Judith McNaught’s Once and Always – A Good Story Gone Bad

This was the first Judith McNaught romance I read. I’m glad I did not stop with this one. Every now and then a great author gets a story wrong. In my opinion, this is one of those.

 

I found the story engaging...set in the Regency era, it’s the story of two young daughters of an Irish American doctor and his wife who was from British aristocracy (though the daughters don't know it). When their parents die, the girls are taken to England, each given to a different relative (because the two relatives don’t get along). The oldest daughter, Victoria, has been in love with Andrew, the prominent son of a wealthy New York family, her whole life. Andrew has loved her, too, and taught her to hunt, fish, shoot and ride. He vows to wed her when she’s of age and the reader believes it. He’s a good guy and Victoria loves and trusts him. But when she is shipped to England, he’s away on a trip to Europe. And his mother, a real shrew, doesn’t want him to marry her, thinking Victoria is beneath him as a daughter of a poor physician. Little does she know as Victoria is a countess in her own right.

 

Meanwhile, in England there’s a conspiracy to marry her to her cousin, Jason Fielding, the bastard son of an elderly English duke who was once in love with Victoria’s mother. And Andrew’s mother sends Victoria a message saying Andrew has married another. (As an aside, I found it unlikely that Victoria would believe anything Andrew’s mother told her, given her disdain the idea of Victoria marrying her son. Certainly Victoria would not believe bad news from that woman concerning Andrew, yet she did. Poor Andrew; stupid Victoria. My heart went out to him, the man Victoria had known “all her life” who had loved her for years. Both would pay for it.)

 

So, Victoria is persuaded to marry arrogant, cruel Jason. (Frankly I was pulling for the Marquis de Salle at that point. At least he cared for her and was a kind man.)

 

The story was fast paced and intriguing for the most part, but had many problems: Jason, the ostensible hero, is less appealing than Andrew whose love never failed Victoria. To make a secondary character more compelling that the main guy is a mistake. I kept wanting her to end up with Andrew. If the author was trying to say Jason was better for her, she didn't convince me. And then there was Jason’s wedding night rape (that is what is was if you read the description, and it offended me), his trying to pay for her affections with jewelry as if she was one of his whores, and his continuing to sleep with his mistress after marrying Victoria (he was a cheater).

Who could ever love a guy like that?

 

Jason was a cad...a mean cad. I kept wanting Victoria to just throw him over. I don’t care if he had a difficult childhood or that he was sexy. So what? And when he later tells Victoria he loved her when he married her, it just didn’t ring true as his actions said otherwise. Jason’s consistently arrogant, surly behavior was too much for me. His big turnabout at the end was anticlimactic.

 

Though I loved her spirit, Victoria was a bit too nice for me as well. And everyone’s trying to justify the deceit perpetrated on Victoria in the name of matching her with the guy they thought best was just revolting. The old duke, Charles, was really disappointing. For the sake of his own desires for a grandchild from the daughter of the woman he loved and sent away, he compromised Victoria’s happiness.

 

It was a good story gone bad and from a great author. Others by her are better.

 

 

Judith McNaught’s ALMOST HEAVEN – a Well Told Regency Story with a Handsome Scot

This is a Regency era romance from one of my very favorite authors. Some of it takes place in Scotland, which I quite liked. It begins as 17-year-old Elizabeth Cameron, Countess of Havenhurst, an heiress in her own right and a blonde beauty, is in her first season and makes some errors of judgment which, while demonstrating her independence and courage, set her back in the ton's eyes. Caught in the arms of the handsome rake, Ian Thornton, who isn’t even a peer, she is ruined. To his credit, Ian, a known gambler, wants to marry her, but Elizabeth is too afraid of the perils of gambling that have made her family poor, and so she rejects his offer.

 

Cast out of society, Elizabeth valiantly holds onto the family estate, Havenhurst, using her ingenuity to sell off assets to keep them afloat and provide for the loyal servants—for two long years. But in an effort to reduce his costs, her uncle decides to marry her off, to any of her former suitors who will take her. Three men are willing to consider her. Though Ian is among them, his acceptance was sent by mistake.

 

By now, Ian is a very wealthy man, with estates, ships and a prosperous business. Though few know it, he is also heir to the Duke of Stanhope, his grandfather. But Ian is also skeptical of Elizabeth, seeing her as conniving, based on what he’s been told. Thus, he treats her cruelly when she suddenly shows up at his hunting cottage in Scotland.

 

This is such a good story. McNaught’s characters are well drawn and her writing excellent. She captures the period perfectly. And she does a superb job of demonstrating the conflict between Elizabeth and Ian. The dialog is witty and very funny at times; the characters are interesting; and the sexual tension simmers.

 

There are a few twists and turns that add to the story. While they may be improbable, they did not detract from the wonderful ending. A good read and I highly recommend it.

 

 

Lucinda Brant’s MIDNIGHT MARRIAGE – It could have been a great story...

In the 18^th century, two teenagers (Deb and Julian) with noble heritages are secretly married off at midnight when she is 12 (and drugged) and he is 16 (and drunk), then immediately separated. Nine years later, Julian returns from the Continent to England to claim the bride he doesn’t know because his father is ill (in France where he lives) and Julian must have an heir. Poor Deb is just the proper broodmare. When she first encounters him, Deb has no idea he is her husband. He claims to be a commoner of another name and intentionally charms her with the thought of a second marriage to seal the deal. Thus we have deception at the outset as he proposes and she accepts early on in their relationship.

 

On a positive note, I liked the tension between the leads when it was there. Often it was lacking. And when he suddenly turns cold and cruel to his “new” bride after their honeymoon, I was shocked. There was no reason for it. She rightly gets angry when she realizes she has married the debauched Marquis of Roxton. And when she later turns to mush when she should still have been angry, again I was amazed. Very inconsistent. So, I went looking at other reviews to see if they agreed. They did. Here are some I found helpful:

 

“Heroine annoyed me. At first, I was rooting for her, all independent with a you-can't-tell-me-what-to-do attitude. Go heroine! Then after the hero tells her they are to marry (actually, it's remarry but she doesn't realize it), she just goes, "Ok...coz' I'm following my heart...even when he doesn't tell me anything about him & he's such a bully". Ack! Wtf happened to my strong gal? Then I applauded her later on once she discovered his deceit & stayed away from him for a while. Whew, I thought, thank goodness she's awakened from her lapse of stupidity...NOT! She then succumbs to him after taking one walk with him. Huh?”

 

“How could the duke be throwing a welcoming party [a major ball in Paris] for his son's bride the night they first meet her when they didn't know she was coming?”

 

 “The introduction of so many characters in the beginning of the book and the lack of clear identification of these characters made it hard to understand who was who.”

 

“It was confusing due to an undefined flow in the story. It had a tendency to ramble repeatedly describing non essential items pertinent to the plot as though filling space.”

 

“...the lack of fight in Deb where it concerned Julian made me want to bash my head against the wall. She carries a gun, can match men wit for wit, has mouth for her sister, goes against her older brother in favor of helping out a child and loses her bite where it counts? Forgive me but it’s too convenient.”

 

And since I’m a Georgette Heyer fan, I found this review interesting. “...if you’ve ever read Georgette Heyer’s ‘These Old Shades’ you will find that Julian’s parents (Reynard and Antonia) are highly evocative of Heyer’s Justin and Léonie: elderly English duke married to a ravishingly beautiful French noblewoman half his age who was briefly his ward, in an obvious love-match that reformed his previously dissolute character and turned him into a devoted spouse. Even the description of the duke’s elegant white, long-fingered hands is similar.”

 

Georgette Heyer’s SPRIG MUSLIN – Good But Not Quite The Corinthian

Sir Gareth Ludlow, a fashionable upper crust “Corinthian” in his 30s, decides to marry and believes Lady Hester is just the one, for he respects and esteems her. (No love is mentioned.) On his way to do that, Gareth runs into 16-year-old Amanda wandering unattended and knows it is his duty to bring her back to her family. But she is quite the rebel and resists. Moreover, the young girl makes up the most egregious stories.

When Gareth finally arrives at the home of Lady Hester and proposes, she surprises him by rejecting his proposal with tears in her eyes. It was those tears that told me how the story would end. It would not be with the pretty girl who was clearly an immature fool. No, it would be Lady Hester. Having just finished The Corinthian, I was disappointed. I liked that story much better. Not that this wasn’t a Heyer adventure; it was. No, it was just a tad predictable and I grew tired of Amanda’s silliness.

When Gareth is wounded by a stray bullet, Lady Hester is summoned to nurse him. (Even Amanda realized this was beyond her.) This gives Gareth and Hester a chance to deepen their relationship.

Regency romance fans will appreciate this Heyer romp.

 

Georgette Heyer’s THE CORINTHIAN – Debonair Hero and Minx of a Heroine Define this Wonderful Romance by Heyer

Sir Richard Wyndham, a rich and attractive Corinthian (a man of fashion and elegance), finds himself looking for an escape, from a loveless betrothal when he comes upon 17-year-old Penelope Creed jumping out of a window to escape her own an unwanted marriage. In his cups, Sir Richard decides to help her, and thus begins an adventure.

 

He pretends to be her uncle and she his cousin (disguised as a boy). You can see his admiration for her building as they encounter one challenge after another, including a thief. Pen cleverly suggests ways they can deal with him, and Sir Richard, amused, joins her in the adventure.

 

Pen’s affection for Sir Richard is slower to emerge but in the end they both succumb to their growing attraction.

 

I loved the hero and the heroine’s innocent spunk, but the thieves cant left me rolling my eyes and skipping lines in places. It was impressive that Heyer could include it, but it was a bit too much after a while. Still, it did add to the authenticity of the story.

 

Heyer does not disappoint.

 

Georgette Heyer’s THE CONVENIENT MARRIAGE – Superb storytelling with a hero to admire

When the Earl of Rule proposes marriage to her beautiful sister Lizzie, the younger Horatia offers herself instead. Her sister is in love with someone else, and Horatia is willing to sacrifice herself. Everyone knows she’s no beauty, but she’ll do her best to keep out of the Earl’s way and make him a good wife. And then the Earl’s archenemy, Sir Robert, sets out to ruin her reputation...

Unbeknownst to Horatia, the Earl is enchanted by her. There’s simply no way he’s going to let her get into trouble. Overcoming some misguided help from Horatia’s ne’er-do-well brother and a hired highwayman, the Earl routs his old enemy, and wins over his young wife, proving theirs was no accidental marriage.

 

This is a clever, well-written story with lots of adventure and Regency-era antics, as only Heyer can do it with Regency cant included. I loved the Earl of Rule and his understanding of all that as going on. It’s a delightfully different story with great characters. I recommend it.

Best Historical Romances set in Exotic Locales!

 

                                                         Lausanne-Castle, Switzerland

  

It’s the dog days of August and you’re home and you’re bored. You want an adventure, an around the world trip, or perhaps an ocean voyage—without leaving your living room. And you want a good love story. But you’re tired of those set mostly in England, Scotland, Ireland and America. Well, I have just the list for you!

 

My mother taught me to read when I was four and told me I could travel the world through books. She was right. And were she still alive, she would love this list I’ve created just for you daydreamers who long to travel… stories by some great authors set in exotic locales. Though some might begin (or end) in England or America, they will quickly take you to another time and another place! All have been rated 4 or 5 stars by me. In each case, I’ve given you the location.

 

A Moment in Time by Bertrice Small

Across a Moonlit Sea, The Iron Rose and The Following Sea, trilogy by Marsha Canham (the Caribbean and the Spanish Main)

Beauvallet by Georgette Heyer (France and Spain)

Beyond Innocence by Joanna Lloyd (Australia)

Beyond Sunrise by Candice Proctor (the South Pacific, Polynesian islands)

Bianca by Bertrice Small, 1^st in the Silk Merchant’s Daughters series (Florence, Italy and the Black Sea)

Blue Moon by Parris Afton Bonds (Mexico)

Broken Wing by Judith James (France, North Africa and the Mediterranean)

Captives of the Night by Loretta Chase (Paris)

Dark Torment by Karen Robards (Australia)

Devil’s Embrace and Devil’s Daughter by Catherine Coulter (Italy and the Mediterranean)

Devoted by Alice Borchardt (France)

Falling Stars by Anita Mills (Russia)

Falsely Accused by Margaret Tanner (Australia)

Fields of the Sun by Nadine Crenshaw (Morocco, the Atlantic Ocean and Brazil)

Forever and a Lifetime by Jennifer Horsman (Switzerland)

Fortune’s Mistress, Fortune’s Flame and Fortune’s Bride by Judith E. French (Caribbean and Panama)

Green Eyes by Karen Robards (Ceylon)

Gypsy Jewel by Patricia McAllister (Black Sea, Russia)

Gypsy Lord by Kat Martin (France)

Harcourt’s Mountain by Elaine Dodge (British Columbia, Canada)

Hearts Beguiled by Penelope Williamson (France)

Heaven in His Arms by Lisa Ann Verge (Canadian wilderness)

Helena’s Choice by Patty Apostolides (Greece)

In the Eye of the Beholder by Maggie Mooha (Crimean War, Turkey)

Island Flame by Karen Robards (various exotic ports between Lisbon and America)

Lady of Fire and Fire and Steel by Anita Mills (Normandy)

Lady of Fire by Valerie Vayle (the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Turkey and France)

Napoleon’s Rosebud by Humphry Knipe (Island of Saint Helena, England and Italy)

Night in Eden by Candice Proctor (Australia)

Night Shadow by Laura Renken (the Caribbean and the Spanish Main)

No Gentle Love by Rebecca Brandewyne (Ireland, France, Africa, India and China)

Notorious Angel by Jennifer Blake (Nicaragua)

On the Night of the Seventh Moon by Victoria Holt (Germany)

Once a Soldier by Mary Jo Putney (Spain and Portugal)

Oriana by Valerie Vayle (France, Caribbean)

Rangoon by Christine Monson (Burma)

Sense Of Touch by Rozsa Gaston (France)

September Moon by Candice Proctor (Australian outback)

Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss (Caribbean)

Silk and Secrets and Veils of Silk by Mary Jo Putney (Uzbekistan, Persia, India)

Sleep in the Woods by Dorothy Eden (New Zealand)

So Wild a Heart by Veronica Jason (France)

Splendor by Brenda Joyce (Russia)

Surrender the Night by Christine Monson (Italy, Switzerland and Hungary)

Templar Silks by Elizabeth Chadwick (Constantinople, Jerusalem)

The Book of Seven Delights by Betina Krahn (Morocco)

The Book of True Desires by Betina Krahn (Cuba and Mexico)

The Captain of All Pleasures by Kresley Cole (the High Seas from England to Australia) and the sequel, The Price of Pleasure (Oceania and Cape Town, South Africa)

The Captive by Victoria Holt (the Middle East)

The Demon Lover by Victoria Holt (France)

The Devil on Horseback by Victoria Holt (France)

The Devil to Pay by K.C. Bateman (Italy)

The Disorderly Knights by Dorothy Dunnett (Malta and North Africa)

The Duchess of Sydney by Dawn Knox (Australia)

The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran (India)

The Flesh and The Devil by Teresa Denys (Spain)

The Forbidden Rose by Joanna Bourne (France)

The Golden Barbarian by Iris Johansen (the Balkans and Sedikhan, a mythical country)

The Hidden Heart by Laura Kinsale (South America, Tahiti and the Pacific)

The India Fan by Victoria Holt (India)

The Jacaranda Tree by Rebecca Brandewyne (Australia)

The Judas Kiss by Victoria Holt (Germany/Bavaria)

The Kadin by Bertrice Small (Turkey)

The King’s Man, Fair, Bright and Terrible and Desire Lines, The Welsh Blades series by Elizabeth Kingston (Wales)

The Legend of the Gypsy Hawk by Sally Malcolm (fictional island off Africa)

The Lily and the Falcon by Jannine Corte-Petska (Italy)

The Lion’s Daughter by Loretta Chase (Albania)

The Lion’s Embrace by Marie Laval (Algeria)

The Merchant’s Pearl by Amie O’Brien (Turkey)

The Price of Glory by Caroline Warfield (Egypt)

The Pride of the Peacock by Victoria Holt (Australia)

The Road to Paradise Island by Victoria Holt (Australia and the South Seas)

The Secret Rose by Laura Parker (Australia)

The Secret Woman by Victoria Holt (South Seas)

The Seer by Sanna Brand (Greece)

The Silver Devil by Teresa Denys (Italy)

The Spanish Rose by Shirlee Busbee (Jamaica, the Caribbean)

The Storm and the Splendor by Jennifer Blake (Algiers)

The True Purpose of Vines by Giovanna Siniscalchi

The Warrior by Judith E. French (Egypt)

The Wind and the Sea by Marsha Canham (North Africa, the High Seas)

The Wind Dancer by Iris Johansen (Italy) and the sequel, Storm Winds (France)

This Fiery Splendor by Christine Monson (India)

Thy Brother’s Wife by J.J. Flowers (aka Jennifer Horsman) (France)

Till Dawn Tames the Night by Meagan McKinney (the High Seas and the Caribbean)

To Heal a Heart by Anthea Lawson (Crete)

Under Gypsy Skies by Kathryn Kramer (Spain)

Velvet is the Night by Elizabeth Thornton (France)

Whispers of Heaven by Candice Proctor (Tasmania)

 

As you choose your destination, consider my own books set in exotic locales:

 

Racing With The Wind (Paris)

Wind Raven (the High Seas, Bermuda, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean)

To Tame the Wind, Echo in the Wind and A Fierce Wind, the award-winning Donet Trilogy (France and the High Seas)

Maggie Mooha’s IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER – Two Scarred People Find Love in the Crimean War

Set in the mid 19^th century, this is the story of Eleanor Sherbrook whose beauty is marred by a red birthmark that covers half her face. She does not expect men to see her as marriage material. The balls in London have taught her that much. But she is no shrinking vine. When her sister Julia steals the man she loves, Lieutenant Joshua Wentworth, Eleanor decides to serve with Miss Nightingale as a nurse for the wounded soldiers fighting Russia in the Crimean War. She travels to the British Army hospital in Scutari, Turkey where conditions are less than ideal. Coincidentally, this is near where Joshua is serving in the Light Brigade.

 

In the war, Eleanor and Joshua are thrown together, and often find solace in each other’s company. Joshua is wounded, losing an eye and, ironically, ends up with half his face scarred. Eleanor will nurse him to health. Meanwhile, her sister Julia begins a relationship with another man in London and seemingly cares nothing for what her fiancé is facing in the horrible war.

 

I should say at the outset the writing is excellent with many exciting scenes. Even though I knew where the story was going and could see the outcome, I kept reading. Eleanor’s trials as a battlefield nurse were intriguing and Joshua is a fitting hero who is Eleanor’s perfect match. Both are courageous. The historical events are well recorded. There’s lots of blood, guts and gore and much medical description that make the story realistic. The only thing that bothered me was Joshua’s continual reference to himself in his thinking as “Wentworth” as though he was speaking of another person but this was not a great matter.

 

For those who love deep historicals, this is a worthy story.

 

 

Best American Patriotic Historical Romances

  

July was the month when we Americans celebrate our Independence. It’s a great time to read a story with a noble hero and a worthy heroine set in times when America’s future was on the line. Here’s the list you’ll want to pick from—all good ones! All on the list are rated 4 or 5 stars.

 

The French and Indian War (America before Independence):

 

Follow the Heart by Anita Mills

Ride out the Storm by Aleen Malcolm

Scattered Seeds by Julie Doherty

Windsong by Judith E. French

 

The War of Independence/Revolutionary War:

 

America’s Daughter, America’s Wife, America’s Promise, trilogy by Celeste De Blasis

Captain Sedition by K.C. Fusaro

Caroline, Touch the Sun and Spring Fires, from the Beauvisage series by Cynthia Wright

Dear George, Dear Mary by Mary Calvi

Devon and The Black Angel by Cordia Byers

Fortune’s Bride by Judith E. French

In From the Cold by Nora Roberts

Lanterns in the Mist by Mairi Norris

Love a Rebel, Love a Rogue by Shirl Henke

Love Among the Rabble by Lauren Laviolette

Love Not a Rebel by Heather Graham

Master of My Dreams and Captain of My Heart by Danelle Harmon

Mood Indigo by Parris Afton Bond

Old Glory by Christopher Nicole

Passion’s Ransom by Betina Krahn

Scarlet Ribbons by Judith E. French

Silver Storm, from the Raveneau series by Cynthia Wright

The Calling of the Clan by Parris Afton Bonds

The Paradise Bargain by Betina Krahn (Whiskey Rebellion), first released as Love’s Brazen Fire

The Wayward One by Danelle Harmon

Under Crimson Sails by Lynna Lawton (post-Revolutionary War)

Velvet Chains by Constance O’Banyon

 

The War of 1812:

 

Fortune’s Flames by Janelle Taylor

Lady Vixen by Shirlee Busbee

Lord of the Sea by Danelle Harmon

Masque of Jade by Emma Merritt

Midnight Masquerade by Shirlee Busbee

My Love, My Enemy by Jan Cox Speas

Tainted Lilies by Becky Lee Weyrich

The Captain’s Captive by Christine Dorsey

The Plains of Chalmette by Jack Caldwell

The Windflower by Laura London (aka Sharon and Tom Curtis)

To Save a Lady by Patricia Preston

 

The Underground Railroad:

 

Passion’s Joy by Jennifer Horsman

 

The Civil War:

 

A Time for Everything by Mysti Parker (post Civil War)

An Outlaw in Wonderland by Lori Austin

An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers

Ashes in the Wind by Kathleen Woodiwiss

Beauty and the Bounty Hunter by Lori Austin (post Civil War)

Bittersweet by Anita Mills (mostly post Civil War)

Bonds of Love by Lisa Gregory

Clingstone by Marti Ziegler

Dark Stranger and Rides a Hero, first two books in the Slater Brothers trilogy by Heather Graham

Lavender Blue by Parris Afton Bonds

Midnight Confessions by Candice Proctor

No Greater Glory by Cindy Nord

One Wore Blue, And One Wore Gray, And One Rode West, Cameron Civil War trilogy by Heather Graham

Rebel, Surrender, Glory and Triumph (from the Old Florida's McKenzies series) by Heather Graham

Rules of Decorum by Leigh Lee

Sing My Name by Ellen O’Connell

Southern Rapture by Jennifer Blake

Straight for the Heart by Marsha Canham

Surrender in Moonlight by Jennifer Blake

The Black Swan and Moss Rose, duology by Day Taylor

The Outlaw Hearts by Rebecca Brandewyne

Tomorrow the Glory by Heather Graham

Vagabond Wind by Amanda Hughes

When the Splendor Falls by Laurie McBain

 

In addition to those listed above, I hope you will consider my own stories: To Tame the Wind, a Georgian romance set in the last year of the Revolutionary War with privateers and spies in England and France; Wind Raven, the story of a sea captain hero and a heroine looking back at the War of 1812; and my newest series set in the Revolutionary War, the Dawn of America: The Irish Yankee, The Salamander and The Daredevil.

Mairi Norris’ LANTERNS IN THE MIST – Terror Lurks in the Colony of Virginia

Set in Norfolk, Virginia in 1759-60, this is the story of Duncan MacCabe, a wealthy Scottish shoemaker who wants a partner for his business—and a wife. He gains a boon when he buys a wife at an auction who can do figures.

 

Susanna Cooper joined a bride ship headed for the Colony of Virginia because of her family’s dire straits. She got lucky when Duncan chose her for his wife and bought her contract, outbidding a horrible man who lurked in the shadows, a man who would seek revenge.

 

From the beginning, the newlyweds enjoy a warm relationship, in bed and out. Duncan seems the perfect man (though he came across as old when he was young). Susanna is kind, meticulous and conscientious, yet she is late to everything, which her husband, understandably, finds irritating.

 

The villain, a twisted nobleman of terrible perversions (including torture), is quite a contrast to the Colonists and their warm friendships. We are in his mind and see his infliction of pain on others. I have to confess, I skipped the graphic torture scenes.

 

The author has taken great pains to create the Colonial period in America’s history, down to the smallest details in entertainments, food, terms and speech. We experience the Colonists’ commitment to each other and their rising discontent with England’s taxes and ill treatment. The seeds of the Revolution have clearly been sewn.

 

It’s a sometimes dark, well written historical romance with authentic history and a sweet love story where all comes right in the end.

 

Mary Calvi’s DEAR GEORGE, DEAR MARY – An Interesting Take on a Great Man’s First Love

Set in the mid-18^th century before the American Revolution, this is a fictional account of George Washington’s unrequited love for Mary Philipse, “the richest belle in Colonial America.” It is also the story of slander, betrayal and treachery designed to keep them apart.

 

The book’s description reads like a review so I’ll give you my own. This is a story of two people whose lives were affected by the selfish desires of others. George Washington went on to fulfill his destiny as America’s Founding Father and first and most beloved President, a patriot of patriots. The British looked down on the colonials, even ones like Colonel Washington, who was brave and honest and gave good service. They could not have one of their prized heiresses marrying such a man. So they conspired to keep it from happening.

 

This book made me sad to think so great a hero could be treated like that but then evil men have always done so and do to this day. Mary was a disappointing heroine in the end as she lacked the courage to stand up for him—or to wait for him. In the end Providence, as they referred to God in those days, protected Washington and gave him the country he fought for, the freedom he prized--and the woman who would stand by his side through all.

 

There were parts of the story that were very romantic and well told but, alas, we didn’t see the letters the book’s title suggests. And there were other parts that I hurried through once it was clear Mary would marry a lesser man she did not love. But there was a happy ending—for America. All in all, I think you’ll find this an interesting read.