Everything Changes When A Ghost Requests her Help
Vintage American Christmas Ghost Story Romance
SOMEWHERE THE BELLS RING
Although Somewhere the Bells Ring has a holiday theme, it's an anytime read for romance lovers. "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."~ Robin at
Romancing the Book Reviews
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?
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.”
Novel Notes
Somewhere the Bells Ring (out 11-09 from the Wild Rose Press) is set in the gracious old Virginia homeplace, 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 1960’s 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 One. Having a Marine Corps Captain Grandfather who distinguished himself in France in the thick of the fighting during The Great War and then tragically died when my father was only three definitely influenced this story. If you enjoy an intriguing mystery set in vintage America with Gothic overtones and heart-tugging romance then Somewhere the Bells Ring is for you. And did I mention the ghost?
Reviews
Somewhere The Bells Ring is a haunting but strangely comforting read, focusing on timeless romance rather than spooky or scary scenes. The author is extremely talented at creating vivid scenes; her intricate descriptions leave the reader with vivid images and a strong sense of time and place. I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for an intriguing, gripping ghost story with a focus on romance rather than terror.
Reviewed by: Stephanie E. of Fallen Angel Reviews
Romancing the Book:
"Ms. Trissel captivates her reader from the moment you start reading the first page. She has written a compelling love story that spans some fifty plus years and keeps you entertained every step of the way with the story within a story...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
Romantic endearing Christmas read, November 28, 2011 By Scarlet
Amazon Verified Purchase This review is from: Somewhere The Bells Ring (Christmas) (Kindle Edition)
This story had all my favorites, romance, a wounded hero, a ghost and a mystery! This is a very good, engaging, and heart warming read. Set in 1968 the reference to the social upheaval of the period and tradegy of the Vietnam war were well crafted and touching.
5 Stars Somewhere, The Bells Ring, December 1, 2011
By Linda Bass- See all my reviews (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Somewhere The Bells Ring (Christmas) (Kindle Edition) Somewhere The Bells Ring (Christmas)
Bailey Randolph Messed Up In College By Smoking Pot And Ended Up With A Man In Her Room, But How He Got There And What They Did Together She Couldn't Remember. Finally After A Dressing Down By The Dean And Then Her Dad She Was Sent To Maple Hill To "Convalesce" As Her Dad Thought She Was A Hippie. Frankly, She Was A Wannabee As When Her Brother Was Killed In Viet Nam She Went A Little Off But, She Only Did Pot ONCE Yet No One Believe Her When She Said Saw Ghost! So, Up To The Stately Mansion She Went And A Day Later, While Walking With The Dog She Saw Movement From The Window Of A Room That Had Been Locked For Over Fifty Years!
Eric Burke Intended To Make A Career In The Marines, But After He Got A Buddy Who Lost His Legs To Safety, He Went Back To Get His Other Friend But It Was Too Late For Him, He Got His One Leg Hit Badly. Now, He Had Two Options, A Desk Job In The Corps Or Back To School For A Law Degree And He Returned To Meg And Maple Hill For Christmas To Put Aside His Decision For Later. Once There He Rediscovered Bailey Randolph, Could Not Believe How Beautiful She Was And Fell Head Over Heels. Meg Told Him About Bailey's Activities And He Had Trouble Thinking She Was Sane...
WOW, What A Powerful Story That Just Brought Me To Tears! Bailey Finds The Ghost Of Eric's Grandfather In His Room From Fifty Years Ago And Promises To Find Edward's Wife's Christmas Gift That Claire Hid Before She Suddenly Died And With Edward Over In The Big War He Never Got To Say Goodbye! But With The Old Mansion So Huge And Always Cold, Where Did She Start That Had Never Been Searched Before?
“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
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read!, November 12, 2011
By BookAddict (FL) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE)
This review is from: Somewhere The Bells Ring (Christmas) (Kindle Edition)
"This is a multi-layered, captivating story with aspects of family drama, romance, mystery and paranormal. The characters are well-developed and made me care what happened to them. Even the home where the story took place has a personality of its own. I loved everything about this story, from the opening introduction to Bailey, to the perfect, tear-jerking ending."
