Carrie James Haynes

Normally, I never read genres such as this book, but I was captivated with the young boy named, Darius, who knew that his mother had died to keep him safe as he bore much magic even greater than king Magnus!! I found The Oath enjoyable as as always it sets good and evil against each other.

Relive the Making of a Country -- totally riveting!

Ms. Hines’s books have such a rich, vibrant epic feel to them. She immerses me in history, which pulsates with life under her pen. Her story is deeply layered, where secondary characters play a well-scripted and bold part in the texture of the story. In short, her writing is not to be missed and if you are an American history buff, you will appreciate her stories even more.

Sumner Meador, the hero, is a man of deeds. He feels a man should show more be judged by his deeds and measures his worth by this. His sentiments are with the American Whigs who wish to govern themselves and not continue as a colony of England. He seeks revenge for the killing of his family. He also learns in its seeking, it can destroy a man.

I appreciate the way the author couches events. She gives us a well-rounded understanding what is at stake during this time of revolution in the young life of The United States, mixing personal and political revenge—enfolding the reader in the turmoil and emotional upheaval of the times.

Jane Kilmer, also a victim of the times, finds her strength of honor in denying what the enemy would want of her. She captures the love of more than one man, but her heart belongs to only one. There are some very poignant and potent scenes which surely gripped me as if I were there, sharing the experience. Totally riveting and very much worth the read.

Here is a conversation between maid and Jane showing us the utter helplessness and despair which engulfs Jane.

Excerpt:
Molly admonished Jane to lie down. “You need to rest, Jane. The news won’t change with leaning against the window. We will know soon enough. All we can do is pray.”

“Pray?” Jane asked. Her eyes widened with the pain held within them. “To whom would you have me pray?”

“God.” Molly walked over and rounded Jane’s shoulder with her arm. “It isn’t for us to understand, but to live our journey. Life is full of hurts, Jane. It is only for us to live.” show less

This book is so appropriate to read at this time, just now celebrating the United States Independence. In fact, the whole series is. These United States of America had a beginning, the pulling away from a mother who held onto its young. With Jerri Hine's saga in these four books, in Winds of Betrayal, the reader experiences the angst, fear, passionate patriotism, and love which does not discriminate between nations in time of war. I loved the whole series and pray, dear reader, you will look show more at her work. Her writing has left an impressionable stamp upon my heart.

Jerri Hine’s writing has always absorbed me. I’ve read many of her books with great satisfaction. Her writing exposes her great passion of American history and her detail in putting a story on paper following the chronological events of history.

She laces her stories with love of family, between husbands and wives, and their children. We feel the anxiety of families fighting for what they deem precious – loyalty of nation and family. She balances well the opposing sides, providing stories which elicit the reader’s own anxiety and emotion for simply the human experience of family.

This is a story of love which does not take into account which side of the battle one is on. It is about the wrenching of normal life as we see it, for those who are willing to reach beyond and wish a better life for those we love, for a person who is able to pursue life, liberty and happiness. A wish we aspire to.

“It is moments like these that the character of man shines forth, Morgan stated firmly. “I say set fire to rain. Ignite the flames what is true and just. Torch the blaze with our courage and resolve so when we are done, all men will be free!”

Men who are good, innately so, find themselves doing what they wish not to. Marcus, one of the characters in the story wonders how much of the good is left in the man he had become? Fighting too long, a man will no longer remember the man he once had been.

In the upcoming days I will be spotlighting Hine's work and interview her. She's written several saga close to this time period, tugging at the inner revolutionary of us all and desire to be free who decide how our lives should be ordered. show less

This is the second book in her Winds of Betrayal series. I have not read the first book and honestly don’t feel it is necessary to read the first book. It is very much a standalone book. Hines does reveal some information later in the book so if you don’t like spoilers then read the first book, Patriot Secrets, before this one.

Hines spins an intriguing tale with the American Revolution as the backdrop. Ruse of Love follows Jonathan Corbett in the South after spending several years in the show more North. Hines does an excellent job contrasting the sharp differences in the climate of the North and South of the American colonies. Those of us familiar with American history will remember the conditions at Valley Forge in the winter of 1778. One scene that stood out for me was in chapter one, “A burst of bitter wind gusted. Dr. Jonathan Corbett yanked his cloak across his chest to protect against brutal cold…The pines moaned in the darkness, but offered scant protection to the elements in this godforsaken winter camp.”

The historical research and the undertaking of it in her novel is exceptional. It’s been quite some time since I read a historical with so much detail and you can feel the frustration with the war effort. The American Revolution is often romanticized and we often forget how difficult it must have been for the American colonists and the men as well as the families living under such circumstances. Hines portrays these feelings and we can see Jonathan’s disillusionment with the war in chapter one, “Seemed a lifetime ago when he answered the call for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. How eager he had answered that call.” Later she touches upon it again when Jonathan remembers the sacrifice his family made, “He, too, had once held the cry to the fervor of freedom.” The reader can’t quite work out if his personal feelings are due to the conditions of war or if there is something more to it. You can taste the bitterness he feels. Hines weaves a tale that makes us understand why Jonathan feels the way he does and leaves you wanting to delve into the history of the American Revolution to learn more.

Not only do we have Jonathan’s tale and what he’s experiencing, but we also have Rebekah Morse’s tale. Now here is where the book diverts into basically two separate books. On the one hand you have Jonathan’s life as a doctor during the war and on the other, you have Rebekah’s tale as a young woman. Unlike today, women didn’t have many choices for a career especially if you relied upon male relatives and their assistance. Rebekah’s tale is heartbreaking and brutal. We never really are told the full story as to why her uncle hates her until the every end and even then the big reveal as to why her uncle wanted to hide his background is a bit weak. I suppose in many ways I was expecting this grand confession of a secret to be life shattering and yet it wasn’t (well…it was for the time period, but I was expecting more). In addition to that Rebekah’s life is intertwined with that of Black Rory, a notorious raider. He saves her one night, but then held her captive for three months. I realize she’s a young girl, eighteen years old, and lived a sheltered life, but her relationship with Black Rory and what ensues afterwards was a bit unreal. Especially at how fast it happens. Despite that we are left with a character, Black Rory, we are suppose to dislike and yet one can’t help feel sorry for him and everything he lost. He made a choice to forgo his second chance for happiness and there lies the heartbreak. In the end we too have to wonder if Black Rory profession of love for Rebekah was indeed a ruse as Jonathan claims.

Ruse of Love is a beautifully written story with rich historical details. It’s also an emotional roller coaster. You’ll feel the frustration of war, makes you relive your first romance as well as the failure of one, but most importantly it makes you feel like you were there. Jonathan’s fear in the battlefield is gritty and your heart pounds as you read his emotions and what could very well be his final thoughts. You feel Rebekah’s anguish at not knowing who to trust and all the while cheering her on to be happy with Jonathan.

I debated over the rating between a four or a five. I gave it a four because at times it felt like I was reading two separate books. I understand the reason for this since it gives us a glimpse into the lives of Rebekah and Jonathan before they meet again and how different their lives were; I worried when we’d see them together and the time spent together wasn’t enough to satisfy my need that a bond of love had formed. A four for the detailed historical elements and because I really can’t wait to see how the series concludes.

Please note: the author supplied a copy of the book for a review. show less