The Dutch Girl (Renegades of the American Revolution #4) by Donna Thorland: A Book Review

The Dutch Girl (Renegades of the American Revolution #4)
Author: Donna Thorland
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Publisher: NAL
Release Date: March 1, 2016
Pages: 409
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: The acclaimed author of Mistress Firebrand and The Turncoat continues “her own revolution in American historical romance”* with another smart, sexy, swashbuckling novel set during the American Revolution.

 Manhattan and the Hudson River Valley, 1778. The British control Manhattan, the Rebels hold West Point, and the Dutch patroons reign in feudal splendor over their vast Hudson River Valley estates. But the roads are ruled by highwaymen. Gerrit Van Haren, the dispossessed heir of Harenwyck, is determined to reclaim his inheritance from his decadent brother, Andries, even if that means turning outlaw and joining forces with the invading British. Until, that is, he waylays the carriage of beautiful young finishing school teacher Anna Winters…

 Anna is a committed Rebel with a secret past and a dangerous mission to secure the Hudson Highlands for the Americans. Years ago, she was Annatje, the daughter of a tenant farmer who led an uprising against the corrupt landlords and paid with his life. Since then, Anna has vowed to see the patroon system swept aside along with British rule. But at Harenwyck she discovers that politics and virtue do not always align as she expects…and she must choose between two men with a shared past and conflicting visions of the future.
     My Review: Anna is content with her life as a schoolteacher. One day, she is forced to teach the Patroon of Harenwyck’s young nieces. This is so she can secure Harenwyck to the rebels. Anna is reluctant to go because of her dark past that is related to Harenwyck, yet she goes anyway. Along the way to Harenwyck, Anna runs into Gerrit, a boy whom she loved from her past. It turns out that Gerrit is on the opposite side of Anna’s because he is for the British. Can the two ever be together despite their different ideals, and will Anna ever be free from her past that still continually haunts her?

     Anna is a strong protagonist. She is a very likable and sympathetic character. While Anna seems content with her present, we quickly learn that she is an emotionally distraught young woman who has a terrible past. She tries to give herself a new identity and a new start by being a schoolteacher. I really felt sorry for Anna, and I also admired her. She is very brave to risk her life to go back to Harenwyck. I also found Anna to be a very smart character. She is witty, and can hold up her own in front of very powerful and dangerous men. She can also fight and protect herself. Anna also has a very keen eye for details, and she is persistent to always find the truth.

     Overall, this book is about a woman who is trying to come to terms with her past. It is also about a woman trying to find her identity and happiness. I found the characters to be fascinating and complex. This story is full of action, mystery, suspense and romance. This novel is beautifully-written, and I loved the slow-building romance. I also liked how it is set in the Dutch colony during the American revolution. My only complaint was that I wish this book was longer because the ending seemed a bit rushed. Nevertheless, this was a fun, light, and simple story. I look forward to reading other books in this series. I recommend this books to those interested in reading love stories set during the American Revolution.

 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict: A Book Review

Image
The Only Woman in the Room
Author: Marie Benedict
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Release Date: January 8, 2019
Pages: 272
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: She possessed a stunning beauty. She also possessed a stunning mind. Could the world handle both?

    Her beauty almost certainly saved her from the rising Nazi party and led to marriage with an Austrian arms dealer. Underestimated in everything else, she overheard the Third Reich's plans while at her husband's side, understanding more than anyone would guess. She devised a plan to flee in disguise from their castle, and the whirlwind escape landed her in Hollywood. She became Hedy Lamarr, screen star.

     But she kept a secret more shocking than her heritage or her marriage: she was a scientist. And she knew a few secrets about the enemy. She had an idea that might help the country fight the Nazis...if anyone would listen to her.

     A powerful novel based on the inc…
Read more

Interview with Kate Quinn

Image
Today, I have the pleasure to interview bestselling author, Kate Quinn. She is best known for The Empress of Rome Saga and The Borgia Chronicles. Her latest novel, The Alice Network, focuses on a WWI spy network made up of women. In this interview we discuss these unsung heroines, who risked their lives in WWI. Mrs. Quinn also gives us a hint about what she is working on next. I hope this interview will give you some insight into the history of The Alice Network. I have given a very good review of this book, and I hope you will take the opportunity to read it. Thank you, Mrs. Quinn!



What drew you to take a break from Ancient Rome and write about women in WWI?

     I love ancient Rome, and I'd love to write more books about it someday, but I've never been a one-era writer. I've always had ideas for books in a wide array of historical periods, from ancient Rome clear through to World War I. When I saw the huge recent boom in popularity for 20th century war fiction, it mad…
Read more

Anna the Prophetess by H.B. Moore: A Book Review

Image
Anna the Prophetess
Author: H.B. Moore
Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian, Biblical Fiction
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: 2018
Pages: 232
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Anna the Prophetess is the dramatic chronicle of the only woman to be called a prophetess in the Gospels. When Anna's great-niece Julia is exiled to Jerusalem as punishment for her refusal to marry a man old enough to be her father, Anna shares the story of her early days of courtship with her husband. Although Julia's parents admonished her to observe firsthand how lonely Anna's life is, Julia instead discovers that her great-aunt's life is far from lonely--it is full of love, peace, and incredible faith. As Anna shares her unwavering testimony of the coming Messiah with her great-niece, these two faithful women are changed forever as they seek the Lord's will in their lives and joyfully witness the long-awaited miracles of Christ's birth.

…
Read more