The moment Martha Jefferson discovers that a few drops of Negro blood course through her aristocratic veins, she knows she will do anything to keep this terrible secret from her politically ambitious husband, Thomas. When fire strikes Monticello, the resulting repairs to Thomas Jeffersons historic home reveal a human skeleton, and the questions begin. . . the when is easily discovered, but the who and the why weave a tantalizing mystery that is Monticellos dark secret. In this well-researched novel, which successfully melds historical fact with an intriguing what if, we are led back in time to the gripping tale of two women, Martha Jefferson and Betty Hemings, mother of infamous Sally Hemings, both forgotten threads in the rich tapestry of Americas history. Nothing about them save their names has survived the centuries-- not a likeness nor a personal letter. We know both belonged to the same man, Thomas Jefferson, one through the vows of marriage and the other through the laws of slavery, and that both lived, dreamed and died in Virginia at a time in our new Nation when fact was more exciting than fiction. Now, we can finally know and understand them as they might have been.
When Scott Andrews F-16 catches fire, he remains in the blazing inferno, fighting off the inevitable until he can clear a densely populated area below. His last conscious thought is of his bride, Sara. . . sweet Sara. Scott awakens in a hospital praying for death as he realizes all he can ever hope to be is a disfigured freak held together by pain and scar tissue. But Sara refuses to accept that their marriage as well as all their dreams died in that plane crash. To build a life together, she impulsively buys a 19th Century house that mysteriously draws her in. The strange sense of belonging she feels within its walls hides the terrible secrets it has held for more than a century of fire, lost love and. . . murder. In the house, Scott discovers an unseen Presence. . .an intruder. . . who plans to kill Sara to keep her there with him forever. He has waited for more than a century for his Lucinda to come back to him. And she is finally here. It matters not that she now calls herself Sara or that she cannot see him or make love to him yet. She is with a man, horribly burned and scarred like himself, he dares call himself her husband. He will not permit this mortal this intruder to interfere. Not now not ever. Although he is hopelessly crippled, Scott knows he MUST fi nd a way to destroy this terrifying force if he is to save Saras life.
The moment Martha Jefferson discovers that a few drops of Negro blood course through her aristocratic veins, she knows she will do anything to keep this terrible secret from her politically ambitious husband, Thomas. When fire strikes Monticello, the resulting repairs to Thomas Jeffersons historic home reveal a human skeleton, and the questions begin. . . the when is easily discovered, but the who and the why weave a tantalizing mystery that is Monticellos dark secret. In this well-researched novel, which successfully melds historical fact with an intriguing what if, we are led back in time to the gripping tale of two women, Martha Jefferson and Betty Hemings, mother of infamous Sally Hemings, both forgotten threads in the rich tapestry of Americas history. Nothing about them save their names has survived the centuries-- not a likeness nor a personal letter. We know both belonged to the same man, Thomas Jefferson, one through the vows of marriage and the other through the laws of slavery, and that both lived, dreamed and died in Virginia at a time in our new Nation when fact was more exciting than fiction. Now, we can finally know and understand them as they might have been.
When Scott Andrews F-16 catches fire, he remains in the blazing inferno, fighting off the inevitable until he can clear a densely populated area below. His last conscious thought is of his bride, Sara. . . sweet Sara. Scott awakens in a hospital praying for death as he realizes all he can ever hope to be is a disfigured freak held together by pain and scar tissue. But Sara refuses to accept that their marriage as well as all their dreams died in that plane crash. To build a life together, she impulsively buys a 19th Century house that mysteriously draws her in. The strange sense of belonging she feels within its walls hides the terrible secrets it has held for more than a century of fire, lost love and. . . murder. In the house, Scott discovers an unseen Presence. . .an intruder. . . who plans to kill Sara to keep her there with him forever. He has waited for more than a century for his Lucinda to come back to him. And she is finally here. It matters not that she now calls herself Sara or that she cannot see him or make love to him yet. She is with a man, horribly burned and scarred like himself, he dares call himself her husband. He will not permit this mortal this intruder to interfere. Not now not ever. Although he is hopelessly crippled, Scott knows he MUST fi nd a way to destroy this terrifying force if he is to save Saras life.
Everyone thought I was upstairs asleep. But I wasn't. I saw and heard everything that happened the terrible night my mother was brutally murdered. I heard what he snarled as he pushed her face into the sidewalk with his foot between her shoulders. I saw him yank her head back by her beautiful blonde hair and slit her throat before she could scream for help. I will hear her soft, helpless gurgle until the day I die. For all these years, I have been afraid to say anything. If he could kill her like that, he could kill me without a second thought. My silence was my only safety. I was only nine years old, and my Mom was my best friend. She told me once, "He'll kill me someday, and being him, the All-American hero, he'll get away with it." And, unbelievably, he did. He got away with murder. But I'm not afraid anymore. I've waited this long, endless time. I have a plan and I've honed it to perfection. Everything is ready. I'm going to send my Father to hell for butchering my Mother, and no one will ever know. I, too, will get away with murder.
Thank you for visiting our website. Would you like to provide feedback on how we could improve your experience?
This site does not use any third party cookies with one exception — it uses cookies from Google to deliver its services and to analyze traffic.Learn More.