Reclaimed by his wealthy uncle, former Shawnee captive Corwin
Whitfield finds life with his adopted people at an end and reluctantly enters
the social world of 1764. He plans to return to the colonial frontier at his
first opportunity--until he meets Uncle Randolph's ward, Dimity Scott.
Deaf since a childhood bout of Scarlet fever, Dimity Scott intends to be cherished for herself, not her guardian's purse, even if it means risking spinsterhood. Then the rugged newcomer arrives, unlike any man she's ever known. Dimity has learned to manage her silent world, but unaccustomed to the dangers of the frontier, can she expect love and marriage from Corwin, who longs to return to his Shawnee life?
Excerpt:
“There she is,” Uncle Randolph said with the hint of a smile in his normally reluctant features. “My ward, Miss Dimity Scott. The little Quaker as I call her.”
Corwin thought it highly doubtful this staunch Anglican had taken in an actual Quaker. Looking past assorted tables, gilt-covered chairs and a gold couch, he spotted the feminine figure seated before the glowing hearth. A padded armchair the color of ripe berries hid much of her slender form. His first impression was of fair curls, like corn silk, piled on her head beneath a circle of lace; his second, that the young woman bent over her embroidery seemed oblivious of all else. One this unaware would never survive in the frontier. He’d been taught to move with the silence of a winged owl while observing all around him.“Why does she not look up at our coming?”“Ah, well, that’s a matter I’ve been meaning to discuss with you.” The hesitancy in his uncle’s tone was unlike this man who knew his own mind and was swift to instruct others.He squinted at Corwin with his good eye; the other perpetually squinted from an injury he’d received in a duel. “I trust you’ll not hold it against the poor girl as a sign of weakness, my boy. Warriors sometimes do and you’ve kept company with thosesavages far too long.”It wasn’t like his uncle to ramble, and Corwin shifted impatiently upon hearing his adopted people disparaged again. “What are you saying, Uncle?”He rubbed his fingers over a chin grizzled with whiskers. “Dimity cannot hear us.”“At all?”“Not a sound, unfortunately. Though she is able to detect the vibrations of music. Odd, that.”Like the beating of Indian drums.~
Review by Melissa Snark:
A
WARRIOR FOR CHRISTMAS is a sweet historical romance set in the Philadelphia
countryside in 1764 during the holidays. Although a novella, characterization
and relationships were solidly developed and evolved as the story progressed.
As a reader that craves action, I wanted more in terms of external conflict—a
fistfight or a duel would have sufficed. (The novella does contain one of the
most charged dancing scenes I've ever encountered in a romance novel).
Instead of action, the story relies heavily upon mechanisms of internal
conflict to carry the plot through to its HEA-conclusion.
Our
hero, Corwin Whitfield, was raised by Shawnee Native Americans when warriors
killed his parents at the age of 14. The fact that he seemed to have lived as a
freeman instead of a slave to the people who captured him made me curious but
the issue wasn't addressed in any depth. Backstory is what it should be:
brief. Instead, Corwin's love of the wilderness and his craving for the
freedom of a frontier lifestyle play into the uncertainty of whether he would
eventually leave or remain on his uncle's estate to which he is heir.
Dimity
Scott is also an orphan and the ward of Corwin's uncle. Most remarkable about
this lovely heroine is her deafness due to Scarlet Fever. How she deals with
her disability makes for an interesting part of the story. I really loved how
vivid descriptions of other sensory components were from her perspective.
Generally, I'm a reader of paranormal and contemporary fiction, so Dimity was a
bit reserved for my taste.
The
hero and heroine share wonderful chemistry and I enjoyed their interaction,
especially the stolen kisses in the barn. I loved how they communicated in the
dark when Dimity wasn't able to read lips because it was so intimate.
Love scenes are sweet and aching in the want of one another.
Beth
Trissel delivers a wonderful historical Christmas romance that will capture the
reader's imagination. Gorgeous sensory details & excellent scene setting.
The few secondary characters are well described and serve to further the
romance. When I reached the last page, I really wanted the story to go on a
while longer.
A Warrior for Christmas is available in various eBook formats from all major online booksellers and in audio at Amazon.
Historical romance author Beth Trissel lives with her husband on a farm in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, surrounded by children, grandchildren, and many animals. Beth is the author of The Native American Warrior series: Red Bird’s Song, Through the Fire, The Bearwalker’s Daughter, Kira, Daughter of the Moon, short story The Lady and the Warrior. and Colonial American romance novella A Warrior for Christmas. She also writes time travels, ghostly romances, and nonfiction about gardening, herbal lore, and country life.
Beth is offering an ebook copy of A WARRIOR FOR CHRISTMAS for one randomly drawn commenter.
Love historical romances. Your book sound cute for the holidays. I hope you and your family—the furry ones too— have a very Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen. You too. The fur babies enjoy the holidays too, especially the youngest Siamese mix kitten/cat, Pavel, who steals bows and pounces on wrapping paper. And daughter Elise just rescued a kitten.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd read this story for the dancing scene alone! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Debra. It took a lot of research but was fun to do.
DeleteGood morning, Beth. Thank you so much for being my guest today. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks our dear hostesss with the mostess. Awesome event!
DeleteThis sounds like a wonderful story. Beth is an awesome writer!
DeleteGreat Review! It sounds like a great book!
ReplyDeleteA Warrior for Christmas sounds like a sweet, lovely story, Beth. Happy Holidays!
ReplyDelete