MISTRESS FIREBRAND by historical romance author Donna
Thorland is that most happy of confluences- a romance that
has a wonderfully detailed and accurate historical story
as
well. While I love historical romance, I am always
thrilled beyond belief by an author who takes the time to
do in-depth research and correctly employ their knowledge
without becoming bogged down in displaying every iota of
minutiae they discovered. Thorland beautifully evokes the
time of the American Revolution, skillfully and smoothly
drawing us into the period of such social upheaval and
uncertainty.
Jennifer Leighton is a small-time playwright and actress
living with her aunt in Manhattan. Aunt Frannie, a free
thinker and notorious actress from England, is encouraging
Jenny to pursue a career in England, where she might have
a
greater artistic success and escape the dangers of the
arts
in the colonies (the theaters in America are being closed
by Congress and the Liberty Boys have been beating up the
players). To do that, however, Jenny needs to make the
acquaintance of a well-known patron of the theater who can
sponsor her. General Burgoyne, a loyalist, has written
plays performed at Drury Lane in London. Jenny is
determined to convince Burgoyne to support her, ultimately
by any means necessary. Jennifer is a marvelous
character. I admire her resolve to be a playwright,
despite the detriments of her sex and her locale. She's
loyal and honest to her principals, and engaged me wholly
in the story.
Intelligence officer Severin Devere has been sent to
American to bring General Burgoyne home to England.
Severin tries in vain to corral the foolhardy and
vainglorious Burgoyne, and stumbles across Jenny as she is
trying to bring about her introduction to General
Burgoyne. Severin tries to save the hapless colonial girl
from Burgoyne's sexual attentions. Severin is very
handicapped in life by his background- he is the half
Mohawk son of Earl Devere, born as the result of a
youthful
western frontier exploration by the earl in his youth.
Severin was taken to England by the earl as a teen, and
hovers at the edge of acceptability on the basis of his
bastardy and Indian blood. He is sentenced to work as an
intelligence officer by those Englishman who consider
themselves his betters, and he is an incredible spy. Such
a crafty and intelligent man, I am highly impressed by his
skills and behavior. I love how he is making the best of
his world by dint of hard effort and his brains.
There are many cunning twists and turns as playwright is
pitted versus spy against the backdrop of the political
intrigue and unrest of revolutionary New England. The
surrounding civil tensions only serve to heighten the
suspense as Jenny and Severin battle those around them
while they also fight the violent attraction they have for
each other. The stakes are deadly, and a misstep will
cost
them their lives.
MISTRESS FIREBRAND is another strong
winner by Donna Thorland, a deeply satisfying mix of
history and romance that leaves me clamoring for the next
book by this talented writer.
British Occupied Manhattan, 1777. With her witty
comedies, American actress Jennifer Leighton has been
packing the John
Street Theater, but she longs to escape the provincial
circuit for the glamour of the London stage. When the
playwright
General John Burgoyne visits the city, fresh from a recent
success in the capitol, she seizes the opportunity to
court
his patronage. But her plan is foiled by British
intelligence officer Severin Devere.
Severin’s mission is to keep the pleasure-loving general
focused on the war effort…and away from pretty young
actresses.
But the tables are turned when Severin himself can’t
resist Jennifer Leighton…
Months later, Jenny has abandoned her dreams of stage
glory and begun writing seditious plays for the Rebels
under the
pen name “Cornelia,” ridiculing “Gentleman Johnny”
Burgoyne and his army—and undermining the crown’s campaign
to take
Albany. By the time Severin meets up with Jenny once
again, she is on a British hanging list, and Severin is
ordered to
find her—and deliver her to certain death. Soon, the two
are launched on a desperate journey through the
wilderness,
toward a future shaped by the revolution—and their passion
for each other…
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