“Once in awhile, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.” –Beth Trissel

“This was love at first sight, love everlasting: a feeling unknown, unhoped for, unexpected-in so far as it could be a matter of conscious awareness: it took entire possession of  him, and he understood, with joyous amazement, that this was for life.” ~ Thomas Mann, on Romance

“I think we dream so we don’t have to be away from one another.  If we’re each other’s dreams, we’ll always be together.”  ~ Hobbes, on Romance, as in Calvin and Hobbes.

“Love won’t be tampered with, love won’t go away, Push it to one side and it creeps to the other.” ~ Louise Erdrich, on Romance

“And he took her in his arms and kissed her under the sunlit sky, and he cared not that they stood high upon the walls in the sight of many.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien

“Once in awhile, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.” ~ Unknown

“It seemed to her that truly loving anyone incurred a great deal of risk to one’s heart. And if she were parted from him now, the memory of him would go with her all of her days…a painful ghost.” ~ Charity in my Native American historical romance novel, Red Bird’s Song

“An irrational jealousy twanged a jarring note in Julia. In the space of a few short minutes she’d fallen in love with the man in the portrait—typical of her impractical nature and unlikely to advance her nonexistent love life. And yet, she couldn’t help plunging into this sweet madness.” ~ Julia in my ghostly time travel romance novel, Somewhere My Love

“…Your father would shoot me if he were still alive. And your brother may yet have that chance.”

“Shhhh…” She cupped her cool hands to his battered face and covered his lips in a tender kiss…soothing him with her love like a healing balm.

~ Jeremiah from my colonial American historical romance novel, Enemy of the King

“Lusting after Karin was bad enough. Falling in love with her—out of the question. Out of the question, he repeated to himself, and at odds with his independent nature.” ~ Jack from my historical-paranormal romance novel The Bearwalker’s Daughter

“That someone worthy of her vaulted regard should esteem her in return was joy unbounded. True love seemed more than she dared to hope for from Corwin, but affection…”~Dimity from my historical romance novella A Warrior for Christmas

“In a careful hand he wrote, My dear Madame, uncertain how else to address Dimity. By the light of a thousand sunrises and countless full moon circles I grew into the warrior called Black Hawk. I do not know how to become the man named Corwin Whitfield, nor if I wish to be…” ~Corwin from A Warrior for Christmas

“The meeting between them was brief, but she’d not forgotten the tingle shimmering through her at the touch of his hand on hers, or the heat of his eyes.  Infinitely much had changed between them since that initial childhood encounter––she but a lass and Niall not yet grown.  Though she’d loved him even then.”

~Mora from Scottish Time Travel Romance novel, Somewhere My Lass

“He strove for control as his lips answered, lightly at first. Then molten waves washed over him and the four elements within him wrestled in tremendous upheaval; the Earth shuddered and groaned, rushing Wind whipped desire through him, Fire enflamed him, and passionate Rain drummed him with rising want like flood waters. Catching her to him, he pressed his mouth over hers far harder than he’d intended.”

~ Shoka from my Native American Historical romance novel, Through the Fire

“Her eyes flew open. “That’s not true! I love—” she halted in mid-flow, unwilling to make that momentous declaration. “I mean—oh, damn it all.”~ Rebecca from Through the Fire

“The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. And that’s what you’ve given me. That’s what I’d hoped to give you forever.”― Nicholas Sparks

“I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.”
― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

***Royalty free images. Daughter Elise Trissel did all the covers in this post.

Super Review and Recommended Read for A Warrior for Christmas–Beth Trissel

“A Warrior for Christmas took me by complete surprise. I expected the usual tale of a former Indian captive transcending his past to live the life of a gentleman, but Beth Trissel’s exquisite writing skill made me love this story. In just 53 pages, she created a warm and exiting backdrop and brought to the lovely scenery characters that made the story come alive. Ms. Trissel will make the reader truly wonder if everything is going to work out well between Dimity and Corwin because she created internal and external conflict that could persuade Corwin to return to the wilderness he loves. I really liked the way Ms. Trissel handled the problem of a deaf character communicating with other characters in the story in convincing ways. No reader of historical romance will want to miss A Warrior for Christmas, even if it isn’t Christmas.”~

For the Full Review Visit: Two Lips Reviews

The Christmas Kitten-Cat–Beth Trissel

‘Tis the morning after Christmas and not a creature is stirring–well, Pabel’s up seeking for that which he can get into. There lives among us in this old farm-house in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, a mischievous little sprite known as the kitten-cat. Yes, technically Pabel is a big kitty now, but pesters the dickens out of the two older cats–no, they don’t want to wrestle–and he’s still at the emotional level of a kitten.  I suppose Pabel would really enjoy having another kitten to play with.  Perhaps we should have gotten him one for Christmas, but I’m already keeping up with litter boxes for three cats. However, if anyone discovers my longed for orange and blue kitten (not sure they actually exist) please let me know.

But back to Pabel. Last year we found this unlikely and minute runt among the tabby litter of a tabby mother barn cat belonging to my daughter-in-law. Without our intervention and adoption, it’s likely this tiny specimen of catdom wouldn’t have survived all the competition with litter mates twice his size, even though Charity gave him extra food. It was too rough and tumble a world in the greater barn for such a small kitten. But here in the house, he’s thrived. Even rules as a young prince.

Let it be truly said that Pabel loves Christmas. The first couple of days after we (finally) got the tree up–a few technical difficulties involving the size of the stand versus the trunk and lots of needles and boughs covering the floor–Pabel smelled strongly of pine and was rather sticky in spots from the sap. Of course, he stole some ornaments and had vast fun helping decorate the tree, and wrap–also unwrap–the presents.  I suspect he’s going to be quite sad when the time comes to take the tree down. Come to think of it, so will I. It’s a lovely tree with a star in the tradition of  Dr. Seuss. Daughter Elise’s idea.

And of course, we need a few great cat quotes.

“For every house is incomplete without him, and a blessing is lacking in the spirit.”
- Christopher Smart

Cats never strike a pose that isn’t photogenic.
- Lillian Jackson Braun

The only mystery about the cat is why it ever decided to become a domestic animal.
- Sir Compton MacKenzie

Animals are such agreeable friends – they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.
- George Eliot

If you want to write, keep cats. - Aldous Huxley

“There is nothing in the animal world, to my mind, more delightful than grown cats at play.
They are so swift and light and graceful, so subtle and designing, and yet so richly comical.”

- Monica Edwards

***Images by daughter Elise.

“Love was born at Christmas, Stars and Angels Gave the Sign.” ~ Christina G. Rossetti

Brew me a cup for a winter’s night.For the wind howls loud and the furies fight; Spice it with love and stir it with care, And I’ll toast our bright eyes,my sweetheart fair. 

~Minna Thomas Antrim

“Love came down at Christmas; love all lovely, love divine; love was born at Christmas, stars and angels gave the sign.” ~ Christina G. Rossetti

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”

~Charles Dickens

 

“Let’s dance and sing and make good cheer, For Christmas comes but once a year.”

~Sir George Alexander Macfarren

“I heard the bells on Christmas Day; their old familiar carols play, and wild and sweet the word repeat of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

~ Henry Longfellow

“Christmas is a necessity.  There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we’re here for something else besides ourselves.”

~Eric Sevareid

“Christmas is the day that holds all time together.”

~ Alexander Smith

“Christmas is the keeping-place for memories of our innocence.” ~Joan Mills

‘“Christmas is a time when you get homesick – even when you’re home.” ~ Carol Nelso

“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” ~Norman Vincent Peale

“He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.”~Roy L. Smith

“Christmas, children, is not a date.  It is a state of mind.” ~Mary Ellen Chase

“Christmas is the gentlest, loveliest festival of the revolving year – and yet, for all that, when it speaks, its voice has strong authority.”~W.J. Cameron

“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree:  the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.” ~Burton Hillis

 

“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.”

~Laura Ingalls Wilder

“There has been only one Christmas – the rest are anniversaries.” ~W.J. Cameron

 

“The earth has grown old with its burden of care But at Christmas it always is young, The heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair And its soul full of music breaks the air, When the song of angels is sung.” ~ Phillips Brooks (1835-93), American Episcopal bishop, wrote ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem‘.

Christmas is Coming, the Geese are Getting Fat–Beth Trissel

“Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat, please to put a penny in an old man’s hat!” 

I’ve been known to burst forth in this traditional English carol whenever it’s near enough to Christmas to warrant it. Many moons ago when my children were small, this was my cue to joyfully anticipate the coming of Christmas. I don’t know why I happened on this particular song, though it’s a favorite from past madrigals and perhaps because we have geese.

I was horrified one year when my mother-in-law suggested we actually eat one of our abundant flock. I never sang that song in front of her again. She tried to persuade my hubby to catch one for Christmas dinner, but he was reluctant and it didn’t ap­peal to her to scamper after them alone, so that’s how the matter was left. The geese lived to see another Christmas unmolested and we had our usual turkey, not a bird I’m the least bit sentimental about.

Eons ago when our son was in grade school and times were particularly tight, I suggested that perhaps it would be a good idea to give more hand-made gifts because after all, what was Christmas all about? Wasn’t it enough to focus on the wonder and  true meaning of Christmas? To sing carols, pop popcorn, read stories, make paper chains…simplify.  In other words, “We don’t have much money, son.”

He regarded me impassively for a moment, then said, “You could get a job and we’d have more money.”

I was taken aback. “But my job is being here on the farm with you and Daddy and your sister(s).  Who would take care of you and the house and do all I do, if I weren’t here? You’d rather have Mommy here than more money for mere gifts, surely?”

He considered this reasoning, got out the calculator and the Christmas wish book and proceeded to tally up the desired items. He then presented me with his estimated cost. How I wanted to handle it was up to me, but here was his projected budget.

I cast my mind back to when I was a mere nine, sensitive, humble in my expectations and grateful for whatever I received. There was the one moment when an “Is that all?” slipped out of my mouth, but that’s the only ingratitude I can remember.

I’m glad to say my son has grown into a fine young man with a family of his own and is appreciative of all I did as his stay-at-home crazy writer/gardener mom.  All three of my children are, and now the grandbabies are excited to come visit and find me here.  Little faces light up and they toddle to me with outstretched arms or hurl themselves at me for hugs.  Precious little people.

Christmas means being with family and friends, treasuring those times, and shared traditions.  This year, more than ever, I find  comfort in the enduring truth at the heart of the season, best summed up in the ancient words of the Gospel of Luke.  “And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior  which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’”

***Goose pic by my mom, our dog Mia under the Christmas tree by daughter Elise and my husband took the one of our daughter-in-law and grandbaby as Mary and baby Jesus in the Christmas program at our church several years ago. That baby is now three.

Beth Trissel is ‘The Next Big Thing’

I’m not off to a great start. I forgot today was my day. But this tardy post is coming to you via my referrals from the fabulous Kathryn Knight at: Kathryn Knight Books And the wonderful Linda Banche and Her Historical Hilarity Plus anyone else who tagged me.

And now, I invite your rapt attention as I explore such fascinating questions as, What is the title of your book? My latest release is, appropriately for this time of year, A Warrior for Christmas!

Where did the idea come from for the book? Research into my early American Scots-Irish ancestors and their interactions and clashes with Native Americans. Oh, and Tarzan. No, seriously.

What genre does your book fall under? Historical Romance. Totally. I didn’t even sneak in a ghost.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?  Are there any fabulous enough. Hmmmm…

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

‘Will he remain with her or find the call of the wild irresistible?’  Or ‘ Can she expect Love from a man who longs to return to the wild?’ This is where the white warrior imagery enters in.

Where (or when) can we get your book?  Now. A Warrior for Christmas is available in various eBook formats at The Wild Rose Press,  Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble’s Nookbook & other online booksellers. Oh, and big news, the story is being made into an audio book! Stay tuned.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? Three months

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? A warrior for Christmas fits into my Native American Warrior series along with Through the Fire, Red Bird’s Song, The Bearwalker’s Daughter and Kira, Daughter of the Moon. I don’t know of any other authors writing historical romance set in the colonial American frontier, or colonial America with a hero recently returned from the frontier, so wouldn’t know who else to suggest.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? The heroine is deaf and the hero is a white warrior recently returned from frontier life with the Shawnee. And who doesn’t enjoy a rollicking good time with Colonial American Christmas festivities?

Blurb: Reclaimed by his wealthy uncle, former Shawnee captive Corwin Whitfield finds life with his adopted people at an end and reluctantly enters the social world of 1764. He plans to return to the colonial frontier at his first opportunity–until he meets Uncle Randolph’s ward, Dimity Scott.

Deaf since a childhood bout of Scarlet fever, Dimity Scott intends to be cherished for herself, not her guardian’s purse, even if it means risking spinsterhood. Then the rugged newcomer arrives, unlike any man she’s ever known. Dimity has learned to manage her silent world, but unaccustomed to the dangers of the frontier, can she expect love and marriage from Corwin, who longs to return to his Shawnee life?~

***The next stop on The next Big Thing (Monday the 24th) will be with the gracious and talented Mona Risk, either at her blog: http://monarisk.blogspot.com/ or The Pink Fuzzy Slipper Writer’s

Can She Expect Love from a Man Who longs to Return to the Wild–A Warrior for Christmas

Dimity Scott is deaf since a bout of scarlet fever took her hearing. Corwin Whitfield, former Shawnee captive and white warrior, has recently been reclaimed and returned to high colonial society by his wealthy uncle.

Corwin wants nothing to do with this civilized world. Then he meets Dimity. Accompanying Corwin to the frontier poses more dangers than a deaf woman dares undertake. Nor has Corwin invited her.  He’s grown accustomed to Indian ways and relishes life in the wild, but now he’s heir to an estate and  Dimity is his uncle’s ward and dependent. She despises being dependent and longs to be cherished for herself, not the dowry her devoted guardian will lavish on her if and when she marries.  Corwin will gladly let her inherit all and head on back to the frontier after the new year, but what she wants is him. Does Corwin love her enough to stay?

A Warrior for Christmas historical romance novella is available for $1.99 in eBook formats from the Wild Rose Press, Kindle, Nookbook, All Romance eBooks, and other online booksellers.

Wassailing With Barbara Monajem and Her New Christmas Romance

Welcome my talented and scintillating friend, Barbara Monajem, here to share her new Christmas romance novella, A Lady’s Lesson in Seduction, and an old holiday tradition and recipe. Leave a comment on this post for the chance to win a copy of Barbara’s book. If the blog refuses to let you leave one, email it to me at bctrissel@yahoo.com and I’ll plug it in.

Now back to Barbara.

Thanks Beth. When my editor asked me for a Christmas novella, I was overjoyed, because I love old-fashioned Christmas customs, and now I would get to write about them! Of course I thought about the usual trappings of Christmas — the Yule log, evergreens, holly and its glorious red berries, and mistletoe. Christmas cakes and plum puddings. Christmas songs.  Beverages, such as wassail and lamb’s wool… Oh, there are so many lovely customs, but in a novella, there’s just not enough time to play with them all. I stuffed in whatever I had room for and saved the rest for next time.

One of my favorite customs is wassailing – you know, Here we go a-wassailing, among the leaves so green… It’s one of the ones I didn’t have room for, but that won’t stop me from discussing it here. The word wassail comes from an old English toast meaning “be in good health.” One kind of wassailing is going door to door singing wassail songs (some of which are well-known carols) and getting rewarded with a cup of wassail and maybe a few tasty treats. This is where the leaves of green come in — boughs of greenery over the doors and as decorations within the house. In traditional wassailing, the wassailers make a procession from room to room, banging pots and pans to cleanse the house of any evil left over from the past year. (***Makes perfect sense to me)

Another kind of wassailing is singing to apple trees on Twelfth Night to ensure a good harvest. Wassailers go from orchard to orchard to wish the trees well with songs and a toast. Even the trees get to sample the cider made from their apples, to encourage them to produce plenty of fruit in the coming year. Again, there’s lots of noise, with pots, pans, and (since we’re outdoors) guns, to drive evil spirits away from the trees.

Here’s a very simple recipe for a wassail drink to warm your insides on a cold winter’s night. Quantities are approximate.

1 gallon apple cider (with or without alcohol – your choice) or apple juice, 1/2 gallon pineapple juice, Juice of four oranges, 2-4 cinnamon sticks, Honey to sweeten the brew if you have a very sweet tooth, 2 more oranges, prepared according to the directions below. More cinnamon sticks, to use as straws (kids love this)

Mix the first five ingredients in a large saucepan and warm slowly over low heat until good and hot (but not boiling). Cut the top, bottom, and most of the rind off the remaining oranges, ending up with a roughly hexagonal shape. Squeeze the oranges very gently over the pot to extract some of the juice, then slice them. Just before serving, float the slices in the wassail as decoration. My sloppy slices didn’t qualify as decorative in any sense of the word, but the wassail tasted lovely. If you don’t mind a little bitterness from the rind, you might try using thin slices of orange with the rind on. It’s much tidier and prettier that way.~

The blurb of my Christmas novella, A Lady’s Lesson in Seduction:

Once a notorious rake, Camden Folk, Marquis of Warbury, is now consumed by desire for only one woman: beautiful young widow Frances Burdett. The Yuletide festivities at his country estate present the perfect opportunity for seduction…

After her brief, unsatisfying marriage, Frances swore never to become tied to another man. Then a passionate kiss under the mistletoe reawakens longings she thought buried forever. Can she give in to the pleasures of the body with a rogue like Cam—without losing her heart?

And an excerpt:

Frances should never have agreed to go to the orchard with the Marquis of Warbury—to gather mistletoe, of all things. She sent him a fierce, furious glare. “If you must have it, I don’t enjoy kissing.”

He eyed her from behind the apple tree. “Not at all?”

“No.” She pressed her lips together.

“Come now,” he teased. “Surely you’re exaggerating.”

Her voice was low, suffused with passion. “You can’t possibly judge how that—that invasion made me feel.”

“That bad, was it?” The marquis reached up and snipped with his shears. “You’re right, I can’t judge, but the general popularity of kissing tells me you were merely unlucky.” He came around the tree, a sprig of mistletoe in his hand.

What a fool she was; in spite of bitter experience, she wanted to kiss him, wanted kissing to be wonderful. How stupid! She was much better off—much safer—as she was.

He kissed the fingertips of his gloves and blew. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

Frances huffed.

He picked a berry from the mistletoe and dropped it. “We’ll make it a very light kiss,” he said, coming closer. “Short and sweet.”

She didn’t trust him; she wanted yet didn’t want—

A flurry of snow tumbled from the branches above, distracting her. He swooped in, dropped a swift, cold kiss on her lips, and drew away—but not far. “Was that too unbearable?” Another mistletoe berry fell to the snow.

“No, of course not,” she said, “but—”

“Well, then.” He took her hand and pulled her behind the tree. “If you don’t want me to invade you—accidentally, needless to say—you’ll have to keep your mouth shut.”

“You mustn’t do this—”

“Of course I must. No talking.”

She gave up, shutting both her mouth and her eyes. It was her own fault for coming to the orchard this morning, but she’d enjoyed their time together in the middle of the night so very much. It was only a kiss.

Nothing happened. She opened her eyes again. He was contemplating her mouth from under his lashes. “You have lovely lips.”

Through her teeth, she said, “Get it over with.”

“I’ve never kissed a martyr before.” His lips curled in a lazy smile, and then he pressed his mouth coolly to hers and withdrew again. “It requires a more careful approach than we disgustingly hasty men are used to.” He flicked another berry off the sprig.

She couldn’t help but watch his mouth. What was he going to do, and when?

“Close your eyes, and whatever happens, keep your lips together.”

This time his mouth lingered on hers a few seconds, then pressed light kisses from one corner of her lips to the other. Kiss. “One.” Kiss. “Two.” Kiss. “Three.”

Bite.~

***Ha! I love the sound of this story, Barbara, and enjoyed wassailing with you.

***Buy links:

Harlequin ebooks

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

BooksaMillion

Story Gems at BarGain PriceS–A Best of Beth Trissel

Tinker, tailor, soldier, spy…well, Warrior, Lady, Soldier, Frontiersman, the Scots-Irish, a Bearwalker, Ghosts, time travel, and a Colonial American Christmas…an eclectic mix of romances long and short for 1.99 and under. Load up those kindles.  Nooks?  Yep.  A few of these titles are over there too.

‘Fated lovers have a rare chance to reclaim the love cruelly denied them in the past, but can they grasp this brief window in time before it’s too late?’

Time Travel, Ghosts, and Reincarnation.  History, mystery, and above all romance.

“Know that love is truly timeless.” ~Author  Mary M. Ricksen

“As I read Somewhere My Love, I recalled the feelings I experienced the first time I read Daphne DuMaurier’s Rebecca long ago. Using the same deliciously eerie elements similar to that gothic romance, Beth Trissel has captured the haunting dangers, thrilling suspense and innocent passions that evoke the same tingly anticipation and heartfelt romance I so enjoyed then, and still do now.”  ~joysann for Publisher’s Weekly

***Somewhere My Love is available in Amazon Kindle for only .99!

One unique feature of A Warrior for Christmas is that Dimity Scott is deaf from scarlet fever and the setting is colonial America. Another unusual twist, former Shawnee captive and white warrior, Corwin Whitfield, would rather return to his adopted people and the frontier than inherit a costly estate. Until he meets Dimity. Then he’s in a quandary.

If you wonder how Dimity and Corwin communicate in an age before sign language and other advances for the deaf existed, so did I. But the results are surprising and not a little bit wonderful. And then there are the charming traditions of celebrating Christmas in colonial America. A Warrior for Christmas is a story I much enjoyed researching and writing. I hope you will enjoy it too.

***A Warrior for Christmas historical romance novella is available for $1.99 in ebook formats from the Wild Rose Press, Kindle, Nookbook, All Romance eBooks, and other online booksellers.

A Handsome frontiersman, Mysterious Scots-Irish Woman, Bearwalking Shawnee Warrior, Dark Secret, Pulsing Romance…The Bearwalker’s Daughter

Blurb: Karin McNeal hasn’t grasped who she really is or her fierce birthright. A tragic secret from the past haunts the young Scots-Irish woman longing to learn more of her mother’s death and the mysterious father no one will name. The elusive voices she hears in the wind hint at the dramatic changes soon to unfold in the mist-shrouded Alleghenies in Autumn, 1784.

Jack McCray, the wounded stranger who staggers through the door on the eve of her twentieth birthday and anniversary of her mother’s death, holds the key to unlock the past. Will Karin let this handsome frontiersman lead her to the truth and into his arms, or seek the shelter of her fiercely possessive kinsmen? Is it only her imagination or does someone, or something, wait beyond the brooding ridges—for her?

Available at Amazon kindle for .99!

The Lady and the Warrior

A short historical romance story with a The Last of the Mohican’s flavor to give readers a taste of my full-length American historical romance novels. If you like The Lady and the Warrior, chances are you will enjoy Red Bird’s Song and Through the Fire. Both have a strong Native American theme interwoven with the plot. Cover also by my highly artistic daughter Elise.

“The Lady and the Warrior is a sweet and tender romance, the kind of romance that makes readers sigh with…could it be longing? What woman wouldn’t love to be rescued by tall dark and handsome? In a short time she manages to capture the harshness of the wilderness and the wonderful intervention of fate that turns a near tragedy into a lovely tale of happily ever after… ” Five star Amazon reader review

***Available at Amazon kindle for .99!

Nostalgia about the late 1960’s and an earlier era, WWI, coupled with a vivid dream inspired this haunting beautiful love story, Somewhere the Bells Ring, set at Christmas. 

‘Although Somewhere the Bells Ring has a holiday theme, it’s an anytime read for Romance Lovers.’

Blurb: Caught with pot in her dorm room, Bailey Randolph is exiled to a relative’s ancestral home in Virginia to straighten herself out. Banishment to Maple Hill is dismal, until a ghost appears requesting her help. Bailey is frightened but intrigued. Then her girlhood crush, Eric Burke, arrives and suddenly Maple Hill isn’t so bad.

To Eric, wounded in Vietnam, his military career shattered, this homecoming feels no less like exile. But when he finds Bailey at Maple Hill, her fairy-like beauty gives him reason to hope–until she tells him about the ghost haunting the house. Then he wonders if her one experiment with pot has made her crazy.

As Bailey and Eric draw closer, he agrees to help her find a long-forgotten Christmas gift the ghost wants. But will the magic of Christmas be enough to make Eric believe–in Bailey and the ghost–before the Christmas bells ring?~

***Available at Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble’s Nookbook for.99!

New Historical Romance Release! A Warrior for Christmas–Beth Trissel

One unique feature of this story is that Dimity Scott is deaf from scarlet fever and the setting is colonial America. Another unusual twist, former Shawnee captive and white warrior, Corwin Whitfield, would rather return to his adopted people and the frontier than inherit a costly estate. Until he meets Dimity. Then he’s in a quandary.

After wealthy Uncle Randolph reclaims Corwin following a treaty with the Indians that requires the return of white captives, he’s given a swift course in etiquette and hustled back into the fashionable world of colonial high society—a life that holds little appeal for Corwin. Expectations that he will learn to manage and ultimately inherit the family estate and undertake the care of his uncle’s ward, Dimity Scott, clash with his restless desire to return to the frontier. Any hope that he might take the unexpectedly desirable Dimity with him dissipate when he realizes the risk for her in a hard land where every sense must be tuned to danger. And Dimity won’t allow him to sacrifice his happiness for her. Nor can she abide pity, and he isn’t the only man who finds her worth winning.

If you wonder how Dimity and Corwin communicate in an age before sign language and other advances for the deaf existed, so did I. But the results are surprising and not a little bit wonderful. And then there are the charming traditions of celebrating Christmas in colonial America. A Warrior for Christmas is a story I much enjoyed researching and writing. I hope you will enjoy it too.

Blurb: Reclaimed by his wealthy uncle, former Shawnee captive Corwin Whitfield finds life with his adopted people at an end and reluctantly enters the social world of 1764. His one aim is to run back to the colonial frontier at his first opportunity––until he meets Uncle Randolph’s ward, Dimity Scott.

Resolved to be cherished for herself, not her guardian’s purse, Dimity resigns herself to spinsterhood. Then the rugged newcomer arrives, unlike any man she’s ever known.  But can she expect love and marriage from Corwin who longs to return to the wild with dangers a deaf woman dares not share?

Excerpt: “There she is,” Uncle Randolph said with the hint of a smile in his normally reluctant features. “My ward, Miss Dimity Scott. The little Quaker as I call her.”

Corwin thought it highly doubtful this staunch Anglican had taken in an actual Quaker. Looking past assorted tables, gilt-covered chairs and a gold couch, he spotted the feminine figure seated before the glowing hearth. A padded armchair the color of ripe berries hid much of her slender form. His first impression was of fair curls, like corn silk, piled on her head beneath a circle of lace; his second, that the young woman bent over her embroidery seemed oblivious of all else. One this unaware would never survive in the frontier. He’d been taught to move with the silence of a winged owl while observing all around him.

“Why does she not look up at our coming?”

“Ah, well, that’s a matter I’ve been meaning to discuss with you.” The hesitancy in his uncle’s tone was unlike this man who knew his own mind and was swift to instruct others.

He squinted at Corwin with his good eye; the other perpetually squinted from an injury he’d received in a duel. “I trust you’ll not hold it against the poor girl as a sign of weakness, my boy. Warriors sometimes do and you’ve kept company with those savages far too long.”

It wasn’t like his uncle to ramble, and Corwin shifted impatiently upon hearing his adopted people disparaged again.

“What are you saying, Uncle?”

He rubbed his fingers over a chin grizzled with whiskers. “Dimity cannot hear us.”

“At all?”

“Not a sound, unfortunately. Though she is able to detect the vibrations of music. Odd, that.”

Like the beating of Indian drums.~

A Warrior for Christmas historical romance novella is available in ebook formats from the Wild Rose Press, Kindle, Nookbook, All Romance eBooks, and other online booksellers.