George’s historical novel reimagines the infamous love affair between the great British naval officer Lord Horatio Nelson and Emma, the wife of Lord William Hamilton. The author explores the strange, interdependent relationship between the Hamiltons and Nelson during their concerted fight to thwart the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte in the late eighteenth century. As war rages in the Mediterranean, Nelson and Lady Hamilton’s notorious affair becomes the subject of gossip among the nobility, especially when it seems the lady’s seamstress spends much of her time letting out Emma’s gowns. Unfortunately, the rumors will be proven unequivocally true unless Emma and Nelson find a way to hide the impending birth from society and her husband. When Thomas Spencer is asked to show loyalty far beyond that of a captain’s steward, his family's life is forever changed.

Using Nelson’s steward, the fictitious Thomas Spencer, as a main character, George delves into the machinations of ships, naval warfare, court gossip, and political intrigue. In this detailed novel, the narrative moves effortlessly between the characters' private lives and the war being waged by Bonaparte. This back-and-forth between war and home life is well-paced so that the average reader doesn’t get too bogged down in the novel’s intricate details of naval warfare. The book is well-written and well-researched, and George has a command of language that brings the characters to life. The author does change the sex and historical life of Nelson and Emma’s child in the novel, but the change proves a necessary literary choice for the work’s plot that even staunch history buffs shouldn’t mind. Those who enjoy both historical and military novels will find much to like in this offering.

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