Sweet Mercy

The book is set in pre-american revolution days when Viscount Ian Montjoy is sent to the colonies by the King to spy on the american "patriots" resisting his rule. Our hero, Ian, is both honorable and is soon able to understand this wonderful new country and the need for liberty. This is helped by his delightful encounters with a red haired, spirited colonial miss who is incredibly resourceful as she deters the suiters who pursue her in vain!.Their relationship of course is complicated by their diverse loyalties until Ian decides to fight for the patriot cause and spy for the americans. He is caught and about to hang when a "pregnant" Mercy and her friends rescue him and he and Mercy marry in haste and then escape. There's a great deal of rich history in the story as Ian fights in the revolution and everyone tries to survive. But the book centers on Ian and Mercy's love, their love of their horses and country and the love of liberty. Ian gets badly injured in the war and Mercy struggles for Ian's survival both physically and emotionally as he sinks into depression. But they must still face the english pillagers and Ian finds purpose, at least temporarily, in defending Mercy's home and people from the cruelties of war. I won't tell the ending but it was worth the wait. At one point I thought the hero was too much into self pity but if you're a virile hunk and suddenly you're blind, crippled and impotent I guess anyone would deserve a self pity session! The dialogue is absolutely wonderful, laugh out loud fun. The characters certainly are the books strength. I've never read KK before but I'll be checking her books out again. She shows much talent.