Two related family stories tell a fictionalized history of events leading up to the American Revolution, one in the Southern Colonies and one in the north. In the South, twin sisters Faith and Hope disagree with their husbands about slavery. Rebellions and threats show the mounting tension among a growing black population enriching all the colonies with their non-compensated labor. Faith and Hope, both educated women, contribute to their families with their own work as well. Faith sells her paintings, and Hope keeps books for Sam Harlowe’s shipping company in Baltimore. As the country begins to fight British rule, these women and their descendants fight for their right to participate in society and their relationships with equity.

The second half of the book follows Sam Harlowe’s family in Boston and New York. Women in this family join the patriot cause by nursing, delivering messages to American troops, and sewing. Historical figures and facts are woven into both family tales lending the narrative credence and authenticity. Just as the families dovetail, past and present dovetail in discussions of timeless values—namely racial, economic, and gender freedom—that are still relevant today.

The pace is immediate, rolling through a blend of sweeping prose and snapshots. Panoramic segments covering many years join seamlessly with detailed and emotional dialogue between lovers and friends. The focus on relationships draws readers to empathize with each distinctive and colorful character. Couples in the story deal with conflicts, such as jealousy, shame, or boredom, through frank and candid confessions, ending in recommitment. These reunions foreshadow the book’s satisfying conclusion in which the two families align, and the war is over. This fourth book in a series celebrates honesty and liberty worked out through an emerging nation of first-generation immigrants.

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