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I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
MY REVIEW:
Genre | Tropes: Historical Fiction, Clean Romance, Early American Colonies
Rating: 5 out of 5 ⭐
Susan Bailey is as charming a woman as they come. She holds her family in the highest esteem, she’s proper and charming to those around her, and she cares deeply about others. So when her younger brother decides he wants to leave England to visit their Aunt in the American Colonies for a year of learning and excitement, their father convinces Susan she should join him.
Quietly, their father knows that if Susan stays in England, she will devote her entire life to caring for her mother and never live her own life. Which, while admirable, there are others that can fill those shoes and he wants Susan to live her life. So, she accompanies her brother on the long journey across the ocean where she makes the acquaintance of Charles Johnson. He is returning home to the colonies where his familial responsibilities are.
The two of them are quite opposites, where Susan is very outgoing, Charles is reserved and quiet. But their long sea journey quickly breaks down the barriers and a strong friendship developments. As they reach land and settle into their lives in Virginia, that friendships deeply evolves into more. But both of them have reservations and that requires a lot of time and patience from both of them.
There are a lot of other sub plots in this book including indentured servitude and land management in the early colonial period of the 1700’s. One of the indentured servant families featured in this book is the Finlay’s from Scotland. They sell their service for a 5-year contract to obtain passage on the vessel heading to Virginia. This was an interesting and important development in the story as my paternal family was from Scotland and carried the name Finley; It’s my maiden name. As I’ve researched my own family, I’ve actually hit a wall with that line because somewhere in 1776 (the year of America’s independence), my fourth great-grandfather, William Finley (Findlay), was born in Maryland and I’ve never been able to find his parents. After reading this, it’s quite possible he was born here after arriving with a family of indentured servants. More for me to ponder here.
But I adored this book and I always enjoy delving into the colonial period and early times of America’s development. Susan and Charles were respectable and loveable characters.
There’s also a companion novella to this book called Wager For a Kiss if you’d like to check that out as well!
GET IT HERE:
Miss Susan Bailey shouldn’t be enjoying beautiful sunsets over the Atlantic with a grumpy colonist. She swore not to marry while her mother lives. Her large dowry has given her lots of practice dodging potential suitors. But when her younger brother sets off on an adventure to the colonies she can’t stay put. Someone has to keep him out of trouble. Only she seems to be finding trouble of her own. Trouble with stormy gray eyes. Trouble…because marrying a Virginian is unthinkable. Especially in 1774.
Charles Johnson hasn’t been home in seven years, but an urgent message from his father insists he returns immediately. He books passage on a merchant vessel bound for Virginia carrying three other passengers, including the engaging and pragmatic Miss Bailey. Though determined to remain strangers, when he succumbs to seasickness he cannot refuse her assistance. Indeed, he soon cannot refuse her anything, not even the friendship she demands from him. After all, it’s foolish to hope for something more when their destinies are an ocean apart.
The Lady and the Loyalist is a Christian historical romance with no steam.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stephanie McRae
Stephanie McRae is a descendant of American patriots, including one soldier who died at Valley Forge. She is also the wife of a US Navy veteran. While their family of seven was stationed in Virginia, they took many opportunities to visit Colonial Williamsburg. It was during one of these trips that the idea for her first historical novel was born.
Looking for book recs…
Adventures in Literature 
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