Hot Summer Nights- Beth Trissel's, Enemy of the King

Happy Monday! I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful weekend.

It’s time to continue A Writer’s Mind’s, HOT SUMMER NIGHTS BLOG EVENT. For those popping in for the first time, this event features stories that take place either during those warmer summer months or in parts of the world where it’s hot all year round. Authors will be dishing out all sorts of great info. about their titles.

Today it’s my pleasure to welcome over extremely talented author, Beth Trissel. Beth will be giving away an ecopy of her latest work, Enemy of the King to one lucky commenter. Be sure to read what she has to say at the end of this post about her contest!

Let’s hear from Beth now…

Thanks to Sky for having me on her fabulous blog.

Fascination with colonial America and the high drama of the American Revolution drew me to write adventure/romance novel Enemy of the King. Opening in sultry South Carolina in the summer of 1780, the story focuses on the Southern face of the war. Heard of Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox? That’s his stomping ground and where some of my forebears ventured. Years ago, while researching my early American Scots-Irish ancestors, I came across frequent references to a battle fought during the Revolution called the Battle of King’s Mountain. The name alone drew me. I vowed to go back later and research it more in-depth and uncovered fascinating fodder for the imagination. Needless to say, that battle plays a significant role in the story, and, being drawn to mysterious old homes and the notion that those who’ve gone before us aren’t always gone, I included a ghost.

I also suspect my ancestors are speaking to me, as I have a colonial forebear named Jeremiah Jordan (the hero) and discovered an early Meriwether (the heroine) in the family. Not to mention a British general whose grandson was fighting with George Washington. My journey back through time gathered intrigue, and I wondered how the people who lived through anything as all-consuming as the American Revolution ever got their lives back to normal. The ripples from that enormous upheaval are still flowing out in concentric circles. They’ve certainly encompassed me, and now I’m at work on the sequel.

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So, step into the elegant parlor of Pleasant Grove, an eighteenth century Georgian plantation built high on the bluff above the Santee River. Admire the stately lines of this gracious brick home and its exquisite decor. Stroll out into the expansive garden between fragrant borders of lavender and rosemary. Bask beneath the moss-hung branches of an enormous live oak, then saunter back indoors to dress for a candlelight dinner in the sumptuous dining room. But don’t plan on a lengthy stay, you’re about to be snatched away for a wild ride into Carolina backcountry.

Jeremiah Jordan is a Patriot and Meriwether Steele a Loyalist. She risks a traitor’s death if she fights for the man she loves.

‘South Carolina, spies and intrigue, a vindictive ghost, the battle of King’s Mountain, Patriots and Tories, pounding adventure, pulsing romance…ENEMY OF THE KING.’

The year is 1780, one of the bloodiest of the American Revolution. The entire Southern garrison has been captured and Lord Cornwallis is marching his forces deep into South Carolina. ‘Bloody Ban’ Lieutenant Major Banestre Tarleton and his infamous Legion are sweeping through the countryside. Revenge is the order of the day on both sides and rugged bands of militia are all that stand between crown forces and utter defeat.~

Blurb: While Loyalist Meriwether Steele recovers from illness in the stately home of her beloved guardian, Jeremiah Jordan, she senses the haunting presence of his late wife. When she learns that Jeremiah is a Patriot spy and shoots Captain Vaughan, the British officer sent to arrest him, she is caught up on a wild ride into Carolina back country, pursued both by the impassioned captain and the vindictive ghost. Will she remain loyal to her king and Tory twin brother or risk a traitor’s death fighting for Jeremiah? If Captain Vaughan snatches her away, he won’t give her a choice.~

Excerpt:

Annoyance thrust through him like molten steel. “Oh, for heaven's sake. So now you're not speaking to me?”

Meriwether got to her feet in a rustle of silk and addressed Neal with a regal tilt of her chin. “I should like to freshen up. Ensign Gamble, would you be so good as to direct me?”

Jeremiah stood shirtless, in leather breeches and riding boots. A shaft of sunlight played over her father's sword hanging at his side and the dazzling glow of her gown. “You're speaking to him?” he demanded.

Neal shot him a triumphant grin.

“Ensign Gamble is otherwise engaged,” Jeremiah said coldly.

“I am at the lady's service.”

Jeremiah shook his head, ready to rip Neal's from his arrogant neck. “I shall escort Miss Steele.”

“I do not require your services, Captain Jordan.”

“Oh for the love of—” He'd had more than enough. “You are dependent on me for everything. Your very life.”

“Until I reach Bobby.”

Outrage rifled through him. “After last night! Are you out of your mind?”

“Bobby will make Ferguson see I'm innocent!”

Jeremiah grasped her slender shoulders and bent toward her speaking in a low growl. “You are not innocent. You fired on an officer of the crown, and you are not going to the British. It's too risky by half and damn disloyal to me.”

Her lip quivered, but she didn't shrink from him. “I'm a Tory, remember?”

“When you pulled that trigger, you joined the Patriots.” ~

I’m giving away the ebook of ENEMY OF THE KING in kindle, nookbook, or pdf to someone who leaves me a raving comment; more than one copy if I’m sufficiently flattered. Oh the vanity of it all.

For more on me my blog is the happening place: One Writer’s Way

All pertinent links for me are there. Enemy of the King is available in print and or ebook at Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble’s Nookbook, The Wild Rose Press and many other online booksellers.

Contest ends Wednesday, July 18th, 12 AM EST.