When the orphaned Liam Brock first set foot in Philadelphia, he was brimming with aspirations. Now, seven years later, he faces a startling sensation of loss as his constant companions, David and Elisabeth, start a family of their own and begin a life apart.
Aimless for the first time in his life, Liam forgoes opportunities to pursue his passion for law and continues dallying with a variety of Philadelphia's young women, including the insatiable and soulless Victoria Billings, for whom he is merely a plaything. His poor Scottish roots and questionable parentage, always a sore spot, suddenly impede any possibility of a profession--at least in his own mind.
Then Elisabeth's childhood friend, the fiery and independent Rhiannon Ross, comes to town, seeking reprieve from a misguided marriage. Though yet another reminder of his limitations, she grabs Liam's interest from the outset, compelling him to open his heart once more to life's possibilities.
The series offers both romance and history. Readers are plunged into the marriage of David and Elisabeth, replete with its controversies and culminations. At the same time, there is Liam, plowing through one love affair after another—until the arrival of Elisabeth’s friend, Rhiannon Ross, who seems to halt his otherwise plummeting trajectory. Meanwhile, Graham digs into her milieu, touching on events like the debt crisis spawned by the War of Independence or digging into the reasons for Alexander Hamilton granting Philadelphia the status of the new nation’s temporary capital.
As in the first book, Graham has done a remarkable job balancing an engaging plot line, complete with romantic suspense and several steamy scenes, with a vivid recreation of a fascinating era of the American past. The dialogue and detail are convincing but still relatable today; that’s in large part thanks to her intricately crafted characters, immigrants turned American strivers who feel alive on the page as they build new lives in a New World. While this entry has been written to stand alone, with Graham taking pains to offer context for characters and events, readers who have not read the first book might find some plot points confusing. Lovers of historical fiction will like this book, which is as entertaining as it is illuminating.
Takeaway: This story of life and love in 18th century Philadelphia is as entertaining as it is illuminating.
Great for fans of: Julia Quinn’s When He Was Wicked, David O. Stewart’s The New Land.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
