#NewRelease from Lisabet Sarai - THE RUINATION OF RAMONA STONE
THE RUINATION OF RAMONA STONE is a #NewRelease from Lisabet Sarai. This Lesbian Romance is set in the Victorian era in London and Boston, and releases today, November 6, 2026. Best of luck with this new release, Lisabet!
Born Again Victorian
Sometimes I think I lived a past life in the Victorian age. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been drawn to architecture and costumes from the period. My siblings used to tease me about how much I liked “gingerbread” houses. In my high school yearbook picture, I’m wearing a high-necked, 1880’s style blouse with an antique cameo brooch at my throat. I’ve been a huge fan of Gilbert and Sullivan – the consummate chroniclers of Victorian culture - since I was introduced to their operettas at age five. I had devoured the complete Sherlock Holmes before I turned fifteen, not to mention other classics from the era by Wilkie Collins, H. Rider Haggard and of course Charles Dickens.
Possibly due to all the nineteenth century fiction I’ve consumed, I find it surprisingly easy to write dialogue and description that can pass as Victorian. I certainly can’t produce the same level of authenticity for any other historical era.
Over my two and a half decade career, I’ve written a number of tales that take place during Queen Victoria’s reign. My erotic romance Miranda’s Masks features a parallel plot that unfolds in late-nineteenth-century Boston. I’ve also penned a number of steam punk books, all set in an alternative Victorian world with more advanced technology than actually existed (although in fact the latter half of the eighteen hundreds was a hotbed of invention and entrepreneurship). If you like the steampunk genre, check out my Toymakers Guild series or my alt-Victorian novel set in British India, Rajasthani Moon.
The Ruination of Ramona Stone is my first attempt at a realistic novel set in the period. My two heroines fall desperately in love, violating every rule of Victorian society. They understand the price they will pay, should anyone discover their secret passion, but they risk everything to stay together.
It might seem strange that I’m so attracted to things Victorian. Given my interest in sexuality (both literary and personal), I probably would have had difficulty adapting to the prudish societal norms of the time. Of course, perennially popular Victorian erotica like The Pearl and My Secret Life suggest that there was a quite a gap between what people professed in public and what they did in private (or in the company of like-minded libertines).
That’s my theory, anyway: that the Victorians were a far lustier group than they pretended. That’s certainly true of the characters in my Victorian-themed stories.
Blurb:
Should anyone discover their secret passion, they would both be ruined.
To Victorian London, they were childhood friends reunited by tragedy. Behind closed doors, they were each other’s undoing.
Ramona Stone survived the bleak years at boarding school because of bright-eyed Juliet—her childhood anchor and her dearest confidante. While Juliet marries for love, Ramona accepts the husband her father has arranged, an ambitious barrister twice her age.
When an accident leaves Juliet a penniless widow, Ramona persuades her husband to grant her friend shelter. Proximity kindles unexpected passion; sympathy turns to illicit desire. What begins as solace quickly transforms into a force that neither woman can resist or deny.
Trapped with a domineering husband, living in a society eager for scandal, Ramona understands that every touch is a gamble and every glance a betrayal. If their secret comes to light, she won't just lose her place in society—she will lose the only love that she’s ever known.
Excerpt:
“Oh, Ro! I don’t feel strong now.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “I don’t know how I will survive. I have exactly twelve pounds to my name, plus two suitcases of personal belongings. No roof over my head. No friends aside from you, or so it seems. The people in George’s circle were all eager to attend our social functions, but now they won’t even acknowledge my letters. My brother refuses to speak to me. I’ve offered to work for him, if he’ll take me in. I don’t want to be a burden. I could serve as housekeeper on his estate. Nothing will melt his heart of stone. Harry told me I was dead to him when I chose George. Apparently he meant it.”
She buried her face in her hands, whimpering and sniffling.
“Juliet. Juliet! Don’t cry. We’ll come up with a plan.” I pulled her into my arms and held her tight. She clung to me like a shipwrecked sailor trying to stay afloat. “Don’t worry, darling. I’ll take care of you.”
I stroked her wayward locks, escaping as they always did from the pins and ribbons that held them. She clutched me around the waist, desperate sobs shaking her body. I was at least inches taller than she was. Her tears soaked the satin of my bodice. I bent my mouth to her ear and murmured soft platitudes meant to soothe her pain.
It was terrible to see her suffer. Yet despite everything a strange sort of joy sang through me as I cradled her in my arms and comforted her. She would never be alone, I vowed, as long as I was alive. I would care for her like my own flesh and blood.
Gradually her sobbing quieted and her tears dried. Still, we held each other, sinking into the warmth of our mutual embrace. Our breathing synchronised. I could not feel her heartbeat through the layers of her widow’s dress, but I would not have been surprised to discover it beat in time with mine. An odd peace stole over me. I believe Juliet felt it too. Blossoming out of the heart of that peace, I had a sense of new possibilities.
Buy Links (Ebook):
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HMD46TBH
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0HMD46TBH
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ruination-of-ramona-stone-lisabet-sarai/1151622599?ean=2940196349850
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/2120525
Bookstore.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-ruination-of-ramona-stone-lisabet-sarai/8e6f6e43c5dd1504?ean=9798237811216
Books2Read: https://books2read.com/u/mKa2wy
Add on BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-ruination-of-ramona-stone-a-victorian-lesbian-romance-by-lisabet-sarai
About Lisabet:
Lisabet Sarai writes in many genres, but F/F fiction is one of her favorites. In addition to her single-author lesbian romance and erotica titles, her sapphic credits include contributions to Lambda Award winner Where the Girls Are, Ippie-winning Carnal Machines, Best Lesbian Romance 2012, Best Lesbian Erotica 2015, Forbidden Fruit: Stories of Unwise Lesbian Desire, and Lammy-nominated Coming Together: Girl on Girl.
Lisabet holds more degrees than anyone would ever need, from prestigious educational institutions who would no doubt be deeply embarrassed by her explicit literary endeavors. She has traveled widely and currently lives in Southeast Asia, where she pursues an alternative career that is completely unrelated to her writing.
Connect with Lisabet!
Lisabet’s Fantasy Factory (website): http://www.lisabetsarai.com
Beyond Romance (blog): http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/LSarai
Twitter/X: https://www.x.com/lisabetsarai
Mailing list signup: https://lisabetsarai.eo.page/kqyq4
Hello, Jana,
Thank you so much for your help in getting the word out about my new book
xxoo,
Lisabet