An Unexpected Love Story Found in New Novel
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 17, 2009 — An unconventional love story unfolds between a young refugee and the U.S. Army officer who rescues her in the new Editor’s Choice winner, “Sanctuary” (published by iUniverse) by N.E. Julian. In this novel, two emotionally wounded people unexpectedly find love in a complicated relationship that began as a cynical bargain.
Sanctuary is the story of Ed Russell, a U.S. Army major serving on a peacekeeping mission during one of the Balkan civil wars of the 1990s, and nineteen-year old Lea, an intelligent, fiercely independent, former university student. Both Russell and Lea are facing the ruins of their former lives. The gruff, lonely Russell is divorced, has lost custody of his son and drinks heavily. Lea’s family abandoned her at the war’s outset and she has spent months as a refugee; her sense of self has been broken by her parents’ desertion and by the cruelty of the civil war.
When Lea collapses from pneumonia at a military checkpoint, Major Russell saves her life by providing her with medical treatment. Lea, who is alone and has no one to take her in, accepts the offer Russell makes after she recovers — Lea can stay with him through the winter and work as his interpreter, if she will trade sex for his protection.
Russell soon falls in love with Lea and ultimately persuades the wary young girl to marry him. They begin a new life in America and attempt to build a relationship on the foundation of their original bargain. As Lea learns to love and trust Russell, they must try to form a marriage in the face of strains caused by the demands of his career and both of their emotional scars. Julian writes:
“Lea also realized, for the first time since her parents abandoned her, that she was going to feel whole again someday, that from the shards of her destroyed personality a strong, confident woman would emerge. She wasn’t there yet, but she knew, as she sat on the couch with her husband, stepson, and dog while oak logs burned in the fireplace and Harry Sloane crashed around in the kitchen, that she was slowly building an unshakable sense of self that would never leave her.”
About the Author
N. E. Julian is an attorney who retired from the practice of law to pursue her interests in writing and painting. She currently resides in Philadelphia with her husband and dogs. For more information visit: http://nejulian.com.
“Sanctuary”
Available from: http://www.iUniverse.com, http://www.bn.com and http://www.amazon.com.
ISBN: 9781440133091 – 6 x 9 – Paperback – 327 pages – $19.95
iUniverse offers a variety of publishing services to help individuals publish, market and sell fiction, poetry and nonfiction books. The company utilizes print-on-demand technology, and is one of the largest self-publishing companies in the U.S. iUniverse is based in Bloomington, Indiana.
Contact: Megan Leiter
iUniverse Promotions Dept.
Toll-free: 1-800-AUTHORS (288-4677) ext.5590
Fax: 812-961-3133
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