New Historical Novel Explores Morocco-Florida Connection

COLUMBIA, Md., Oct. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Shadow of the Rock, a compelling new historical novel, explores a fascinating niche in Florida history, weaving the journeys of two women, 200 years apart, into a story that connects Morocco with Florida and two of its pioneers.

Foreword Reviews calls the book "a bold adventure" that moves "quickly in a mixture of danger, excitement, and pure enjoyment." The author, Eileen Haavik McIntire, a Florida native, traveled throughout Florida, St. Thomas, Gibraltar and Morocco to research the story.

The book opens with Rachel Levy and her father Moses setting sail for America in 1781. They are captured by Barbary pirates and brought to Morocco for sale.  The loathsome vizier forces Moses into slavery as his assistant and compels Rachel to choose between him and the king's harem. Without money or resources, Moses and Rachel must use their wits to find a way to freedom.

Rachel seeks her future, but present-day Sara Miller in West Virginia seeks her past. When Sara's sweet, apron-wearing, West Virginia grandmother Ruth is killed, Sara discovers Ruth's secret past and sets off to find Ruth's brother Samuel, long thought killed during World War II. The search takes Sara to Florida, then to the Virgin Islands, and finally to Gibraltar. There, in an ancient Jewish cemetery, she uncovers Ruth's mystery and the link to their ancestor, Rachel Levy.    

Sara's travels follow the author's search for the truth behind Rachel's story, often cited in Florida history books. Rachel's grandson, David Levy Yulee, fought for Florida's statehood and became one of Florida's first senators and the first Jewish senator in Congress.

Shadow of the Rock by Eileen Haavik McIntire is available in print and e-book editions. The book includes a bibliography and book group discussion questions. Other information is available at her website, www.ehmcintire.com.

Photos of the author and the book cover are available upon request. Email [email protected] or visit ehmcintire.com

Contact: Eileen McIntire, 410-290-7058, [email protected]

SOURCE Summit Crossroads Press