This Ghostly Christmas Romance Is an Anytime Read

Somewhere the Bells Ring, (The Wild Rose Press) a timeless love story that transcends the holiday theme alone, is getting some great reviews at Amazon.  And the price has recently been reduced there and everywhere.  A win, win.


“A very captivating read that was very hard to put down. The few characters that are in this story each have their own strength and personality that makes it easy to become connected with. I especially like the cook Ella. She reminded me of the matriarch of the family that ruled and everyone listened. I enjoyed reading this book because it has a little bit of everything I like. A clean romance, a touch of suspense and paranormal. If you believe in ghosts or think people are foolish that do, well I still think you will like this book. And as I stated at the beginning we all have a beginning and an end, and Bailey was not sure where hers began. After you read the story it will make you wonder, just where was her beginning. Another great book, Beth.” 

Miss Lynn’s Book ‘N More  (For the full review click the link)

"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 at Romancing the Book 

Somewhere the Bells Ring (the Wild Rose Press) is set in the gracious old Virginia home place, circa 1816, in the Shenandoah Valley where my father was born and raised, and I grew up visiting during the holidays. Nostalgia over the late 1960s inspired the time period and the story opens during the tumultuous age of hippies, Vietnam, and some of the best darn rock music ever written.

From 1968, the story flashes back to an earlier era, 1918 and the end of World War I. Having a Marine Corps captain grandfather who distinguished himself in France during the thick of the fighting and then tragically died when my father was only three definitely influenced this story–dedicated to him. So if you enjoy an intriguing mystery with Gothic overtones and heart-tugging romance set in vintage America then Somewhere the Bells Ring is for you.  Oh, and did I mention the ghost?

Excerpt:

“Bailey.” He spoke softly, so as not to startle her.

She turned toward him. In her long, white nightgown, hair tumbled down around her, wearing that lost look, she bore an unnerving resemblance to the mysterious woman in Wilkie Collins’ classic mystery, The Woman in White. Eric fervently hoped the similarity ended there. As he recalled from the novel, that unfortunate lady had been unhinged.

Leaving the door ajar, he stepped inside. “We missed you at breakfast.”

She answered distractedly. “I wasn’t hungry.”

He limped to where she stood, the hitch in his leg a little less pronounced today. Maybe he was getting stronger. “Why are you here, looking for ghosts?”

“Or a door to the past.”

He tried to coax a smile to her trembling lips. “Did you check inside the wardrobe?”

“Eric, I’m being serious.”

“That’s what worries me.” Leaning on his cane with one arm, he closed his other around her shoulders and drew her against him. Such a natural act, and she accepted his embrace without pulling back.

She smelled of flowers from her perfume and wood smoke. “Mercy, child,” he said in his best imitation of Ella, “it’s as cold as a tomb in here.”

“It wasn’t last night.”~

Price Slashed On Murder Mystery/Ghost Story Romance Somewhere My Love!

For the next two weeks, light paranormal romance Somewhere My Love will be on sale for .99 at Amazon Kindle, The Wild Rose Press, All Romance Ebooks, Fictionwise….  After that, the price will be 2.99.

Star-crossed lovers, flashbacks to early 18th century Virginia, ghostly, murder mystery romance…

SOMEWHERE MY LOVE

“As I read Somewhere My Love, I recalled the feelings I experienced the first time I read Daphne DuMaurier’s Rebecca long ago. Using deliciously eerie elements similar to that gothic romance, Beth Tressel 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, Publishers Weekly

My New Ghost Story/Vintage American Christmas Romance~

Woot!  I’m excited to announce that the latest in my ‘Somewhere’ series is coming out from The Wild Rose Press on November 9th!  I spent the bulk of last winter writing this Vintage American ghost story romance. You know, the usual Christmas fare.  :)   An intriguing story for me to write, I hope it will be equally enthralling for you to read.

SOMEWHERE THE BELLS RING opens in 1968 in the Virginia family home place (circa 1816) where my dad was born and raised and I grew up visiting, with flashbacks to  1918 and the time of WWI.  I’m terribly sentimental about both eras.  1968 I remember well, as I was 12.  Certainly the Vietnam War and the hippie era made deep inroads into my psyche, but the WWI era took quite a bit more research, and thought.  I’ve seen wonderful old family photos from that time period, and my grandfather fought in WWI.  I’ve heard tales of his heroism. The story is dedicated to this amazing man whom I never knew.  He died suddenly when my father was three, a tragedy that rippled out to affect the next generation.  I grew up feeling very sad about it, and aware of what a remarkable man he was in many ways.   My recent release Into the Lion’s Heart is dedicated to my dear father whom I do know.

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?~

Follow Your Heart

Many authors wisely choose a genre and stick with it. Most master a specific time period, such as the Regency romance world, and set up camp there. Not me. Like a restless spirit, I wander about visiting various places, even time travel to land in some of them. Writing would be far easier if I’d stay put, but not, I expect, as much fun. So I write both historical, with varying time periods and settings, and light paranormal romance, generally with a time travel or ghost in the fantasy meld.I follow where my heart leads as new stories beckon.

In Daughter of the Wind, I even ventured into the shape shifting realm with a bearwalking Shawnee warrior. Depending upon whom you consult among the Shawnee, they may not consider this to be ‘fantasy’ but an actual ability some of their people possess, or used to in ages past. Daughter of the Wind also has a magical moonstone necklace which I wish I could have kept, but the novel sucked that prize in and won’t let me have it back. Bummer.

Light paranormal romance Somewhere My Lass was a departure for me in that I also wove kewl sci-fi stuff into this Scottish time travel. My paranormals require the same research I’d do for a historical because there are other time periods to explore, and then the added contemplation involved in otherworldly elements, so they are not easy, but enjoyable in a challenging way. I admit to gleaning inspiration from some of the movies I’ve seen, and a few stories I’ve read, but I do have an occasional original thought, more than I’m sometimes given credit for.

To further explore my latest light paranormal release, here’s the blurb and excerpt from  

Somewhere My Lass.

Blurb:
 
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?

Excerpt:
 
“You are a beauty.” His words were a hoarse whisper.
 
The rise and fall of her chest betrayed a deep inhalation of breath. A flicker of reproach lit her eyes. 
“I dinna think ye took heed of me at all.”
 
He winced at the well-deserved jab. “About before, I’m sorry I left you so suddenly. But there’s no earthly way I could fail to notice you. I’d have to be deaf, dumb, and blind and even then…”
 
The tension in her face eased and then the hurt returned. “Oh, aye? How could ye forget all ye knew?” 
 
He remained as he was, threading that wealth of hair through his fingers. Again, the rational part of him argued, “Is it possible you’re imagining you knew me before?”
 
She balked, a mutinous glint in her eyes. “Nae.”
 
He slid his hand to the finely crafted silver chain at her throat and coaxed the coverlets further down.
 
A slight gasp escaped her lips. He muted any outward response to the thrill running through him. 
 
The scooped neckline of her nightgown revealed the tops of white breasts sprinkled with freckles. Above this heart-hammering sight hung the crucifix. “I gave this to you?” he managed to ask without betraying the swell of emotion surging inside him.
 
“At our betrothal.” 

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