A British aristocrat's daughter and a Sons of Liberty activist meet during the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War in 1775. Can they trust each other enough to love completely?
Young, adventurous and widowed in a new land, Cassandra Courtney Brooks finds her dream of raising a superior breed of saddle horse slipping away with the death of her husband. Left with four horses, living in a tavern attic, and her scant savings depleting, she resolves to see her vision through to fruition by accepting the scandalous position of steward at Varina Farms.
Born in the image of his native ancestry, Colton Rolfe’s savage blood runs through his veins. Scorned by his father, Colt grew into a man of ill temperament whose only interest is the wild equine beasts on his plantation. His desire to breed his horses with the superior Thoroughbreds of the newly widowed Cassandra Brooks leads him to abandon societal rules. Colt’s growing resentment toward the Crown and his assistance to Sons of Liberty missions is complicated by the discovery that Cassandra’s father is a titled English nobleman.
Cassandra is soon forced to question the wisdom of her decision when she finds herself enamored with her employer. As fiery passion grows between them, Cassandra realizes her own spirit of independence, love of the land, and the savage man who is so much a part of it.
As the threat of war comes ever closer, wills are tested through gunfire, treachery, danger, and kidnapping. Does Colt dare trust Casandra with Sons of Liberty secrets? More importantly, can he trust her with his heart? And will Colt ever trust Cassandra enough to love her as she longs to be loved?
Excerpt
The gathering dispersed in their arranged directions. Colt looked back at Cassandra, seeing longing in her eyes. If the British caught up with them, it was likely he would not see her again.
Against his better judgment, he pivoted toward her. She rose from the chair and walked slowly toward him.
"Be careful," she said. He could hear the quiver in her voice. "I...the British are so well trained and the militia is no comparison to them."
He touched her cheek and leaned in. "Are you saying you do not trust me to beat those pasty-skinned pansies?'
"You could take on the world," she managed a smile.
He looked into her eyes, his mouth moving to hers. Damnit it all to hell, if he was being sent onto a battlefield to die, he was taking her kiss with him. He tasted the sweetness of her mouth, the velvety softness of her lips and for a minute was lost in time. It was not until he heard a loud clearing of Jackson's voice that he let go of her. Without a word, he turned and walked through the door. He heard the faint sound of her voice but did not turn. If he looked at her once more, he may never leave.
***
Abigail settled with Cassandra in the parlor, pouring tea to settle her nerves. “Relax, my dear. The men will be all right.” As Cassandra sipped her tea, she could tell her aunt watched her carefully over the rim of her own cup.
Just then, they both heard the faint but unmistakable sounds of marching feet. Cassandra put her cup on the small table and rushed to the window, pushing the curtains aside and glancing out.
She gasped. Abigail joined her a moment later, her own gasp audible. At the end of the street, Cassandra made out a line of figures passing by, the streetlights glinting off swords and gun barrels.
“Well, well. It seems they have taken action sooner than we expected,” Abigail said quietly, her breath fogging the window.
Cassandra hurried to the coat hook in the hallway, took down her cloak and threw it over her shoulders.
Abigail followed, a frown creasing the delicate features of her face. “And just where do you think you are going, young lady?”
Cassandra was determined. “The men do not know. Things are happening faster than they expected. They need to be warned,” she answered as she opened the door.
Abigail pushed the door shut, almost catching Cassandra in the doorjamb. “Aunt Abigail!” she objected.
“You cannot race through the streets alone, my dear,” Abigail said. “You cannot leave this house, not with all those soldiers out there. You will be stopped.”
“Not if I continue with my guise of a Loyalist. It worked before. Aunt, the men need to be warned that they are in danger now!” Her pleading fell on deaf ears.
“Come,” Abigail touched her shoulder, urging her back into the parlor. “There is nothing you can do. Besides, you do not even know where they went.”
“I know they went to Lexington or Concord, based on what they discussed here…” Cassandra said, uncertainly. “I should be able to find them on the road…” Her voice faded, watching her aunt return to the parlor.
Picking up her cup with her back to Cassandra, she said, “Come and sit and finish your tea, my child. They will certainly hear the…” Cassandra did not hear anymore and she pulled the door closed behind her.
Cassandra quickly saddled Thunder and, with the help of a crate she used as a mounting block, settled in the saddle and rode out in search of the men.
On the road, she passed the line of marching soldiers. She ignored the command to stop, barreling by the officers in front and dodging one who reached out to grab the reins. She ducked into a side street. Unfamiliar with Beacon Hill, she knew Thunder could out-run British mounts and get her safely back on track. The sound of thundering hooves soon faded.
She rode recklessly through the dark, hoping her horse did not stumble over the ruts in the roads and throw her. Luckily the soldiers did not seem to consider a lone woman worth the effort to pursue. As she put distance between her and the soldiers, she suspected it was mere luck more than skill that kept her mounted.
When she came to the crossroads, she reined up abruptly, causing Thunder to rear and toss his head before coming to a stop. Mud raised up, splattering the hem of her dress but she paid no mind. She studied the signs, indecisive. Was it Lexington, or Concord? She searched her memory for which city was more urgent, based on the conversation the men held at Aunt Abigail’s. They said the leaders were vital, and that meant Lexington. She turned and started down the road to Lexington, but stopped abruptly yet again, circling Thunder. He snorted in frustration at the rough treatment.
Colton would be more concerned about the arms, she knew, while Jackson would be concerned about the men. She circled her horse again, trying to make up her mind.
The men were more important, and she knew she should warn Jackson first, since he was no doubt heading in that direction.
Cassandra kicked her horse, having made up her mind. She rode to the crossroads and turned toward Concord, trying to make up wasted time. Her concern for Colt overrode her duty.
Professional Reviews
Romance with Character
I must say this was reminiscent of the early days of fine, historical romance stories. I found myself immediately captured by Casey and Colton's personalities. Throughout the story there was a bevy of strong characters who entertained and lived in a period of time weaved around historical events of the American Revolution.
From the opening scene of a struggling mare needing help in delivery, to the end scene of kidnapping, I found my interest captured. The only thing that jarred me from an engrossing read were a few transition bumps in scenes.
The time period came alive with great descriptions of life on a working horse farm. Being an avid horseman, I found the descriptions of the day to day operations and animal behavior true to life.
I highly recommend this read to any discerning romance buff. My thanks to the writers who presented an extremely well researched, professional, and edited story.
No Gentleman Is He (Sons of Liberty)
I just finished this book and really enjoyed it! I haven't read a historical romance in a very long time but I am so glad that I read this. This book had me hooked from the very beginning. I normally only have time to read at night, but found myself looking for opportunities to squeeze in a few chapters during the day. The story was well written and the attention to history made me feel like I was living in that time period. Cassandra overcame many hardships to live in a new land and succeed in a man's world. She quickly earned the respect of everyone at Varina Farms and proved to be the best thing to ever come into Colton Rolfe's life. I look forward to the next book in the Sons of Liberty series to find out what comes next for these characters and their family and friends. Carley Bauer and Lynette Willows did a fantastic job with this book! I am definitely a fan of historical romance again!
Great Romance
Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down. This is a great, historical romance. Colton is a bit of a Rhett Butler, he's dark and misunderstood by society. Cassandra, on the other hand, is no Scarlett and I mean that in a good way. She is a strong, smart, independent woman who is not afraid to take care of herself. I admire the way she refuses to run to a man to save her. Colton's respect and admiration for her strength add depth to his character. I also really enjoyed the interactions between Cassandra's parents at the end of the novel. Perhaps there could be a prequel down the road about their relationship?
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