The Creole Princess by Beth White

The Creole Princess (Gulf Coast Chronicles, #2)

by Beth White

All along the eastern seaboard, the American struggle for independence rages. In the British-held southern port of Mobile, Alabama, the conflict brewing is quieter--though no less deadly. The lovely Frenchwoman Lyse Lanier is best friends with the daughter of the British commander. Rafael Gonzalez is a charming young Spanish merchant with a secret mission and a shipment of gold to support General Washington. As their paths cross and their destinies become increasingly tangled, Lyse and Rafael must decide where their true loyalties lie--and somehow keep Lyse's family from being executed as traitors to the British Crown.
With spectacular detail that brings the Colonial South alive, Beth White invites readers into a world of intrigue and espionage from a little-known side of the American Revolutionary War. Her richly textured settings and characters delight while fast pacing and closely held secrets will keep readers turning the pages.

Reviewed by readingwithwrin on

3 of 5 stars

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"Listen, a lot of what happens in life, you don't get a choice.
When you got a decision puts you on one road or another, the least you do is think about the consequences in light of what you know."
Lyse is a very headstrong young woman who won't be pushed around by the men in her life. Which was surprising to see in the 1700s. She has worked different jobs, including her brothers fishing boat since her father's drinking problem started, and that has made her feisty and strong about her own opinions. She still tries to follow the rules put in place for women, but she also knows that sometimes they have to be broken.

"Well, let me tell you something, you pompous r-rooster! It is not your place to give me ultimatums or blackmail me with your stupid threats! You can't tell me what to believe, you can't make me turn my back on my father - drunkard or not- and you can't make me marry you!"

One day she ends up running into Don Rafael 'Rafa' and they start an unusual friendship that ends up helping them both out many times. Not only does Rafa help Lyse get back at someone, and makes it possible for a certain someone in her life to become free as well.

Lyse isn't the typical character that you read about for the 1700s because her mother was a slave that her father had bought and then freed, meaning that she and her older brother which some in society tend to hold against them. I was expecting for this to be problematic, but it really wasn't talked about much, and instead, the story focused on the things that were happening and the start of the revolution.
I really did love Lyse friendship with Daisy who was a Generals daughter which makes things a little complicated the closer war gets.

Overall I surprisingly really enjoyed this book, and I learned so much about how the Spaniards really helped the Revolution start and I want to learn more about it. Which is something I want to look more into and see if I can find other books with Spain being involved.

As for the romance part, I didn't mind it and I'm glad the two actually got to know each other. I also liked that Lyse didn't just say yes to a certain someone who was constantly asking her just because it would have provided her security with the British.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 13 August, 2017: Finished reading
  • 13 August, 2017: Reviewed