The Tory Widow

This novel was a fascinating portrait of a widow fighting to maintain her independence and also an in depth portrait of one of the Colonies greatest ports (New York City)during the Revolutionary War. The story of Anne has been described already. I would just say that I found Jack to be a rather unsympathetic hero. He came across as being very inconsiderate at times to the point of being shallow. The author never gave a clear reason why Jack left Anne and Sally alone for eight months in New York City when it was occupied by the British. But for me that was unconscienable. I liked both Anne and Sally and felt that their characters were well-written and very believable. I even felt sorry for the British Captain who fell in love with Anne. The indepth picture of New York City as it was passed from Patriot hands into Loyalist occupation fascinated me the most. This novel is a rich historical giving a vivid and emotional picture of the plight of this great city and its inhabitants during the Revolution. The story is filled with interesting characters from both sides of the war. I was especially pleased to read in the Epilogues that so many of these characters in the book were taken from real life. This author did her research well and thus produced a novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. I will definitely be looking for her next novel with great anticipation. if you are looking for a vivid and accurate portrayal of New York City during The Revolutionay War this is the book to buy.

I enjoyed "The Tory Widow" so much that I had to see if there was going to be a second installment in Anne and Jack's adventures and there will be! I am so excited to see the story continue. This is a great story with inspiring characters that you really care about. If you enjoy historical fiction then this is a book for you.

The Tory Widow, the second book by Christine Blevins, is quite simply an excellent read. Following the story of a young, widowed, woman who is running a printing press in revolutionary New York. The book weaves a intriguing tale of adventure and romance in the most troubled of times. In my opinion one of the most interesting themes in the book is that Anne and Jack. Although these two characters are pivotal in the fact that theirs is the central love story I found it refreshing that their story was not so cut and dry, as love rarely is. Personal goals complicate things, betrayal and misplaced loyalty scar the relationship and these elementals, while not always making the story a pretty one, definitely add substance to the overall message of the book. when it comes down to it The Tory Widow is a supremely exciting read, the author on every page demonstrates a strong commitment to historical accuracy through what must have been months, if not years, of diligent research. The characters are flawed in most human of ways making it easy for readers to sympathize with. And for this new author ( Her first book being Midwife of the Blueridge) it is apparent that she is finding a truly enjoyable writing style and direction of her own, I cannot wait to see what she produces next. The Tory Widow is a great summer read and to the author; well done

If you like a little romance mixed in with your historical fiction, you will enjoy this book. The setting is Colonial US in the 1700's. Our heroine is plucky survivor. She has survived marriage to an older husband and the death of a child. She runs her own business and despite changes in the poltical climate manages to adapt to her circumstances. Having said that there are a few cliches: 1.Determined plucky heroine 2.Prostitute with heart of gold who also loves the hero and dies, thus leaving the path clear for our heroine 3.Red haired Scottish girl friend with a brogue and a heart of gold 4.Freed slave with a heart of gold 5.Ugly,older first husband with hair in his ear! 6.Dark haired, devil may care hero 7.Mean father who wants to sell his daughter to the highest bidder for his personal gain Despite, the above cliches, the prose is well written and the story will suck you in, so be warned to start reading it when you have plenty of time on your hands. My only complaint was that I actually like the English soldier(villain), Blankenship, better than the hero. He was a gentleman throughout. He evens quotes poetry to her when he asks her to sleep with him! I did not think he deserved the end he received. Also I wonder if the ending leaves open a possible sequel. Overall an enjoyable book. I enjoyed it more than the author's other novel Midwife of the Blue Ridge.

In 1766 in New York Jack Hampton, excited to hear of the appeal of the Stamp Act, kisses Anne Peabody. Although she enjoyed the kiss, nothing can come of it. She has no say as her father Amos saves his failing Peabody Printshop and keeps his son from becoming someone else's apprentice by selling her. He negotiates a deal with NYC based super printer to the carriage crowd Peter Merrick forcing his daughter to marry his friend, a man his age. Living in New York, when he dies, Widow Merrick finds herself in dire straits. She takes over her late spouse's printing business, which spouts support to Tory causes in an attempt to make a living. However, in 1775, the Sons of Liberty destroy her press. Anne reopens as the Liberty Coffeehouse with one of the rebels who devastated her previous store Jack Hampton as her best customer. Having never been in love, Anne is stunned by her attraction to Jack; he believes he is falling for her based on the amount of coffee he consumes. This is a refreshing look at the early days of the American Revolution from the eyes of a young widow eking out a living. Anna owns the insightful story line with her courage to survive regardless of who controlled the city. Jack is a super patriot, but allows his zeal at times to hurt innocent people like Anna though he insists collateral damage is part of any freedom fight. Christine Blevins provides an engaging American Revolution romance that sub-genre fans who especially value historical tidbits and strong characterizations will relish. Harriet Klausner