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Enemy of the King
1780, South Carolina: While Loyalist Meriwether Steele recovers from illness in the stately home of her beloved guardian, Jeremiah Jordan, she senses the haunting presence of his late wife. When she learns that Jeremiah is a Patriot spy and shoots Captain Vaughan, the British officer sent to arrest him, she is caught up on a wild ride into Carolina back country, pursued both by the impassioned captain and the vindictive ghost. Will she remain loyal to her king and Tory twin brother or risk a traitor's death fighting for Jeremiah? If Captain Vaughan snatches her away, he won't give her a choice.
332 pages, Paperback
First published April 7, 2009
About the author
Beth Trissel
31 books440 followersMarried to my high school sweetheart, I live on a farm in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with my human family and furbabies. An avid gardener, I grow herbs and heirloom flowers and use them in my stories. The rich history of Virginia, the Native Americans (especially the Shawnee), and the Scots-Irish are at the heart of my inspiration. My English, Scottish, and Scots-Irish ancestors were among the earliest settlers in America. I write historical romance set in the colonial frontier, the American Revolution, Georgian England, and 20th century America. I like a good ghost story, so some of my historical romances have paranormal and ghosts in them. In addition to historical romance and Native American/Western romance, I write time travel romance (some are Scottish time travels), Young Adult wolf shapeshifter paranormal sci-fi fantasy romance, New Adult fantasy paranormal time slip romance back and forth to the American Revolution, the Civil War, and World War 1… I also have nonfiction about gardening, herbs, and country life.
My blog is the happening place: https://bethtrissel.wordpress.com/
My blog is the happening place: https://bethtrissel.wordpress.com/
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 10, 2017
Enemy of the King is a great read! I loved the paranormal aspect of the story and, also, loved the Revolutionary War time period. Another fabulous book by Beth Trissel.
Highly recommended!
5 plus stars.
I received this book from the author. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
Highly recommended!
5 plus stars.
I received this book from the author. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
October 7, 2009
This is simply a beautiful story, well-crafted, full of interesting characters and exciting action set during, perhaps, the most dangerous time in American history. Had the Battle of King's Mountain gone down in defeat for the Patriots, the American nation would never have been born. Ms. Trissel portrays this beautifully...as she does in her descriptions of just about everything. She's one of the most exciting romance writers to come on the scene in many years. Congratulations, Beth! You've done it again!
July 10, 2012
Beth Trissel's historical romance is set during the Carolina Campaign which took place around 1780. Meredith Steele, or Meri, is recovering from a fever that has also taken her beloved father, Captain Steele. Family friend Jeremiah Jordan rescued her from Charleston, under British control, and brought her back to his plantation. There, the two fight their attraction for one another as British soldiers come upon the house, accusing Jeremiah of supporting the Patriot cause. It turns out to be true and Meri helps the man flee into the Backcountry. As they run into the American wilderness, Meri learns more and more about the man she has always loved. He tries harder and harder to keep her at arm's length. Their blossoming romance is haunted by the spector of Jeremiah's late wife, Rachel.
I sense traits of Daphne duMaurier's "Rebecca" without a lot of the fear and mystery of the book. And it's a bit annoying, especially in terms of Meri and Jeremiah's relationship. One minute, he seems to have been in a loveless marriage. The next, he's calling her a saint. Mood whiplash indeed. No wonder Meri is so confused about their relationship. But when Rachel's specter isn't hanging over them, the romance is great.
Meri is an interesting heroine, though a bit confusing at first. She is presented as a staunch Loyalist. But after shooting a British officer to save Jeremiah, she flees with him and quickly gets over the fact he is a Patriot. Her loyalty is to Jeremiah and no one else, though she continues to sympathesize with Loyalists for a few chapters. I feel the Loyalist aspect was shoehorned in there to create more drama between Meri and Jeremiah. I preferred to keep thinking Meri was just loyal only to Jeremiah. It's more romantic. And I like that she has layers. She was raised as a prim and proper English woman and is hesitant to wear breeches. And unlike other female characters I've read, she doesn't find breeches liberating. She finds them uncomfortable and a nuisance. I would've like less of her complaining, but I found her attitude refreshing. She is also tough when she needs to be, defending those she loves. For that, she earns the respect of the men Jeremiah fight with. She also gathers her share of admirers. Neal, Vaughn and Jordan.
Jeremiah Jordan is an old family friend of the Steeles who takes Meri in when her father dies. A rich Carolinan, he has a secret. He is a Patriot, leading a band of men against Cornwallis and Tarleton. Meri understands the dangers, especially when Captain Vaughn and his men arrive to arrest Jordan for treason. After a fight ensues, he flees with Meri into the backwoods. There he fights the attraction he feels for Meri for many reasons. One is that she is his ward and he doesn't wish to take advantage of her. Two is that they are in the middle of a war. There's no guarantee he'll survive. Both of these are valid concerns and sustain the tension. But the third reason is Rachel, his late first wife.
And this gets its own paragraph. The storyline featuring Rachel is the traits from "Rebecca" I mentioned earlier. She is haunting the couple, determined to keep them apart. I have read some of Ms. Trissel's other works and know she favors a paranormal tilt to her romances. But I don't think Meri and Jordan's needed it. I liked her past paranormal stories, but this one felt slightly ridiculous. Like it dragged the plot and the romance was better without it. I was also confused as to Jordan's true feelings for Wife #1. At some points, he still seems to worship her. Then others, it seems their marriage was troubled. They had separate bedchambers and Jordan cheated on her, resulting in his son Ross. For that, he atones by mourning Rachel for as long as he feels is proper. By the end of the book, I still don't have a grasp of what their relationship was like. I think Rachel is supposed to be an enigma. I don't find her an enigma; I only want to know what type of wife she was. That way, I can understand Jordan's approach to his relationship with Meri.
Back to Jordan. He is a man whom any woman would want to be rescued by and it is easy to see why Meri is in love with him. He's handsome, rugged and a true leader. His men are loyal to him. He has a sense of justice and is willing to protect those he loves. But he is not without his flaws. There is his temper and his jealousy, especially over Meri. Which adds to the confusion over his feelings for his deceased wife. He also cheated on his wife, as noted, but is a devoted father. And is devoted to Meri.
There really is no villain, unless you count Rachel's ghost. But there is Captain Vaughn, who comes to arrest Jordan. He pursues Jordan, eventually capturing Meri. While she is in his hands, she--and the readers--see a different side to her. He has true feelings for Meri and risks a lot to keep her safe. He is presented as competition for Meri's heart but he's not really. By this point, Meri's in love with Jordan and wants to marry him. But he was another male character for us lady readers to swoon over. And I swooned.
Ms. Trissel creates a great setting in the Carolinian backwoods. It's a strange world where the rules of civilization do not apply. It allows for both a romantic atmosphere yet a place where danger lurks around every corner. She also populates it with colorful second characters.
I highly recommend it.
I sense traits of Daphne duMaurier's "Rebecca" without a lot of the fear and mystery of the book. And it's a bit annoying, especially in terms of Meri and Jeremiah's relationship. One minute, he seems to have been in a loveless marriage. The next, he's calling her a saint. Mood whiplash indeed. No wonder Meri is so confused about their relationship. But when Rachel's specter isn't hanging over them, the romance is great.
Meri is an interesting heroine, though a bit confusing at first. She is presented as a staunch Loyalist. But after shooting a British officer to save Jeremiah, she flees with him and quickly gets over the fact he is a Patriot. Her loyalty is to Jeremiah and no one else, though she continues to sympathesize with Loyalists for a few chapters. I feel the Loyalist aspect was shoehorned in there to create more drama between Meri and Jeremiah. I preferred to keep thinking Meri was just loyal only to Jeremiah. It's more romantic. And I like that she has layers. She was raised as a prim and proper English woman and is hesitant to wear breeches. And unlike other female characters I've read, she doesn't find breeches liberating. She finds them uncomfortable and a nuisance. I would've like less of her complaining, but I found her attitude refreshing. She is also tough when she needs to be, defending those she loves. For that, she earns the respect of the men Jeremiah fight with. She also gathers her share of admirers. Neal, Vaughn and Jordan.
Jeremiah Jordan is an old family friend of the Steeles who takes Meri in when her father dies. A rich Carolinan, he has a secret. He is a Patriot, leading a band of men against Cornwallis and Tarleton. Meri understands the dangers, especially when Captain Vaughn and his men arrive to arrest Jordan for treason. After a fight ensues, he flees with Meri into the backwoods. There he fights the attraction he feels for Meri for many reasons. One is that she is his ward and he doesn't wish to take advantage of her. Two is that they are in the middle of a war. There's no guarantee he'll survive. Both of these are valid concerns and sustain the tension. But the third reason is Rachel, his late first wife.
And this gets its own paragraph. The storyline featuring Rachel is the traits from "Rebecca" I mentioned earlier. She is haunting the couple, determined to keep them apart. I have read some of Ms. Trissel's other works and know she favors a paranormal tilt to her romances. But I don't think Meri and Jordan's needed it. I liked her past paranormal stories, but this one felt slightly ridiculous. Like it dragged the plot and the romance was better without it. I was also confused as to Jordan's true feelings for Wife #1. At some points, he still seems to worship her. Then others, it seems their marriage was troubled. They had separate bedchambers and Jordan cheated on her, resulting in his son Ross. For that, he atones by mourning Rachel for as long as he feels is proper. By the end of the book, I still don't have a grasp of what their relationship was like. I think Rachel is supposed to be an enigma. I don't find her an enigma; I only want to know what type of wife she was. That way, I can understand Jordan's approach to his relationship with Meri.
Back to Jordan. He is a man whom any woman would want to be rescued by and it is easy to see why Meri is in love with him. He's handsome, rugged and a true leader. His men are loyal to him. He has a sense of justice and is willing to protect those he loves. But he is not without his flaws. There is his temper and his jealousy, especially over Meri. Which adds to the confusion over his feelings for his deceased wife. He also cheated on his wife, as noted, but is a devoted father. And is devoted to Meri.
There really is no villain, unless you count Rachel's ghost. But there is Captain Vaughn, who comes to arrest Jordan. He pursues Jordan, eventually capturing Meri. While she is in his hands, she--and the readers--see a different side to her. He has true feelings for Meri and risks a lot to keep her safe. He is presented as competition for Meri's heart but he's not really. By this point, Meri's in love with Jordan and wants to marry him. But he was another male character for us lady readers to swoon over. And I swooned.
Ms. Trissel creates a great setting in the Carolinian backwoods. It's a strange world where the rules of civilization do not apply. It allows for both a romantic atmosphere yet a place where danger lurks around every corner. She also populates it with colorful second characters.
I highly recommend it.
December 2, 2009
In the midst of a country with divided loyalties there emerges an epic love story that will take hold of your senses. In Enemy of the King author Beth Trissel takes you into the heart of the Revolutionary War and welcomes you into the lives of Meriwether Steele and her guardian Jeremiah Jordan.
When Meriwether’s father Captain Steele dies, and Meriwether herself falls victim to illness, she is placed within the care of the strappingly handsome widow, Jeremiah Jordan. Meriwether soon finds herself falling deeply in love with the man who has cared for her. She soon realizes that Jeremiah’s loyalties do not lie with the Crown. Uncovering that he is a Patriot spy she soon discovers that this secret may very well be their undoing. Meriwether struggles with the her own strong Loyalist beliefs fearing, knowing that one day she will have to choose between the man she loves and the land she once called home, the land for which her twin brother fights. She soon must choose a side when a group of soldiers in the King’s service come calling to arrest Jeremiah. Shooting the British officer, Captain Vaughan to save her beloved Jeremiah, they are forced to flee deep into the backcountry of South Carolina. On the run like Robin Hood and Maid Marianne, soon the two meet up with the band of men that support the cause of freedom. Jeremiah must keep Meriwether safely out of the hands of the British and out of the arms of his men. Desperate to declare his love her Meriwether, yet still paying a penance to his late wife Rachel, who haunts more than just their memories. Will Jeremiah be released from the crushing grip of Rachel, and give Meriwether the happy ending they both long for? Or will all be lost?
Enemy of the King, is an alluring story of romance, passion, desire, and danger. With characters so perfectly created, like intricate works of art, you feel each and every emotion that they possess. Beth Trissel has created a vast cast of characters that compliment and complete each other as well as the story. Highly descriptive, I could almost smell the jasmine and rosemary as it floats through the air, hear the horse hooves as they pound into the earth, touch the moss as it hang delicately off the trees, and feel the breeze from the bullets as they fly past. Beth Trissel not only places her story in South Caroline, she uses the place it self as another character that springs to life and adds depth. A true work of art that embodies the spirit of historical fiction.
The perfect novel of historical romance, offering the reader an artistic blend of adventure, history, and of course romance. You could feel the heat and passion emanating from Jeremiah and Meriwether. Desire, passion, love, lust, danger, and a haunting sense of foreboding, all contained within the first few chapters making Enemy of the King an enthralling read. Defiantly a book to be read again and again.
Enemy of the King provided for review by the author Beth Trissel
Thanks for the book Beth
When Meriwether’s father Captain Steele dies, and Meriwether herself falls victim to illness, she is placed within the care of the strappingly handsome widow, Jeremiah Jordan. Meriwether soon finds herself falling deeply in love with the man who has cared for her. She soon realizes that Jeremiah’s loyalties do not lie with the Crown. Uncovering that he is a Patriot spy she soon discovers that this secret may very well be their undoing. Meriwether struggles with the her own strong Loyalist beliefs fearing, knowing that one day she will have to choose between the man she loves and the land she once called home, the land for which her twin brother fights. She soon must choose a side when a group of soldiers in the King’s service come calling to arrest Jeremiah. Shooting the British officer, Captain Vaughan to save her beloved Jeremiah, they are forced to flee deep into the backcountry of South Carolina. On the run like Robin Hood and Maid Marianne, soon the two meet up with the band of men that support the cause of freedom. Jeremiah must keep Meriwether safely out of the hands of the British and out of the arms of his men. Desperate to declare his love her Meriwether, yet still paying a penance to his late wife Rachel, who haunts more than just their memories. Will Jeremiah be released from the crushing grip of Rachel, and give Meriwether the happy ending they both long for? Or will all be lost?
Enemy of the King, is an alluring story of romance, passion, desire, and danger. With characters so perfectly created, like intricate works of art, you feel each and every emotion that they possess. Beth Trissel has created a vast cast of characters that compliment and complete each other as well as the story. Highly descriptive, I could almost smell the jasmine and rosemary as it floats through the air, hear the horse hooves as they pound into the earth, touch the moss as it hang delicately off the trees, and feel the breeze from the bullets as they fly past. Beth Trissel not only places her story in South Caroline, she uses the place it self as another character that springs to life and adds depth. A true work of art that embodies the spirit of historical fiction.
The perfect novel of historical romance, offering the reader an artistic blend of adventure, history, and of course romance. You could feel the heat and passion emanating from Jeremiah and Meriwether. Desire, passion, love, lust, danger, and a haunting sense of foreboding, all contained within the first few chapters making Enemy of the King an enthralling read. Defiantly a book to be read again and again.
Enemy of the King provided for review by the author Beth Trissel
Thanks for the book Beth
September 8, 2014
I really didnt care for alot of romance novels but I have to give this author a shout out. She recently had a book signing with a program called " Romancing the Revolution" which featured, music and costumed reenactors. She had it in eastern North carolina , which is by large an economically depressed area. Any writer who brings something to that area is ok in my book. Eastern NC is a beautiful area with alot of history and I am glad she is shining light on the area by featuring it in her books, especially her novel, Traitor's Legacy.
October 9, 2009
I loved this book by Beth Trissel. She has done her research and presents authentic historical information to her readers. Enemy of the King is a wonderful book of war, romance and love. I think you'll love it!
September 11, 2010
Once again Beth Trissel wrote another wonderful story. You could see, thru her words, exactly what was happening. Some of the characters won me over as the book progressed. A must read for fans of Beth's or even those who have never read her work. Great, great story..can't wait to read another!
July 7, 2012
The action in this historical romance set in South Carolina during the Revolutionary War unfolds at breakneck speed, but it was the lush descriptions of every detail of the setting that captivated me and allowed me to experience each scene as if I were there. Highly recommended!
October 8, 2009
Another great read from Beth Trissel. No one is as great at location descriptions as she is. You feel like you are a part of the novel from the beginning to the very end! Great job!!!
April 1, 2010
Booksellers' Best Award entry. I found this very hard to get through. Overworked.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews