The Belle of Chatham: A Colonial-Era Historical Romance Set During the American Revolution
Maebel and Coralie Bohannon are sisters living in Chatham, New Jersey during the American Revolution in 1777. Their parents are deceased, and their elder brother, Jon, is a colonel in the Continental Army, fighting the British with the New York militia. Their younger brother, Major James Bohannon, is serving in nearby Morristown, with his commanding officer, General Rhys Harlow, a Virginian in charge of a Riflemen’s Corps. James, General Harlow, and Captain Sperry are billeted in the Bohannon home during the Battle of Morristown, as many Patriots were during the numerous skirmishes in the state.
Tensions arise between the two sisters as Coralie is a pro-British loyalist, engaged to marry a British Lieutenant, Eben Gibbs. Mae gradually falls in love with Rhys Harlow. The novel’s plot is formulaic, featuring Mae’s romance and sisters with opposing loyalties in wartime. Nevertheless, the historical details quite accurately convey the sacrifices, courage and fears of the colonists. The women form sewing groups called Liberty Ladies to repair uniforms and make cockades for the rag-tag Continental soldiers. Smallpox epidemics and lack of food affect everyone, and the Loyalists who question what the revolution will accomplish are fearful of losing their lives.
The characters are well-conceived, and the story moves at a good pace with lots of twists and turns, and some suspenseful moments near the close. The description of the Battle of Bemiss Heights in October 1777 near the end of the novel is particularly well done. As we celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution, Laura Frantz’s novel has timely appeal. Readers who enjoy romance set in a volatile, revolutionary historical time will be enthralled by this tale.
