She Shot the Spy: A Regency Meet-Cute with a Secret by Camille Elliot

The Meet-Cute That Wasn’t Supposed to Happen

Phoebe Sauber—steady, observant, and far more capable than she appears.

Some stories begin with a dance. Others begin with a conversation over tea.

This one begins with an arrow.

⸻

When Everything Changes in a Single Moment

Miss Phoebe Sauber is not the sort of heroine who waits quietly for life to happen to her.

She is practical and steady, the kind of woman who notices details others overlook. And she is not afraid to act when something feels wrong. But even she does not expect her life to change in the middle of an archery tournament.

One misfired shot. And suddenly, what should have been an ordinary social gathering reveals something far more dangerous—a thread leading to a clandestine world.

⸻

Phoebe had fallen near her uncle’s ornately carved wardrobe, which stood against the wall between two large windows, and she’d just missed having her head smashed against the wooden edge. God had perhaps saved her from a more nasty injury.

As a child, when she’d come to her aunt’s house to play, she’d spent hours fascinated by the ridiculously elaborate and intricate carvings on the door. It was like a treasure map that would lead to something wonderful if she could decipher it. Staring at the wardrobe door again, the memories came flooding back to her.

Now, she rolled over onto her stomach and reached out her hand to trace the familiar carvings. Those had been the days right after her brother had been born and her mother had died. Right when her father had changed from a parent doting on his only child to a distant man who barely remembered her existence compared to his newborn heir. At the time, she had only been eight years old and hadn’t understood what had been happening, and while her nanny had tried to fill the gap, it had left her feeling lonely and abandoned.

So she had retreated to fantasy stories that were fueled by this old wardrobe.

And then it happened.

It was seeing the wardrobe and remembering those days that did it. She had a flash in her mind’s eye of a wooden floorboard, and a tiny symbol carved into the surface of the wood. The symbol had been barely visible since it hadn’t been filled with blacking to make it stand out, but with a child’s curiosity, she’d seen the strange flaw in the grain of the wood and crawled closer to investigate it.

It had been near the wall, next to the back edge of the wardrobe. Here, in her uncle’s bedchamber.

It had been the same symbol she’d seen just today, on the torn scrap of paper that had been caught by her arrow.

“Aunt Laura!” Phoebe turned and began crawling frantically toward the far wall, to the right of her uncle’s portrait. “Aunt Laura! Where was Uncle’s wardrobe before you moved it?”

“The wardrobe?” All trace of languor was gone from her aunt’s voice. Her light footsteps sounded as she crossed the room toward Phoebe. “No, farther to your right. Yes, there. It stood right there.”

Phoebe began running her hand over the floorboards near the wall. “I interrupted Mr. Michael Coulton-Jones today. He was most certainly doing something illegal, but knowing his personality from years ago when I first knew him, I doubt it was anything treasonous.”

“Treasonous?!” Aunt Laura’s voice was just a tiny bit alarmed.

“My arrow hit the papers he had been holding … or perhaps the other man had been holding them …”

“Your arrow?! Did you shoot at him?”

“Not deliberately.”

“That is not ‘interrupting’ the man, that is attempted murder.”

“It was purely by accident. They were hidden in a copse having some clandestine meeting. Ah!” Phoebe’s fingers felt the rough edges of the circular symbol carved into the floor. It was smaller than she remembered, but the same strange shape of the five-leaved, five-stemmed flower.

Aunt Laura squinted at the floor, then shook her head. “That is impossible for my eyes to see. I will fetch a lamp.”

While her aunt left in search of light, Phoebe was still on her hands and knees near the wall. She rubbed the symbol with her finger. It was still rough, as if it had been carved into the wood only yesterday, since it hadn’t been worn down by feet or furniture in the years since she’d first seen it. What did it mean? Why was it carved into the floor? Did it point to something in the floor, or the wall, or perhaps in the wardrobe, which had been standing beside it?

And what was the connection between her dead uncle and Mr. Coulton-Jones?

The moment everything begins.

⸻

A Heroine Who Steps Forward

What I love most about Phoebe is not that she is fearless, but that she chooses to move forward anyway.

She doesn’t fully understand what she has uncovered, but she recognizes that something is wrong.

⸻

The Beginning of Something Much Larger

That single moment on the archery field is only the beginning. It sets into motion a story that stretches far beyond one mystery, one relationship, or even one book.

Phoebe meets a handsome stranger who knows far more about these shadowy figures than she does and who brings his own questions, his own past, and his own reasons for seeking the truth.

⸻

A Book Designed to Reflect the Story

The Special Edition hardcover of Archer, designed to reflect the story’s hidden layers.

I designed the special edition hardcover to reflect the heart of the story.

Small details in the design echo the elements that shape Phoebe’s journey—the pocketwatch that draws her into the mystery, the archery skill that sets her apart, and the mysterious symbol that reveals this secret war beneath the surface of Regency society.

⸻

A Reading Experience Meant to Be Discovered

One of my favorite aspects of this edition is how the design unfolds as you read.

The book opens with full-color title pages, setting the tone immediately that this is something a little more special.

Each chapter begins with a two-page color header spread. Delicate floral corners echo Regency artwork, while a small illustration on the left page hints at the tension or turning point ahead.

Along the margins, you’ll notice vertical scroll designs running beside the text, with subtle variations between the main story and the front and back matter.

And when the book is closed, the sprayed edges feature a coordinated scroll motif, giving the entire volume a finished, elegant look even before you turn the first page.

Even the smallest elements—like the decorative page numbers and scene dividers shaped around a pocket watch—don’t just tell the narrative, they echo the emotions in it.

⸻

If You Enjoy Stories Like This…

You might enjoy beginning this series if you like:

• Strong, capable heroines
• Gentle romance that grows over time
• Intrigue hidden within polite society
• A sense of unfolding mystery

⸻

A Gentle Invitation

This story begins with a single, unexpected moment—but it doesn’t end there.

If you’d like to step into that world, you’re welcome to read the first few chapters and see where that first arrow leads.

And for readers who enjoy beautifully designed books, I offer special edition hardcovers through Kickstarter.

⸻

About the Series

Lady Wynwood’s Spies is a Regency-era romantic suspense series set in 1811 London, where secrets move quietly beneath society’s surface, and where courage, loyalty, and love are tested in unexpected ways.

When a Regency Spy Falls in Love with a Lady Archer

Michael Coulton-Jones — master of disguises and reluctant heir.

If you enjoy heroes who grin at danger and bow over a lady’s hand as if the world were nothing more than a ballroom—you might like Mr. Michael Coulton-Jones.

At first glance, Michael is exactly the sort of Regency gentleman who should not be trusted.

He is broad-shouldered and deceptively relaxed. His coffee-brown hair falls longer than fashion dictates, often into glass-green eyes that seem to be laughing at a joke no one else has heard. He speaks French like a commoner from the countryside and Spanish like it is a childhood lullaby.

He is charming. Reckless. Quick with a blade. Quicker with a smile.

And he lies for a living.

A Spy in Disguise

As a younger son, Michael joined the army at seventeen, where his gift for languages and his ease with disguises drew the attention of men who worked quietly in the shadows. Before long, he was no longer simply a soldier. He was retrieving information, slipping through borders, trading false documents for real ones. He learned to become other men as easily as changing coats.

He cultivated a persona—the fool, the adventurer, the rogue who never appears worried. It made people underestimate him. It kept him alive.

But even then, he had somewhere to return to—his family’s estate only an hour from London, a steady older brother who handled responsibility, a charming younger sister, and a mother who believed him merely restless, not dangerous.

His anchor was his brother Richard.

And then Richard was murdered.

The Brother He Could Not Save

Michael could have prevented the tragedy. That’s what haunts him the most.

Richard had written to him after a friend had been killed and he suspected a man with strange facial scars was involved. But Michael was in the middle of a mission and didn’t take it seriously enough.

By the time he returned to England, Richard was dead—officially poisoned along with other club members in what was called an unfortunate incident.

But Michael knew otherwise. Richard’s papers regarding the strange man were missing.

His own unconcern gave evil time to strike.

He hasn’t forgiven himself, and he wonders if God has not forgiven him either.

The Archer He Should Not Want

Before all of that—before grief hardened him—Michael had met a woman who unsettled him.

He was drawn to Miss Phoebe Sauber from the first moment they were introduced—she was awkwardly tall but pragmatic, not impressed by his flirtations. He was intrigued because she did not seem to need him.

But a spy’s life is not kind to attachment, and he’d already learned to keep women at arm’s length. Better to remain unattached. Better to remain free.

So he left her alone.

And then Richard died.

Michael’s focus narrowed to one thing—finding the truth behind his brother’s murder.

A Dangerous Reunion

When Michael encounters Phoebe again, it is not in a ballroom.

It’s when she nearly uses him for target practice.

She found her arrow lodged, not in a victim, but knee-height in a tree trunk at a downward angle, and it had caught a strangely shaped leaf against the bark. As she yanked it out of the tree and the leaf fluttered to the ground, a snapping twig behind her made her tense. It did not sound like anyone from her party who may have been running into the trees after her—it was an isolated sound, made from a slow-moving foot, like someone sneaking up on her.

It had not occurred to her that it might be dangerous for a young woman to be alone on the Heath, where she and her friends often had social gatherings. But these trees extended back hundreds of yards, and anyone could be sneaking around within.

Phoebe clenched the arrow tightly, regretting that she had dropped her bow. She straightened, trying to appear relaxed, listening for sounds other than the leaves dancing in the wind. Then she whirled around, her right arm pulled back and brandishing the arrow overhand like a dagger. At the very least, if there was someone behind her, she could try to stab them.

“Whoa! Whoa!” A tall man stood about ten feet—no, twenty feet distant as he backed away from her, his hands raised in front of him. “I apologize, miss, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

The man’s voice had a strong country accent, but the timbre was familiar. At first glance, he didn’t look like anyone she knew. His plain colored clothes were made of rough-woven fabric, stained with dirt in places, and his shoes were old cracked leather. His coat was shabby and poorly sewn, and much too short for him. He had a large nose and deep chin, and his eyes, shadowed by heavy brows, were glass-green.

But then she recognized something about his limbs, the way he moved his hands, the general shape of his face—and those glass-green eyes. “Mr. Coulton-Jones?” she exclaimed in surprise.

She had seen him only rarely over her past several Seasons because he had been fighting on the Peninsula up until last year, when his older brother had died. They had been introduced at a ball in her second Season, and he had danced with her only that one time. While she had a good memory for names and faces, that wasn’t the reason she remembered him clearly—it was because he had made an impact upon her that she hadn’t wanted, but couldn’t erase.

Mr. Coulton-Jones controlled his face admirably, affecting a confused look. “I’m sorry, miss, but you’re mistaken.”

She was not. Like a woman deranged and obsessed (which she very well might be), she had covertly watched him at every gathering they attended together. This was most definitely him. “Mr. Coulton-Jones, why are you dressed like that? And your face … is that stage cosmetics? It’s quite realistic.”

He hesitated for several seconds, and she could tell he was debating between continuing to deny his identity or abandoning his act. The certainty in her gaze must have decided it for him, because he relaxed and his normal saucy smile quirked up the edge of his mouth. “You have me at a disadvantage, Miss Sauber.”

From there, they discover they’re both caught in a web of secrets that stretches farther than either of them expected. Michael discovers that Phoebe’s own uncle may have had ties to the very conspiracy that killed Richard.

Now the woman who unsettles his carefully constructed detachment is suddenly entangled in the same darkness he is hunting. The two of them are drawn together by questions neither can answer alone and a growing awareness that neither truly wants to be rootless.

Guilt, Forgiveness, and a Slow-Burn Love

The story has espionage and secret societies. But it also is about Michael’s guilt over failing his brother.

Phoebe sees what he hides—the grief he buries beneath humor, the daredevil courage that masks shame. And she, too, carries wounds of her own.

Their romance does not resolve quickly.

This series is a serial novel, and their love unfolds gradually across multiple volumes. Trust is earned. Wounds are revealed slowly. Faith is wrestled with honestly. Forgiveness—of others and of oneself—is not immediate.

Michael may be fearless in battle, but learning to hope again is far more dangerous.

If you enjoy:

• A master of disguises who can become anyone—except the man he wishes he were
• A heroine strong enough to face danger beside him
• An ensemble cast investigating a conspiracy threaded through Regency society
• And a slow-burn Christian romance rooted in redemption

… then you may enjoy meeting Michael and Phoebe.

Their story begins in Lady Wynwood’s Spies, Volume 1, and the conspiracy that took Richard’s life has only just begun to unfold. Read the first 3 chapters here.

A Touch of Humor in a Regency Romantic Suspense by Camille Elliot

If you enjoy sweet romance with a touch of mystery—and the occasional moment of dry, slightly absurd humor—you may enjoy this glimpse into Regency England with a twist.

My historical romantic suspense stories are set in the early 1800s and feature quiet courage, restrained romance, and characters who find themselves navigating danger with wit as well as resolve. Even in tense moments, there’s often room for an unexpected line of dialogue that lightens the mood.

The following excerpt is from Lady Wynwood’s Spies, Volume 1: Archer and takes place during a serious investigation—but a certain unfortunate nickname has taken on a life of its own among the locals.

If you enjoy clean historical fiction that balances suspense with moments of levity, I hope you enjoy this short excerpt.

***

Sep had made a living out of keeping his emotions from his face, but it was increasingly hard to do so as he and Calvin disembarked from the cart on the streets of Jem Town.

They first headed to where he knew Michael had last been, at Auntie Ann’s Bakery. But Calvin grew tense as they approached from down the street. “There are more people than normal hanging around. Something happened.”

They didn’t need to ask anyone—there were several groups of people huddled together and whispering, so Sep and Calvin sidled up to one of them. Calvin had a look of salacious interest on his young face, and a woman in a dirty mobcap immediately asked, “Did you hear what happened? Lotty was killed early this morning! Found lying against the wall of the bakery, her neck broke.” The woman shivered.

“Must be strong to break a woman’s neck,” the man next to her said in a low voice.

“Hush,” a second woman said. “We don’t talk about them.”

Sep was almost certain they were talking about Jack’s men, who were taking the Root.

“Why would they kill her?” a third woman asked in soft, wondering voice.

“It’s because of that no-good man of hers, that actor thinks he’s a writer. What was his name?”

“He went by some ridiculous name, something like Archipelago Constipation or something or other.”

Sep had to tighten every muscle in his face to keep from reacting to that.

“Didn’t you hear? He went mad only a few days ago. Busted up my cousin’s cabbage cart over in the Long Glades.”

“I hope they threw him in Newgate.”

“He never got there. Got trampled by a horse.”

“So now both Lotty and her man are dead?” The horrified question made everyone pause for a long moment at the unspoken implications of that fact.

Calvin took this moment to tug at Sep’s sleeve and lead him away, toward the entrance to the bakery. In a low voice, Calvin said, “Once they realized both Lotty and Mr. Constipation are dead, they wouldn’t talk anymore about who might have done it. It would be too dangerous.”

***

If you enjoyed this small glimpse into a Regency mystery, the story continues with danger, loyalty, and a slow-burn romance woven quietly through the intrigue.

You can read the opening of Lady Wynwood’s Spies free and decide whether this world is one you’d like to explore further.

👉 Read the opening here

Reference Footer

This post relates to Camille Elliot’s Lady Wynwood’s Spies, a Christian Regency romantic suspense series set in 1811 London and featuring intrigue, espionage, botanical alchemy, slow-burn romance, and themes of faith and redemption.

• Lady Wynwood’s Spies Series Reference Page

• Reading Order: Lady Wynwood’s Spies Reader Journey Roadmap

Why We Love a Heroine Who Refuses to Be Small

One of the things I love most about clean historical romance is the way it gives readers heroines who are strong without being harsh, capable without losing their femininity, and brave in ways that don’t always draw attention.

Phoebe Sauber, the heroine of my Regency-era novel Lady Wynwood’s Spies, Volume 1: Archer, is that kind of heroine.

When her story begins, Phoebe has been deeply betrayed by the one person who should have protected her most. Cast out of her home and stripped of security, she’s left asking a question many romance readers recognize immediately: Who am I, when everything familiar is taken away?

What makes Phoebe compelling to me is that she doesn’t respond to betrayal by becoming cruel or reckless. She doesn’t shrink, either. Instead, she learns how to stand her ground in a world that has suddenly become very unsafe.

I love heroines like that.

Phoebe is genteel and well-bred, fully at home in Regency society. She understands manners, expectations, and the quiet rules that govern polite life. But she’s also practical, resourceful, and more capable than anyone expects her to be. If circumstances demand it, she can defend herself and others without abandoning her principles.

That balance is something I find especially satisfying. Strength doesn’t have to look modern or aggressive to be real. In historical stories, it often shows up in quieter ways through endurance, moral courage, faith under pressure, and the refusal to let bitterness define one’s future.

Phoebe’s journey isn’t about revenge. It’s about choice. About deciding who she will become after betrayal, and whether faith and love still have a place in her life.

Readers who enjoy clean historical romance with emotional depth, slow-building relationships, and heroines who don’t quite fit the mold society gives them will enjoy reading about Phoebe and find that her presence tends to linger long after the final page.

What I love about reading and writing clean romance is stories that remind us strength and grace don’t cancel each other out, they grow best together.

If you enjoy clean historical romances with thoughtful heroines, gentle faith elements, and a touch of mystery, you may enjoy my Regency stories as well. Learn more on my website.

My Heroine Forced Me to Give My Book Away. 😳 by Camille Elliot/Camy Tang

I am enjoying a cup of tea, minding my own business, and then—

THWACK.

Miranda, my heroine, storms into my writing room, trips over my knitting bag, and jabs a blunt knitting needle in my direction.

“You forgot to tell them,” Miranda says. She smiles politely but she’s waving that knitting needle in a rather threatening manner.

“Tell who what?” I ask, clutching my tea like a shield.

“The readers,” she says, frowning. “You forgot to tell them that my book—The Spinster’s Christmas—is free until December 7th.”

“Oh,” I say. “I was going to get to that—”

“Don’t make me use the other needle.”

And that is how this blog post came to be.

What is The Spinster’s Christmas?

It’s a Christian Regency romantic suspense novel and a prequel to the Lady Wynwood’s Spies series. (That’s right—this is where all the scheming and spying began.)

If you’ve ever wanted:

• A story with a no-nonsense spinster heroine (who can out-stare a naval officer)
• A broody, injured war hero
• Verbal fencing at a Christmastide house party
• AND a mysterious attacker in a hooded cloak…

Then, um, why are you still reading this post and not downloading the book?

It’s FREE. Until December 7. Everywhere.

Well, almost everywhere. It’s free on:

• My website
• Amazon
• Apple Books
• Kobo
• Barnes & Noble
• Google Play

(📚 All the links are on the book page here).

After that? It turns back into a pumpkin.

(Okay, not really. But it won’t be free anymore, and Miranda will glare at me again, and no one wants that.)

So go grab your free copy now.

Before Miranda gets the other knitting needle.
🧶

Want more free Christmas books? Here’s the full lineup, free only until December 7:

December 1st Lyn Cote — Winter’s Secret
2nd Josie Riviera — Holly’s Gift
3rd Merri Maywether — Meet Me By the Christmas Tree
4th Pat Simmons — Baby for Christmas
5th Roxanne Rustand — Dangerous December
6th Camille Elliot — The Spinster’s Christmas (Regency Romance)
7th Jean C. Gordon — His Christmas Star

My Christian Historical Romance series is truckin' along ...

 

Hi everyone, this is Camy Tang. I also write Christian Regency Romantic Suspense as Camille Elliot.

The 8th (!) book in my Lady Wynwood’s Spies series is about to be released on Amazon in about a week.

I can’t believe I’m already at 8 books! I’m working on book 9 right now, too. Many of the mystery threads are starting to come together, and the romances between the couples in the series are also moving forward! Yay!

It’s been SO FUN doing this serial novel, because I’ve been able to create complex plots and really develop deep spiritual conflicts for my characters. Everyone has changed a lot since book 1 in the series, and it’s so interesting to write them as they evolve. And as their romances evolve, too!

I’ve loved being able to write about these characters in each book so that I don’t have to leave the story world. I always hated when a book ended and I had to leave the characters, so I wrote a long, epic-length series where their story doesn’t resolve until the last book.

If that sounds like something you’d enjoy, I hope you give my series a try. Book 1 is only 99 cents on Amazon, in all countries, only until October 30, 2025.

If you’ve already started reading the series, you can buy book 8 early on my website, along with some website bonuses:

🌹regular eBook and AI-narrated audiobook
🌹 Annotated Edition ebook, which includes Easter Eggs, research facts, behind-the-scenes tidbits, and author commentary.
🌹”Bidding on Treason” limited-availability novelette
🌹 Correspondence-style flash fiction story

Use the code WEBSITE10 at checkout for 10% off your entire order.

👉 Click here to buy Book 8

Regency Romantic Suspense Sale: Lissa and the Spy Paperback Coupon Code

My newest release, Lissa and the Spy, is now available in ebook and paperback! This Christian Regency romantic suspense novella is a prequel to my Lady Wynwood’s Spies series.

About Lissa and the Spy

A Christian Regency Romance with Humor, Suspense, and a Dash of Intrigue

In the opulent ballrooms of Regency-era London, Miss Lissa Gardinier struggles through her second Season with a singular goal: marriage to escape her mother's constant criticism. So she represses her cheeky remarks behind a quiet, innocent facade, but combined with her plain face, it only serves to make her uninteresting to potential suitors.

It is her very unpopularity that enables her to notice the enigmatic Lord Jeremy Stoude and set in motion a chance encounter. An overheard conversation and faux dialogue later, she finds herself entangled in Jeremy’s covert undertakings. Lissa resists the temptation to pry, finding delight in their mysterious friendship.

Yet the world Jeremy inhabits is one of secrets and subterfuge, and he cannot afford to be distracted by Lissa’s charming smile and unflappable demeanor. Lissa’s family dynamics grow increasingly complicated with a sister harboring her own desires for the eligible Lord Stoude, and a formidable rival—Lady Charline Halberstam—making her intentions clear.

As danger stalks them and true feelings come to light, can Lissa and Jeremy navigate the labyrinth of society’s expectations and their own insecurities to find love?

Lissa and the Spy offers readers an intoxicating blend of romance, suspense, and wit, set against the glittering backdrop of Regency London. Perfect for those who love their historical fiction laced with a dash of intrigue and a sprinkle of humor.

• Free in July on Smashwords.com
• Free when you subscribe to my newsletter
• Get the annotated ebook for only $0.99 – includes Easter eggs, commentary, and behind-the-scenes fun!

Prefer print? I’ve released both the regular and large print paperbacks of Lissa and the Spy on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and my website.

Use coupon code LISSAPB8 to get $8 off either paperback edition on my website:

• Regular paperback
• Large print paperback

The discount covers shipping for most U.S. orders, and you’ll also receive the annotated ebook FREE with your purchase!

Coupon expires June 30, 2025.

Please feel free to try the coupon and let me know if you run into any hiccups. 😊

Lissa and the Spy free ebook!

My Lady Wynwood’s Spies novella, Lissa and the Spy, was in the multi-author anthology, Once Upon a Courtship, which is now unpublished.

Now that I have the rights back, I’ll be publishing it on Amazon, although I’m not sure yet when I’ll be doing that.

In the meantime, I’m giving you Lissa and the Spy ebook FREE! You must subscribe to my email newsletter to get the free ebook.

If you’re already on my newsletter, when you click the link, be sure to use the same email address you use to subscribe to my email newsletter.

Click here to get Lissa and the Spy!

Lady Wynwood's Spies, Volume 7 now in Kindle Unlimited!

You can now buy Lady Wynwood’s Spies, Volume 7: Spinster on Amazon or read with Kindle Unlimited subscription!

Paperback copies are still available on my website. If you use the coupon code website10, you can get 10% off all the eBooks and paperback books in my shop!

Get 10% off

🫖 Camy’s Kickstarter is now live!

My Kickstarter is for a Special Edition hardcover of volume 1 of my Christian Regency romantic suspense series, Lady Wynwood’s Spies. My series is like Pride and Prejudice meets Mission: Impossible.

The Special Edition hardcover is absolutely beautiful! It has a double-sided dust jacket, 2-page color chapter spreads, page edge designs, and sprayed color designs on the page edges.

The campaign also offers new Special Edition paperbacks of volumes 1-8 of the Lady Wynwood’s Spies series. They’re also beautiful with color chapter headings and sprayed color designs on the page edges, and book 8 is an early release.

Don’t know how to use Kickstarter?

Don’t know what Kickstarter is? Check out this blog post about my Kickstarter

My friend Jonathan made a video to walk you through making an account and how to pledge.

Check out the Kickstarter for more information about the series and to see pictures and videos of the special editions.

Free ebooks by Camy Tang/Camille Elliot for Christmas

Camy’s Christmas Sale

Sign up for my Camy Tang newsletter to get Weddings and Wasabi, White Soup, Unshakeable Pursuit, and Necessary Proof free!

Sign up for my Camille Elliot newsletter to get The Spinster's Christmas and The Gentleman Thief free!

Shop Camy’s Sale

Camille Elliot Behind the Scenes: Original Cover

Prelude for a Lord (the extended version) releases on Amazon on December 2! You can buy it early at a discount from my website.

(Want to join my Launch Team?)

The current cover is actually the second version of the cover for this book. Here’s what the original cover from my publisher, Zondervan, looked like.

The original stock photo was of a blonde woman, and when I pointed out the error, the graphic designer at Zondervan did a nice job coloring her hair brown.

For the new cover, I kept the orange and blue colors but chose a model in profile rather than with her entire face hidden.

This new re-release is an extended version of the original book. Zondervan had a strict word count of 100,000 words, but my original manuscript was 120,000 words, so I had to cut 20,000 words.

But when I got my rights back and started planning to re-release it, I realized I could release the original manuscript before it was cut. So the version coming out is the uncut, extended version.

Here’s the back cover description:

Book One in the Gentlemen Quartet series

An awkward young woman. A haunted young man. A forbidden instrument. Can the love of music bring them together . . . or will it tear them apart?

Bath, England—1811

At twenty-eight, Alethea Sutherton is past her prime for courtship; but social mores have never been her forté. She might be a lady, but she is first and foremost a musician.

In Regency England, however, the violin is considered an inappropriate instrument for a lady. Ostracized by society for her passion, Alethea practices in secret and waits for her chance to flee to the Continent, where she can play without scandal.

But when a thief’s interest in her violin endangers her and her family, Alethea is determined to discover the enigmatic origins of her instrument . . . with the help of the dark, brooding Lord Dommick.

Scarred by war, Dommick finds solace only in playing his violin. He is persuaded to help Alethea, and discovers an entirely new yearning in his soul.

Alethea finds her reluctant heart drawn to Dommick in the sweetest of duets . . . just as the thief’s desperation builds to a tragic crescendo . . .

Buy Prelude for a Lord

Release day! Camy’s Christian Historical Romance Anthology!

Today is release day for my Christian Historical Romance anthology, Once Upon a Courtship! Get it today for only 99 cents! Price goes up next week! https://bit.ly/lissa-spy

Regency titles in Lady Wynwood's Spies by Camille Elliot

I happened to read a review of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer, and the reader mentioned being confused because characters switched between using first names and last names. I didn’t comment on the review (it’s my policy never to do so), but I thought it might be useful for my readers for me to mention why I have some characters referring to certain others by their first names or last names or titles.

When I was researching British titles, many published historical authors recommended this article, which is one of a series of very informative articles on how the British refer to those with titles.

The article writer mentions that especially in the Georgian/Regency/Victorian time period in England, people did not refer to each other by their first names unless they were childhood friends or close family, and even close family would often refer to a peer by his title name (or a nickname of his title name) rather than his first name (i.e., “Hart” for Lord Hartley).

It struck me that this is very similar to how Japanese people refer to each other. It’s more common for Japanese to refer to classmates, colleagues, employees, and bosses by their last names rather than first names. Even in school, kids are usually taught to maintain a certain level of politeness and will refer to classmates by their last name unless they’re very young or very close to each other, such as best friends or dating relationships. Even teachers will refer to their students by their last names and not their first.

I grew up as 4th generation Japanese American, so I certainly didn’t refer to my classmates by their last names, but I’m not entirely unfamiliar with the practice since I watched a lot of Japanese-language television (with English subtitles) with my parents and read a lot of manga and light novels. Also, my grandmother’s friends would refer to each other by their last names instead of first names. I realize now that this was more of a Japanese practice than an American one, and most Americans just refer to everyone by their first names.

Some modern historical romance writers who are writing for an American audience work around this by having characters refer to other characters by their first names in their internal thoughts. The hero might refer to the heroine as “Phoebe” in his thoughts to himself when he’s thinking about her, but always call her “Miss Sauber” when addressing her. This probably makes the characters more familiar to an American audience who is more used to calling love interests, colleagues and even bosses by their first names.

However, since I write in deep third person point of view, a character would rarely refer to another by their first name in their heads if they don’t call them by their first names in person. Also, I’m used to using surnames with people, so it doesn’t seem odd to me to have a character think of another character by their last name and not their first.

So here’s a quick primer on the peerage in my series:

Viscount Wynwood, secondary title Baron Ibstone, surname Glencowe

His title is Viscount Wynwood. He is addressed in speech as Lord Wynwood. His first name is Terrence and his surname is Glencowe, but no one will refer to him by his surname, and rarely by his first name. His wife might have referred to him as “Terrence” if they were close, but Laura referred to her husband simply as “Wynwood.”

Laura’s title is Viscountess Wynwood. She is addressed in speech as Lady Wynwood. Her first name is Laura and her surname is Glencowe. Sol calls her by her first name because they have become good friends. Most other people call her Lady Wynwood or my lady.

If they had had a son, their son would be Mr. Somefirstname Glencowe while his father was alive, and when his father died, he would inherit the title Viscount Wynwood.

Since they did not have children, the title was inherited by Terrence’s second cousin (Terrence’s father’s cousin’s son), Mr. Newland Glencowe. He is now the current Viscount Wynwood and is referred to in speech as Lord Wynwood. He is not yet married.

Laura will continue to be called Lady Wynwood until the current Lord Wynwood marries, and then she’ll be the dowager Lady Wynwood, although in speech, most people will just continue to call her Lady Wynwood.

Another example:

Miss Isabella Coulton-Jones married a knight, Sir Walter Aymer, and became Lady Aymer. Her husband was referred to as Sir Walter, NOT Lord Aymer, because he was a knight.

One last example:

Viscount Ammler, secondary title Baron Revitt, surname Ackett

His title is Viscount Ammler. He is addressed in speech as Lord Ammler. His first name is Ammon and his surname is Ackett, but no one will refer to him by his surname. His wife is Lady Ammler.

(Only at this very moment did I realize that I made Sep’s father’s title too similar to Isabella’s title. Oh well.)

His eldest living son is Mr. Secundus Ackett (although his siblings and mother call him by the nickname Skand instead of Secondus, the name his father gave him). In society, he is always referred to as Mr. Ackett since he is the oldest living son. His close friends and his family call him Skand, but to everyone else he is Mr. Ackett.

The family's third living son is Mr. Septimus Ackett. Among society, he is referred to as Mr. Septimus Ackett unless his older brother(s) are not present, in which case he is referred to as Mr. Ackett. His close friends call him Septimus or Sep, but most everyone else refers to him as Mr. Septimus Ackett or Mr. Ackett.

Their youngest daughter is Miss Octavia Ackett. Since her older sisters are married (and have therefore taken their husband’s surnames), in speech she is always referred to as Miss Ackett, since she is the only unmarried daughter. Her close friends might call her Octavia, but to most everyone else she would be called Miss Ackett. (If she had an unmarried older sister, her sister would be Miss Ackett and she’d be referred to as Miss Octavia Ackett, to distinguish her from her sister.)

And in case you were wondering, here’s the full list of the Ackett siblings (most of whom I haven’t even mentioned in the books yet):

(1st child, Primus, dead as a child)

2nd child, oldest living son, Secondus (nickname Skand)

3rd child, Tertia (nickname Teresia), married

4th child, 2nd living son, Quartus (nickname Curtis) Ackett

5th child, Quinta (nickname Quin), married

(6th child, Sexta, dead as a child)

7th child, 3rd oldest living son, Septimus (nickname Sep) Ackett

8th child, Octavia Ackett

Lord Ammler calls his children by their Latin names, but Lady Ammler calls them by their nicknames. Now you know the entire Ackett family even though most of them will probably never appear in the series.

I hope this helps you to enjoy my Lady Wynwood’s Spies series a bit more!

Inspirational Romance Sweepstakes featuring Camille Elliot’s book!

Who doesn’t love a sweepstakes?

39 fantastic authors have teamed up to give away a huge collection of Inspirational Romances to 1 lucky winner!

And the Grand Prize winner will receive a BRAND NEW eReader!

You can win my novel Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer, plus books from authors like Regina Scott and Penny Zeller.

Good luck and enjoy!

Enter to win

Camy Tang/Camille Elliot's books free on Smashwords in July

I decided to participate in the Smashwords July sale, and my ebooks Unshakeable Pursuit, The Spinster’s Christmas, and Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer are FREE for the entire month of July!

On Smashwords, simply add the books to your cart and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.

Sale lasts until July 31st!

Only 99 cents! Box set of Christian Historical Romances

Camy here! I’m in this great multi-author box set releasing in October. Right now, it’s on preorder for only 99 cents! This is a great deal for 12 Christian historical romances!

Here’s the back cover description:

Once Upon a Courtship: A Sweet Historical Romance Collection

A Limited-Time Collection of 12 books from 12 beloved Christian authors spanning rustic landscapes, elegant ballrooms, rugged cowboys, enigmatic spies, and daring pirates! Delight your romantic heart with Colonial, Regency, Victorian, Western, and Gilded Age Romance and preorder your copy today!

Mail-Order Millie by USA Today Bestselling Author Kit Morgan Imagine mail-order bride Millie’s surprise when she finds out her so-called husband is really a spy working for the president.

Courting Miss Darling by USA Today Bestselling Author Chautona Havig Muriel Darling thought her heart rode off with a cowboy, but when his boss writes letters, maybe romance is in Miss Darling's future after all.

The Privateer’s Prize by Christy Award Finalist Author MaryLu Tyndall Left at the altar, a woman must rely on the man who broke her heart to deliver a message to change the course of the Revolutionary War.

Grace in the Storm by USA Today Bestselling Author Tricia Goyer As hurricane winds howl, a feisty pirate and a captivating tavern owner find their destinies changed by the storm’s fury.

Leftover Mail-Order Bride by Publisher’s Weekly Bestselling Author Regina Scott When mail-order bride Victoria’s groom left her at the altar, she vows to find love, but meets Jack, seeking help on the ranch, love optional.

Clara’s Compassion by Critically Acclaimed Author Marlene Bierworth Clara’s compassion for workers on the frontier of the Canadian Rockies proves conflicting for railroad boss, Graham, in matters of the heart.

Miss Spencer Meets Her Match by Multi-Award-winning Author Linore Rose Burkard Miss Spencer attends a Cinderella Ball unwillingly, not knowing the “prince” is in disguise.

Lissa and the Spy by USA Today Bestselling Author Camille Elliot Seeking a marriage of convenience, plain Lissa becomes entangled with enigmatic Lord Stoude and a secret mission for the Crown.

Abiding Faith, Freedom’s Call by Multi-Award-Winning Author Louise M. Gouge A pacifist Quaker widow and a prisoner of war officer risk their lives. Will the gap between peace and the American Revolution be a chasm too wide?

Jory’s Story by USA Today Bestselling Author Lisa M. Prysock When a spy and local adversaries descend, can a governess protect the duke’s children and her heart?

Priscilla’s Promise by Award-Winning Author Teresa Slack Priscilla Channing wants to honor her father by marrying the man he chose. But he’s not the same man, nor she, the same woman.

The Gilding of Minnie Tucker by Multi-Award-Winning Author Marilyn Turk A Biltmore maid opens the wrong door and stumbles into a guest whose mutual attraction could be their doom.

Buy the book today!

Preorder ONCE UPON A COURTSHIP and get a free ebook every month!

My novella, Lissa and the Spy, will first be released in the multi-author box set Once Upon a Courtship: A Sweet Historical Romance Collection, and if you preorder now, you’ll be able to subscribe to a special Reader Club Newsletter. Every month from now until October 2024, you’ll get a free Historical Romance ebook from one of the authors in the box set.

1) Preorder Once Upon a Courtship

2) Fill out this form with your order number

3) Get the secret link and SUBSCRIBE to the Once Upon a Courtship Reader Club Newsletter

4) Get your first free book

The sooner you preorder, the more free books you’ll get!

You’ll also be alerted when the Once Upon a Courtship box set is available to read.

The newsletter will end October 2024 and you will NOT be automatically subscribed to the authors’ individual newsletters. You can sign up for their newsletters yourself if you wish.

Preorder Once Upon a Courtship

Jeremiah 29:11

Camy here! This verse was recommended by a member of my Facebook Group. I really love this verse because it reminds me that no matter how hard my IBS gets, God is watching over me and has a purpose for everything that happens to me.

In what ways has God shown you that He is watching over you?

Take Camy's poll and enter to win one of her ebooks

Camy’s new Patreon

I'm trying something new for the next 6-7 months. If it works, I'll continue, but if I end up not liking it, I'll stop it in September or October.

I will be starting a monthly subscription membership on a new Patreon account.

I will be posting the chapters of my current book (Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 7) so you can read ahead of when the ebook will be edited and published. My current plan is to post 1-2 chapters weekly.

One reason I’m switching things up is that I want to get closer to my readers and build a tighter, more intimate community with you. You can comment on each chapter of my book, give a reaction, ask a question, or even correct mistakes. My books will become a dialogue with you.

If you subscribe to my Patreon, you'll be charged monthly and have access to all the benefits for the tier you subscribe to.

The benefits include not just early access to my next book, but also early access to bonus extras about my books and cover reveals, your name in the acknowledgments section, audiobooks, Zoom calls, and the chance to choose the name and description of a character in a short story.

Here’s where I need your help: 

My Patreon hasn’t launched yet, but you can view a preview of my Patreon here.

My tiers aren’t finalized yet, and I’d like to know what you’d like to see. What do you think of my current tiers? What perks would excite you? What kinds of things would make the Patreon really amazing for you?

Please take a look at my Patreon preview page, then take my poll here.

This is not a commitment to joining my Patreon, I just want some feedback on my tiers. I’m hoping to launch my Patreon in 2-3 weeks, depending on how my writing is going.

Everyone who takes the poll will be entered to win a copy of any one of my paperback books (yes, even international readers can enter!) or, if you’re a writer, all five of my Story Sensei ebook worksheets.

Deadline is March 25, 2024.

Thanks!

Help Camy out and take her Patreon poll

Camy Tang's Pink fuzzy stash buster blanket

Like many knitters, I have a lot of extra yarn, almost all leftovers from other projects, and I didn’t know what to do with it because there wasn’t quite enough to make anything except perhaps hand mitts or a scarflette, and I have tons of those.

So I decided to combine them all to make a blanket using Tunisian crochet!

I think it’s pretty! Here’s the Ravelry link in case you were interested: http://ravel.me/camytang/sbb

I showed the blanket to Captain Caffeine first, then to my friend Dineen Miller. After my visit with Dineen, I complained to the Captain:

Me: I showed Dineen my pink fuzzy blanket and she expressed the proper exclamations of praise for it.

Captain: Like what?

Me: “Oh, is this your pink fuzzy blanket? It’s so nice! I can’t believe you used all your stash yarn for it! I love how the pink fun fur makes it so cute and fuzzy! It’s so heavy! It’s so soft! It’s so pink! It’s so you!” (I pause for dramatic effect and give the Captain a Significant Look.)

Captain: You mean it’s not enough to say, “It’s nice”?

Me: (Incredulous look.)

Captain: I guess I can see the difference.

Me: !!!!!!!!!

Ahem Putting aside my husband’s complete lack of empathy, I love knitting and just shared a knitting pattern for the lacy fingerless mitts that appeared in my book Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 6: Martyr (writing as Camille Elliot). If you knit, I hope you check it out!