Amazon Category:  Historical Fiction Publisher: Rinard Publishing ISBN-10:  0962401242 Type: Fiction Pages: 325 Copyright: Sept. 1, 2018 ISBN-13: 9780962401244 A spirited young woman leaves her home in Boston to journey across war-torn South Carolina in search of the mother who gave her away. It is 1867. The U S Government’s attempt to rebuild the economic and political landscape of South Carolina has created a tense, volatile atmosphere in the former rebel state. Eva Phillip’s quest to find her mother draws her into the lives of a black political activist fighting for the rights of the newly freed slaves, a wealthy northern Carpetbagger out to profit from the chaos, a mysterious mulatto leading a double life, and a gutsy lady gambler who teaches Eva how to survive in the tumultuous war-torn environment. When Eva’s probing journey places her at the center of a web of lies, theft, and murder, she becomes the target of a shocking confrontation that will force her into a fight for her life. Excerpt The Twisted Crown is an emotional, exciting, and heartfelt American saga inspired by the life of the author’s ancestors. Eva Phillips is a woman of spirit and fire who leaves the bustling streets of Boston at the height of the Abolitionist movement to undertake a remarkable journey into the unfamiliar, complicated, and dangerous landscape of Post-Civil War South Carolina. As she searches for the mother who gave her away twenty-one years ago, she encounters unexpected friendships, unforeseen danger, and romance with a most unlikely man. The turbulent events, both joyous and tragic, that await Eva provide her with the strength and purpose to fulfill her unrelenting quest. Rich in authentic historical details of the Reconstruction era, and alive with truly unforgettable characters, The Twisted Crown brilliantly brings an important period of African American history to life again. It is 1867. The Civil War has ended. The Freedman’s Bureau struggles to provide relief to the citizens of the now-defeated South. The former slaves, the new citizens of the nation, are struggling to build lives in freedom, while reuniting their families. South Carolina remains in near ruin, and the federal government’s attempt to reconstruct the political and cultural landscape of the former rebel state is underway. Eva Phillips, spirited a young widow whose husband was killed while fighting with the colored troops of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, leaves the comfort and security of her home in Boston to venture into post-war South Carolina. There, she first visits the grave of her deceased husband, who is buried on Morris Island, along with his fearless leader, Colonel Robert Shaw. Next, Eva launches her quest to find her mother, who was enslaved on a plantation north of Charleston, and who gave her daughter away twenty-one years ago. Eva’s quest draws her into the lives of a black political activist fighting for the rights of the newly freed slaves, a wealthy northern Carpetbagger out to profit from the chaos, a mysterious mulatto leading a double life, and a gutsy lady gambler who teaches Eva how to survive in the tumultuous war-torn environment. When Eva’s probing journey takes her to the isolated plantation where her mother had been enslaved, she finds valuable clues to the fate of the slaves who once lived on the property, providing impetus to her dangerous mission. Determined to solve the mystery of what happened to her mother, Eva persists with her search, eventually finding herself her at the heart of a volatile conspiracy that makes her the target of an angry ex-Confederate soldier for whom the war has never ended. When Eva exposes a dangerous web of lies, theft, and murder, she finds herself embroiled in a long-awaited confrontation that forces her into a fight for her life. The Twisted Crown was inspired by the unusual life of the author’s great-grandfather, a white carpetbagger who entered South Carolina after the Civil War, married a woman of color, assumed an important role in the Reconstruction of Charleston, and amassed large tracts of land, some of which remain in Anita’s family today.

The Twisted Crown
“…a well-turned piece of historical fiction that seamlessly weaves together real events that happened during the Civil War and the Reconstruction years. … flesh-and-blood characters, and heart-wrenching accounts of the trials during that dark period in America’s past.”
AuthorsReading.com