Susan Holloway Scott

"Nil tam difficile est quin quaerendo investigari possit."
"Nothing is so difficult but that it may be found out by seeking." -Terence-

This is not the usual plantation slave story. It is a story of a real and once free woman of great courage, industry, and determination who thirsts for knowledge and yearns for freedom. She survived torture, abuse, abandonment and great loss. Yet, she faced her many challenges with determination, fortitude and an element of grace. Or so we imagine through show more author Susan Holloway Scott's tremendous fictional account based on limited facts of the life of Marry Emmons - "The Secret Wife of Aaron Burr".

The amount of research which Ms. Scott must have gathered to find the few threads about Mrs. Emmons' life would have been daunting for most. Yet, in this wonderfully told tale, it is all spun together with imagined events and conversations to make the story appear brilliantly seamless. The historic events of the American Revolution provide a framework through which the stories are woven. We, the readers, greatly sense the anxiety, grief, despair and loss as well as occasional exuberance and joys of each of the characters. If this were only a fictional account, it would be an epic and satisfying story. The understanding that it is based on historic fact delivers a sense of gravitas and immense sadness regarding the people who had to endure such trials in life. Yet, in the end, there is the realization of dignity and immense hope.

Ms. Scott is a truly gifted storyteller and writer. She deftly writes in a way which draws out the compassion and empathy of the readers for the many various characters. We view the story through Mary Emmons' eyes which are keen and just, yet still hold compassion for those whom she serves. We observe Mary's herculean strength of spirit and we gladly celebrate her victories. This is a story which needed the telling and we are the richer for it.

I am grateful to author Susan Holloway Scott and publisher Kensington Books for having provided a free copy of this book. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone. show less

Oh, how I do love a good Alex/Eliza historical romance. Buddy read this one with my mom! Yay, we both loved it! Two thumbs up! The execution was quite well done, with a good mix of history, romance between the two lovers, bits of individual character, details on the war, the economic crisis that followed, and the founding of the United States, and just really good pacing. I have such admiration for authors like Scott who can present long passages of historical fact, provide just enough show more wonderful bits of detail about hair powder, dress descriptions, passages about the terrible winter weather in New Jersey and the woes of the Continental Army not getting paid, and keep it fresh and entertaining chapter after chapter. This was masterfully done and managed to balance everything just right.

But the very best thing about this was the intense connection presented between Alex and Eliza. As we all know from history, Alexander Hamilton was a brilliant, passionate, but flawed man, and the book stayed true to that while still keeping the love story a love story. All in all, one of my favorite historical romances!

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader. show less

The author did a masterful job hear of exploring historical events through the eyes of an enslaved person using he scantest of known facts. Scott really helped me see the world through the eyes of someone who has no agency of their own but survives, and even thrives, despite her circumstances. It was also fascinating to see the life of Aaron Burr through Mary's eyes. I read the Chernow book about Hamilton and Burr is not cast in a favorable light there. He is drawn as the complex character show more he likely was here. Mary too is not without her faults and is shown to be a person of strengths and weaknesses. A very strong story that made me think. show less

Beguiling!

Miss Serena Carew has secrets. An heiress, with a exotic background, having been born in India. Even when we first meet her she is an enigma, aloof and gorgeous. Life swirls around her but seemingly doesn't touch her. Lord Geoffrey Fitzroy, the second son of the Duke of Breconridge sees an intriguing challenge. And that air of mystery pulls them both towards each other. A magnetic force or something stronger? Kismet?
At times, Serena and Geoffrey's conversation appears somewhat show more stilted and contrived. It doesn't flow. Possibly Serena having something to hide is reflected in her speech. After all constant worry overlays her life.
There is a touch of Romeo and Juliet, in that Serena's grandfather doesn't approve of those upstart Breconridges, descended as they are from the iligitimate son of a king's mistress.
Certainly the ending had me on tender hooks. I really enjoyed the viewpoint of an outsider, a somewhat scandalous figure (only in what had befallen her), breaking into the closely guarded circles of the ton.

A NetGalley ARC show less