Member Reviews

I apprecitate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I found this a really interesting read and the characters are quite engaging. it kept me reading until the end. I highly recommend.

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I'm a sucker for historical dramas, especially books with strong, independent female leads, which Addie Valencourt most definitely is. The story is strong, though at times a little slow, but still a very solid read. My biggest issue is with the synopsis given, which gives away much more information than is needed for this book. This book is more of an introduction to the series and I'm excited to read the rest!

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC of America's Daughter by Celeste De Blasis, in exchange for my honest review.

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Really learned a lot about this time period but at times it felt like I was slogging through a history book with some fictional characters thrown in. At times the similarities between the character names of Ad and Addie got confusing and the changing points of view. However, I did enjoy reading about this time period and thinking about what it would have been like to be growing up during this time.

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Absolutely fascinating book. Once I started reading it was impossible to put this book down as I felt transported into a different time. Really liked many of the characters and am looking forward for the next part in this trilogy. Wonderful! Thank you netgalley and publisher for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

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This book just wasn't for me which is weird because I am such a Revolutionary War buff, but I just felt like I was reading a history book as opposed to a piece of historical fiction, and I couldn't get into it.

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I am really not sure how to rate this book. It focuses on a family in Boston during the early years of the American Revolution. The author does a great job of including historical context so you know what was going on at the time, but sometimes it seems like a history lesson. There is one bedroom scene that was more than I needed and not necessary for the plot overall. While the book was ok, it did not make me want to read the others in the series.

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America’s Daughter is the first book in the trilogy that has been posthumously published as Ms. De Blasis died in 2001. Thus the writing has a bit of an antiquated feel to it. There is a lot of historical detail, much of which feels rather pedantic.

The Valencourts are a prominent Boston family. The father Marcus, having emigrated there 30 years earlier from England, retains his loyalty to the British Crown. His sons and daughters, however, don’t; born in the colonies, they see the New World as their home. This internal family struggle is set against the revolutionary war. Though the blurb that accompanies the book suggests it is a romance, romance is definitely not the primary aim.

The story is told in an omniscient point of view, though the story of the daughter, Ariadne (Addy’s) is primary. The early part of the book focuses on laying out the story and introducing us to the characters, and their relationships to each other. The book is a quick read, being around 200 pages, but ends rather abruptly.

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Today I’m dishing about a new historical fiction novel taking place during the American Revolution: America’s Daughter by Celeste de Blasis. This was a quick read for me and it’s part of a trilogy. I liked the characters, especially Addie, and felt that it added a lot of explanation about the guiding historical events during that time, so you could learn while reading. While it’s written for adults, I think it would be a good choice for older teens (there is some “wedding night sex” in it – FYI).
I look forward to the rest of the series! Thank you for making me part of the tour and for my copy!

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A daughter of two worlds, Addie Valencourt finds herself present for the birth of a nation. Born into a loyalist household, Addie is immersed in the issues of her time and forced to make a choice between the father she loves and the country she would die for. Author Celeste De Blasis introduces readers in America's Daughter to an exciting period in American history. With beautifully written characters and believable events, she weaves together a story of a woman, a family, and a changing nation with a deft hand. An enjoyable read from cover to cover, this will be a trilogy worth investing in.

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Legendary storyteller Celeste de Blasis will sweep readers away with an epic and addictive saga of love, war, desire and jeopardy: America’s Daughter.

In 1773, when Addie Valencourt had sneaked out to witness the Boston Tea Party, she knew that the world as she knew it would end up changing forever. The fight for American Independence would completely and utterly consume the entire nation and lives would be lost and hearts would be broken as the British lay siege to Boston leaving a trail of mayhem and destruction in their wake. With Addie’s childhood sweetheart Silas having sworn to fight for his country alongside General Washington, the determined young woman vows to fight alongside him. However, little does Addie realise that there are further changes in store for her when she meets Scottish Highlander John Traverne who makes her feel things she had never experienced before – not even for Silas, the man she thought she had loved with all of her heart.

As the bitter war intensifies, Addie finds herself torn between these two men who are as different as night and day. Finding out that the British had captured Silas completely breaks her heart yet Addie vows to do whatever it takes to find him. Addie risks everything in her search for him and ventures into enemy territory where she finds herself coming face to face with the man she knows she should forget whom she feels increasingly drawn to: John Traverne. Forced to choose between duty and desire, what will she do? Addie needs to tread very carefully because every decision she makes could have devastating consequences and compromise the lives of the Patriots risking life and limb on the front line.

America’s Daughter is an evocative and sweeping historical novel rich in period atmosphere that meticulously brings the 18th Century to vivid and colourful life. Celeste de Blasis engages her readers from the beginning and immerses them in an action-packed, poignant and breath-taking tale of high stakes, forbidden desire and devastating secrets that will keep them in thrall from start to finish.

A must-read for readers of historical fiction, Celeste de Blasis’ America’s Daughter is a compulsively readable American saga that is simply outstanding.

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I enjoyed reading Celeste De Blasis' Wild Swan Trilogy so much that I jumped at the chance to read a previously unpublished trilogy by this brilliant author.

America's Daughter is the first of the three books and begins in 1773 when Ariadne (Addie) Valencourt and her twin brother, Adrian (Ad), witness the Boston Tea Party, a protest by the Sons of Liberty against the Tea Act where chests of tea were dumped into Boston Harbour. Addie and Ad recognise two of the protesters even though they are disguised as Mohawk Indians and are concerned how their father, a staunch Loyalist, will react if he finds out that their older brother, Justin, and his friend, Silas, were involved.

Although Marcus Valencourt has raised all his children to be independent thinkers, he is still saddened when his sons join the Continental Army to fight the British. Addie is conscious of the effect this has on her father, especially as she also supports the Rebels. Despite this, Marcus still welcomes British officers into his home and it is here that Addie meets the enigmatic Scotsman, John Traverne, and befriends another British soldier, Captain Paul Byrne.

As the siege of Boston continues and Addie awaits news of her brothers and Silas, conditions deteriorate. Food and fuel are in short supply, and an outbreak of smallpox will bring great sorrow to the family. Throughout it all, Addie stays strong, but she finds it hard to watch the change in her father as he finally admits to himself that the British cause is lost and some hard decisions must be made to ensure his family's future.

America's Daughter is an exciting introduction to this trilogy. It is another great combination of history and endearing characters that I've come to expect from this author. The portrayal of loving families is also one of Celeste De Blasis' strong points. You cannot help but be emotionally drawn into their lives.

Addie's story continues in America's Wife. I'm so looking forward to see what fate has in store for this courageous young woman.

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This is the beautiful, gripping story of a family torn apart by differing political beliefs and allegiances during the American Revolution. Addie’s brothers support the Revolution while her father welcomes the British into their home. Her sweetheart, Silas, goes to fight for General Washington, but then Addie meets Scottish Highlander John Traverne, to whom she is attracted, but he is on the opposite side of the fight.

Addie’s struggle to deal with the conflicting allegiances of her family versus her own beliefs is beautifully written. The captivating writing of Celeste De Blasis draws you into the story immediately, and it is hard to put down. The conflict in Addie’s heart between two very different men with different ideas is intriguing. This is a gripping look at a very real issue during the American Revolution, as families were often divided by conflicting beliefs. America’s Daughter is the first book in the America’s Daughter Trilogy. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the American Revolution or historical romance. This is an absolute steal at 99 cents on Amazon right now. Four and a half stars, rounded up to five.

I received a free copy of this book via the publisher, Bookouture. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

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The story begins in 1773 in Boston and deals with the unrest between the American Colonists and the British, and is essentially the story of Addie Valencourt’s growing from a young girl and blossoming into a woman. Addie, her brothers and her childhood sweetheart, Silas, are on the side of the Patriots while her father is Tory and believes that the British have a right to rule America. When she witnesses the Boston Tea Party, she realizes that soon life will never be the same for her family.

Shortly afterwards, Boston is seized by the British and Addie’s brothers and Silas go to join the militia movement and she is forced to let her father know that they are on opposite ends of this situation. While Addie is fiercely patriotic, her love for her family keeps her continuing to support her father and she also takes on the role of tutor to Sarah, her brother Justin’s wife.

There was so much of drama and historical detail in book that one felt transported to that time.

Addie’s love of country, compassionate nature and deep love for her family makes her a wonderful heroine. But all the other characters too with their strengths and weakness were etched very well. Even Addie’s father, who was aligned to the British comes across as a man who loves his family deeply and is fair to all his children. The conversations and the interactions are very relatable too.

I found this first book in the trilogy absolutely captivating and will be looking forward to reading the next two.

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I am a huge fan of Celeste De Blasis. I’ve read many novels by this author and I must say that she never disappoints. Celeste De Blasis never wastes time pulling you into her stories, and this book is no different.

Addie believes in the Patriot’s cause and she and her twin brother witness the Boston Tea Party. Addie keeps her beliefs to herself because not everyone in her family believes as she does. Addie’s father, Marcus Valencourt is a loyalist, and has raised his five children to be independent thinkers. When the British seize Boston, Addie decides it’s time for her to speak up and stand her ground about her beliefs. So Addie admits to her father that she and her brothers believe in the Patriot’s cause. Of course that causes tension in the family. But, when Addie’s brothers and Silas, the man she loves, go off to fight in the war, Addie finds herself torn between her family and the men fighting for America, the country she loves. I’m so glad this is the first book in the series as I can’t wait to continue this great story.

The characters and historical aspects of the story were well written and made the book very interesting and enjoyable to read. I really liked this book and I recommend it.

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I am a huge fan of Celeste De Blasis, so when I was given the opportunity to read and review this latest novel of hers I simply couldn’t refuse.

America’s Daughter is the first book in a brand new series. The story begins in 1773 in Boston, during the unrest between the American Colonists and the British. Addie Valencourt strongly believes in the Patriots cause, and after witnessing the Boston Tea Party, she quickly comes to realise that the lives of herself and her family are about to be irrevocably changed.

Addie aligns herself with her twin brother Ad and her childhood sweetheart Silas. Her father is a Tory, and a strong believer in Georges Kingly right, so Addie finds herself keeping her thoughts on matters to herself for a while. That quickly changes when the British seize Boston, leaving Addie with little choice but to speak up for herself and her beliefs. She announces that herself and her brothers believe in the Patriots cause, something that is far from welcome news to her father.

Her brothers and Silas leave to join the fight, and Addie is left at home with her family worrying about the fate of those she loves, unsure if they shall ever return. Despite their opposing views, Addie’s father loves his children dearly and wants them to return safely. He does have to face a difficult decision shortly after this, something which will impact upon their family greatly. This is without a doubt trying times for everyone, but as the Patriots become more resolute, the emerging nation that will become America begins to unfold.

This book was utterly captivating from the very start. Celeste De Blasis has such a wonderful writing style that really allows the reader to feel as though they are living the story alongside the characters. The storyline is well structured and filled with drama and detail throughout. A lot of detail has been paid to all of the events that occur throughout this book, really allowing the reader to gain a better understanding of how people living through such troubling times might have felt.

The characters are well fleshed out and charismatic, all of them having their own strengths and flaws, allowing us to relate to them on a deeper level. The interactions between them were delightful and really engrossing, I found myself well and truly lost in the world in which the author has created.

A marvellous start to what is sure to be a captivating new series, I adored this story and look forward to reading the next instalment!

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The story begins in 1773 in Boston with the unrest between the American colonists and the British. Twins Adrian and Ariadne are among the crowd witnessing the Boston Tea Party as their older brothers join in. As children of staunch loyalist, Marcus Valencourt, they were taught to think for themselves, and all 5 of them have become more and more convinced they need independence from England. Ariadne, or Addie, has frequently dressed as a boy to join her three brothers: Justin, Adrian, and Quentin, and their friend Silas who has been raised in their family alongside them. But now at age 16, she is forced to act and dress like a woman. As the unrest grows, so do her feelings for Silas. But he feels unworthy of her and refuses to take things further. After the boys are sent to war, Addie does her best to help their efforts at home.
I couldn't put this book down. It details a lot of events happening in American history in an interesting way. I love strong willed Addie and I can't wait to read what happens next when she travels with the army!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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America’s Daughter is honestly a really intriguing historical fiction story and I didn’t want it to end. Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to have an advanced eARC in exchange for an honest review

Plot summary:
Addie has snuck out and has been a witness to the nights events of the Boston Tea Party. After this she is well aware the world as she knows it is going to chance and her normal life is going to be dragged into the fight for American Independence.

As the war begins and continues Addie risks everything and must decide if love or the future of her country matter more to her than anything else.

Review:
Plot – Goodness this book took me through a rollercoaster. It was extremely fast paced and always kept me in suspense. The romance was truly brilliant and I loved every second of it. Overall pacing of the story was very good and it worked well for the romance side of the story. I also loved the historical aspect- I came away from this book feeling that I had learned something and now I actually want to learn more about the American revolution.

Character wise- Addie was absolutely fantastic. She was developed well throughout the novel and I loved her general attitude which is something I normally don’t say about characters. It was also really nice to see a story from this time period with a female as the protagonist instead of someone like Alexander Hamilton. It’s rare to see but very much appreciated.

There are a lot of side characters- including mentions of Mr Washington himself- but generally all characters were developed well and where only introduced if there was a purpose which is what I personally enjoy in a story.

World Building- Truly fantastic. It’s a topic I don’t get much visibility of in the UK but I always want to learn and reading this I genuinely felt like I was in the midst of the revolution.

Final Thoughts:
An engaging, unputdownable novel of revolution and the effects of America in it’s war to gain independence.

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Historical Fiction has become one of my favourite genres over the past year which is odd considering I hardly read it before. I’ve never read any books set during the American Revolutionary War so this was new territory for me. I’ve read and enjoyed other books by the author so expected to like this. I really enjoyed the book. I’ve signed up to do the blog tours for the rest of the trilogy so I look forward to seeing how the characters and storylines develop. The book is quite short but felt so much longer. I really enjoyed reading this.

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Celeste De Blasis has written another Unputdownable book that is going to be the start of a fantabulous series! The characters are well developed and have such charisma they draw you into the storyline.
Addie Valencourt and her family are experiencing the repercussions of the American Revolution. Her father and brothers are all on different sides which makes for a tense relationship.
Addie finds herself in such precarious circumstances because she must decide if she is going to be loyal to her father and the King of England or her couple of brothers and her sweetheart Silas.

This is definitely a wonderful book that is not only a historical romance, but a dual perspective on the American Revolution. I loved the history lesson portion.

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

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America's Daughter is set in 1775, beginning with the Boston Tea Party. I found the historical storytelling really interesting especially since I didn't know a lot of it. The characters are great; Ariadne is a strong young woman who knew her own mind - girl power even in the 1770's!

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