The 3rd book in The War, Love, and Harmony Series is now available! See the vendor links on the book’s page on ElizabethLennox.com. It’s important to note that although a war occurs in between the 2nd and 3rd books of the series, these are romance stories! The books focus on the interaction of the male and female main characters – not the conflict that occurs “off-stage”.
Several readers have asked about the relationship between the characters of the first two free books in the series, and the four sheiks that are the main characters for the rest of the series. Last year, I knew I wanted to write a new sheik series, and when I came up with the concept of an accord between four countries to cease hostilities, it took some time to decide how to begin the series with stories that happened before the war.
The four original characters (in the novellas) weren’t related in any way. When those two novella couples had children, the connections are familial but they broke off during the war. I didn’t dwell on what caused the breaks between family connections – preferring to focus on the romance between the characters.
The children of the two original couples would only be related to two of the countries. During the next four novels, all of the sheiks (who are unrelated – they descend from different branches of the original families) find romantic interests *outside* of the countries – so that nothing could provoke another war.
I hope this helps! I conceived of the first two stories and the four book series, and the external events that tied them together (the war), but I didn’t concentrate too much on what happens in between. I think it’s possible the way I’ve conceived it, but I admit I didn’t develop a specific line of succession to demonstrate how I got from the first four characters to the four sheiks later. For me, it’s all about the romance between the characters in each story, and their individual experiences and circumstances.
Enjoy these brief stories that provide more context for The Sheik’s Secret Bride…
WLUR News Report
“We’re here at the border between Lurasa and Altair, talking with residents of small villages about the war that has been going on for ten years.” The reporter walked over to a resident. “Sir, what do you think? Is there any way to find peace after so long and so many lives lost?”
The man with the microphone in his face sighed. He was only forty years old but looked to be in his sixties. “We need the fighting to stop,” he said sadly and with a sag to his posture. “One battle will push the borders one way, then the next month, another battle pushes them the other way. Back and forth, no significant gains, no problems solved.” He shook his head. “This war never should have started,” he said and then walked on, his body language screaming out his emotions.
The reporter moved further down the road. “Ma’am?” he called out to a woman pushing a heavy wheel cart. “Can you tell me your thoughts about this war? Do you think it has been a success?”
She looked at the reporter through dusty lashes, her eyes sad and almost defeated. “I’ve lost both of my sons in this war,” she said. No other words, just that and she moved on, pushing her cart down the street.
In the distance, one could hear gunshots, but the people in this small village didn’t even cringe or look towards the sound. Years of fighting had inured them to the sounds. It had become just part of the background noise. Those background sounds used to be children laughing on the playground. But the playground held no laughing children and no playground – just fragments of what it used to be after a grenade destroyed most of the equipment. Children hid inside houses now. School was canceled more often than not because of the fear of stray gunfire.
The reporter looked around for someone else to interview but the streets were basically deserted. There were people around, but they never opened their doors, especially to a stranger.
Turning around, the reporter once again faced the camera. “So there you have it, folks. The war between these four countries has been going on for almost a decade and the people, at least the ones in this village, don’t seem to have the will to fight any longer. We travel to Tularia tomorrow. More from there.” And he was off. The reporter and cameraman didn’t speak as they put their equipment back up into the cases and slammed the doors to the beaten up SUV. Such a waste, they both thought.
BREAKING NEWS – TREATY SIGNED! PEACE IS HERE!
In a surprising and wonderful turn of events, the new rulers of Lurasa, Altair, Larcatia, and Tularia announced today that they have signed a treaty to end the decade of hostilities between their countries…
Another WLUR News Report, two years later
The reporter and cameraman pulled up to the curb, astonished by what they were seeing. “We’re in the correct place, right?” the reporter asked.
The cameraman’s mouth hung open for a long moment as he too took in all the industrious activity. “Yep,” he finally responded.
They stared for several more minutes, taking in the new construction, the trees heavy with fruit and repaired roofs. And a playground! Good grief, the playground that they’d filmed right before the end of the war…it was back! The swings were now filled with children laughing and calling out to one another while several adults watched over them.
As the reporter watched, one of the adults looked over at their SUV warily, walking to the other woman and whispering, pointing in their direction.
“Let’s go,” the reporter urged.
He walked over to the two women, showing his press credentials. “I’m sorry,” he said, holding out his hands carefully. “I don’t mean to make you nervous.”
Two men came out of the school and rushed the children inside, looking at the reporters, then to the children.
“We did a story about this village about two years ago and were just coming back to follow up. We’re astonished by the changes that have happened in such a short period of time. Would you talk to us about the changes?” he asked.
The women clutched each other closely, whispering before they finally shook their heads. “I’m sorry, no time,” one of them said, a moment before she rushed into the school and slammed the doors closed.
The reporter and cameraman stared, stunned when the blinds to the school room were flicked shut. It was almost like the town wasn’t quite sure about the peace yet. Despite the amazing changes that had come over the village and all of the buildings, they still…well, they weren’t sure that conflict was gone for good.
The reporter accepted that. It was still news, he thought. “Okay, let’s set up,” he told the cameraman. “We have a good story here,” he said.
Fifteen minutes later, they wrapped up and packed their equipment away. “Let’s head through a few other towns, compare the changes from one to the other, as well as from two years ago to now.” He looked around once more, shaking his head. “I still can’t believe the transformation. This place looked like a ghost town two years ago.”
The cameraman put the SUV into gear, silently agreeing with him. “Think that crazy treaty is making a difference?” he suggested.
The reporter’s lips compressed as he thought through the possibility. “Yes, but I think they’re all waiting. For what, I don’t really know. But it just feels like…” He shook his head. “I can’t quite figure it out. Almost like they don’t trust in the peace.”
They found the same sights in the other towns. Businesses, housing, and public places were in full recovery mode. Children were laughing and playing, school was in session and every person looked as if they were industriously involved in the recuperation of their village. But no one would talk on camera or off. It was strange, but still a great story.
The cameraman remarked, “I heard a rumor that the four sheiks have to marry to prove that the peace will last.”
The reporter perked up. “Those will be stories that I’ll be happy to cover!”
To learn more about the series, see this series page on ElizabethLennox.com or the individual book pages!
