Guest Promo (LXXVIII) Medieval Monday

Today, my special guest in the tour is author Barabara Bettis. Let's give her a warm welcome and learn about her latest release :
                           The Heart of the Phoenix

Blurb:

Some call him a ruthless mercenary; she calls him the knight of her heart. 

Memories
LadyEvelynn’s childhood hero is home—bitter, hard, tempting as sin. And haunted by secrets. A now-grown Evie offers friendship, but Sir Stephen's cruel rejection crushes her, and she resolves to forget him. Yet when an unexpected war throws them together, she finds love isn’t so easy to dismiss. If only the king hadn’t betrothed her to another.

Can be cruel
Sir Stephenlives a double life while he seeks the treacherous outlaws who murdered his friends. Driven by revenge, he thinks his heart is closed to love. His childhood shadow, Lady Evie, unexpectedly challenges that belief. He rebuffs her, but he can’t forget her, although he knows she’s to wed the king’s favorite. 

And deadly 
When his drive for vengeance leads to Evie’s kidnapping, Stephen must choose between retribution and the love he’s denied too long. Surely King John will see reason.Convict the murderers; convince the king. Simple.Until a startling revelation threatens everything.

 

Buy Link: Amazon

EXCERPT:

“I don’t believe you heard me, Sir Stephen.” Evie’s words dripped honey. “I’m going home on orders of my brother. If the travelers Davy were to join haven’t appeared, then he can accompany me.” She shot a glance toward the youth, deep in conversation with the maid.

The back of Stephen’s neck tingled, and he clenched his hands. God’s blood, she made him so angry he longed to grab those soft arms and shake some sense into her. 

 “You are not remaining at the monastery, and you are not traveling to England.” His words came out in a growl. He stepped forward, and she tilted back her head to meet him eye to eye. “Must I tie you to that horse?”

She leaned in. “Just you try, Sir Stephen-the-Bully.”

He glared and crossed his arms against his chest, daring her to continue.

“Do as you think you must.” She echoed his stance, her crossed arms pushing her plump breasts higher.

Not that he noticed, blast her.

“I vow I will return the moment I’m free,” she added. “You have no authority over my movements, for you are no relative of mine.” 

“And I thank God for it. How Henry has put up with you all these years I do not know. A more troublesome, contentious wi...woman I’ve never seen.”

“Did you call me a witch?”