The Blacksmith’s Daughter
by Suzanne Adair
Published by Whittler’s Bench Press
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Reviewed by Gerry Hartsoe
Suzanne Adair’s second book in her series about a family of strong women in the American Revolution is a winner. She has taken some not-so-familiar history of the Carolinas’ involvement in the war, and wound a story of rebel spies and intrigue. Mixed with the evil Redcoat Lt. Fairfax and other characters from the first novel, Paper Woman, she tells the story of Betsy Sheridan. a 17-year-old pregnant wife of Clark Sheridan, a small-town cobbler.
Betsy’s mother Sophia, along with her uncle and her half-Indian father, are reputed to be rebel spies and have escaped from the hands of Lt. Fairfax. They are rumored to be hiding with the lower Creek Indian tribe.
Based on things she finds, she suspects her husband Clark is also involved in some secret goings on. Betsy herself is innocent of wrongdoing and is concerned for her unborn child. She claims to be a neutral in the war, but at every turn she is suspected of helping her mother and the others that have escaped Lt. Fairfax.
Clark admits to Betsy he is involved and leaves her to perform a mission for the rebels. She wants to believe that he loves her and is trying to get out of the web he has got himself into. Lt. Fairfax and others are suspecting she is involved so she takes a chance and decides to flee to the town where she thinks her husband has gone.
Clark’s apprentice Tom is determined that she not go alone. They gather up supplies and a few other trusted people and set off. From then on the story is filled with ambushes and struggles as they find their way across wild country and face the continual threat of Lt. Fairfax and the Redcoats.
The book is filled with historical information about the Carolinas, the battles in the war and the men who fought them. Betsy gets herself out of jam after jam and makes the book a lively read.
Armchair Interview says: History and fiction combined to tell a great story.
Author’s Web site: http://www.dramtreebooks.com