Strange Sands

An enduring Lowcountry plantation. A legendary patriot refuge. A last stand for freedom. It thrilled Mercedes Ellison to be chosen to work as an architectural historian for Majestic Oaks, a plantation that endured and survived wars on American soil. The stately Georgian mansion features the Freedom Staircase, where legendary patriots stopped for refuge in their roles with the Continental Army in the American Revolution. Her client needs help to keep the plantation he inherited, which is steeped in the history of the Lowcountry of South Carolina, home of the Swamp Fox and four signers of the Declaration of Independence. There are also some unsolved mysteries on the property. Bringing them to light will help her client, and she finds clues in a secret passage used by the patriots. But then her archenemy dies in jail and his son hunts her down. Can she make a last stand for freedom from the vengeful vendetta that began with the murder of her ancestor on a stormy night in England? This novella is a complete story but is best appreciated when read as part of the series. Readers who will enjoy this book like strong Christian characters who live their faith when encountering challenges and supernatural settings.

An antique cedar hope chest. A hidden panel. A century-spanning vendetta. This unusual, faith-filled suspense and mystey novella series is about the unexpected adventures faced by an architectural historian when the unseen realm affects her clients' properties. Mercedes Annalee Ellison held her Great-Great-Grand Aunt's fragile journal and a tattered manila envelope, puzzling about whether these items would change her life. Her intuition screamed that they would, and the way they had come into her possession would make any skeptic pause. She wanted to bolt, to flee what loomed ahead. Distractions were not welcome in her life right now. She was an architectural historian with three great jobs lined up for the summer-and a problem with her boyfriend. But before her first day with her new client, Mercedes finds herself entangled in a diabolical vendetta against her family over disputed land in England. She desperately searches for answers about why she is an unsustpecting target for something that happened back in the year 1900. A man murdered her ancestor, Claire Ellison, one night in an eerie storm, and only a miracle will save Mercedes from the same fate. Can she survive and accept her calling and destiny as part of the legendary Ellison family? Reader note: This novella is for readers who enjoy moving quickly through mystery and suspense stories, and will have special appeal for readers who like elements of the supernatural and characters who live their Christian faith in all situations. It contains a sprinkling of Scriptural references from the CSB version of the Christian Bible..

An antebellum house. A hidden hallway. A tale of passion and revenge. As an architectural historian, Mercedes Ellison is hired by Tammy and Clayton Popplewell to guide them as they register and rennovate an antebellum house in the beautiful Southern city of Savannah, Georgia. But she knows this is not the boring job she hoped for when she arrives the first day to find the local police there. As Mercedes investigates the history of the property and neighbors seek her out with a strange Civil War Era tale of passion and revenge, she works to uncover a terrifying darkness and help the Popplewell couple make the house into the inn where they hope to share light - before the Popplewells give up and she loses the job. Readers who will most enjoy this novella like suspense stories with supernatural elements and Christian characters who live their faith.