Good Morning and Welcome to another edition of Saturday Spotlight.
Finally getting back into my routine and I must say, as much as I LOVE to travel, it's Always good to be home. 😊
Today's guest is not brand new to our blog but it has been a while since she visited. Thanks for coming back, Barbara! We're anxious to hear about your latest release, The Heart of the Phoenix. Tell us why you wrote it or what makes it special to you...
I'm
so excited to be here, Pam. Thanks for having me back and featuring my new book! I’m drawn to medieval history, especially the Plantagenets, Henry II, Richard, and John. Researching Richard’s crusade (the Third Crusade), I ran across some actions of the crusaders that made me pause. If I had been one of Richard’s knights, I wondered, what would my emotions have been to have gone through the siege of Acre and the aftermath—perhaps if I were injured and left behind? How would that have changed me? And how would I react to the struggle to replace Richard as England’s king once he died?
The perfect opportunity to imagine that came when I planned my second book, which featured such a knight, Stephen, who was a secondary character in my first book (Silverhawk). The perfect heroine, Evie, the sister of Stephen’s long-time friend, would not understand how or why Stephen’s experiences had changed him so when he returned and would have to fight her long-time idea of him as her ideal.
The result is The Heart of the Phoenix. I hope readers enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Oh Wow! Isn't it cool when a character from one book becomes the main focus of another? That's how my Tempered series started. Be careful or you just might end up with an entire series yourself! 😂
We'll see about that, Pam LOL! Meanwhile here is the blurb for The Heart of the Phoenix...
Some call him a ruthless mercenary; she calls him the knight of her heart.
Memories
Lady Evelynn’s childhood hero is home—bitter, hard, tempting and haunted by secrets. A now-grown Evie offers friendship, but Sir Stephen's cruel rejection crushes her, and she resolves to forget him. Yet when an unexpected war throws them together, she finds love isn’t so easy to dismiss. If only the king hadn’t betrothed her to another.
Can be cruel
Sir Stephen lives a double life while he seeks the treacherous outlaws who murdered his friends. Driven by revenge, he thinks his heart is closed to love. His childhood shadow, Lady Evie, unexpectedly challenges that belief. He rebuffs her, but he can’t forget her, although he knows she’s to wed the king’s favorite.
And deadly
When his drive for vengeance leads to Evie’s kidnapping, Stephen must choose between retribution and the love he’s denied too long. Surely King John will see reason. Convict the murderers; convince the king. Simple. Until a startling revelation threatens everything.
AND an Excerpt...
“Oh, for the love of heaven. Stop plaguing me,” Evie said. “Why are you here?”
“I thought you’d like to know the identity of our shipmate,” Stephen said.
“At this hour? Could you not have waited until morning?” Light flared in the cabin’s shuttered lantern, throwing a shadow across his face, reminding Evie of another reason he should not be here.
She pressed her palms against her stomach and inhaled. Calm. She needed calm. He was not the most beautiful man she’d ever beheld. He did not possess the power to heat her blood to boiling. He did not care that she thought of him night and day.
That much was true, for certain.
“I have happy news for you.”
She eyed him warily. What news could possible make her happy right now?
She ventured a guess. “You are leaving? Your second in command, the delightful Sir Macsen, will accompany me the rest of the way home?”
“Much better.”
Stephen was angry now, she could tell by the way he glowered and roared in that whispery sort of way no one else could hear, but left her with no doubt of his displeasure.
“Your betrothed.”
“What? What about him?”
“That’s the identity of the illustrious lord who’s sharing passage with us.”
His words echoed in her ears. Betrothed.
Her betrothed was on board?
Dear Lord, just let me die.
You can get your copy of
The Heart of the Phoenix at
Amazon.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Barbara's Bio: A former health insurance claims adjuster, former journalist, former English and journalism professor, Barbara Bettis plans never to be a “former” author. Currently, she’s at home in Missouri, where she writes new stories, edits for others—and loves to hang out with grandchildren. You can connect with Barb on her Facebook Author Page, Personal Page, BookBub and Instagram.
Check out Barbara's previous visits to our blog HERE.
That's all for today, Friends! Thank you for stopping by and be sure to check back next week for another edition of Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time, take care. God Bless and Read Happy!
PamT
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