I am well aware that one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover and artwork isn’t a factor I consider when rating any story, but what in the dewy decimal system is going on with Angela K. Couch’s The Scarlet Coat? Am I only one crinkling their nose over this poorly contrived composition?

Having thrown that shallow commentary on the table, I’d like to say that I am in the minority in my estimation of the novel’s content. Most readers seemed to have greatly enjoyed the time they spent with The Scarlet Coat and while I truly appreciate those opinions, I can’t say Couch’s narrative suited my particular tastes.

Pardon my blunt assessment, but the characters struck me as one dimensional and I’d difficultly warming to either Rachel or Andrew. The novel was too sweet for my liking and I found the action both predictable and slow. Couch’s faith based themes are hard to miss and while I’ve no issue with the content, I couldn’t help wishing there’d been more subtly exercised in its presentation.

This story captured my attention from chapter one....and held it until the final paragraph. Loved it.

I have fallen in love with a new author. She writes with an excitement that keeps readers involved in the book from beginning to end. Angela K Couch has written The Scarlet Coat and set it during the Revolutionary War.

Rachel goes to find her brother and father after the battle near Oriskinay. Her brother was easy enough to find, but her father lay dead on the battlefield. As she and Joseph, her brother, leave the battlefield, she sees a man who is still alive, and insists that even though he wears a scarlet coat, they bring him back home to nurse him back to health. As the man gets better, he has no memory of who he is or what his background is. The longer he stays with Rachel and Joseph, the more he learns of his identity, and the more he falls in love with Rachel and Rachel falls in love with him.

There is always a hint of danger throughout the book. If Rachel's and Joseph's neighbor find out they are treating the British officer, an uprising will soon follow.

The climax and denouement are such that will bring the reader to the edge of the seat. Angela's talents as a writer are soon to be noticed and held up for critical acclaim. She has a talent that will take her far in the Christian fiction world. I have left out a lot of details from my review because to reveal more of the plot of the book would be to spoil the plot. I am not one who is discouraged by spoilers, but there are those who are and I respect that.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and the capture of a double agent

My thanks to Pelican Books for allowing me to read and review this book.

The Scarlet Coat

by Angela K. Couch

Pelican Book Group

You Are Auto-Approved

White Rose Publishing



Romance, Christian

Pub Date 01 Feb 2017

I am voluntarily reviewing a copy of The Scarlet Coat through the publisher and Netgalley:

We are taken back to the Revolutionary War, where we are introduced to Rachel, while riding her house, Rachel finds the street littered with bodies, one of those bodies her Father, but her brother survives.

Soon Rachel finds herself taken in a severely wounded British Soldier, despite the fact that he is the enemy.

Her brother must leave, and leaves her with the wounded, unconscious British Soldier, with the instructions to shoot him if he wakes up.

Rachel believes that despite the fact The British Officer is an enemy, he deserves a chance at life, so despite her fears, and the danger she could put herself in she helps him live.

The British Soldier has no memory of who he is or the things he has done. But in time the memories begin to return.

Will something more than a forbidden friendship develop between Rachel and Andrew?

I give The Scarlet Coat five out of five stars.

Happy Reading.

The country is at war with Britain and Rachel could not let a wounded man die without care, even from the other side . As the patient heals, they must decide how to progress on their pathway while the conflict of the emerging country continues. Enjoyed the journey of these two as they resolve their differences.

Ebook from Netgalley and publishers with thanks. Opinions are entirely my own.

This is quite the best tensioned historical romance I have read in a while. It starts with it being two countries fighting each other. Then you have one hurt person, almost dead in the field, do they let him die or do they follow what the LORD says love thy neighbor, being the good Samaritan and they choose the good Samaritan. They figure he is going to die but as GOD would have it - HE has other things in store - like a romance between him and the young lady of the house - whose father and brother where in the war - and I shall not ruin it and tell you what happened to them - As GOD would have it as well the man also has no memory of anything - but gradually remembers - and also if the brother and sister get caught taking care of this man - they can go down as traitors and you know what happens to traitors. So they all are in a pickle, but you know what - GOD loves it when you are in a pickle because that is when HE works best - isn't that right ya'll? You have to get this book - it is intense and yet - it is so light hearted and loving, and in these days who couldn't use a true love story - one that shows GOD's working HIS hand.

The Scarlet Coat
by Angela K. Couch

Surrounded by the musket fire of the American Revolution, Rachel Garnet prays for her family to be safe. When the British invade the Mohawk Valley and her father and brother don't return from the battle, she goes in pursuit of them. She finds her brother alive but her father has been killed at the hand of the enemy. Amidst the death, how can she ignore a cry for help? Rachel reluctantly takes in a badly wounded British officer. But how long can her sense of Christian duty repress her hatred for his scarlet coat? Passages of Scripture and fleeting images of society are all Andrew Wyndham recalls after he awakens to the log walls of his gentle prison. Even his name eludes him. Rachel Garnet insists he is a captain in the British army. He mourns the loss of his memory, but how can he hope to remember war when his “enemy” is capturing his heart? Andrew's injuries are severe, his memory slow to return, and the secret of his existence too perilous to ignore. As Rachel nurses him back to health, his hidden scarlet coat threatens to expose the deeds of her merciful heart, and Andrew is forced to face a harrowing decision—Stay hidden and risk losing the woman he loves or turn himself in and risk losing his life.

This is a Christian Historical that had no cussing, no sex and could be read by all ages. It has some violence. This is the first part of a series but didn't end on a cliffhanger as some do these days. It had a storyline and was uplifting. If you don't mind scripture and prayer in your books then this is a great book for you. It had romance, along with a little angst but not overdone. Smut rating is zero and wholesomeness is a ten. If you want to read something that is good for the soul and glorifies the Lord, then this is a good Historical Novel to read. This is definitely something I would buy my mom to read and not be ashamed to have on my shelves if my pastor came over!

I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on Netgalley for a honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions.