Judith E. French’s WINDSONG –Wonderful Tale of the Irish in America, and Adventure in the French and Indian War

I love French’s stories and was pleased to find this one set in America at the beginning of the French and Indian war. It was a time when many Irish left Ireland fleeing the English for a better life. Such was Rory Desmond, who in 1743, helped by a young girl, fled to the Maryland Colony to become a tobacco planter.

 

Ten years later, in 1753, the wife he loved is dead and with his debts piling up around him and a young baby, he decides to take a rich Irish wife who comes with a dowry. He returns to Connemara to wed Mary Aislinn, the daughter of a wealthy man. But Mary Aislinn wants to be a nun, so her illegitimate half-sister, Linna O’Neill, who has the same name “Mary Aislinn,” devises a plan whereby she will take her sister’s place. Unbeknownst to Rory, she is the same young girl who helped him escape ten years earlier.

When Rory learns the truth, he spurns Linna as breaking his trust. He sends back the dowry and, hoping to make enough money to save his plantation, takes off to be a scout for the colonial soldiers in their battle against the French and their allied Indians. When Rory's troops are massacred and word reaches Linna that he is likely dead, she refuses to believe it and sets out into the wilderness to find him. And an exciting adventure begins…

 

French was inspired to write this adventure story from her own family roots that began in Connemara, Ireland and lead to the New World. She has done much research into the Eastern Shore of Maryland and the Indian tribes like the Shawnee, and it all comes together here. If you like early American history and marriages of convenience, you’ll love this love story. Linna is brave and courageous, though sometimes impetuous, and Rory is a man whose strength is only tempered by his love for red-haired lass.

 

French says, “The hardships that early settlers faced in crossing the Atlantic and settling on the frontier amid overwhelming obstacles leave me in awe of their courage and fortitude.” Very well said.

 

Judith E. French’s SCARLET RIBBONS – Exciting Story of Love in the time of the Revolutionary War!

Set in Maryland in 1777, scarlet ribbons tells the story of Sarah Turner, originally from England who, through a series of misfortunes, is now innkeeper of King’s Landing, and wed to a man serving the loyalists. Then one day to her inn comes Forest Irons, a Rebel spy sent to watch the goings on at the inn for General Washington. Forest dons the disguise of a beard and an eye patch and poses as a man in need of work, a man with no loyalties. Sarah needs help at the inn and for her young son, so she hires him, never knowing he is an enemy and never telling him her husband lies in an unmarked grave nearby.

 

With treachery, intrigue, and bad guys aplenty, French weaves a well-written tale of love in the time of war. The story reflects extensive research as she puts you in the scene with conflicting loyalties as some Americans supported England’s reign and others wanted their new country free from England’s tyranny. Forest is a worthy hero, bound by his dream of a free America to the Rebel cause, yet finds himself falling in love with a courageous woman who is loyal to the Crown. Sarah is one smart, clever heroine who will have you cheering.

 

If you want to experience our nation at war in the time of its early beginnings, this is a great romance to read. While there are no battles, you’ll see what went on in the early days of the war between Maryland and the Rebels’ winter camp in Pennsylvania.

Judith E. French’s FIREHAWK’S BRIDE – Fascinating Love Story from the Early American Frontier!

He was only 7 years old in 1600 when John Fire Hawk, grandson of the great Powhattan, was deemed the Chosen One by his Cherokee medicine man on Assateague Island. Twenty years later, in England, having become an indentured servant to an Englishman, he saves Katherine Miles, a squire’s daughter, from a pack of ravenous dogs. And in some mysterious way he knows she will one day be his wife.

Forced into a betrothal she doesn’t want with Robert, the man to whom Hawk is bound, Kate flees the wedding. But the betrothal stands and she accompanies her sister Alice to the new world where both Robert and Hawk now live. As the Indians plot war against the settlers, Hawk determines to save the woman he loves.

Great storytelling with well-drawn characters and rich historical detail provide a worthy tale of life in early Virginia and the Cherokee’s view of the beautiful wilderness. It’s a story of two cultures clashing, and it’s an unusual love story between a noble Indian prince who would defy his people to have the white woman he wanted. I loved John Fire Hawk and his stalwart love for Kate.

Judith French can always be counted upon for a wonderful, well-told story, and this one does not disappoint.

Judith E. French’s SCARLET RIBBONS – Exciting Story of Love in the time of the Revolutionary War!

Set in Maryland in 1777, scarlet ribbons tells the story of Sarah Turner, originally from England who, through a series of misfortunes, is now innkeeper of King’s Landing, and wed to a man serving the loyalists. Then one day to her inn comes Forest Irons, a Rebel spy sent to watch the goings on at the inn for General Washington. Forest dons the disguise of a beard and an eye patch and poses as a man in need of work, a man with no loyalties. Sarah needs help at the inn and for her young son, so she hires him, never knowing he is an enemy and never telling him her husband lies in an unmarked grave nearby.

With treachery, intrigue, and bad guys aplenty, French weaves a well-written tale of love in the time of war. The story reflects extensive research as she puts you in the scene with conflicting loyalties as some Americans supported England’s reign and others wanted their new country free from England’s tyranny. Forest is a worthy hero, bound by his dream of a free America to the Rebel cause, yet finds himself falling in love with a courageous woman who is loyal to the Crown. Sarah is one smart, clever heroine who will have you cheering.

If you want to experience our nation at war in the time of its early beginnings, this is a great romance to read. While there are no battles, you’ll see what went on in the early days of the war between Maryland and the Rebels’ winter camp in Pennsylvania.

Review: Judith E. French’s SCARLET RIBBONS – Exciting Story of Love in the time of the Revolutionary War!

Set in Maryland in 1777, scarlet ribbons tells the story of Sarah Turner, originally from England who, through a series of misfortunes, is now innkeeper of King’s Landing, and wed to a man serving the loyalists. Then one day to her inn comes Forest Irons, a Rebel spy sent to watch the goings on at the inn for General Washington. Forest dons the disguise of a beard and an eye patch and poses as a man in need of work, a man with no loyalties. Sarah needs help at the inn and for her young son, so she hires him, never knowing he is an enemy and never telling him her husband lies in an unmarked grave nearby.

With treachery, intrigue, and bad guys aplenty, French weaves a well-written tale of love in the time of war. The story reflects extensive research as she puts you in the scene with conflicting loyalties as some Americans supported England’s reign and others wanted their new country free from England’s tyranny. Forest is a worthy hero, bound by his dream of a free America to the Rebel cause, yet finds himself falling in love with a courageous woman who is loyal to the Crown. Sarah is one smart, clever heroine who will have you cheering.

If you want to experience our nation at war in the time of its early beginnings, this is a great romance to read. While there are no battles, you’ll see what went on in the early days of the war between Maryland and the Rebels' winter camp in Pennsylvania.

Review: Judith E. French’s MOON DANCER – Love Among the Shawnee Indians on the American Frontier

Set in 1730 on the American frontier, this is the story of flame-haired Fiona O'Neal, an Irish girl who sold herself into indentured servitude in America to avoid starvation on the streets of Galway. First, her papers were sold to an unscrupulous man who ran a trading post and then to two rough backwoodsmen who wanted her for their beds. Thankfully, she is rescued by a mysterious Shawnee named Wolf Shadow, a young shaman who is respected by his people.

Very quickly, Wolf Shadow decides he loves Fiona and though his mission to unite the tribes against the English should have kept his thoughts from marriage, he says the words that unite him and Fiona. Fiona is a bit clueless about all things Shawnee until the Peace Woman explains them. When a Scot shows up, Fiona learns much about her past she did not know. An amulet she wears binds her to the past and to her white family.

As Fiona gets to know the Shawnee, we learn much about the Indians’ culture. Wolf Shadow is a worthy hero and show great patience with Fiona’s railing against his ways. Fiona has to come to terms with a life that is different than she imagined. But she is not alone as her past catches up with her. This is a good story, and French takes pains to make it a stand alone, but I recommend reading the series in order (list below) so you know all the other characters who appear.

Original cover with correct hair color

 

The Indian Moon series:

Moonfeather

Highland Moon

Moon Dancer

This Fierce Loving

Shawnee Moon

Sundancer’s Woman

Buy on Amazon

New Review: Judith E. French’s THE IRISH ROGUE – Irish Hero to Love in Early 19th Century America

Set in 1820 in America, this is the story of Anne Davis, a daughter of a wealthy plantation owner, who has managed to end up pregnant but with no husband. Then an incident on the docks and a rescue by a daring Irishman leads to a marriage of convenience with Michael O’Ryan. Michael has escaped a hanging in England for his role in the war in Ireland only to find himself impoverished in America so Anne’s bargain to pay him to wed her comes at a good time.

French does a great job of portraying the plight of the Irish in America in the early 1900s and slavery in Maryland. Many Irish had skills but could not find work and could barely feed their children. And slaves, even those who were valued, longed for the self respect freedom would bring. Michael, raised as a nobleman’s son, having experienced prison and poverty, now seeks to help both the slaves and his fellow Irish. Anne doubts Michael’s honesty and his motives but grudgingly comes to trust him and to see he has a good heart. And though Michael plans to leave her according to their bargain, he finds he wants to stay.

It’s a story of struggle and learning to trust and along the way there is much excitement with pirates and treachery and envy. Some great characters and a worth hero make for a great story. A very well written tale!

Buy on Amazon.