In 1777, caught in the crossroads of the American Revolution, sisters Maebel and Coralie Bohannon’s quaint New Jersey village becomes a battleground as they house American officers in their home. Rebellion ripples through their family as members take opposing sides–Patriots and Loyalists–causing a deep chasm that fractures their once-unbreakable bond.
As Mae’s friendship grows with the American general Rhys Harlow, Coralie continues her liaison with her childhood sweetheart, a British officer stationed in New York. Torn between her growing love for the general and suspicion that her sister is a British spy, Mae leaves the only home she’s ever known for the New York frontier. When betrayal strikes in the heart of the wilderness, she’s forced to take a perilous journey that tests her very survival and those she loves, all in the name of liberty.
Proclaimed “wordsmith extraordinaire” by Library Journal, Laura Frantz delivers a stirring tale of divided loyalties, sisterhood, and love.
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Summary
Reviewed by Rebecca
4.5 stars "Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is as strong as death. . . " - Song of Solomon
Living along the edges of the increasingly volatile Revolutionary War, Maebel Bohannon and her sister Coralie billet the extra rooms in their large Chatham home to their brother James and two additional Patriot officers, one by the name of General Rhys Harlow, an esteemed commander over an elite group of sharpshooters. Not accustomed to being stirred over the sight of a beautiful woman, Rhys cannot resist his inclinations towards the lovely Mae. She seems as warm and accomplished as her sister appears cold and indifferent. Naturally the timing couldn't be worse, romance is a heady distraction that Rhys cannot afford to embrace.
It's barely a secret that the Bohannon family has one member more inclined towards British loyalty, so that as time and circumstances move towards happiness for one sister, the other remains isolated and heartbroken over the dim prospects for her own. War pushes the entire family in new directions, and when subterfuge is exposed, Mae has to wage a battle on two fronts; for her own safety and the love of a good man.
Breathing life and breath into the already bountiful historical fodder of a time period is what this author does best, capitalizing on nearly unbelievable circumstances to celebrate the courage of the past as a means of inspiring hope for the future. She does so with turbulent grace, reminding both characters and readers, that "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep; for thou, Lord, makest me dwell in safety".
And just think, it all started in a closet!
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book for Revell through Interviews and Reviews.