#SaturdaySpotlight is on Barbara Bettis & The Heart of the Phoenix!

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

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Barbara Bettis & A Winter Knight

Good Morning!

Before I introduce our brand new to me/our blog guest, PLEASE join me in wishing my beautiful daughter, Karol a Blessed and Happy Birthday!

Thank you friends.

Award-winning author Barbara Bettis has always loved history and English. As a college freshman, she considered becoming an archeologist until she realized there likely would be bugs and snakes involved. And math. Through careers as a newspaper reporter and editor, then a college journalism and English professor, she’s retained her fascination with history. Give her a research book and a pot of tea, and she’s happy for hours. But what really makes her smile is working on a new story. Now retired, she lives in Missouri where she edits for others and spins her own tales of heroines to die for—and heroes to live for.

Find Barb Here: 

Bookbub                                                                                                                                                Facebook                                             

Twitter                                                                                                            

Blog/Website/Newsletter

Welcome Barbara! Please give us a peek into your book, A Winter Knight.....

He’s running from his past; she’s running from her future. But on a snowy winter night, they find each other and the surprising gift of love.

Sir Nicholas has given up on marriage. These days he’s content to captain his friend’s troops and avoid entanglements—until one winter night when he rescues a half-frozen woman from a snowstorm. Her irrepressible spirit and kindness to others reminds him that all ladies aren’t like his former intended, who wed his brother while Nick was on crusade. But he can’t open his heart to Lady Clare. She’s bound to another, and Nick won’t forfeit his honor. Even if she were free, he has nothing to offer but love, and this lady deserves everything.

Lady Clare’s dying grandfather has arranged her betrothal, but the arrival of the man she’s to wed sends her fleeing into a snowstorm. Injured when her horse stumbles, she’s rescued by a mysterious knight. She recovers at his run-down manor, safe at last—until her betrothed tracks her down two days before Christmas. Trapped at home with the wedding imminent, she longs for the winter knight she’s come to love.

Only a miracle can bring Clare and Nick together. But at Christmas, anything is possible.

Excerpt:

Who was she? And why in Satan’s name was she out here alone? Maybe she’d lost her wits and took flight in a disordered panic. He’d seen women—men too—lose their reason and go wild with grief. Or loneliness. Had she been confined to the same place for weeks on end, with no voice to hear but her own? Had she finally set out alone to find someone—anyone— else alive in the world?  His shoulders stiffened. Where in Hades did that thought come from?

He glanced at the soft bundle he held and tightened his arms. Answers would have to wait until she woke. Giving Solomon a touch of heel to pick up the gait, Nick followed his earlier tracks and made it back to the manor quickly.

“Send for the healer,” he called to the guard as he rode through the gate.

“Don’t got one,” came the answer.

Of course not. Someone sure as Hades was needed to care for this unwanted guest.

Tom waited at the stable door.

“Take care of Solomon, then come to the hall. I have an errand for you.”  Surely a woman lived somewhere close and could help out on the morrow. Provided the lady lived so long.

# # #

Sound came to Clare first. Why was there such noise? Her eyes ached behind closed lids, and her head pounded like a kitchen mallet on boar’s meat. She was so cold. Except, her fingers burned—and tingled, as if a score of needles stuck there. Her toes—she didn’t feel them. Where were her toes?

The noises increased and she tried to turn her head to escape the din, but she couldn’t seem to move. Where was she? The loud clatter settled into voices. Deep voices. Men. Panic clogged her throat. Sweet Mother Mary, he’d found her and brought her home.

She’d failed.

Wow, sounds like a wonderful read! We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with it.

Hope you enjoyed the excerpt as much as I did friends. Get your copy of A Winter Knight at Amazon. Be sure and leave a comment so you'll be entered into my monthly gift card giveaway drawing!

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT