My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing
When colonial Williamsburg explodes like a powder keg on the eve of the American Revolution, Lady Elisabeth "Liberty" Lawson is abandoned by her fiance and suspected of being a spy for the hated British. No one comes to her aid save the Patriot Noble Rynallt, a man with formidable enemies of his own. Liberty is left with a terrible choice. Will the Virginia belle turned lacemaker side with the radical revolutionaries, or stay true to her English roots? And at what cost?
Historical romance favorite Laura Frantz is back with a suspenseful story of love, betrayal, and new beginnings. With her meticulous eye for detail and her knack for creating living, breathing characters, Frantz continues to enchant historical fiction readers who long to feel they are a part of the story.
My Review
Wow. This is a book that kept me thinking about it long after I finished. The pace is somewhat slow, but steady as the characters are developed and events occur that lead us to the heart of the story. The historical details are ones to savor as the world of Colonial Virginia is richly laid out and I felt like I could step right into the setting. It was fascinating to witness the shift Elizabeth experiences from opulence to desperate circumstances, although her faith prevented her from feeling truly desperate. I admired her fortitude in making her own way as seamstress and lacemaker, and the change of her name to Liberty marked an important transition in her life. The details of the turbulence and politics of the country as it heads into war made me apprehensive for Liberty and Noble and I worried for the upheaval that would inevitably disrupt their relationship. Their romance is as slow-building as the plot, being held back because of Noble's patriotic politics and Liberty's background as a Tory, but the anticipation builds and it is worth the wait! I loved their sweet moments together and the sacrifices they make for each other. I can't imagine the fullness of the courage and grit that these Patriots must have had to stay strong and hold to their convictions. This book made the revolution really come to life and made me ponder the gravity of what our forefathers (and foremothers) did to prepare the way for our country. It made me consider that the movers and shakers of the time were really just regular people in extraordinary circumstances, but there were also countless other regular citizens supporting the cause that aren't remembered by name but sacrificed as well. Highly recommend!
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
