A Siege on Her Heart Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for A Siege on Her Heart by Jessica Brousseau, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: A Siege on Her Heart Author: Jessica Brousseau Publisher: Cedar Fort Publishing and Media Release Date: January 5, 2026 Genre: Historical Romance Ana María Bailon believes her heart is as shattered as the burning city she flees. Once bold and brilliant in her father’s war councils, she now carries a secret child and a soul scorched by the siege of San Sebastián. When an English captain offers a hurried marriage and safe passage to a foreign land, Ana wonders if she is walking toward healing or a new form of heartbreak. Captain Peter Ashmore lives with memories that stalk him like smoke from a burning town. Honor compels him into a marriage of convenience, yet every glance from his Spanish bride stirs a longing he fears he does not deserve. As they travel to his English estate and step into a world of drawing rooms and whispered judgments, Peter grapples with guilt, desire, and a God he worries has turned away. In the quiet rooms of Abbeygate, Ana starts to trust the gentle man beneath the scarlet uniform, but nightmares, secrets, and grief threaten every fragile step. Peter feels himself falling for the courageous woman he vowed to shield, even as the truth of her past and his role in the siege loom over them both. Can Ana and Peter confront the ruin behind them and choose a love that rebuilds what war tried to destroy? PURCHASE LINKS:Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

Guest Post: Creating characters in the real-life Siege of San Sebastian

I started out writing a Regency romance series and never knew I would end up steeped in research…but my discovery of the little-known history of the siege of San Sebastian sort of took over everything. It transformed the stories I’ve been writing into a journey of depth and healing and compassion. And made this Regency tale a very unique one.

When I first discovered the siege and sacking of San Sebastian I was shocked and heartbroken. I couldn’t believe how so many innocent citizens had suffered in the pillaging and assault of San Sebastian, and with little hope of ever finding justice afterward. This was not the only tragedy in the Peninsular War and the trail of sieges dotting Spain, but this particular battle and war crime has been called one of the worst examples of indiscipline in the war with Napoleon for a reason. After fighting for months to free San Sebastian, the British ended up ravaging it in their drunken victory. But whether it was for political or strategic reasons, or just a tragic example of drunken depravity, we still don’t know. And I even talked to historians about this! That was one of the challenges of writing this book, when I wasn’t able to find much clarity on the motivations of this war crime…but instead of letting that hinder me, I leaned into it.

I created a soldier, Captain Peter Ashmore, who joined the army in search of discipline and rigidity, and a way to escape the tragic abuse occurring in his own home. So when he sees the disastrous sacking of San Sebastian, he is enraged, disgusted, and disillusioned. The army is no longer the safe place of rules and regulations as he always depended upon it being. Furthermore, he sees Ana Maria Bailon has been injured and assaulted by one of his own drunken fellow soldiers. But instead of losing his head and attacking the drunken men, he tries to show composure by instead concerning himself with rescuing Ana…he even ends up unexpectedly proposing a marriage of convenience. While I was researching this historical event, I went on a deep dive and even found some journal entries of soldiers who had been at the siege of San Sebastian. I tried to embody their deep regret, heartbreak, and disillusionment in Peter’s character. 

My discovery of this siege and sacking was interesting and pulled at my heartstrings. But the story of healing and redemption that came along with it needed to be told…and this is how my character, Ana Maria Bailon, was born. With so many women who had been mercilessly and tragically assaulted in the sacking, I knew that it would be historically accurate to have my FMC be recovering from an assault and give representation to those real women who suffered there. I also knew that it would be historically accurate to have my MMC be a disillusioned soldier enraged by the plundering and violence. But the way that those two characters would come together to heal each other was a process to learn. I knew they would have to deal with the painstaking patience of physical healing as well as the heaviness of PTSD and depression. It proved to be fulfilling to have them find help and safety in each other but even more fulfilling for them to realize that lasting peace would come from God. I think it made for a marriage that truly stretched them and portrayed authenticity and grit…resulting in a healing process that is (I hope) relatable to readers and fulfilling for me as a writer.

About the Author

Jessica Brousseau has never been able to put a book down late at night…and she notoriously developed the habit of reading Shakespeare in the wee hours of the morning during high school. But her passion for writing started even earlier, when her sixth-grade teacher read her first attempt at historical fiction and told her she should become an author someday. She adored her AP English classes and went on to receive her bachelor’s in English literature and creative writing. Jessica gets writing motivation by reading daily and constantly watching adaptations of Jane Austen’s works. She never goes anywhere without her emotional support kindle. Jessica loves crafting, baking, going on walks, playing with her kids, and eating anything that has cream cheese frosting. She lives a real-life love story with her husband, who gives her plenty of inspiration for her stories. Together they are building their happily-ever-after as Utah-born, Midwestern “transplants” in Wisconsin. Learn more about Jessica and her upcoming projects by connecting with her online at authorjessicabrousseau.com!

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed and annotated copy of A Siege on Her Heart and a custom “book charm” bookmark made with elements from the book!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 9, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 16, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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