🔔⚔️🏞️ “Patriot at the River” (For Liberty & Conscience #2) (2024) 🏞️ ⚔️ 🔔 – Book Review
MY REVIEW
Series: For Liberty & Conscience (Book #2)
Paperback: 322 pages
Publisher: Jayna Baas (September 24, 2024)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1734717548
ISBN-13: 978-1734717549
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“The fight he got wasn’t the fight he wanted.
It’s 1780, and North Carolina is a battleground. Backcountry scout Benjamin Woodbridge is guarding a Patriot camp when he sees the king’s men pursuing a civilian. Never one to stand by while someone is in trouble, Benjamin steps in to help the stranger and finds an unexpected ally.
But the same British officer who targeted the stranger is also targeting Benjamin’s settlement. After Benjamin is wounded on a lonely mountain trail, he watches Sunrising fall to the man who crushed his father’s cause nine years earlier. Benjamin’s fight has come home to the very people he wanted to protect—his shy younger sister and the woman who has given them both a home.
Now, with the help of some unlikely comrades and the indomitable Aunt Kate, Benjamin must fight for what he loves before his settlement goes up in flames. But only if he can fight himself first.”
Thank you to the author, Jayna Baas, for providing a complimentary copy for signing up for her email. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.
It’s hard to believe that the first book came out over four and a half years ago (4½) in April 2020. I ended up reading it about three (3) years ago. I haven’t read too many Revolutionary War stories. I only know about John Jakes’ series. Baas offers a more religious and cleaner version. She tells the story from a character and story driven plot.
One reason for the religious aspect is that it was a key part of the Revolutionary War, as it offered a moral sanction for opposition to the British. One key component was the Brits (Loyalists, Tories, King’s Men) felt that the King was a higher authority than God. The “Americans” (Patriots, Whigs, Rebels) felt that God was more of an authority.
This comes to light with one of the characters – Rane Armistead. At the time, some believed that the king had a right to rule in matters of conscience. The “dangerous idea” that spread in the Colonies was that each man was responsible for themselves before God. Even Benjamin asks if the king is worthy of God’s loyalty. For those who are not familiar with the time – that question could’ve result in being tried and executed for treason.
Given the topic and time, this will have war violence in it; as well as mention of torture.
Since this is a series, I strongly recommend that readers sign up for the newsletter and get the short story, Promise of Refuge. Readers should also read the first book in this series, Preacher at the River. This picks up nine (9) years after the events of that book. Some of the events of that book are referenced in this one.
Patriot at the River is told in two parts, spanning October 1780-March 31, 1781.
Coming back to this story are:
⛪ Captain Robert Boothe
⛪ Mitchell Boothe
👒 Magdalen Boothe
👒 Susanna Boothe (Robert and Magdalen’s daughter)
🍽️ Aunt Kate
🐎 Benjamin Woodbridge
👒 Elsie McBraden
🐎 Saul McBraden
🐎 Malcolm Harrod
🐎 Hank Jonas
🐎 Alec Perry
⛪ Simon Pembrook
Joining the Sunrising community:
🐎 Rane Armistead
🐎 Jem Flannery/James Gregory
There might be characters I’ve missed that returned, but I hadn’t read the other book in a few years.
Moving on …
Benjamin is looking for a fighter – and a fight eventually comes his way. He comes to the aid of Rane Armistead who has an interesting past. Harrod is looking for Armistead.
Armistead finds refuge in Sunrising. He isn’t the only surprise.
Boothe ends up taking James Gregory (Jem Flannery) as a prisoner, and ends up offering the man a deal. It isn’t long until Gregory is forced into serving under Harrod.
While Boothe is away, Harrod ends up “taking” the settlement. But, there is more to Harrod’s plan this time around. In addition to that plan, Harrod is desperate to find Armistead. It comes to light that Armistead has damaging information on Harrod. Though would it be able to help the Patriots?
Another thing that is troubling Benjamin – the Cherokee issue. Harrod has an agent working with the Cherokee. Both Benjamin and Boothe have an awful feeling about it.
Benjamin is also trying to work on his anger which is still brewing after his father’s death. It deeply troubles Susanna who he cares for. But, she wants him free of the anger that she is afraid is consuming him.
Set against the backdrop of the event that shaped our nation, Baas tells a compelling story that grabs readers’ attention, that falls short of dropping them into the battle for our independence.
So compelling is the writing that one can only close their eyes and smell the fires, hear the muskets and war cries. Even feel the anxiety of the battle, where one wrong move can result in treason or death.
Being able to worship the way one wants is an essential right and one that shaped our nation’s Constitution – not matter how we feel.
Like before, Baas’ research brings the story to life, despite some of the characters being fictional. The reality of how fragile the nation was in its inception should give readers an appreciation for those brave warriors.
The only issue I had was that there was a missed opportunity to see how the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776) would’ve affected those at Sunrising. Given the historical impact, it would’ve definitely added more drama to the story.
Other than that, I definitely enjoyed this visit to an integral part of our nation’s history. And, while not much of my education focused on this crucial time period, I did some research into. I would encourage anyone to research it.
I’m wondering when the next story is going to come out, and when it will take place. I do want to see how far into the war and post-war the author is going to go.
RATING:
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html;update https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html)
PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES:
Series: For Liberty & Conscience (Book 0.5)
eBook: 46 pages
Publisher: Jayna Baas (September 7, 2021)
Language: English
⬅️ Click Photo for Download Information
“HE CAME LOOKING FOR A PREACHER. HE FOUND MORE THAN HE’D BARGAINED FOR.
It’s 1759, and Robert Boothe and his younger brother have crossed North Carolina to find their father’s circuit riding partner. But the old preacher is nowhere to be found. And Magdalen Davies wants to keep it that way. She’s willing to help shelter Robert on her father’s plantation. She’s not so willing to trust him with secrets that could hurt the people she loves. But Robert needs her help. And Magdalen needs his.”
Series: For Liberty & Conscience (Book #1)
Paperback: 322 pages
Publisher: Jayna Baas (April 20, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1734717505
ISBN-13: 978-1734717501
Click Photo for Purchase Information ➡️
“Standing for truth could cost him his freedom. Fighting for freedom could cost him his life.
It’s 1771, and revolution is on the horizon. Frontier preacher Robert Boothe has spent the last four years leading resistance against North Carolina’s corrupt British government.
All he wants is a place for his people to worship God without fear. He’ll do whatever it takes to protect them—and his wife and young daughter. They’ve always known the danger, but he never meant to test their faith as much as his own.
But when Colonel Charles Drake arrives in their settlement, silencing Robert is his best chance to win the governor’s favor. And Robert refuses to back down.
On one side stands the power of the Crown. On the other stands a man of daring conviction. When his family and flock are caught in the crossfire, how far will Robert go to keep them safe?”
🎉 GIVEAWAY 🎉
Click photo for giveaway link!
Time: 12:00 AM September 30 – 12:00 AM October 14
Prize: One signed paperback copy each of Preacher on the Run and Patriot at the River, the first two books in the For Liberty and Conscience trilogy. All entrants will receive a promo code for Jayna Baas’ online store.
Notes: US mailing addresses only, 18 and up or with parental consent. No purchase necessary. All entrants agree to join Jayna Baas’ email list.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jayna Baas (pronounced as in “baa, baa, black sheep”) lives in northern Michigan with a great family of real people and the family of pretend people who live in her head. (Yes, she does know her characters are not real. No, she does not want you to tell them she said so.) Notorious for working on several projects at once and writing her series in the wrong order, she believes German writer Thomas Mann was correct in saying, “A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than for other people.” She enjoys writing and reading in a wide range of genres, but her favorite story is this: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). https://www.booksbyjayna.com/
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