The war for America is ending. The battle for their lives—and their souls—has just begun.

1781, Tidewater Virginia. The law says Clarice Wade belongs to her husband. Her heart says she belongs to a suspected killer.

Trapped in a marriage to a volatile, broken man and struggling to save a failing family legacy, Clarice manages Farview plantation in the wake of a marauding British army. She longs for a freedom that seems impossible—until a series of gruesome murders shatters the fragile peace of the Tidewater. The victims are found savaged, and the locals whisper of a beast... or a man who has forgotten how to be human.

Enter Niall McLane. A hardened veteran of wilderness warfare and the bloody Siege of Yorktown, Niall arrives at Farview to serve as overseer. He is a man of common birth and uncommon scars, carrying the “Wolf” reputation earned on the dark and bloody ground of the frontier. He is efficient, soft-spoken, and dangerously compelling.

As the slayings grow more brutal, every lead points to the notorious stranger in their midst. Niall has the skills, the history, and the cold ferocity of the predator haunting the York River. Yet, in his presence, Clarice feels a sense of safety she has never known.

Drawn into a web of secrets and suspicion, Clarice must confront a terrifying dread: is the man she loves her protector, or the predator the town is hunting? In a world where the line between civilization and savagery is as thin as a knife’s edge, she must uncover the truth behind the Wolf—before she becomes the next trophy in a killer’s collection.

A gritty, atmospheric historical mystery that explores the scars of war, the weight of the past, and the dangerous price of independence.

MATURE CONTENT: This novel is a work of American Gothic historical fiction. It contains gritty depictions of frontier warfare, the psychological aftermath of trauma (PTSD), and scenes of violence and child loss consistent with the brutal reality of 1781 Virginia. It is intended for mature audiences who appreciate a story where the light of romance must fight its way through a very real darkness.

NOTE: A Devil of a Time was originally published under a different book cover image. The text remains the same.

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Award-winning Historical Fiction:

• B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree
• Finalist - Clive Cussler Adventure Writers Competition
• Highly Recommended - The Coffee Pot Book Club