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Ana María Bailon believes her heart is as shattered as the burning city she flees. Once bold and brilliant in her father’s war councils, she now carries a secret child and a soul scorched by the siege of San Sebastián. When an English captain offers a hurried marriage and safe passage to a foreign land, Ana wonders if she is walking toward healing or a new form of heartbreak.

Captain Peter Ashmore lives with memories that stalk him like smoke from a burning town. Honor compels him into a marriage of convenience, yet every glance from his Spanish bride stirs a longing he fears he does not deserve. As they travel to his English estate and step into a world of drawing rooms and whispered judgments, Peter grapples with guilt, desire, and a God he worries has turned away.

In the quiet rooms of Abbeygate, Ana starts to trust the gentle man beneath the scarlet uniform, but nightmares, secrets, and grief threaten every fragile step. Peter feels himself falling for the courageous woman he vowed to shield, even as the truth of her past and his role in the siege loom over them both.

Can Ana and Peter confront the ruin behind them and choose a love that rebuilds what war tried to destroy?

Quick Facts:

I lived in South America (Uruguay and Argentina) for two years and speak Spanish fluently. I have gotten a little rusty since I’ve been at home with my two babies, so this book was a really fun opportunity for me to practice.

I was either pregnant or nursing while writing this book so traveling to Spain just wasn’t in the cards. But I hope to visit San Sebastian someday! It is so beautiful there.

Research Facts:

It is pretty complicated researching a historical event that is still somewhat debated. It was tricky to get clear answers on who was involved and what the actual outcomes of the sacking of San Sebastian were. I did a lot of digging on the internet and wasn’t finding the precision that I needed. So I checked out a couple of history textbooks focused on the Peninsular War. (Check out my sources in the back of the book for specifics!)

Those helped but still told different versions of the same story. Some said the sacking was an act of political and wartime strategy. Others said it was just a tragic mistake. Some Spanish publications (Specifically El Duende) from the time period even accused the British of burning down the city to split the allied armies apart. Finally, I scoured the internet for some historians specializing in the British army during the Regency Era. They answered some of my questions and pointed me towards additional resources.

The most interesting (and sad) thing was to discover letters from Wellington to close family or friends trying to cover up the whole ordeal.

About the Story:

Surrey Hills is a quiet little community tucked into the surrounding expanse of forest and hills. The community is fairly tight-knit and some of the stuffy societal traditions upheld so strictly in London are much looser there. Neighbors are nosy, even though they have the best intentions. The staff of Abbeygate are well-integrated and incredibly loyal to the Ashmore family. (At least, those of the family who spent their summers there). The entire setting is something of a safe haven for all involved, and has been since Peter was a young boy.

A Siege on Her Heart was born when I decided I wanted to use my Spanish and write about a Spanish FMC in the Regency Era. So I did a quick Google search and discovered the siege and sacking of San Sebastian. I was writing a different book (still unpublished) at the time but I couldn’t get this tragic and horrific event out of my mind. It took almost a year, but once I started drafting it, the story flowed out of me. 

During that year, I had my first child and experienced a really difficult birth and postpartum anxiety/depression. Those months opened my eyes to the raw periods of transition and learning that mothers experience. I knew that it was historically accurate that my female main character, Ana, would experience an assault, as so many women did in the siege of San Sebastian. So I wanted to lean into the difficult journey she had by adding in the layer of PTSD and postpartum healing. 

I felt strongly that both Peter and Ana would need to turn to God to find healing in their own ways. It aligned with their characters and in a small way, it reflected my own experience of reaching outward (and upward) for help when I felt hopeless and alone as a new mother. There is an important moment when Peter and Ana realize that they cannot completely heal each other, that only God can do that. This was important for me to learn. I know that while time cannot heal all wounds, God certainly can. 

I hope that my readers take two core messages away from this story. First, I hope that they remember that true, enduring romance can grow even in the midst of trials. So whether you are falling in love for the first time and working through past traumas or trying to overcome challenges in your relationship, don’t give up hope that you will find love again. But it will require opening your heart and mind to trust, forgive, serve, and truly listen. 

I also hope that my readers remember that if they ever experience any sort of mental health challenge, they are not alone. There are countless others who know what you’re experiencing and help is always available to you in form of friends, family, mental health professionals, and God.

The best way to stay connected is through my weekly email, Fireside News. You’ll receive cozy updates, behind-the-scenes book notes, and a complimentary historical romance novelette when you subscribe.

Until next time, may your reading bring both light and encouragement.

Happy reading!
~ Danielle.