New Release: East of Eden by Lee Strauss

Eden Kelley is the primary caregiver for her mother who’s in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease, and she’s only twenty-four. Not what she planned to do when she left her husband for a new start with her four-year-old daughter in tow. She’d hoped for free babysitting, but instead she found a mystery. The discovery of an erroneous marriage document leads to more questions, and unfortunately Eden can’t ask her mother for answers because she doesn’t remember.

Her mother’s antics drive her crazy, but Eden’s determined to make the best of it. That includes finding the exciting romantic adventure she’d dreamed about. But when trouble knocks, it’s her husband Cade who arrives to help. 

It’s awkward and tense. And Eden comes to one sure conclusion: leaving her handsome, caring husband was a huge mistake.

Her parents had a second chance at love? Would she and Cade get one, too?

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Coming soon to Barnes & Nobles and itunes

“I was enamored with the mystery surrounding her [Eden’s] mom and dad. I eagerly read wanting to unearth their secrets. I was thoroughly pleased with what I found and how the whole story pieced together. …And how her parent’s story related to what Eden and Cade were going through…A perfect read if you are seeking a read that is light and mysterious.” – Mandy Anderson from I Read Indies

The Story Behind the Story

East of Eden is my one and only backlist book, meaning it was once published traditionally (2000) and is now out of print. The publishing house is in Germany and it was only available in the German language (even though it was written originally in English). For thirteen years none of my English speaking friends or family could read it – until now! Yay for Indie Publishing!

Of course, my writing style has changed a lot over thirteen years so I took the opportunity to revise the original manuscript extensively which included title and name changes, new and deleted scenes and some reshuffling of scenes. I really love this new and improved version.

Even though I revised it, I  left it set in the 1990s instead of updating it to current times. The reason for this is the mystery involved. It needs the time frame it’s in to work, plus, you can be assured the setting is authentic 🙂

What Inspired the Story?

I was driving through a suburb of Vancouver, BC on day in the mid 1990s and spotted an elderly woman rocking in a chair on a front porch of one of the homes. I was a young woman and I had a flash forward of myself in that older woman’s place. What would it feel like to have your whole life behind you?

And what if you couldn’t remember it?

My grandmother had recently passed away from complications due to Alzheimer’s disease, so this was a matter of personal concern to me. I remember the moment she no longer remembered who I was and it was heart breaking.

My muse picked up on the theme and added the mystery. A self-centered daughter who stumbles across a clue to something hidden in her mother’s past. Something her mother could no longer remember and so couldn’t answer her many questions. 

And…

Sample pages of the first book in my upcoming Minstrel Series, Sun &Moon are included!

She has a past. He has a secret.
Katja’s a risk-taking singer-songwriter hoping to make it in the indie music scene in Dresden, Germany. Micah’s a brooding uptown banker on a quest.

There’s an undeniable attraction between them, a gravitational pull they both struggle to resist. Katja knows she mustn’t fall in love with this handsome enigma. There’s something dark lurking beneath the surface. He could be dangerous.

Includes MP3 links to original music performed by Canadian Folk artist Kim McMechan.


Pre- orders now available!

itunes | kobo | Barnes & Noble

Lee Strauss writes mixed genre romance for upper YA and adult readers. She also writes light and fun stuff under the name Elle Strauss. To find out more about Lee and her books check out her author facebook page. You can also follow her on twitter @elle_strauss and on Pinterest. To find out about new releases sign up for her newsletter at www.ellestraussbooks.com

Print copy – US/Canada Only