Daughter of Liberty
Elizabeth Howard is the respectable daughter of a Tory-leaning family in 1775 Boston by day, but by night she transforms into the wily courier Oriole, gathering information for the Colonials. British officer Jonathan Carleton is billeted on her family, and, despite their opposing politics, Elizabeth feels a tug of attraction for him. Then Carleton is assigned to capture Oriole. How can Elizabeth serve the Patriot cause without compromising herself by falling further in love with Jonathan? The action brackets the battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill, and is the first volume of the American Patriot Series.
The author’s web site mentions that a video version of The Scarlet Pimpernel inspired her to begin this series, and the swashbuckling influence is evident. Hochstetler’s historical detail is admirable, with two exceptions. I’m skeptical about a reference to a 1775 house’s “driveway,” a century before the word was recorded, and a Lassie-like horse that remains hidden and quiet until the hero whistles it out of hiding in time to come to his rescue. Christian romance fans might find too many military details for their liking, but the story is enjoyable even if one skips those passages. Some excellent maps aid the reader.
