THE MONROES SET SAIL FOR FRANCE
from THE BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN by Marilyn Holdsworth
from THE BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN by Marilyn Holdsworth
A stiff breeze was blowing across the Chesapeake Bay the next morning when the Cincinnatus pulled
away from Cheapside Wharf, leaving Baltimore Harbor to make her way
toward the open seas. Although it was early, all the ship’s passengers
gathered on deck for the sailing. I stood at the railing, holding
Eliza’s hand. The wind blew through our hair, as we watched the quay
grow smaller and smaller.
“Do you think we’ll ever come back, Jasmine?” Eliza suddenly whispered, clutching my hand tightly.
“Course
we be comin’ back,” I told her stoutly, hoping I sounded more sure than
I was feeling. The roll and pitch of the ship plowing through the waves
gave me little assurance. I felt like I was leaving everything the
least bit familiar and comforting behind forever. I had heard Master
Monroe talking to Mistress Elizabeth about gaining her sea legs, and I
wondered about my own now as I watched the shoreline being replaced with
the heaving, rolling seascape before us.
We
had been sailing for about four hours when the sky suddenly darkened
and the waves grew higher and heavier. Captain Joshua Barney walked the
deck advising all of us to go to our cabins. “Ladies,” he warned, “you
must prepare yourselves for a bit of roughness. I fear a slight squall
is building.”
Rain
pelted, the wind howled, and great waves crashed over the ship’s
side,sending torrents of water rushing along the deck. The Cincinnatus pitched
and rolled unmercifully for the rest of the afternoon and through the
night. I lay on my floor pallet next to Eliza’s bunk, listening to her
tossing and crying. Too wretchedly sick to comfort her, I clutched my
charm bag and rabbit’s foot, praying that the good lord would take me.
“Dear, lawd,” I prayed, “I be ready if youse would only take me now.”
You can read more about The Beautiful American, by Marilyn Holdsworth at: http://marilynholdsworth.com/the-beautiful-american/
As a novelist, I draw on many real life experiences to provide
background for my books. After completing studies in Literature and
History at Occidental College, I became a staff writer on a travel
magazine, and throughout my career I have traveled extensively all over
the world. Because
I love horses, I owned and trained them. I support horse rescue and
wild mustang preservation. Based on my experience with horses and my
research on abuse issues, I wrote Pegasus.
As a descendant of James Monroe, I did extensive research at the James Monroe Museum in Virginia about him and his wife Elizabeth Kortright Monroe. I also visited their home, Ashlawn/Highland in Albemarle County. This resulted in my novel, The Beautiful American. Making Wishes, was based partly on my experiences as creator, owner and operator of a greeting card company.
Elloree
Prince is an attractive, creative young woman who marries a wealthy
businessman, Tom Randall. After courting his bride with unrelenting
determination, Tom moves her into old-moneyed Oak View, where
generations of Randalls have lived for years. Outwardly, Elloree appears
to settle into raising their two sons within Oak View's stifling social
structure, but inwardly, she yearns for her artistic work.
An
unexpected phone call from Mark Williams, her former employer, offers
her the career opportunity of a lifetime, and she must make a choice.
She is torn between her devotion to her sons and her love for her work.
Her decision to return to Wishes, Inc. brings dramatic life changes to
her and the people she loves.
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Genre - Women's fiction
Rating – PG-13
"Abby Long is thrilled when she offers the winning bid for an antique desk at an auction. With its intricately inlaid woods and elegant style, the desk is perfect for Abby; it is the gift she promised herself to finally celebrate her thriving antique business. She has no idea that the antique desk holds a secret that will lead her on a fascinating, life-changing journey back in time.
When
Abby discovers a hidden diary stuffed inside a secret compartment in
the desk, she can hardly wait to read the spidery, faded script. As she
carefully turns the tattered pages, she reads the captivating story of
two remarkable women from opposite backgrounds who somehow manage to
form an unforgettable bond against the backdrop of a fledgling America
struggling to find its place in the world. Elizabeth Kortright Monroe,
the wife of James Monroe, and Jasmine, a young slave girl, develop an
extraordinary relationship as they are united by pivotal historic
events, political intrigues, and personal tragedies.
From
a bucolic Virginia plantation to the bloodied, starving streets of
post-revolutionary Paris, this powerful tale follows the lives of two
courageous women from the past as they quietly influence—and inspire—a
woman of today’s world."
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Genre - Historical fiction
Rating – G
Widowed at thirty, Hannah Bradley is a successful journalist focusing on animal abuse issues. An accidental meeting introduces her to lawyer, Winston Caughfield III. Drawn to Hannah’s gentle beauty and fierce commitment to her work, Win joins her in a fight to save wild mustangs from slaughter. Together they rescue a badly injured horse with a mysterious background. Hannah’s search to discover the animal’s true identity leads them into a web of black marketeering and international intrigue.
Action
packed with crisp colorful dialogue the story propels the reader to a
race against time conclusion. Marilyn Holdsworth delivers a gripping
tale of mystery, adventure and romance guaranteed to hold the interest
and capture the heart. She brings true-life characters together with
real-life issues to create a fast-paced irresistible story.
Buy Now @ Amazon
Genre - Contemporary fiction
Rating – PG
More details about the author
Website http://marilynholdsworth.com/
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