Catchup-My Books to Date

For those who ask, “What have you written?”

If you like my stories, please leave them a review at Amazon, Goodreads, or wherever. Thanks to those who have. If you are interested in reading and reviewing please contact me: bctrissel@yahoo.com or leave me a message.

In the Beginning: Years ago, while researching family genealogy, I gained the courage to take the leap from penning non-fiction essays about rural life and plunge into historical romance novels set in early America. That first story, Red Bird’s Song, written and rewritten more than any other, is the book of my heart.

RED BIRD’S SONG was purchased from The Wild Rose Press by Amazon for republication under their Encore line on 8-25-2015. eBook rights belong to Amazon. Look for it in kindle and print. Amazon recently alerted me that they will be doing special promotions with Red Bird’s Song early in 2017.

“This book touched my soul even as it provided a thrilling fictional escape into a period of history I have always found fascinating.” ~ Laurie-J Reviewer for Red Bird’s Song at Night Owl Romance

Red Bird’s Song is a 2012 Double Epic Award Finalist.

My fascination with Colonial America, particularly stirring tales of the frontier and the Shawnee Indians, is an early and abiding one. My English, Scot-Irish (we called ourselves the Scotch Irish, but are often corrected, so whatever) ancestors had interactions with this tribe, including family members taken captive.

In Red Bird’s Song, I honed in on my early American roots in a story featuring the Scots-Irish and an Indian attack that happened to my ancestors.

My award-winning Native American themed historical romance novel Through the Fire is also based on research into my colonial forebears and the French and Indian War.  ***Although written to stand alone, historical romance novel Kira Daughter of the Moon is the sequel to Through the Fire.. These three novels, along with The Bearwalker’s Daughter comprise my Native American Warrior Series. 

(Image above of family musket, hunting pouch, and powder horn by my mom, Pat Churchman)

Red Bird’s Song (Native American Warrior Series):

 

Blurb: Taken captive by a Shawnee war party wasn’t how Charity Edmondson hoped to escape an unwanted marriage. Nor did Shawnee warrior Wicomechee expect to find the treasure promised by his grandfather’s vision in the unpredictable red-headed girl.

George III’s English Red-Coats, unprincipled colonial militia, prejudice and jealousy are not the only enemies Charity and Wicomechee will face before they can hope for a peaceful life. The greatest obstacle to happiness is in their own hearts. As they struggle through bleak mountains and cold weather, facing wild nature and wilder men, Wicomechee and Charity must learn to trust each other.~

***Image of the Alleghenies taken by my mom, Pat Churchman

“With “Red Bird’s Song”, Beth Trissel has painted an unforgettable portrait of a daring and defiant love brought to life in the wild and vivid era of Colonial America. Highly recommended for lovers of American history and romance lovers alike!” ~Review by Virginia Campbell

Through the Fire (Native American Warrior Series) is an adventure romance with a The Last of the Mohicans flavor and a mystical weave. Some of the most unusual aspects of this story are based on individuals who really lived. A passionate love story set during the French and Indian War.

Blurb: Will love inflame these two natural-born enemies in fiery destruction?

Passions run deep in the raging battle to possess a continent, its wealth and furs. Both the French and English count powerful Indian tribes as their allies.

English lady Rebecca Elliot, having eloped to America with a British captain, finds herself a widow. When she ventures into the colonial frontier with the militia to seek her uncle, she unwittingly enters a dangerous world of rugged mountains, wild animals, and even wilder men. The rules are different here and she doesn’t know them, especially those of the savagely handsome warrior who captures her body and her heart.

Half-Shawnee, half-French warrior Shoka, former guide for English traders, is the hawk, swift, sure, and silent as the moon. He knows all about survival in this untamed land and how deadly distraction can be. His intent is to sell Rebecca to the French before she draws him under her spell, but if he lets her go he can no longer protect her. If he holds onto her, can he safeguard his heart? With battle looming and an enemy warrior bent on vengeance, Shoka and Rebecca must decide whether to fight together or be destroyed.

“Through the Fire is full of interesting characters, beautifully described scenery, and vivid action sequences. It is a must read for any fan of historical romance.” ~Poinsettia, Long and Short Reviews
In the top ten Publisher’s Weekly BHB Reader’s Choice Best Books of 2009

(Shoka and Rebecca from Through the Fire)

The French and Indian War, a Shawnee warrior, an English lady, blood vengeance, deadly pursuit, primal, powerful, passionate …THROUGH THE FIRE.

“Ms Trissel spins a very fine yarn with Through the Fire. Her vivid imagery takes you right back into the action. The colours, scents and views tickle the senses. The deep description of scenery and historical setting gave me just the right idea of what Rebecca went through, both physically and emotionally. Ms Trissel knows how to tell a wonderful tale.

A beautifully written love story, with enough dangers lurking to keep us on our toes. Perfect reading material.” ~Historicals Reviewed

The Bearwalker’s Daughter (Native American Warrior Series)

Historical paranormal romance novel, The Bearwalker’s Daughter, follows on the heels of the American Revolution and takes place in the ruggedly beautiful Alleghenies.

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?

(The Bearwalker’s Daughter is a revised version of my award-winning romance novel Daughter of the Wind)

On Publisher’s Weekly BHB Reader’s Choice Best Books of 2009 

“Ms. Trissel’s alluring style of writing invites the reader into a world of fantasy and makes it so believable it is spellbinding.” ~Camellia, Long and Short Reviews

The Lady and the Warrior

A short (14 page) 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

KIRA, DAUGHTER OF THE MOON (Native American Warrior Series) was purchased from The Wild Rose Press by Amazon for republication under their Encore line on 9-22-2015. eBook rights belong to Amazon. Look for it in kindle and print.

‘A beautiful Scots-Irish healer in the rugged Alleghenies finds herself accused of witchcraft. With the terror of the French and Indian War fresh in her mind, can Kira love a white warrior?’

I have a growing selection of historical romance featuring those Celts settled in the rugged Alleghenies and the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, and the Native Americans they encountered.

‘The Rugged Alleghenies, A White Warrior, Beautiful Scots-Irish Healer, Unrequited Love—Requited, Charges of Witchcraft, Vindictive Ghost, Lost Treasure, Murderous Thieves, Deadly Pursuit, Hangman’s Noose Waiting…Kira, Daughter of the Moon’

Set among the superstitious Scots in the rugged Alleghenies, the story is an adventurous romance with a blend of Celtic and Native American flavors. Although written to stand alone, Kira, Daughter of the Moon is the sequel to my award-winning historical romance novel, Through the Fire.

Blurb: Logan McCutcheon returns to colonial Virginia after seven years in the hands of Shawnee Indians. But was he really a captive, as everybody thinks? He looks and fights like a warrior, and seems eager to return to those he calls friends and family.

Kira McClure has waited for Logan all those years, passing herself off as odd to keep suitors at bay–and anyone else from getting too close. Now that he’s back, he seems to be the only person capable of protecting her from the advances of Josiah Campbell and accusations of witchcraft. And to defend the settlers against a well-organized band of murderous thieves.~

(Logan, the ‘white warrior’ from Kira, Daughter of the Moon. One of my favorite heroes.)

“This is one pageturner you might read in record speed. Except when you get near the end. If it’s read slower the story will last longer. That’s when it’s time to savor the story for a while and when the story is really good it almost seems a shame to begin another book with the memory of the current book still fresh in your mind.” ~Martha Decker for Examiner.com
Five Stars For Kira, Daughter of the Moon!

From Poinsettia for Long and Short Reviews: “One of the things I enjoy most about Ms. Trissel’s writing is her amazing ability to transport readers directly into her stories. Her mastery of descriptive language never ceases to amaze me. “Green-gold light streamed through the rippling leaves while high overhead a yellow warbler trilled sweet, sweet, sweet and the warmth of hay-scented fern wafted on the mild breeze.”

After reading this first sentence, I already felt as if I were standing next to Kira in the woods. I could see, hear, and smell everything she did. Completely immersed in the story, I eagerly dove into the pages that followed…”

***The Bearwalker’s Daughter, Red Bird’s Song, Through the Fire, and Kira, Daughter of the Moon are part of my Native American Warrior Series. Short story The Lady and the Warrior also fits this line and may someday be a full novel.

Intrigued with all things Celtic, much of my writing features the early Scot-Irish, my ancestors among them, who settled in the Shenandoah Valley and surrounding mountains. My absorption with Colonial America extends to the high drama of the Revolution, the focus of award-winning historical romance novel Enemy of the King (Book 1, The Traitor’s Legacy Series).

I have ancestors who fought and loved on both sides of that sweeping conflict (and some from the Carolinas). My research into the Southern face of the war was partly inspired by my great-great-great grandfather, Sam Houston, uncle of the famous Sam, who kept a journal of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina, 1781, used by historians today.

Stick around for a wild ride into Carolina Back County and the battle between Patriots and Tories. Our hero is the former and our heroine the latter.  Both of them bear names that belonged to my ancestors.

LOVE, BETRAYAL, AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION! THE TRAITOR’S LEGACY SERIES

The Boxed Set of all three novels in The Traitor’s Legacy Series is available in eBook from ALL online booksellers. In Kindle at:

https://www.amazon.com/Traitors-Legacy-Beth-Trissel-ebook/dp/B01L5PSE1K

Historical Romance Series series set during The American Revolution

Book One: ENEMY OF THE KING

Enemy of the King, historical romance with a paranormal element,  is my version of The Patriot. A big fan of Daphne Du Maurier since my teens, I was also influenced by her mystery/ghost story, Rebecca. Our Virginia home place, circa 1816, and other early homes left deep impressions on me.

I’ve long harbored suspicions that those who’ve gone before us are not always entirely gone.  Most of all, I’m a Southern Virginia author, and it shows.

1780 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.

“I thoroughly enjoyed reading Enemy of the King. Not only are the characters memorable and the setting beautifully described, but the action is riveting and the romance between Meri and Jeremiah is tender. I highly recommend Enemy of the King to anyone who loves a well crafted historical romance.” ~Poinsettia for Long and Short Reviews

*Publisher’s Weekly BHB Reader’s Choice Best Books of 2009 
*2010 Best Romance Novel List at Buzzle

“An amazing and vibrant look into the American Revolution…this sexy historical is a must read!” ~Coffee Time Romance And More

“I love historical romances. They are one of my favorites and anymore when I think of a historical I think of Beth Trissel.”~Reviewed by Bella Wolfe, You Gotta Read Reviews

“Beth Trissel is a skilled storyteller and scene-builder. She immediately plunges the reader into  action and excitement with a vivid sense of time and place.” ~Historical Romance Author Kris Kennedy ( for Enemy of the King)

TRAITOR’S LEGACY–Sequel to ENEMY OF THE KING (The Traitor’s Legacy Series)

Mystery, spies, a coded letter, and stirring romance fill the pages of Traitor’s Legacy. Bringing history to life.

Story Description: 1781. On opposite sides of the War of Independence, British Captain Jacob Vaughan and Claire Monroe find themselves thrust together by chance and expediency.

Captain Vaughan comes to a stately North Carolina manor to catch a spy. Instead, he finds himself in bedlam: the head of the household is an old man ravaged by madness, the one sane male of the family is the very man he is hunting, and the household is overseen by his beguiling sister Claire.

Torn between duty, love, and allegiances, yearning desperately for peace, will Captain Vaughan and Claire Monroe forge a peace of their own against the vagaries of war and the betrayal of false friends?

“I would recommend this story for fans of historical romance and anyone who likes a sweet romance.” ~By Brony83 Reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors that Rock

Historical Romance Novel TRAITOR’S CURSE (Sequel to TRAITOR’S LEGACY in the Traitor’s Legacy Series)

Ghostly, Gothic, historical romance novel, Traitor’s Curse, the sequel to Traitor’s Legacy, and the third novel in the series, came out in print and eBook autumn 2015 from The Wild Rose Press.

Set in historic Halifax, NC, on the heels of the American Revolution, Traitor’s Curse builds on the central theme in Traitor’s Legacy.  Both novels center around the hidden treasure collected by a band of Patriots to bribe a Loyalist into revealing the whereabouts of the infamous traitor, Benedict Arnold, the man they badly wanted to hang.

Although America’s most wanted ultimately fled to England, the treasure remained in Halifax where the haunting mystery in Traitor’s Curse unfolds. While the historical aspects of that era are authentically depicted in the story, intriguing paranormal elements are also interwoven; among them, a ghost. Other possibilities for his presence in the home are suggested, so choose as you will. It’s kind of a mind game, but significant clues are given for the discerning reader. Bear in mind that the author believes in ghosts and cursed treasure.~

“The supernatural interventions mixed with foreshadowing are well done and believable, whether or not the reader doubts the ghostly possibilities and curses, they work well in the story … and do keep the reader turning the pages. The rapidly developing love story carries with it some inner turmoil in matters of belief and trust, but the gripping external conflicts are laced with danger and evil intent.

The story draws the readers into the midst of the fray. And keeps them there. I readily recommend this novel, “Traitor’s Curse” to anyone who wants to settle into a captivating read created by Beth Trissel, as she weaves her knowledge of the South, herbs and history into this enjoyable love story.” ~Marion Spicer

“A wonderfully spun novel that will keep a reader engaged till the end.” ~Stephanie Lodes for InD’tale

Won Creme de la Cover monthly contest
Nominated for Reader’s Choice at The Romance Review

SOMEWHERE IN TIME SERIES: WHERE THE PAST MEETS THE PRESENT!  (I am at work on new titles for this series for 2017).

Time Travel, Ghosts, and Reincarnation. Sacred relics and star-crossed lovers. Fantasy, mystery, magic, and above all romance…

The idea behind my ‘Somewhere in Time series’ is that the story opens in an old home, (I love old homes!) so far Virginia, and then transports the reader back in time either in the same house or another place entirely, such as the Scottish Highlands.

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

Somewhere My Love (Somewhere in Time Series)

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?

Blurb: Two hundred years ago Captain Cole Wentworth, the master of an elegant Virginian home, was murdered in his chamber where his portrait still hangs. Presently the estate is a family owned museum run by Will Wentworth, a man so uncannily identical to his ancestor that spirit-sensitive tour guide Julia Morrow has trouble recognizing Cole and Will as separate. As Julia begins to remember the events of Cole’s death, she must convince Will that history is repeating, and this time he has the starring role in the tragedy. The blade is about to fall.

“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

“A novel that will live in the hearts of its readers for a very long time. I certainly will not forget it. It is a truly wonderful story.”

 ~by Hitherandthee for Night Owl Romance (A Night Owl Top Pick)

2008 Winner Preditor’s & Editor’s Readers Poll

“Beth Trissel has written a captivating ghost story entwining a contemporary love story with the mystery of a murder from the nineteenth century. The wonderful characters and evocative historical details caught my attention from the first page.” ~Author Helen Scott Taylor  for Somewhere my Love

Somewhere My Lass (Somewhere in Time Series)

In Somewhere My Lass, I journeyed back to 1602 Scotland and more deeply explored my Scottish roots.  

An ancient relic, a medieval crypt, a mad highlander at their throats and time fast running out. Mystery, suspense, romance, Somewhere My Lass.

Will Mora and Neil be too late to save a love that began centuries before?

Blurb: ‘‘The MacDonald comes’ warns Mora Campbell when Neil MacKenzie finds the young Scotswoman lying unconscious at the top of his stairs after he discovers his murdered housekeeper slumped at the bottom. 

Mora’s claim that she’s his fiancé from 1602 and was chased to the future by clan chieftain, Red MacDonald, through ‘the door to nowhere’ seems utter nonsense. Neil thinks she’s addled from the blow to her head until his life spirals into chaos and the avenging Highlander shows up wanting blood. Mora knows the Neil of the future is truly her beloved Niall who disappeared from the past, but he must also remember. And fast.

Although Niall’s kinsmen believe he’s dead, and Mora is now destined to marry his brother, she’s convinced that if she and Neil return to the past, all will be right. The balance of the present and future are in peril if she marries another, and the Neil of the present will cease to exist. The only problem is how to get back to 1602. An ancient relic, the ultimate geek friend, and a little Celtic magic help pave the way back to the enormous challenge that awaits them. If they’re in time.

(Eilean Donan Castle in Scotland)

Somewhere My Lass has more reviews than anything I’ve ever written at Amazon.

Reviewed by: Silvermage of Night Owl Reviews ~”Somewhere My Lass was a wonderful time-travel romance. I enjoyed that the time-travel went from the past to 2009 and not the other way.”

“A good adventure and romantic time travel story that delivers.” ~Romance Novel Junkies

“A Wonderful Time Travel Romance.” ~Night Owl Reviews

“Somewhere My Lass presents a convoluted time-twisting conundrum which becomes more intriguing as it goes along. I found the romance of it touching, the enigma baffling, and the resolution unexpected. A light, interesting blend of contemporary and historical fiction.” ~joysann, Publisher’s Weekly

Somewhere in the Highlands (Somewhere in Time)

Sequel to Somewhere My Lass

Blurb: The MacDonalds are coming! When Elizabeth MacDonald (a.k.a Beezus Mac) thrusts a sealed gold box at Angus Fergus amid panicked requests for him to hide the stolen artifact, she has no idea the ancient cloth it contains bestows unearthly powers. Red MacDonald knows and he’s hell-bent on traveling 400 years into the future to claim the charmed relic, even kill for it.

Protecting Beezus from his old nemesis is only one of Fergus’s problems. Before they can stop him, Morley MacDonald, descendant of Red MacDonald, snatches the prize and leaps through the time portal to head the MacDonald clan and kill Fergus’s MacKenzie ancestor. If he succeeds, Fergus will cease to exist.

Danger grows in the feud between the MacDonalds and the MacKenzies as the pair, along with an ingenious friend and high tech inventions, returns to 1604 Scotland to face these brawny Highlanders and reunite with kin. Will Fergus overcome his mistrust of Beezus and fan the growing spark between them before they battle Morley? If he waits, it may be too late.~

So many readers were taken by the strong, quirky character, Fergus, in Somewhere My Lass (as was I) that I decided to write Fergus’s story. Now, I plan to write yet another story in this continuing saga–part of my Somewhere in Time series. Plotting is underway for that book. In the tone of Somewhere My Lass, Somewhere in the Highlands is an unusual twist on the time travel theme, with high tech gadgets, sci-fi lingo, and action packed. And a fun dash of romance, of course.

“I absolutely loved Fergus’s story! Fergus is the perfect geek hero, smart, funny, thinks on his feet, and cute! I love Beth’s stories, she has a wonderful way of writing so that you are right there in story with the characters. I thoroughly enjoy the tone of her stories and her settings, Beth’s stories are wonderful and definitely worth the read.” Amazon Review

SOMEWHERE THE BELLS RING: (Somewhere in Time–Christmas)

Wonderful old homes are a major part of my Somewhere in Time series. The image below is of the old Virginia family home place that lies at the heart of many of my stories and is the setting for my ghostly Christmas romance novella, Somewhere the Bells Ring.

Nostalgia about the late 1960’s and an earlier era, WWI, coupled with a vivid dream inspired this vintage American Christmas ghost story. 

‘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?

For Somewhere the Bells Ring:

“Ms. Trissel captivates her reader from the moment you start reading the first page. She has written a compelling love story that spans some fifty plus years and keeps you entertained every step of the way with the story within a story…I fell in love with Ms. Trissel’s characters and look forward to the next delightful story ready with Kleenex box in hand. A must read for every romance fan.” ~Reviewed by Robin for Romancing the Book

ENGLISH HISTORICAL ROMANCE NOVELLA: INTO THE LION’S HEART: 

Though set in England, the tumult taking place in France during the explosion of the French Revolution is the backdrop for my historical romance novella, Into the Lion’s Heart. This story launched the series from The Wild Rose Press called Love Letters, the premise being that a letter is responsible for bringing the hero and heroine together.

Blurb: As the French Revolution rages, the English nobility offer sanctuary to many a refugee. Captain Dalton Evans arrives in Dover to meet a distant cousin, expecting to see a spoiled aristocrat. Instead, he’s conquered by the simplicity of his new charge. And his best friend Thomas Archer isn’t immune to her artless charm, either.

Cecile Beaumont didn’t choose to travel across the Channel. And she certainly didn’t expect that impersonating her own mistress would introduce her to a most mesmerizing man. Now she must play out the masquerade, or risk life, freedom – and her heart.

“A brilliant historical romance by Beth Trissel. You can feel her passion in the story, very well written and characters that you can feel. Into the Lion’s Heart will take you through a journey of love, and enough surprises to keep you hanging on. If you love a beautiful historical romance you will enjoy this story!” ~Reviewer: Wanda from Romance Writers Reviews

Colonial American Christmas Romance Novella: A Warrior for Christmas (In eBook and Audio at Amazon)

“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…No reader of historical romance will want to miss A Warrior for Christmas, even if it isn’t Christmas.” ~Two Lips Reviews (Five Lips and A Recommended Read Rating)

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?~

 

NEW! THE SECRET WARRIOR SERIES (CONTEMPORARY YA PARANORMAL/FANTASY ROMANCE SERIES)

BOOK ONE THE HUNTER’S MOON:

I’m completed a three book deal with The Wild Rose Press for my YA Fantasy romance series, TheSecret Warrior. Book 1, The Hunter’s Moon, Book 2, Curse of the Moon, Book 3, The Panther Moon. I love the covers by the talented Debbie Taylor.

Story Blurb for The Hunter’s Moon:

Seventeen year old Morgan Daniel has been in the witness protection program most of her life. But The Panteras have caught up with her and her younger brother. Her car is totaled, she’s hurt, and the street gang is closing in when wolves with glowing eyes appear out of nowhere and chase away the killers.

Then a very cute guy who handles a bow like Robin Hood emerges from the woods and takes them to safety at his fortress-like home. And that’s just the first sign that Morgan and her brother have entered a hidden world filled with secrets.~

“This is a series with a whole bunch of potential and I can’t wait to read more. Definitely recommended for all fans of YA/Paranormal.” ~Merissa for YA Insider

Praise for The Hunter’s Moon: (From Goodreads)

“I laughed out loud many times. The writing was engaging, interesting, informative and humorous. It was narrated in first person by Morgan, so I got insight into how she felt through all the revelations. Admittedly, she handled things a lot better than I would have, but it wasn’t so unbelievable that I was removed from the story at any point. If anything, it kept the pacing nice and quick!” ~Dani Reviews Things

“Beth Trissel does a great job with these characters. She has a good amount of details in this story. The more you read, the more you find out about the world she had created. I have always loved stories where you have a little mystery. If I get the chance to read the second book to this series I would. I’m dying to learn what is going to happen next with Morgan, Jackson and Jimmy. If you like YA fantasy romance, wolves, and a little mystery. I think you would like this book.” ~Zara Lethallan for The Bohemian Housewife

****

This story had the romance of young love, the adventure of the shifters and the suspense of the Panteras looking for them. I couldn’t put this book down. I look forward to seeing what happens next in this adventure for Morgan and her brother.

I highly recommend this story.” ~Mary Ann Clarkson (Mistress Mary’s Book Lair)

CURSE OF THE MOON, BOOK TWO, THE SECRET WARRIOR SERIES:

Curse of the Moon, book 2 in The Secret Warrior Series, was inspired by my love of history, fantasy, the paranormal, and fascination with the mountain people and Native Americans. Living in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia surrounded by mountains veiled in mist and mystery lends itself well to creating the characters and setting for Curse of the Moon, and the stories that will follow as the series unfolds.

Some of the characters and creatures are based on lore I’ve learned over the years. Others appeared to me, as characters have a way of doing. A great deal of research and intuition went into writing Curse of the Moon. I hope you will enjoy it and the stories yet to come. Next in the series, The Panther Moon.

BLURB: The bad news? Morgan Daniel’s wolf is out of control. The good news? There’s a treatment. She just has to get a potion from a lizard shifter witch–without looking into the witch’s eyes. Easy, right? But when the witch puts a spell on her younger brother, Morgan has to do the witch’s bidding to save him.

Fortunately Morgan isn’t alone. She has Jackson to lean on, a few witches coming into their powers, a secret warlock, and the always mysterious Chief Okema. What could possibly go wrong?

“After finishing this second book I can’t wait to see where the author takes them in the next edition. There’s never a dull moment and so many creative things tossed into the mix.”  Carrie

“What a brilliant second story in this paranormal series! ” ~Elaine at Splashes into Books

“The story weaves between modern day and myths and legends, providing an exciting and compelling read.” ~Orchid for Long and Short Reviews YA

Won November Book of the Month at Long and Short Reviews Y

THE PANTHER MOON, BOOK THREE, THE SECRET WARRIOR SERIES:

A bit about The Panther Moon: Wolf shifter, Morgan Daniel, faces formidable odds, along with hot alpha leader, Jackson, her genius brother, Jimmy, and their inventive pack. Together, this unconventional band rocks. But will they be strong enough to battle Armageddon? If they’re not, evil grows. And how. It will take everything Morgan, Jackson, and their pack have, and MORE, to prevail. If you like a kick-ass heroine, Morgan is for you. She also has a tender side, vital in a shifter with her growing powers. And alpha leader Jackson is sizzling.

BLURB: Being the seventh Morcant has its perks: Morgan is learning to fly and wield magical blue fire. But the coyote shifters are growing bolder. Mateo and his panthers seem impossible to defeat. And vampires aren’t real – are they?

When the elusive and enigmatic Chief Okema disappears and the wards protecting the Wapicoli territory falter, Morgan and Jackson are forced into the role of leaders. Badly outnumbered and outgunned, do they have time to search for the secret of the Divining Tree, and will it help them in the final battle?

“I’m loving this whole series and have no hesitation in highly recommending it to anyone who enjoys action packed paranormal adventures with a wide range of shifters, aliens and so much more!” Elaine at Splashes into Books

“Dare I say, this is a series I will be reading again. I’ve found myself thinking about it randomly the past few months, and very much enjoyed the adventure over all.

I would recommend this series to others, but would definitely recommend reading the first two books in the series before enjoying this one.” ~ Desert Rose Reviews

NONFICTION TITLES:

Shenandoah Watercolors:

I branched out beyond historical and light paranormal romance with a nonfiction book about gardening and country life entitled Shenandoah Watercolors, available in Kindle and print with lovely photographs taken by my talented family. Amazon Link

A 2012 EPIC Ebook Award Finalist.

Description: Author/farm wife Beth Trissel shares the joys and challenges of rural life on her family’s small farm located in the scenic Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Journey with her through the seasons on the farm, owned by her family since the 1930′s, and savor the richness of her cherished gardens and beloved valley. This journal is a poignant, often humorous, sometimes sad glimpse into a vanishing way of life for anyone who loves or yearns for the country and even those who don’t.

“This is perhaps the most beautifully written memoir I’ve ever read. Its lovely and languid descriptions of the picturesque valley, the farm and gardens are equaled only by the charming and funny descriptions of the antics (and conversations!) of the farm animals. What a joy this is to read.” Amazon Reviewer Carole King

I also LOVE Gardening and herbs. I give online Herbal Lore classes for writing groups.

My herbal, Plants for a Medieval Herb Garden in the British Isles

Book Description: An illustrated collection of plants that could have been grown in a Medieval Herb or Physic Garden in the British Isles. The major focus of this work is England and Scotland, but also touches on Ireland and Wales. Information is given as to the historic medicinal uses of these plants and the rich lore surrounding them. Journey back to the days when herbs figured into every facet of life, offering relief from the ills of this realm and protection from evil in all its guises.

Available in Kindle and print at Amazon, also print at Barnes & Noble

I’m a member of RWA ®, Celtic Hearts Romance Writers, and YARWA. My work has received many awards including a 2008 Golden Heart Final with American historical Through the Fire.

Author Awards:

2008 Golden Heart® Finalist
2008 Winner Preditor’s & Editor’s Readers Poll 

Publisher’s Weekly BHB Reader’s Choice Best Books of 2009 
2010 Best Romance Novel List at Buzzle
Won Book of the Week Five Times At LASR
2012 DOUBLE EPIC EBOOK FINALIST
2012 Reader’s Favorite Finalist
April 2013 Book of the Month at Long and Short Reviews
2016 Winner April Creme de la Cover

2016 Winner Book of the Month at Long and Short-YA

Image of our garden taken by my daughter Elise Trissel. She also did several of my book covers including Somewhere My Love, Somewhere My Lass, Through the Fire, The Bearwalker’s Daughter, The Lady and the Warrior, and added artwork for Enemy of the King.

***ALL OF MY BOOKS ARE AT Amazon:
Visit My Amazon Author Page

Many, though not all, are available from other online booksellers. Your library can order them..

My Wild Rose Press Author Page,

My Author Page at Barnes & Noble,

My Books At All Romance eBooks (do a find on Beth Trissel)

Kobo, ibookstore, Google Play, and other online booksellers have some of my titles.

Visit: My Goodreads Author Page And catch me at Facebook, At Twitter, At Pinterest

Read an eBook Week Winners–Beth Trissel

Thanks everyone who stopped by and left me such nice comments.

Winners of Somewhere My Love:

Jarnail Singh, nahmed, Gayle O. and Jenn V.

Winners of Somewhere My Lass:

Sue, Nancy R., Patri, and Pamela.

Congrats and I will be contacting you.

Winners of The Highlander Blog Hop–Beth Trissel

Thanks so much for all of your enthusiastic comments. Heartwarming. What can I say, I’m feeling generous so have three winners: Lisa, Laurie, and Teresa. Make that four–Adila. But Sheryl was so enthusiastic. OK, add her. And I can’t leave out Petula, or Sophia Rose, love those names…so that makes seven. If I counted correctly. I’m rotten at math.

Congrats ladies and I hope you enjoy your journey back in time with Mora and Neil, or is he Niall…guess you’ll have to discover. I will be sending each of you an email, but if it gets lost in cyberspace, please contact me.

AN ANCIENT RELIC, A MEDIEVAL CRYPT, A MAD HIGHLANDER AT THEIR THROATS AND TIME FAST RUNNING OUT.  MYSTERY, SUSPENSE, ROMANCE…SOMEWHERE MY LASS

For those of you who missed the party, Somewhere My Lass is available from Amazon in kindle format and Barnes & Noble’s Nookbook, The Wild Rose Press, and other online booksellers.

“Ms. Trissel masterfully blended the past and the present in order to create a lovely romance that spans centuries.”

~Poinsettia, Long and Short Reviews

Sweet Saturday Sample From Scottish Time Travel Romance Somewhere My Lass–Beth Trissel

From Chapter Three:

Mora…Neil’s thoughts flew back to her. The medical technicians wouldn’t allow him to ride in the back of the vehicle with her. Poor girl. Her pale face remained fixed in his mind, those frightened eyes and trembling hands clutching at him as the EMT’s lifted her onto the gurney. Then they’d carried her out of the house and whisked her away in the ambulance. If Mora thought she lived in 1602, what in the world would she think of her ride to the emergency room? Apart from her mental confusion, she must come from quite a provincial part of Scotland. Her naiveté struck him as much as her highland dress. Who in God’s name were her family, apart from poor Mrs. Dannon?

Why had she been raised so old-fashioned? Her speech and manners singled her out to be someone well-born and not from a backwoods family. Could she possibly have attended some archaic girl’s boarding school with strict rules, classical studies, and long-held medieval traditions? Did they even have schools like that in Scotland these days?

Neil had little time to conjecture. Lights flashing, the ambulance braked to a stop outside the hospital. He maneuvered his car into a spot at the back of the crowded parking lot.

He shot out of the car, slammed the door, and ran to the entrance. Two EMTs rolled Mora through the emergency room doors as he sprinted up only a few yards behind them. Those early morning runs had paid off.

Dashing inside the ER, he scanned the jumble of people hunched in chairs or milling about the waiting room. His gaze fastened on the young woman who stood out like a visitor from another world. Mora lay on the gurney, her vivid eyes staring up at him with pleading in their depths.

A powerful urge welled up inside him—an urge to protect her. He nearly staggered under the surge. Where had that flood of emotion come from? The deluge seemed to swirl him back to some distant place, but it was more instinct than something he could define. There was no rational explanation. He’d ponder this disturbing development later.

For now, he bent his will on helping Mora. He stepped toward her. “Hang in there. You’ll be all right.”

Clearly unconvinced, she reached out her hand. It trembled and she shook beneath the white blanket. “Have I tumbled into purgatory?”

He wondered if they both had, but summoned an encouraging smile. Giving her chilled fingers a squeeze, he said, “No. Don’t be afraid.”

Lips quivering, she nodded, rather like one being asked to trust in deliverance while being led to the gallows.

Her dazed state might buy him some time, assuming he kept his own wits about him. He sensed hysteria brewing just beneath the surface of her numb demeanor that might erupt at any moment. Not an eruption he cared for the entire Emergency Room to witness.

A thoughtful EMT tucked another blanket around Mora. “I’ll handle this,” Neil said to the waiting man. Striding to the admittance counter, he gripped the white Formica counter and spoke to the expressionless woman behind the desk. “Mora  Campbell, my out-of-town guest.” Way out.~

“Ms. Trissel masterfully blended the past and the present in order to create a lovely romance that spans centuries.” ~Poinsettia, Long and Short Reviews

**Somewhere My Lass is available from The Wild Rose Press, Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble’s Nookbook, and other online booksellers.

BLURB: Neil MacKenzie’s well-ordered life turns to chaos when Mora Campbell shows up claiming he’s her fiancé from 1602 Scotland. Her avowal that she was chased to the future by clan chieftain, Red MacDonald, is utter nonsense, and Neil must convince her that she is just addled from a blow to her head–or so he believes until the MacDonald himself shows up wanting blood.

Mora knows the Neil of the future is truly her beloved Niall who disappeared from the past. Although her kinsmen believe he’s dead, and she is now destined to marry Niall’s brother, she’s convinced that if she and Neil return to the past, all will be right. The only problem is how to get back to 1602 before it’s too late.

The balance of the present and future are in peril if she marries another, and the Neil of the present will cease to exist. An ancient relic and a few good friends in the future help pave the way back to the past, but will Mora and Neil be too late to save a love that began centuries before?~

***To Visit More Authors Participating in Sweet Saturday Samples Click Here.

Sweet Saturday Snippet from Paranormal Romance Somewhere My Lass (New)

From Chapter Five:

The sidewalk outside Fergus’ townhouse

Mora leaned into Neil’s support. “These police, be they soldiers?”

“Yes, in a way.” What were police called in Scotland? Bobbies, or was that only England? Guards, maybe.

“Sassenach,” she hissed, a Scottish term he vaguely remembered as meaning outlander; one he hoped she wasn’t applying to him.

Through the wool plaid cloaking her, he felt the soft warmth of her body, marveling again that she was flesh and blood. She seemed to belong in another realm, an ephemeral being that might vanish with the dawn, though her anger at the hospital had been tangible enough.

Mora trembled in his arms as another gust of wind shook them both. “We’ll soon have you out of the cold and you can lie down.”

She waved her hand at their surroundings. “’Tisn’t the chill or m’ head that vexes me so much as  all this.” She tilted her face up at him. “I do not ken,” she said, using the Scottish dialect for understand and do not sounding like doo na.

The perplexity in her eyes made Neil want to hold her all the more and sooth away all her fear and confusion, if that were possible. He only just refrained from clutching her to his chest. “I’m sorry. You’ll feel better after a rest.”

Even a small American town like Staunton must seem very strange in comparison to what she knew, or thought she did. Given her peculiar state, it was difficult to say. “Easy. Let’s get you indoors.” He slowed his pace to accommodate her shorter stride.

Mora gazed up at the street lights. “Sech great torches. How do they light them, wie huge ladders?”

“Electricity.”

“What manner of fuel be this?”

How could she not know? “Perhaps you’re accustomed to gas?”

She eyed him as one trying to translate a foreign language. “Sum disorder of the stomak?”

“Uh, no.” Maybe she hailed from some relic of a manor house with oil lamps or actual torches like they used in medieval castles. “Never mind. I’ll explain later.” Or not. He’d probably cause her further confusion.

Fighting to maintain a confident air despite mounting qualms, Neil guided her up the paved walk and brick steps to the narrow landing. A potted chrysanthemum drooped beside the wizened pumpkin smiling in toothless welcome leftover from Halloween. Fergus wasn’t much of a decorator.

Lifting his free hand, Neil banged the knocker on the olive-colored door. “Fergus!”

No answer.

Mora gripped the iron railing with one hand. “Be this an alehouse ye’ve brought me to?”

“Of sorts. We’ll definitely be served refreshments.” Neil hoped she liked coffee. “It’s a townhouse.” What did they call townhouses in the British Isles, semi-detached, or was it attached? Likely it didn’t apply in her case anyway. “My friend, Angus Fergus, lives here.”

“Ah. He’s the tavern keeper, is he?”

“And a great deal more.”

Likely his eccentric business partner/best friend was settled in his favorite recliner with his laptop, tv remote in one hand and his caffeine molecule emblazoned mug in the other. Coffee was a food group to Fergus and one he took seriously. Even so, he might have dozed off in between caffeine highs or was preoccupied with one of his many gadgets.

Neil pressed the buzzer. “Fergus! Open up.”

“Not locked,” came the muffled reply.

Mora shook her head. “He leaves his door unbolted for all to enter at such a late hour. What of thieves? Every barrel of ale will be pilfered and all his cattle carried away.”

“I’ll caution him.” Though where Fergus would keep any cows in this development was questionable. As for the barrels, he’d probably fill them with his favorite specialty coffee.

“He ought to keep watch,” Mora added, clearly shocked at the lax security.

“Indeed.” Neil opened the door and ushered Mora into the living room, a catchall for Fergus’ beloved electronics. Techie magazines, comics, and the remains of fast-food meals littered the beige carpet.

Fergus didn’t look up from the leather upholstery. As usual, he was absorbed in his laptop. “Hail Caesar,” he said, offhandedly.

“Whyever does he call ye by sech a name?”

At Mora’s heavily accented query, Fergus arched his neck and peered up at them through the retro fifties glasses he didn’t really need. Fergus was all about Geek as the new kewl and more boyish looking than his actual age of twenty-four, further enhanced by his slender build. He had a quirky appeal, Neil supposed, but wasn’t exactly a babe magnet.

Fergus widened pale blue eyes and his reddish eyebrows rose above the thick black rims. “Who the—”

Neil could have said, “Mary Queen of Scots,” and Fergus wouldn’t have commented. Not the way he goggled at Mora.

The remote slipped from his usually nimble fingers. “Holy mother of—Neil what in the h—” Without finishing his exclamation, Fergus sat upright and straightened the recliner with a thump.

Mora must think Fergus couldn’t complete a sentence, while nothing could be further from the truth. It amused Neil to see his normally articulate friend so at a loss. Come to think of it, Fergus was never at a loss. Until now.

He set the mug on the end table and his laptop on the coffee table stacked with Calvin and Hobbes and Far Side books. Alongside these, virtual jellyfish floated in a purplish mood lamp and an ambient orb device transitioned between a rainbow of hues to show changes in the weather, the time, and most anything else Fergus might want to check the status of. An enormous fan of prime geek websites, Fergus stocked everything a computer nerd could want. But Neil might as well have taken Mora into outer space.

She stared from the suspended jellies and the iridescent sphere back to Fergus. “Magic?” she asked Neil in a whisper.

“Sort of.” Although highly creative, Neil wasn’t nearly as taken with techie gadgets as Fergus, preferring to lose himself in his art. But together, they made a great team. Fergus was even like a younger brother. Neil swept his hand at their gaping host. “Fergus, meet Mora Campbell, recently arrived from Scotland.”

“Seriously?” Fergus got to his feet in Star Wars Jedi slippers.

“Seriously.” Neil wasn’t certain how much information to give out about Mora and the old country of Scotland she seemed to hail from.

Eyes still dazed, Mora nodded. “Most serious. ’Tis a grave matter that brings us to ye, sir. I am betrothed to Neil, son of Robert MacKenzie.”

Fergus combed his fingers through a thatch of orange hair, a not so subtle tribute to cartoon character Bart Simpson. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he worked his clean-shaven jaw. Bart had no stubble and Fergus was a purist. “Dude—you’re engaged? Some online dating thing?”

“No. And it’s a long story.” Not one Neil was privy to the details of, which made sharing them a challenge. Not to mention Fergus would think he’d gone nuts. “Mora’s suffered a concussion and needs to rest. My house is off limits just now,” he explained instead.

She crinkled that adorable nose dusted with freckles. “Sassenach are come. We only just escaped from a vile chamber called a hospitale. There were no holy men at their prayers,” she added in a shocked tone. “No sacred Communion dispensed. How could sech a place care for poor and dying wretches of this world?”

Fergus considered, briefly. “How indeed?” He eyed Neil for an explanation he was unable to provide.

However, Mora appeared satisfied with Fergus’s response, at least as much as one who thought she’d fallen down a rabbit hole could. “If ye would be so good as to make provision for us this night, Mr. Fergus, and might I trouble ye for a ladies’ maid?”

“Sure,” he stuttered, regarding her as though she’d requested a meeting with a deceased saint. He angled a pronounced glance at Neil in a silent request for suggestions. He had none.

Fergus fished around in that quick mind of his and came up with, “I’ll call my cousin, Wrenie. She’s kind of a maid. Waitress, anyway. I’ll see if she’s free.”

“Is the poor lass imprisoned?”

Fergus rubbed his fingers over his chin. “Uh, not the last time I checked. Although the fashion police have a warrant out for her.”

Before Mora reacted to this wisecrack, a large plasma screen TV snarled at them in surround-sound and reverberated off the walls.

She startled against Neil and raised a trembling finger. For a moment she stared mutely, and then said, “A murderous beast—there—in that box.”

Neil glimpsed the polar bear from a popular TV series. “It’s just the television. Telly,” he amended, in hopes of sparking a glimmer of recognition.

Nothing. So much for Mora having watched nature shows, or anything else for that matter. Had she been totally cut off from civilization? How’d she make it through life without ever seeing a television?

He tried a different track. “Only a picture.”

“But it moves. ’Tis haunted, that portrait.”

Fergus hit the off button on the remote. “Dude, she’s better than the sci-fi channel.”

She is the sci-fi channel, Neil thought.

“Why does the Fergus address you as duke?”

How could Neil explain slang, he pondered, enjoying her spin on Fergus’ name. “It’s only an honorary title.”

“Yer friend must respect ye greatly.”

Fergus swept his thin arm down across a T-shirt that read, Go ahead, make my data, with a courtly flourish. “Inestimably. Come on, Neil. You two are in a play, right? Some community theater thing?”~

“Ms. Trissel masterfully blended the past and the present in order to create a lovely romance that spans centuries.” ~Poinsettia, Long and Short Reviews

**Somewhere My Lass is available from The Wild Rose Press, Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble’s Nookbook, and other online booksellers.

***To Visit More Authors Participating in Sweet Saturday Samples Click Here.

Sweet Saturday Sample From Time Travel Romance Somewhere My Lass (#2)

I would rate this story PG13.

Blurb: Neil MacKenzie’s well-ordered life turns to chaos when Mora Campbell shows up claiming he’s her fiancé from 1602 Scotland. Her avowal that she was chased to the future by clan chieftain, Red MacDonald, is utter nonsense, and Neil must convince her that she is just addled from a blow to her head–or so he believes until the MacDonald himself shows up wanting blood.

Mora knows the Neil of the future is truly her beloved Niall who disappeared from the past. Although her kinsmen believe he’s dead, and she is now destined to marry Niall’s brother, she’s convinced that if she and Neil return to the past, all will be right. The only problem is how to get back to 1602 before it’s too late.

The balance of the present and future are in peril if she marries another, and the Neil of the present will cease to exist. An ancient relic and a few good friends in the future help pave the way back to the past, but will Mora and Neil be too late to save a love that began centuries before?~

SECOND EXCERPT FROM SOMEWHERE MY LASS: (I posted the first excerpt in this Sweet Saturday Sample)

How in the name of— Stunned beyond oaths, Neil gaped down at the slender young woman dressed in an outlandish Scottish costume.

Hair the color of a flaming sunset spilled down over the red and blue tartan plaid draped around her like a shawl. A circular brass brooch heavily engraved by some skilled craftsman held the edges together. A full green skirt covered the rest of her, a hint of petticoats beneath.  

Good God. She looked straight out of the Old Country.

In profound disbelief, he knelt beside her and laid his hand on her shoulder. He wasn’t hallucinating. She was real enough, warm against his hand. Stranger still, the peaty scent of turf smoke emanated from her. And some perfume he couldn’t place, but inherently knew.

Moss rose, maybe? The rich meld of fragrances carried him back, but to where? Baffled, he shook her gently. “Miss?”
She gave a soft moan.
“Are you hurt?” he asked.

She turned toward him, fluttering a dark fringe of auburn lashes. Another moan issued from between what surely were petal soft lips. He frowned at the ugly bruise marring her forehead.

Had that maniac done this to her? The rest of her smooth skin was pale except for the sprinkle of freckles on her nose—not too long with a pert tilt, Neil noted, along with an absence of any other immediate injuries. Thank God he hadn’t been too late to help this young woman. Perhaps he’d frightened off her attacker, the coward. Although he had no idea where the killer had gone.

Neil remained on his guard. He mustn’t take anything for granted. The only certainty—a violent criminal was on the loose. Difficult to keep watching over his shoulder, though, with the inexplicable stranger commanding his attention.

Intrigued, despite the gruesome circumstances of their meeting, Neil locked his gaze on her once again. Vivid blue eyes, cast with a purplish hue, opened wide. Unusual color and deeply stirring. She blinked and stared up at him as if he’d materialized out of the mist. But it was she who’d mysteriously come upon him with such wonder and beauty.

His already pounding heart skipped a beat for an entirely different reason now. He looked long into her eyes…for a moment he forgot the grisly murder, forgot everything.  There was a timeless quality in those violet depths; the term “window to the soul” took on a whole new meaning. And it seemed to him that he’d seen these eyes before… Impossible. 

He came back to himself. Mastering the tremor threatening his speech, he said, “You were knocked out, but you’ll be all right.”
She shook her head, wincing. “None of us will. The MacDonald comes,” she warned in a Scottish brogue.

The hair on the back of Neil’s neck bristled.  And so it begins, a voice inside him said.~

*Above Pic of The Door to Nowhere, or so Neil thinks.

SOMEWHERE MY LASS is available in digital download at: The Wild Rose Press, Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble and other online booksellers.

To Visit Other Participating Authors in Sweet Saturday Samples:

 http://sweetsatsample.wordpress.com/

TREASURE QUEST: DISCOVERY LIES BETWEEN THE COVERS: MEGA AUTHOR BLOG HOP TOUR (July 18-25)

TOUR RULES: (I didn’t write them) 🙂

1)  HAVE FUN!

2)  INVITE ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS! SPREAD THE WORD!

3)  THIS TOUR STARTS:  Monday, July 18, at Midnight (Arizona Time) THIS TOUR ENDS: Monday, July 25, at Midnight (Arizona Time) Winners will be drawn and posted July 26th! ***

4)  MEET AND MINGLE WITH ALL THE AUTHORS! EXPERIENCE A NEW PARTY DESTINATION AT EVERY STOP! PARTICIPATE IN EVERY BLOG CONTEST AND BE ENTERED FOR CHANCES TO WIN MULTIPLE PRIZES! EVERY BLOG VISITED IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WIN!!

5)  PARTICIPATION AT ALL BLOGS IS RECOMMENDED, BUT NOT REQUIRED. REMEMBER, THE MORE BLOGS YOU HOP, THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING PRIZES. EVERY AUTHOR IS WAITING TO MEET AND INTERACT WITH YOU, SO PLEASE BE SURE TO SHOW EVERY AUTHOR SOME LOVE!

6)  DID I MENTION TO HAVE FUN?  WHOO! HOO!! HERE WE GOOOOOOOOOOOO!

***Authors have full discretion to choose an alternate winner in the event any winner fails to claim their prize(s) within 72 hours of their name being posted or after notification of  win, whichever comes first. Anyone who participates in this blog hop tour is subject to these rules***

Undiscovered Treasure in the New World~

To quote Shakespeare, ‘All that glitters Is not gold,’ but SOME of it is.  The lure of buried treasure, an occasional flight of fancy for some and a soul-selling obsession for others, is an ageless fascination.  No soul bartering here, but I’ve done some research for would be treasure hunters and discovered  there are many yet undiscovered troves in America.  Apparently in every state according to the book Buried Treasures You Can Find by Robert F. Marx.   An interesting and informative read, however the font size decreases to minuscule proportions when Mr. Marx reaches the part of the book where he actually lists possible sites, so don’t expect me to recap without a magnifying glass.  Instead I’ll touch on some of his general  guidelines.  I, for one, would be happy to discover even a single gold doubloon , but it would have to wash ashore.  I’m not scuba diving.

Author Robert Marx has been treasure-seeking ever since he quit his newspaper route as a youth and has recovered an astonishing array of lost, hidden, or mislaid treasure both on land and plucked from the depths of the sea. First of all, he says you need a good metal detector and devotes pages to weighing the merits of various kinds.  Agreed, a premier detector would be fun to have, and considering I live in historic Virginia, I might actually find a Civil War button or something from the past which would thrill me.   Bear in mind that I’m easily delighted.  I once unearthed what I thought were shards of old pottery while planting a peach tree that turned out to be the remnants of an antiquated septic system.  Not very exciting.  However, my determination to dig the hole deeper in search of my imagined find got the tree planted in a hurry.  The most I’ve ever unearthed on our farm are old medicine bottles, but I’m fond of old bottles and have a kitchen windowsill filled with them.

The next step Mr. Marx advises after you’ve conducted a thorough study of metal detectors (I haven’t) and made your purchase is to learn how to use it properly and practice, practice.  Yada, yada,  we’re up to page 63 now–this book is for serious seekers–when he describes some of the most famous still to be discovered caches, also discussing WHY people bury treasure.    I assumed because they didn’t want thieves to find it, but there’s more.  In Colonial America banks were rare and often unavailable so most people buried money on their property.  Indians might suddenly attack  or the British were coming, so they prepared for calamities, possibly dying before recovering their money.

During the Civil War people in the South buried their treasures not only to keep them out of enemy hands but to avoid having to donate to the Confederate Treasury for the war effort.  As before, the ‘safest bank’ was a hole in the ground or some other secret location.  Some of the largest undiscovered treasures occurred during the Civil War: Excerpted from the book Civil War Gold & Other Lost Treasures by W. Craig Gaines. “The really big lost treasure is that of the Confederate Treasury in custody of Jeff Davis upon leaving Richmond, fleeing the Yankee hordes. Portions of it are believed to be in Greene & Morgan Counties of Georgia. The combined hoard is believed to be between $500,000 and $600,000 in gold, the combined values of the Richmond Bank & Confederate Treasury. Most made it to Washington, Georgia, but an untold amount remains unaccounted for.”

On the Western frontier, there were many cutthroats who preyed on hapless pioneers, and Lord knows those gold prospectors were justifiably paranoid.  So they kept their big strikes secret, some taking that knowledge with them to the grave.  And there were the gamblers, soldiers, saloon keepers…who hid their earnings.  Not to mention the stage-coach robbers who hid their  loot while escaping from the posse,  thinking to return for it later. But they didn’t all.   Get the picture?  Untold treasure is still out there–somewhere.

If you’re seeking a specific cache, and there are some famous ones, Mr. Marx says to first be certain it truly exists and isn’t the stuff of legend.  Would you believe some disreputable people will  try to sell you treasure maps that aren’t actually genuine.  *Shakes head.

Mr. Marx suggests seeking documentation recorded as closely to the time of the original event as possible and that old newspapers and books are a valuable resource.  If you’re just searching out potential historic sites, then he suggests ports, river banks, anywhere construction is moving earth, old homes, ghost towns, abandoned trash dumps from bygone days… Mr. Marx has oodles of suggestions and lists them by state.

***As a participating author in this Treasure Quest Blog Hop,  the book of mine that best fits the theme is light paranormal/time travel romance Somewhere My Lass, in which the hero and heroine seek an ancient relic with miraculous powers.   So I’m giving away three digital downloads of this novella chosen from visitors who leaves me a comment (remember to leave a contact email too).

Blurb for Somewhere My Lass:

Neil MacKenzie’s well ordered life turns to chaos when Mora Campbell shows up claiming he’s her fiancé from 1602 Scotland. Her avowal that she was chased to the future by clan chieftain, Red MacDonald, is utter nonsense, and Neil must convince her that she is just addled from a blow to her head–or so he believes until the MacDonald himself shows up wanting blood.

Mora knows the Neil of the future is truly her beloved Niall who disappeared from the past. Although her kinsmen believe he’s dead, and she is now destined to marry Niall’s brother, she’s convinced that if she and Neil return to the past, all will be right. The only problem is how to get back to 1602 before it’s too late.

The balance of the present and future are in peril if she marries another, and the Neil of the present will cease to exist. An ancient relic and a few good friends in the future help pave the way back to the past, but will Mora and Neil be too late to save a love that began centuries before?~

Any treasure hunters out there?  If so, happy hunting!

****For the next stop on this Mega Author Blog Hop please pop into: http://iousex.blogspot.com/2011/07/treasure-quest-discovery-lies-between.html

 

 

 

The History and Romance Behind ‘Scarborough Fair’~

“Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine.” ~Scarborough Fair / Canticle by Simon & Garfunkel, based on an old English ballad, possibly based on an even older Scottish one. (Image source and link given below)

*I always wondered about this song and after much research have discovered that the meaning of the song and refrain has been much debated.  One theory from this herb lore site:

“The herbs parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme, recurring in the second line of each stanza, make up for a key motive in the song. Although meaningless to most people today, these herbs spoke to the imagination of medieval people as much as red roses do to us today. Without any connotation necessary, they symbolize virtues the singer wishes his true love and himself to have, in order to make it possible for her to come back again.”

A theory from this site: Nantucket Today: “The four herbs highlighted in the song symbolize a complex love riddle compiled by a spurned lover. The “one who lives there” was supposed to figure it out. In the days of Scarborough Faire, herbs were prized primarily for medicinal value as well as their ability to ward off foul odors and dye cloth. Many herbs were assigned multiple meanings related to the various ills or problems they were supposed to cure. The love riddle in this case was designed to woo the lady back through the hidden meanings of parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.”

I have no personal theory but found all of this interesting.  According to good old Wikipedia: The ballad tells the tale of a young man, who tells the listener to ask his former lover to perform for him a series of impossible tasks, such as making him a shirt without a seam and then washing it in a dry well, adding that if she completes these tasks he will take her back. Often the song is sung as a duet, with the woman then giving her lover a series of equally impossible tasks, promising to give him his seamless shirt once he has finished.

As the versions of the ballad known under the title “Scarborough Fair” are usually limited to the exchange of these impossible tasks, many suggestions concerning the plot have been proposed, including the hypothesis that it is a song about the Plague. In fact, “Scarborough Fair” appears to derive from an older (and now obscure) Scottish ballad, The Elfin Knight (Child Ballad #2) which has been traced at least as far back as 1670 and may well be earlier. In this ballad, an elf threatens to abduct a young woman to be his lover unless she can perform an impossible task (“For thou must shape a sark to me / Without any cut or heme, quoth he”); she responds with a list of tasks that he must first perform (“I have an aiker of good ley-land / Which lyeth low by yon sea-strand”).

As the song spread, it was adapted, modified, and rewritten to the point that dozens of versions existed by the end of the 18th century, although only a few are typically sung nowadays. The references to “Scarborough Fair” and the refrain “parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme” date to nineteenth century versions, and the refrain may have been borrowed from the ballad Riddles Wisely Expounded, (Child Ballad #1), which has a similar plot.

Meaning of the Refrain:

Much thought has gone into attempts to explain the refrain “parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme“, although, as this is found only in relatively recent versions, there may not be much to explain. The oldest versions of “The Elfin Knight” (circa 1650) contain the refrain “my plaid away, my plaid away, the wind shall not blow my plaid away” (or variations thereof), which may reflect the original emphasis on the lady’s chastity. Slightly younger versions often contain one of a group of related refrains:

• Sober and grave grows merry in time
• Every rose grows merry with time
• There’s never a rose grows fairer with time

These are usually paired with “Once she was a true love of mine” or some variant. “Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme” may simply be an alternate rhyming refrain to the original. Folksong scholar Märta Ramsten states that folksong refrains containing enumerations of herbs — spices and medical herbs — occur in many languages.  Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme may also refer to the pagan belief, that when together, can be a love charm.

From: http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1175

Scarborough is a small town on the coast of England. “Scarborough Fair” was a popular gathering in Medieval times, attracting traders and entertainers from all over the country. The fair lasted 45 days and started every August 15th. In the 1600s, mineral waters were found in Scarborough and it became a resort town. Today, Scarborough is a quiet town with a rich history.

In Medieval England, this became a popular folk song as Bards would sing it when they traveled from town to town. The author of the song is unknown, and many different versions exist. The traditional version has many more lyrics.

The lyrics are about a man trying to attain his true love. In Medieval times, the herbs mentioned in the song represented virtues that were important to the lyrics. Parsley was comfort, sage was strength, rosemary was love, and thyme was courage.~

***The wonderful image above of Scarborough Fair is from a charming children’s site that features the song and others at: Diddlily Dee Dot’s Dreamland~

Lovely Review for Somewhere My Lass by Author Caroline Clemmens!

Book Review–SOMEWHERE MY LASS by Beth Trissel

I love Beth Trissel’s blog. It is always well written and her husband’s photographs are gorgeous. My blog today, however, is about her new release, SOMEWHERE MY LASS from The Wild Rose Press. This is a time travel romance, one of my favorite reads. Once I started reading this romance, I couldn’t stop reading. From the first paragraph, I was hooked! Beth keeps the reader turning the pages to see whether or not Mora and Niel will get back to Scotland, what will happen if they do, will they stay there,.will Niel cease to exist? The pacing keeps the reader involved.

Not only does Beth Trissel have a terrific blog and website, but she is a remarkable author. I enjoyed the first of her Somewhere series, SOMEWHERE MY LOVE. In all honesty, I have to say that SOMEWHERE MY LASS is even more captivating than the first of the series. Beth Trissel writes with vivid language that paints a picture in the reader’s mind. Her characterizations breathe life into all of the characters, and especially the hero and heroine. Anyone who enjoys a good read will love this book.

Let me share the blurb with you:

Neil MacKenzie’s well ordered life turns to chaos when Mora Campbell shows up claiming he’s her fiance from 1602 Scotland. Her avowal that she was chased to the future by clan chieftain, Red MacDonald, is utter nonsense, and Neil must convince her that she is just addled from a blow to her head–or so he believes until the MacDonald himself shows up wanting blood.

Mora knows the Neil of the future is truly her beloved Niall who disappeared from the past. Although her kinsmen believe he’s dead, and she is now destined to marry Niall’s brother, she’s convinced that if she and Neil return to the past, all will be right. The only problem is how to get back to 1602 before it’s too late.

The balance of the present and future are in peril if she marries another, and the Neil of the present will cease to exist. An ancient relic and a few good friends in the future help pave the way back to the past, but will Mora and Neil be too late to save a love that began centuries before
____________________________

I give this book 5 roses out of 5. Readers  can order SOMEWHERE MY LASS from The Wild Rose Press or Amazon in edownload.  Don’t forget my contest continues. Leave a comment to be entered in Saturday’s drawing for a gift basket from Bath and Body Works along with a few odds and ends to surprise the recipient..

*****

To visit Caroline’s blog click here!

Somewhere My Lass Got A Fabulous Review From LASR!

Somewhere My Lass by Beth Trissel

Somewhere My Lass by Beth Trissel
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Fantasy/Time Travel, Contemporary, Historical
Length: Full (222 pages)
Heat: Sensual
Rating: 4.5 Books
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Somewhere Book 2

Neil MacKenzie’s well ordered life turns to chaos when Mora Campbell shows up claiming he’s her fiance from 1602 Scotland. Her avowal that she was chased to the future by clan chieftain, Red MacDonald, is utter nonsense, and Neil must convince her that she is just addled from a blow to her head–or so he believes until the MacDonald himself shows up wanting blood.

Mora knows the Neil of the future is truly her beloved Niall who disappeared from the past. Although her kinsmen believe he’s dead, and she is now destined to marry Niall’s brother, she’s convinced that if she and Neil return to the past, all will be right. The only problem is how to get back to 1602 before it’s too late.

The balance of the present and future are in peril if she marries another, and the Neil of the present will cease to exist. An ancient relic and a few good friends in the future help pave the way back to the past, but will Mora and Neil be too late to save a love that began centuries before?

Mora has crossed centuries to find her lost love, Neil, but how can she convince him that they belong together in 1602?

Mora Campbell somehow manages to tumble through a time portal and lands in Virginia in 2009. There she finds a man who goes by the name Neil MacKenzie. Mora is sure that Neil is none other than her lost betrothed Niall. At first Neil doesn’t believe a word Mora says, but sooner rather than later the past catches up to them both in the form of Red MacDonald, who followed Mora through the portal. MacDonald has a long standing feud with the MacKenzies, and he won’t stop until Neil is dead.

Neil soon realizes that everything Mora has said is true and finds himself in a race against time. He must find a way to return Mora to the past before MacDonald finds them. One problem remains. Who will Mora marry; Niall of the past, or Neil of the present? Or are the two men really one and the same, as Mora says? In the short time that Neil has known Mora, he’s fallen in love with her and the thought of her marrying another man is unbearable. Will Neil surrender Mora to Niall, or will fate smile on the lovers and grant them a way to be together?

As a heroine, Mora is simply a delight. Adapting to life in the modern world presents many challenges. I couldn’t help but smile as Mora attempts to make sense of modern technology, fashion, and hygiene practices. Being thrust into modern life could have defeated Mora. A weaker soul would certainly have wilted under the pressure, but Mora possesses a fiery spirit that gives her the strength to face anything, including the dangers presented by Red MacDonald and the passage of time itself.

Neil’s milder personality is the perfect complement to Mora’s hot temperament. He is more than a little skeptical about Mora and her origins when she first arrives. However, once Neil learns the truth, he stands by Mora’s side like a true hero. In order to hold on to his newfound love, he’s going to have to learn to let go of his well-ordered life and take a leap of faith.

Not only is Somewhere My Lass a tale of romance, but it is also a story of friendship. Neil’s best friend, Fergus, is one of the most amusing secondary characters I’ve read in a long time. His bright orange hair and obsession with science fiction and technology made me smile throughout the story. Fergus is a friend in the truest sense of the word. He’s willing to follow Neil into the past to lend a hand, and his belt full of gadgets saves Neil’s life on more than one occasion.

I’m a fan of Ms. Trissel’s historical romances, so I was intrigued at the idea that her latest story would include the element of time travel. Somewhere My Lass, is book two in Ms. Trissel’s Somewhere series, but it is not necessary to read the previous book to enjoy this story. Once I started reading Somewhere My Lass, I found Ms. Trissel had masterfully blended the past and the present in order to create a lovely romance that spans centuries. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a touching tale of love and friendship.