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.

 

The Irish Yankee as reviewed by The Feathered Quill - An Absorbing Mix of Early Revolutionary War Tension, Heartfelt Romance, and Small-town Resilience

Historical fiction has to feel authentic but still pull you into a good story that will make you care about the people, not just the facts. Regan Walker seems to understand that instinctively. Her newest novel, The Irish Yankee, is the first in "The Dawn of America Series," and it’s an absorbing mix of early Revolutionary War tension, heartfelt romance, and small-town resilience. Set in 1775 in the rugged coastal village of Machias, Maine (then still part of the Massachusetts colony), the story follows Jeremiah O’Brien, a steady, big-hearted Irish-American lumberman who ends up becoming an early naval hero in the fight for independence. Alongside him is Elizabeth “Lizzy” Fitzpatrick, a young woman with a haunted past and a fierce loyalty to her family, especially her younger siblings.

Walker writes historical fiction with romantic threads woven in, and the balance in this book feels just right. Jeremiah isn’t just a patriot with sea salt in his blood. He’s a son, a brother and a man trying to protect his community. Lizzy is equally compelling, as she’s strong and you can feel the weight she carries - her grief, her responsibility, her protectiveness over her younger brother Sean. Her bravery isn’t about sword fights but more about holding things together.

The book opens with a kind of quiet urgency - smoky candlelit taverns, talk of rebellion, muskets tucked under pews - and that atmosphere never really lets up. But it’s not all fire and speeches either. There’s a real sense of daily life here: river mills grinding, fish being caught, stew being served. That grounded, day-to-day rhythm keeps the story from floating off into abstraction. It all feels lived in.

One of the things I appreciated most was how Walker handles the relationship between Jeremiah and Lizzy. They don’t fall for each other instantly, and there’s real tension, especially from Lizzy’s side. She’s wary of getting swept up in patriotic fervor when she’s just trying to keep her brother safe. Their connection builds slowly, out of trust and mutual respect. I wasn’t sure at first if the romance would feel like too much in the middle of a war story, or if the war would overshadow the romance, but honestly, it felt like both were supporting each other.

Walker’s prose is clean and confident. She doesn’t overdo it with flowery language, but she’s great at atmosphere creation. The river scenes in particular had this quiet strength to them, almost like the land itself was a character. And when the fighting finally happens, it’s not flashy or cinematic. It feels risky and tense, people get scared, and families are on edge.

I also really liked how the women were portrayed. Even though this is a story about mostly male-driven rebellion, the women are right there casting bullets, managing homes, and supporting the cause in their own way. Lizzy and her sister Annie aren’t passive. They have their own fire, and it’s believable.

If you haven’t read Regan Walker before, she’s known for her deeply researched historical novels that bring real historical figures into conversation with fictional ones. You can tell she’s done her homework, but she never lets the research drown the story. Her background in law shows up in how carefully everything is structured, but her heart is clearly in the characters. She isn’t afraid of tenderness or emotional complexity, and that’s what makes her stories stand out.

Quill says: The Irish Yankee by Regan Walker isn’t just about a town on the edge of war, but also about loyalty, legacy, and the slow, stubborn kind of love that grows when people choose each other over and over again. I’ll definitely be reading the next in the series.

 

 

Patricia Preston’s TO SAVE A LADY – Intriguing Story set in New Orleans During the War of 1812

Set in 1814 in New Orleans, this is the story of Elisa Plaisance, a lady’s maid, who becomes a messenger for the Americans, feeding information to Capt. Jesse Cross, an aid to General Jackson. She does this as a part of a bargain she made with a man named Louis Beauvais, who agrees to search for her mistress’ missing son. Her mistress, having lost her husband and her other children is pining away for her son.

 

Elise’s one desire is to avoid her mother’s fate, ending up as the neglected mistress of a married man. Yet she falls in love with Jesse and is the one to suggest they make love—without benefit of marriage. Jesse seems to have only honorable intentions but it takes him a while to get around to that. And then there is the war…

 

Preston brings to life the time at the end of the War of 1812 when, unaware that a peace treaty had been reached, the Americans and British in New Orleans fought on. She obviously did much research to get the events correct. Her fight scenes are exciting and the fictional intrigue believable. Elise is a sympathetic figure though at times she does seem a bit confused about her goals. Still, she is unselfish and wants only the best for her mistress, who saved her from a fate worse than death. Jesse is honorable in all things and his cousin is a worthy character (who will be a hero in an upcoming book).

 

It’s a great start to her French Quarter Brides series and I recommend it.

 

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 first and 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.

 

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.

 

Danelle Harmon’s LORD OF THE SEA –American Privateers in the War of 1812!

Set during the War of 1812 in the Caribbean, this is the story of Capt. Connor Merrick, a cavalier Yankee privateer, and Rhiannon Evans, a young British girl.

 

Rhiannon wants an adventure and so she accepts an invitation to winter at the home of Sir Graham Falconer in Barbados, who happens to be Connor’s brother-in-law. On the way, pirates attack her ship, and Connor saves her and takes her to Sir Graham’s. Intending to leave to hunt British merchant ships, Conner stays long enough to get trapped into marrying the young Rhiannon.

 

Harmon has woven an entertaining seafaring tale of divided loyalties with an American privateer whose sister is married to a British admiral. Reckless and daring, yet insecure about his ability to be his famous father’s equal, Connor takes one British prize ship after another, all this in his brother-in-law’s backyard. Meanwhile, Rhiannon, a naïve young woman in many ways, quickly grows up trying to keep up with Connor—and keep him out of trouble, an effort that is doomed to failure.

 

The descriptions of the ships and sails and all things nautical are done exceptionally well and will keep you turning pages as Connor faces pirates, battles at sea and storms. There is deep emotion, too, as Connor comes to terms with his own frailties and the strengths of others.

 

It’s been a while since I read one of Harmon’s seafaring adventures, so I was a bit lost when characters from her other books made an appearance and there were references to earlier stories. I say this only to suggest you might want to read this book as a part of the series, and in order.

 

The Heroes of the Sea series:

 

My Lady Pirate

Captain of My Heart

Master of My Dreams

   The Admiral’s Heart (Short Story)

Lord of The Sea

 

Tim McGrath’s GIVE ME A FAST SHIP – Engaging Story of America’s Naval Captains in the Revolutionary War Including the Privateers who Helped Us Win

This is a well-written book that tells the amazing story of Americans who rose to the challenge during the Revolutionary War to fight the greatest navy in the world for the cause of America’s independence. 

 

Though it’s non-fiction, it held my interest as if fiction. McGrath splits the saga into bite sized pieces he weaves together for a compelling tale. He does move around a lot, jumping from year to year, and that’s my only suggestion for change...make clear what year the incident takes place in.

 

His details are great and he brings to life these courageous men who many know little about. I loved the list of captains he provided and referred to it many times.

 

A very good read and I recommend it.

 

Shirlee Busbee’s LADY VIXEN: A Classic Privateer Love Story Set in the War of 1812!

 

Set in England during the years 1808-1814, this is one of those rare and wonderful love stories that sweeps you away to another time and place where you are caught up in the lives of people whose actions will affect not only their own and others' lives but America and England during the War of 1812. Deception and treachery born years ago lead to revenge and then to heartache. Busbee uses real characters, such as the pirate Jean Lafitte, to bring realism to her story as she seamlessly weaves history into a compelling tale. It's what I call a "dense" historical: one where the writing is so complex and so tight you're getting double the story you'd expect in the 538 pages.

 

Young Nicole Ashford led an idyllic life in Surrey with her wealthy parents and her twin brother until a boating accident one summer took them from her. Made the ward of an uncaring and barely related aunt and uncle who only want her fortune, and learning of their plans to marry her off to their ne'er-do-well son, at 13 Nicole dons the disguise of a young boy and runs away to sea as the cabin boy for Captain Saber, an American privateer.

 

For 5 years, Nicole sails with him as a boy and Saber pays her little attention. When she is 18, Saber observes her swimming naked on a tropical beach and decides he wants her for his mistress. He bides his time and when Nicole and a seaman (who is really a British spy) decide to destroy English codebooks that Saber has captured, the two are caught.

 

Using the life of the English seaman as a bargaining chip, Saber forces Nicole to become his mistress, until the American, on a mission to spy for his new country, decides to sail home and resume his identity as Christopher Saxon, grandson of a baron.

 

And so begins a complex, worthy tale of adventure, rich in history (both England's and America's) and a love that could not be denied.

 

Celeste De Blasis’ AMERICA’S DAUGHTER – Well Researched and Well Told with Endearing Characters...the Revolutionary War Come to Life!

This is the story of Addie Valencourt who lives with her widowed father and brothers in Boston. Her father is a Loyalist but Addie and her brothers are Patriots. When, dressed like a boy, she sneaks out to witness the Boston Tea Party, knowing her world is about to change forever. Soon, the glittering summers in rural Virginia with her cousins and the plush prosperity of her father’s home in Boston are eclipsed by the fight for America’s independence.

When the British forces lay siege to Boston, Addie’s family is torn in two. Her brothers and her childhood sweetheart Silas leave to become aides to General Washington alongside Alexander Hamilton, while Addie’s English-born, Loyalist father welcomes the British into his home.

 

This is part one and the story continues in the next two in the trilogy: America’s Wife and America’s Promise. I have read and loved all three. Celeste De Blasis is a great author and this series is no exception. The characters are richly drawn, the research impeccable and the story engaging.

 

 

Kerry Fusaro’s CAPTAIN SEDITION, Revolutionary War Book 1 - A Good Story With Lots of Detail But Meanders a Bit

This is the story of London courier Joethan Wolfe, a self-admitted rake who carries messages for the British government. Born in America, he went to England when he was ten. When his father in America falls ill, in 1775, he takes a ship for the Colonies where he has not lived for fourteen years. The rest of the story is basically him searching for his father, “Captain Sedition”.

 

The first thing I noticed about this story was that despite his being unfamiliar with the Colonies since he was a boy, Wolfe provides detailed descriptions and historical context for all he sees. How did he know all that?

 

In his first days in Boston, Wolfe runs into all the major leaders of the Patriots, sometimes in a “drive by” manner with only the surname being tossed out by a boy Wolfe takes as his guide. If you don’t know your US history, you might be lost.

 

We are told by the author’s description that Wolfe is an honorable man yet most of his decisions appears to be for his own pleasure.

 

The author left me wondering at times who was speaking because he tends to put one character’s words in the same paragraph with another character’s reaction when they should have been separated. He also shifts point of view in a single paragraph and only for one line. Thus, the points of view were left a bit loose. Also, some awkward choices of words at times left the meaning unclear.

 

The pace is good, particularly at the outset, and the story moves along at a good clip. But in the middle the story meanders as he goes to Long Island and renews (for a brief time) his childhood friendship with a woman named Prudence to whom he is attracted. She is a Patriot, whereas Wolfe appears to be neutral or on the fence. Their story really never develops.

 

I had the impression this was the beginning of a longer story and so I felt a bit cheated as there is no real “end” to the book. Presumably, the story continues in the next.
 

J.M. Hochstetler’s DAUGHTER OF LIBERTY – A Heroine who is a Spy for the Patriots

The story begins in Boston in 1775 at the dawn of America’s Revolution. Elizabeth Howard, the daughter of a doctor who is loyal to the British is a spy for the Patriots. She attends soirees and flirts with the British soldiers, gathering information. Little do they know she is the infamous courier Oriole, hunted by the British for smuggling intelligence and munitions to the Patriot leaders. Elizabeth’s assignment is to pin down the exact time the Redcoats will march to capture the Patriots’ hoarded munitions. But she hasn’t counted on the arrival of Jonathan Carleton, an officer in the Seventeenth Light Dragoons to whom she is attracted and who is eventually assigned to find out who Oriole is.

 

Clearly the author has done much research of the places and battles of the period, and that is all to the good. I loved the history. Much of the story is very well told and there were some exciting parts. However, I found the description of the battles and the locations for troop movements confusing. Definitely too much information. One needed a map. And there were a few other things that distracted: The narrator’s voice popping in from time to time; Elizabeth was 20 but often seemed more like 16, making stupid decisions, flaunting risks when she was warned not to, almost taunting the British to identify her. She crosses the line between the Patriots and the British with impunity, which seemed unlikely; and she calls on a man alone, highly improper at the time. Like some reviewers, I found the romance between Elizabeth and Carleton sometimes hard to see. When Carleton is in the middle of battle and suddenly thinks of his body pressed against Elizabeth, I was like “Really?” That wasn’t believable.

 

There is a faith element to the story that first appears about half way through when Carleton senses a “Spirit” near him. Then two-thirds of the way through the book we get Carleton’s sad story and Elizabeth prays with him for redemption, which was a tad insincere since she was lying to everyone to do her spying, smuggling and spiking of British guns. But then, so was he.

 

All in all, it’s an adventure that will hold your attention.

 

The American Patriot Series:

 

Daughter of Liberty

Native Son

Wind of the Spirit

Crucible of War

Valley of the Shadow

Refiner’s Fire

Forge of Freedom

Celeste De Blasis’ AMERICA’S PROMISE – The Battle for American Independence Well Told

The story continues with book 3. It’s 1780 and American independence is within reach, but Addie’s heart is heavy with grief. With her husband gone, she must leave Gen. Washington’s army camp, and the people she has come to love. She returns to Castleton, guarding the secret she shares with only a few. Her aunts in Virginia are welcoming and Addie tries to forget the love she feels for a Highlander serving the British.

As with the first two in the America’s Daughter Trilogy, De Blasis’ research is impeccable and her talent for bringing America’s history to life is wonderfully displayed. She does not withhold the sadness of the times, the loss of family, the loss of life, but she shows us the patriotic spirit of the people and the genius of General Washington that led to America’s victory.

 

De Blasis is a superb writer and she weaves a wonderful tale, full of passion, excitement and history. The ending is tender and sweet as lovers are reunited at the birth of the new country. I loved it. I highly recommend this series.

 

The only thing I noticed in each of the novels, which seemed inconsistent with the era, was the lack of any reference to the faith of the Patriots. We know many of them (most?) were God-fearing Christians, including Gen. Washington and America's founders, yet, even in marriage, children or the loss of dear loved ones, there is no reference to God. That wasn’t believable to me.

 

America’s Daughter’s Trilogy:

 

America’s Daughter

America’s Wife

America’s Promise

 

 

Ellen O’Connell’s SING MY NAME – A Superb and Tender Post Civil War Love Story

It’s 1867 and the Civil War is over. Young Matt Slade, the son of Texas settlers, fought for the South in some of the bloodiest battles—and he survived. Because he’s good at surviving. When two shady bounty hunters seize him for a crime he didn’t commit, he determines he’ll survive so they won’t take him dead, as in “dead or alive.”

 

While being transported with a group of calvary escorting some women to Fort Grissom, he encounters Sarah Hammond, the young daughter of passionate Massachusetts’s abolitionists, who is on her way to join her fiancé, a Yankee major, a man she does not love. Abhorring the abuse of Matt by the bounty hunters, Sarah intervenes to assure Matt is properly fed and no longer beaten. Shortly after, Comanches attack. Matt and Sarah survive only because of Matt’s resourcefulness. To get to the fort, they must depend on each other—and they grow close.

 

Finally at the fort, Sarah's fiancé learns that she has fallen in love with “Rebel trash," and he takes his revenge on the young lovers. And a fierce revenge it is. It will be 1875 before the story is over…

 

O’Connell has a way of putting you right in the action, of making you feel the emotion and of understanding what led the hero and heroine to be who they are. The tender budding love between Matt and Sarah is the genuine thing. But they will have many hurdles to cross before they can be together. Along the way, O’Connell will make you laugh and she’ll make you cry.

 

This is a story of sacrificial love and standing up to bias that says a fallen woman and a gunslinger aren’t worthy citizens (“What did you do with a man who loved you too much to love you?”). I absolutely love her writing! Simply put, O’Connell tells GREAT stories and she does it very well.

 

Celeste De Blasis’ AMERICA’S WIFE – Brilliant Story of Patriots Trying to Hang on to Love in the Midst of the Revolution

This is book 2 in a series set in America’s struggle for independence. We met Addie Valencourt in book 1, America’s Daughter. At the end of that story, Addie goes to war with her brothers and her new husband, Silas, a man she has loved since her youth. When Silas is captured by the British, Addie risks all to search for him and to become one of Washington’s spies. But venturing into enemy territory brings her face to face with a Highlander she met in Boston, a Loyalist for whom she has great respect.

Addie has gone to war with her husband, taking on a dangerous life with those serving General Washington’s American Revolutionary Army. When Silas fails to return from the Battle of Monmouth, her worst fears are realized.

Addie scours the now-calm battlefield for Silas and doesn’t find him. When word arrives that he has been captured by the British, and by the troop of Scottish Highlanders led by the brooding Colonel Traverne, she disregards her own safety and leaves Washington’s camp for enemy territory. Her one hope is to bring Silas home. When Addie finally returns to the American camp, she carries a secret that could cost her everything she has fought for.

De Blasis is a superb writer and she weaves a wonderful tale, full of passion, excitement and history. I loved book 1 and this one and now can’t wait to read book 3. She brings her deep research to the fore and rewards the reader with a great story. I recommend this series.

The only thing I noticed that seemed inconsistent with the era was the lack of faith among the Patriots. We know many of them were God-fearing Christians yet, even in the loss of dear loved ones, there is no reference to God.

 

America’s Daughter’s Trilogy:

 

America’s Daughter

America’s Wife

America’s Promise

 

 

 

Emma Merritt’s MASQUE of JADE – Love and Spies During the War of 1812 in New Orleans!

Set in 1813 in New Orleans when America was at war with England, this is the story of Laura Talbot-Harrow, who left her family’s estate in England for America nine years earlier when her mother disgraced the family by having an affair with another man, which caused Laura’s fiancé to break their engagement. Since then, Laura has wanted no relationship with any man, but instead finds her joy in running her stepmother’s plantation. That is, until she meets the wealthy gambler Clay Sutherland from Virginia who ruthlessly pursues her.

 

Laura’s father and stepmother want her to marry a certain nobleman from a Creole French family. Laura doesn’t love him; she loves Clay. But she would not marry Clay because he is not acceptable to her Creole society.

 

You had to love Clay, the honorable Virginian with a mysterious past…a past that has caught up with him, just like the war that’s coming to New Orleans.

 

There is a lot of action in this one as Napoleon and his supporters engage in stealth to establish New Orleans as a second base of operations; spies and treachery abound. There’s also a sultry voodoo queen who sees Laura as competition for Clay’s affections and will stop at nothing to see Laura dead. Laura’s sister Judith, who was left in England long ago, travels to New Orleans and joins the family, bringing more tension into Laura’s life.

 

I enjoyed this romp through the War of 1812 from the perspective of the English, Americans and Creole French living in New Orleans. I think you will, too.

 

The sequel to this story, MASQUE OF SAPPHIRE, is foreshadowed in JADE and tells the story of Laura’s sister, Judith. It was written by Emma Merritt’s sister, Deana James

Christopher Nicole’s OLD GLORY - Irish Hero and the Forming of the Young American Navy and Love Amidst War

This is the first in The McGann Saga. It begins in 1769 when young Harry McGann, an excellent seaman engaged in smuggling along with his village, gets into a fight with the squire’s son (a very arrogant young man) while trying to save the man’s daughter from a fall. Harry is told to get out of town for awhile and he goes to sea, bound for New York. That was a terrible experience but just before he left, he met Elizabeth Bartlett, the daughter of a wealthy New York merchant. He vows to return, well dressed and with coin in his pocket.

 

No matter his good intentions, Harry is forever involved in fights with despicable men. He even experiences treachery from his fellow sailors whose allegiances change quickly. But in all he encounters, he comes to love America. And, once Harry hooks up with John Paul Jones, he becomes involved in the formation of the American Navy. But he never forgets Elizabeth.

 

It’s an engaging tale well told with some exciting battles at sea. Harry is a flawed but loveable hero and Elizabeth, though constant in her affection for him, also makes some bad decisions. Still, all comes right in the end and we are given a glimpse of America’s early naval ventures.

 

Cindy Nord’s NO GREATER GLORY – Civil War Romance Rich in Historical Detail

A well-researched novel with considerable detail of the various battles around Virginia, this is a romance for those who like to savor the details and want to dive deeply into the Civil War.

 

Set from 1862 to 1865, it tells the story of Emaline McDaniels, a widow trying to hold onto her Virginia plantation, Shapinsay. Then Colonel Reece Cutteridge, a Union officer, shows up to requisition her home and her livestock to winter and feed his troops. Despite her disdain for the Union, Emaline finds herself assisting the Union doctor and nursing the colonel’s men, all the while fighting an attraction to their commander.

 

Reece has lost his wife and child and resists Emaline, but quickly finds himself falling in love with her. Separated by war, they will find themselves brought together by fate.

 

Nord describes what it was like to hold a plantation on the edge of war with intruding soldiers, deserters and miscreants all trying to steal what is not theirs. And in the midst of all that, a love blossoms between two people on opposite sides.

 

Some parts of the book will seem more like historical fiction than romance, the love story taking a back seat to the war, but romance readers who like real history dished up with the love story will enjoy it!

Leigh Lee’s RULES OF DECORUM – A Woman in the Union Army Medical Corps in the Civil War

This great story is set in 1863. It’s the tale of Eugenia Johnson who dons the clothes of a boy to enlist in the Union Army, hoping to hide a horrible secret. She becomes a sergeant in the medical corps and does well until a new surgeon shows up.

Captain Jeffery Bradford is a disciplined man who expects the best of his men. When he discovers one of his “men” is a young woman who turns his disciplined order into chaos, he wonders if Eugenia isn’t a Confederate spy.

This is a well-written tale featuring the medicine of the Civil War and the hardships faced by the men fighting for the Union, reflecting much research into the era. Several exciting scenes will have you on the edge of your seat. Eugenia and Jeff are great leads and perfect for each other.

A worthy patriotic tale!

 

 

Sharon & Tom Curtis (aka Laura London) - THE WINDFLOWER – Superb Pirate Romance set in the War of 1812—a Keeper!

One of my all-time favorite books and a classic, The Windflower was the product of the husband-wife writing team of Sharon and Tom Curtis and some believe it was their best. I can tell you this: this pirate romance set in in 1813 during the War of 1812 is one of the finest historical romances I have read. Originally published in 1984, it was reissued in 1995, and can be obtained on Amazon for Kindle. It’s a keeper among keepers.

 

It tells the story of innocent, sheltered Merry Wilding, an American living in Virginia with her maiden aunt. Merry has a talent for drawing faces from memory, a talent her brother, an American spy will use to his benefit, exposing her to pirates and worse. Then, on her way to England with her aunt who wants Merry to have a better future, she is kidnapped. Taken to a pirate ship, she meets the English pirate Devon, who remembers her from a night long ago where he encountered her in a tavern. He holds her captive, believing she is involved with his enemy who was also on the ship Merry was sailing on. Protecting her brother, she will not reveal who she is. Devon is intelligent, beguiling and smooth and innocent Merry is powerless to turn away his kisses. The whole crew of pirates comes to love Merry and to teach her many things as she blossoms from shy girl to strong woman.

 

The writing is superb, the characters courageous, heartwarming and very special; the descriptions of the environs vivid; the metaphors numerous and well done; and the story a wonder to read, and re-read. The plot is intriguing. You will be swept away on a pirate ship to experience many adventures, battles at sea, storms, death, outrageous humor and love. I thought the writing gifted.

 

Here’s a sample from one scene; I bet it moves you though not a word is spoken:

 

“His fingers whispered over her face, seeking and slowly stroking nerve points, knowing where, how long, how much to caress. Her skin gained color under his touch; her eyes became enormous; her throat tightened. By her nose his little finger encountered a forgotten tear. Gathering the sparkling drop, he smeared it slowly over the curve of her lips and blew it gently dry. One hand came lightly to rest on her neck; the other supported her cheek as he sought her with his kiss.”

 

Here’s another:

 

“Tragedy dwelt like a blue flame in her big eyes; the shallow pulsebeat in the golden hollow of her throat was luffing like a spanker on a vessel that was hauled too close to the wind. He had seen the look before on women about to be raped, and he found no charm in having it turned on him.”

 

If you love pirate romance—or even Regency period romance set mostly outside of England—this classic will not disappoint.

 

Celeste De Blasis’ AMERICA’S DAUGHTER – Well Researched, Well Told with Endearing Characters, the Revolutionary War Come to Life

This is the story of Addie Valencourt who lives with her widowed father and brothers in Boston. Her father is a Loyalist but Addie and her brothers are Patriots. When, dressed like a boy, she sneaks out to witness the Boston Tea Party, she knows her world is about to change forever. Soon, the glittering summers in rural Virginia with her cousins and the plush prosperity of her father’s home in Boston are eclipsed by the fight for American independence.

When the British forces lay siege to Boston, Addie’s family is torn in two. Her brothers and her childhood sweetheart Silas leave to become aides to General Washington alongside Alexander Hamilton, while Addie’s English-born, Loyalist father welcomes the British into his home.

 

This is part one and the story continues in the next two in the trilogy: America’s Wife and America’s Promise. I have bought all three. Celeste De Blasis is a great author and this series is no exception. The characters are richly drawn and the research impeccable.

Marti Ziegler’s CLINGSTONE – Wonderful Love Story Set in Post Civil War America

The story begins as the Civil War is winding down. Mae Parrish works in a mill along with many other women in village of Roswell, Georgia—and one man, Creighton Branagan, who was not conscripted because he is deaf. Everyone assumes he is stupid, but nothing could be further from the truth.

 

Creighton, a handsome man, has been judged wrongly for his handicap but he is a smart man and protects his young nephew against all who would harm him.

When the Union troops show up, Mae and Creighton are arrested with hundreds of mill workers for treason and sent to northern prisons because they manufactured Confederate uniforms. The story tells of their journey by wagon and train and their imprisonment and after. During the course of many hardships, Mae and Creighton fall love.

 

I loved the story. The theme seemed to be a new life out of the ashes of the past and overcoming the hardships life throws at us. It’s very cleverly written and will draw you in. Ziegler shows us America as the war was ending, a country torn apart, a devastated South. People had to find new lives. In the midst of it, Mae and Creighton help each other. Only Mae can understand Creighton’s crude speech and protect him from those who would harm him. And he helps her move on. There is laughter, too.

 

Creighton is a complex, noble hero; Mae is a feisty heroine with an indomitable spirit… just what Creighton and his nephew need. Their adventures on the way to love will keep you turning pages.