Elizabeth’s debut coming-of-age, historical romance novel set in mid-nineteenth century America spans the lives of Bryan and Aimee. Mistreated as kids, they embark on an epoch journey determined to help abused children. Along the way, they face terrible trouble but they also they find each other, love, and adventure with help from faithful dogs and an unusual group of friends.

Currently under submission to agents, 2022.

There’s something enchanting about childhood memories—the new bicycle, red glitter tap shoes, hitting a home run, and cuddling with the family dog. Dad saying, “good job, kids,” while Mom puts a warm apple pie on the table. Sounds great, except Bryan and Aimee, the protagonists in The Age of Promises, never enjoy this life. Instead, their abusive fathers keep them on edge dreading the next blow or bullet. Bryan the stoic takes the thrashings and walks away. Aimee the fighter documents every mistreatment and celebrates poking the bear—sassing in pig Latin while he breaks her bones, or worse. Comforted by the unconditional love of their dogs, the wounds marinate in their hearts, transforming them into revolutionaries in a war against abusers, unlike most who grow up to continue the tragic generational pattern.

Conflict keeps the pace moving across five decades, beginning with Bryan’s birth in 1936 rural Appalachia during a cougar attack and Aimee’s unwelcome surprise birth in 1946 Texas. Their disparate family dynamics facilitate complex character development, action, danger, and joy in dissimilar times and places—rural Appalachia and San Antonio exist worlds apart. While abuse serves as the common thread, romance triumphs as Bryan and Aimee experience the unique culture changes occurring in post WWII America—everything from soldiers morphing into students, tract housing, clothing, music, cars, civil rights to fears of mushroom clouds and safe landings on the moon. Despite lunatics assassinating Kennedy and King, a sniper killing students at the University of Texas, and Vietnam slaughtering our youngest and brightest, America vibrates with promises of a better world.

For Bryan and Aimee, they find ways out and up in their steadfast quest to change lives. One day, everything changes. She walks into his class and they find the lovers they’ve dreamed about since childhood. Armed with hard-won PhDs and backed by a cadre of friends and loving dogs, they plan a world-class institute to provide service dogs to abused children and counseling to stop the pattern of generational abuse forever. But then everything crashes when they’re kidnapped in Argentina and their benefactor dies. After a daring escape across the Andes, they about give up until they learn Aunt Joy has left them a whopping $800 million to fulfill their childhood promises to make the world a better, safer place for kids in need.