve. She could rail at him all
day, as long as it got her thinking about her delusions and facing the cold,
hard truth.
smiled, pleased with her reaction. He’d hit a nerve. She could rail at him all
day, as long as it got her thinking about her delusions and facing the cold,
hard truth.
He
wouldn’t give her something to help her sleep tonight. She needed to dwell on
it, sulk over it—brood in it.
wouldn’t give her something to help her sleep tonight. She needed to dwell on
it, sulk over it—brood in it.
*Thanks for following along on the Lancaster House and The
Middle Aisle tour. I hope you enjoy Zoe and Andre’s story! To find your way
home, just return to the entryway and Prism Book Tours. . .
Middle Aisle tour. I hope you enjoy Zoe and Andre’s story! To find your way
home, just return to the entryway and Prism Book Tours. . .
(Pictures can be sourced through http://pinterest.com/burgandyice/secret-passageways/)
About the Author:Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding that she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, or suspense-you’ll find all sub-genres of romance in her line-up.
Lancaster House & The Middle Aisle, available in print or eCopy
from Smashwords or Amazon:
.
.
Tour-Wide Giveaway:
5 WINNERS will receive….
Open only to those who can legally enter. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced on Rafflecopter and Grand Finale posts as well as emailed and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Burgandy Ice @ Colorimetry and Prism Book Tours and sponsored by Taylor Dean. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
The Tour:
2/11 – Unputdownable Books – Guest Post
2/12 – I Am A Reader, Not a Writer – Guest Post
2/13 – Fundinmental Guest Post
– Letters to the Cosmos – Review
2/14 – Oh, The Books You’ll Read – Review
– Proud Book Nerd – Guest Post
2/15 – LDS & Lovin’ It – Review
2/17 – Phantasmic Reads – Review
– Lavender & Camomile Press Guest Post
2/18 – The Reading Diaries – Guest Post
2/19 – Living a Goddess Life – Review
– Beck Valley Books – Guest Post
2/20 – Living the Goddess Life – Recipe
– Colorimetry
2/21 – Passion and Life – Guest Post
– Books Mystify – Goodreads Review
2/22 – Christy’s Cozy Corner – Review
2/24 – Christy’s Cozy Corner – Review –
A Buckeye Girl Reads – Guest
Post
A Buckeye Girl Reads – Guest
Post
2/25 – Living a Goddess Life – Review
– Icultgen – Guest Post
2/26 – Who’s Thanny? (Byzinha) – Review
– Letters to the Cosmos – Review
2/28 – A Buckeye Girl Reads – Review
3/1 – Grand Finale TBA…
Related articles
- Come visit lancaster house and the middle aisle with Prism Book Tours (fundinmental.wordpress.com)
- Fanged Mania #5 Spotlight on Taylor Dean (fuonlyknew.com)
- Lancaster House & The Middle Aisle by Taylor Dean (iamareader.com)
*****For all of my giveaways go 
Books I won.
