Friday, August 10

Book Review: The Turncoat by Donna Thorland

Author: Donna Thorland
Title: The Turncoat (Renegades of the American Revolution)
Genre: Historical Fiction & Romance
Pages: ebook
Published: March 1st 2013
Where I Got It: My Shelf (Amazon)

They are lovers on opposite sides of a brutal war, with everything at stake and no possibility of retreat. They can trust no one—especially not each other. 

Major Lord Peter Tremayne is the last man rebel bluestocking Kate Grey should fall in love with, but when the handsome British viscount commandeers her home, Kate throws caution to the wind and responds to his seduction. She is on the verge of surrender when a spy in her own household seizes the opportunity to steal the military dispatches Tremayne carries, ensuring his disgrace—and implicating Kate in high treason. Painfully awakened to the risks of war, Kate determines to put duty ahead of desire, and offers General Washington her services as an undercover agent in the City of Brotherly Love. 


Months later, having narrowly escaped court martial and hanging, Tremayne returns to decadent, British-occupied Philadelphia with no stomach for his current assignment—to capture the woman he believes betrayed him. Nor does he relish the glittering entertainments being held for General Howe’s idle officers. Worse, the glamorous woman in the midst of this social whirl, the fiancĂ©e of his own dissolute cousin, is none other than Kate Grey herself. And so begins their dangerous dance, between passion and patriotism, between certain death and the promise of a brave new future together.

I read a previous one in this series and I liked it a lot. This series is not a true series. You can read any of the books. They barely tie-in. There are some characters that will make appearances like actual real historical characters like Andre, but overall, you can read them out of order like me ;)

But yes, this one took me a while to get through. I was bummed by this one. I had liked the other one a lot, but I had my issues with this one. It just was not as good. 

I did not really care for the characters. Kate was okay, but Peter? No. I did not like him. Why? Read on. 

What character tries to blackmail the woman he loves into bed????? Peter did. Ugh, you simply do not do that to the woman you believe you adore. Bay was a rake and a brutal soldier, but he at least showed some feelings for Kate. He treated her with some respect. He even wanted her to be his wife! The rake was putting up his rakish ways for her. Sure her intentions to Bay were not honorable (she being a rebel spy and all and he a Redcoat), but she respected him too in some ways and had some feelings. Peter was a redcoat too but he knew her secret, but since he liked her a lot he wouldn’t turn her in. Yes, that is nice and all, but way to use that knowledge to try and bed her. >_> He was so dishonorable. He also wanted to get her safe and he tried to trick her again. Just….I had issues with him. Kate has a job to do and I get you want to save her and love her, etc….but be a hair more honorable please. 

Also, the plot was a little less believable near the end there. I enjoyed the journey until a certain event at the end. 

I must also say…I felt so bad for Peggy. She has such issues with men who like to use her. However, I did enjoy this interpretation of Peggy and Andre.  

In the end, I had issues with this one. I didn’t like the main male character and the ending bugged me. I do want to read more of the series since I liked the other one so much. I’ll give this a 2. 



3 comments:

Anachronist said...

I am not surprised by your review. His-rom rarely delivers for me - sad but true.

Blodeuedd said...

Sad. I had my eye on this one

Carole Rae said...

Ana, they are a hit-or-miss for me lately

B, you would like 'Mistress Firebrand' more.