My English Heritage and Historical Romance Into the Lion's Heart

The connection I feel to the past and those who’ve gone before me is the ongoing inspiration behind my historical romances, including the time travels in my ‘Somewhere in Time’ series, and more lately, my Ladies in Time series. I’ve done a lot of research into family genealogy and come from well-documented English/Scots-Irish folk with a smidgen of French in the meld, a Norman knight who sailed with William the Conqueror.  One family line goes back to Geoffrey Chaucer.  And there’s a puritan line with involvement in the Salem Witch Trials—my apologies to Susannah Martin’s descendants--but that’s another story.  With Into the Lion’s Heart, I more deeply explored my British ancestry.

Set in 1789 England, the story opens with the hero, Captain Dalton Evans (fought in the American Revolution) journeying to Dover to meet the ship carrying a distant cousin, Mademoiselle Sophia Devereux, who’s fleeing the French Revolution.  *Pause here to note all the research the revolution took, not to mention Georgian England in general, Cornwall in particular, rum smuggling, stage-coach travel and sailing in the late 18^th century....you get the idea. But I digress. Back to Dalton who’s irked with his mission, not only because he finds it tedious, but he resents the French, partly as a result of their aid to the Americans during the war and some of the Frenchmen he fought during that lost cause.  Plus he thinks French aristocrats are arrogant.  However, the young woman he rescues from the sinking ship is nothing like he expects and rocks his world.

During all the copious research, I discovered this is a fascinating time period on both sides of the channel.  I’m already hooked on The Scarlet Pimpernel, having read all the books in that series several times and watched every film version (have my favorites) and I'm drawn to other novels and productions set in this era, such as the rich epic series, Poldark--read the books and own the earlier Masterpiece Theater production. Loved the newest version.

As to the language ‘thing,’ my youngest daughter, Elise, who graduated summa cum laude with a double major in art and French, was a huge help with the sprinkling of French words and phrases.

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.~

Into the Lion’s Heart is available at Amazon in kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Into-Lions-Heart-Love-Letters-ebook/dp/B005I63Y3Q

From Barnes & Noble, and other online booksellers.

Awards and Reviews:

 

2012 Reader's Favorite Finalist

"This is 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!"

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Reviewer: Wanda from Romance Writers Reviews

 

"Into The Lions Heart is a historical romance novelette that is sure to delight the fancy of those who read this genre... If you have never read any of Beth Trissel's books, this will be a great start and make you want to read more. I have always liked her style of writing and hope she does not change. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed by Lynn F. for Readers Favorite

 

I simply adored INTO THE LION'S HEART by Beth Trissel. I'm not an avid reader of historical romances or even the simply sweet romances, but this tale kissed a delicate smile on my face and I have to admit, my heart melted. Not only was the writing superb and in context with the time and place, but the plot itself was very well done.
Rating five out of five stars and a Top Pick from The Romance Reviews
Reviewed by Erinne 

 

Geese Have Quite A Lot to Say, Actually

Here are the geese having a clandestine meeting. They do that a lot, with secretive quacks and goosey murmurs which change to alarmed scrambles when I'm spotted. Bad me, spying on the Goose Alliance.

But I feel compelled to stay abreast of their plots. Even more furtive, are these gatherings at dusk with the cows. I suspect they're planning an uprising and trying to take over the farm.

Again, all appears innocent in this early morning shot of them grouped beyond the flowers, but beware. Geese For All and All for Geese.  I'm suspiciously absent from their mantra.  I could be wrong, though, and the gaggle are exchanging knitting patterns. In case I'm right on, I will continue my surveillance. Does anybody truly know the mind of a goose?

"The goose that lays the golden eggs likes to lay where there are eggs already." Charles Spurgeon (No idea what this means, but I'll keep a lookout for it).