Less than a Gentleman

In the middle of the Revolutionary War, Capt. Matthias Murray Thomas is freed from British imprisonment by Scotsman Jamie Munro, who charges him with locating Munro’s daughters, Caroline and Virginia. The two have taken shelter at Matthias’s family plantation under assumed names; he meets them there when he goes to check on his mother. Miscommunications, omissions, and deceptions follow as Matthias and Caroline try to keep their secrets in the face of the ever-present British army. Sparks (Vampires Gone Wild) creates a detailed representation of war-ravaged South Carolina. Cameos from historical figures such as Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion and Gen. Cornwallis lend verisimilitude, while enlightened attitudes toward women and slavery help keep the story palatable for modern readers. The romance between Matthias and Caroline is sometimes overshadowed by the war, but it’s always the core of the story. Fans of Sparks’s paranormal romances may be surprised by the lack of vampires, but will not be disappointed. Agent: Michelle Grajkowski, 3 Seas Literary Agency. (July)