Brighter Than Her Fears by Lisa Ard 💕 Behind the Scenes, Book Tour and $10 Gif Card Giveaway 💕 (Historical Fiction with Romantic Elements)

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The 19th century women’s rights movement and the rise of public education intertwine with one woman’s story of struggle, perseverance, and love.

When her father dies and the family inn falls to ruin in 1882, western North Carolina, thirty-year-old Alice Harris is compelled to marry Jasper Carter, a Civil War veteran twice her age. Far from home and a stranger in a new family, Alice remakes herself. She learns to farm tobacco, mothers her stepson, and comes to love her husband.
However, Alice uncovers pending trouble with the family’s land holdings, which threatens their livelihood on the farm. The growth in Asheville promises a different future—one of manufacturing, transportation, tourism, and wealth. Alice believes this future demands an education and she rebels against the limited rural instruction. She joins forces with other women campaigning for Asheville’s first public schools. Her actions spark the rebuke of the Carter men.

Tragedy strikes and Alice’s newfound security is ripped away. The family challenges her property rights and files for guardianship of her stepson. Battered but determined, Alice turns to the law—and a friendly court clerk—to fight for her independence. Will Alice lose everything? Not if she can help it. Lisa Ard’s debut historical fiction novel will resonate with readers for its parallels, between then and now, on women’s rights, inequality, and racism.

A family mystery was the inspiration for my historical fiction novel, Brighter Than Her Fears. My great-great-grandmother, Alice, married a Civil War veteran twice her age when she was thirty years old. She shared her wedding with another sister, and two other sisters were married off very quickly. As a fan of Jane Austen, women needing to marry wasn’t a surprise. However, it was the legal documents I discovered that piqued my interest. Alice fought in court (during an era when women’s rights were limited) to secure her independence after tragedy struck.

Call me romantic, but I didn’t want to write a story where the heroine gets trapped in a marriage with a crusty old farmer. Who’d want to read that? What if her husband Jasper was a gentle soul? What if she was surprised to find happiness in this rushed marriage? Of course, there’s tension and tragedy in their story, and some of it of Alice’s own making.

Tension abounds on their wedding night. What was it like to be a thirty-year-old virgin awaiting a man old enough to be her father? The anticipation terrifies Alice. The actual consummation? Well, read it and let me know what you think!

Alice was a fun character to write and she’s modeled after many of the strong women in my family. Her quick judgment and opinions often get her into trouble, but she’s also smart, generous, and loving.

I traveled to Asheville to research Alice’s story, the time period, plus the real places and people in my novel. For example, the Reynolds Mansion, where Alice has tea on the porch with Susan Reynolds, is now a gorgeous B&B. The Carter-Swain House was Alice’s brother-in-law’s home and many scenes take place at this location in Buncombe County. I’m offering free virtual author visits for book clubs to share more on the story. Book me and find out about the craziest phone call I took to help me write a scene.

Nestled amidst the romance is a story of Asheville, North Carolina, and its growth from sleepy mountain town to vibrant city. The railroad arrived in the 1880s and brought visitors seeking improved health in its sanitariums, provided new business opportunities like tobacco markets fueling the new cigarette manufacturing, and the building of the Biltmore Estate. I hope readers enjoy the romance and history within Brighter Than Her Fears.

“Alice, I am the man of the house. I will decide if we rent the land or not.” Jasper delivered every word deliberately, punching me straight through. I quivered and my breath quickened.

“You’ve been teaching me about farming.” My voice shook. “I figured with such a valuable payment, you’d want them to continue on.”

Jasper turned toward me. His face was beet red, and a vein in his temple pulsed. “You know very well that’s not the issue. I’ve put up with your high-falutin’ ideas about education. I’ve protected you from those that don’t see eye to eye. But I will not have you wearing the pants in this family!”

My eyes welled with tears, but I was determined not to show it. I stared at my husband. His clear blue eyes pierced me through.

“Well, you know who you married!” I stormed through the house and escaped out the back door.

I wandered in our orchard, dreading a return to the house. The trees surrounded me, but their bare branches didn’t protect me. I swatted at them and they rattled. I’d done the right thing. The tenants were good for us. Why couldn’t Jasper see that? I balled my fists, rubbed my eyes, and a low cry gurgled out. I’d exchanged one confine for another, with the course of my life controlled by men—first my father, then my brother, and now my husband. I wallowed in the old feeling of dependency, familiar as a worn-out coat.

Lisa Ard is the author of the new historical fiction novel Brighter Than Her Fears, which is based on her great-great-grandmother’s experience in 19th century western North Carolina. Her previously published children's books include Fright Flight, Dream Team, and the Kay Snow award finalist Saving Halloween. When not writing, Lisa enjoys reading, hiking, golfing and sharing her love of history as a bike tour docent with the Palm Springs Historical Society. She and her husband live (and golf) in both Palm Springs and Portland, Oregon.