I love Shirlee Busbee’s romances because I know I’m going to
diving into a deep story, one with rich details in the descriptions of places,
people, food and history, woven together like a tapestry, providing a great
background for her captivating love stories. This one is no different. Her
seventh novel, it tells an intriguing tale of love in the time of the War of
1812 (referred to by its opponents as “Madison’s War”).
Set in Louisiana, beginning in the spring of 1814, this is
the story of Melissa Seymour, whose greatest concern is surviving until her
trust funds come in, which will only happen when her younger brother, 19-year-old
Zachary turns 21—or she marries. Her uncle, who stands to benefit, urges her to
marry, and yet Lissa is “unmoved by the most ardent admirer.”
To discourage the men who flock about her, Melissa disguises
herself as a dowdy shrew. Her gift is horses and she has one stallion, Folly,
who is magnificent and wins all his races. His prize money is keeping her and
Zachary’s home of Willowglen afloat. Then enters one arrogant, wealthy bachelor,
Dominic Slade of New Orleans, who wants to buy Folly and start a stud farm on
his new estate close to Willowglen. Through a bizarre set of circumstances,
they are caught together in his hotel room and forced to wed.
Busbee sets forth a shotgun marriage that grew into love
against a backdrop of English spies in Louisiana seeking out Loyalists who can
be counted on for the Battle of New Orleans that is coming.
Among the secondary characters is Jason Savage, the
hero in Busbee’s GYPSY LADY. While the pace is a bit slower than more modern
historical romances, fans of Busbee will not be disappointed.
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