Reviewed by phyllish on
Spies, double-agents, traitors, intrigue, and marriage proposals
Who would have thought a feisty widow would be entrenched in such dealings!
Anthony Jameson didn’t really care which side was right or which cause was just. And he wasn’t confident about who was going to win the war. So instead of taking the risk of making the wrong choice, he decided to play both sides and come out on top either way. It wasn’t the wisest decision he ever made. Anthony made for a perfect villain and did his best to cause problems for the lovely widow, Faith.
Faith had been orphaned as a young girl and her dear friend, George, was appointed her guardian. Tragedy struck her life again when she was just a young lady and her husband of just one week was killed in battle. Despite these things, she had a close relationship with the Lord and was strong and dedicated to serving her country. She was confident and clever which served her well when faced with a persistent and unwanted suitor and enemy soldiers taking over her city.
The majority of the story revolved around Faith, which was in my opinion, wonderful! Seeing the way she and her neighbors served the Patriots, not only in making yarn and cloth but also in coding messages that could be delivered as needed. Who knew! I loved the parts of the story that were told from her point of view and the perspective they gave to how women might have felt during significant events leading to the war, especially the night of Paul Revere’s famous ride. (As a side note, I was fascinated at learning that the events of that night didn’t take place the way I had always imagined – with men on horseback loudly yelling through the streets “The British are coming!”)
Authors of novels that include “real” people have quite a challenge – that of staying true to known facts so as to not be taken to task for not knowing what they are talking about. Author Kimberley Woodhouse bravely included not just one prominent historical figure but two in The Patriot Bride. I really enjoyed the portrayals of George Washington and Benjamin Franklin in this book and seeing them in such a personal light – as mentors, guardians, and friends. It was almost strange seeing them referred to so familiarly, as George and Ben – how often do you hear them referred to in this manner?
This series follows a family who had come over on the Mayflower. Each book is designed to stand alone, though reference may be made to the original family. If you read just one or read them out of order you will not feel lost or that you have missed anything. I have loved each of them, though, so I can recommend that you read them all.
This review was originally posted on Among the Reads
I would like to thank JustRead Tours for giving me a copy of this book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- Finished reading
- 3 September, 2018: Reviewed