I read about a third of the way through and the writing style was not for me. I found that I was bored with the story. Extra star for the amazing cover!

I really enjoyed this! It was a little long for my taste, but a fun story! I think we need more books written in this period of time.

I can get picky and annoying when it comes to French history because I had a hyper fixation on the Louis XIV/Marie-Antoinette eras as a kid, anyway. It was suspenseful, fun, romantic and a little sad at times too. Honestly nostalgia plays a huge part in me enjoying the story because it was very reminiscent to what I would read as a kid (except meant for kids). 4.25 stars

This book was filled with violence, miscarriage, drugs and alcohol abuse. I read it, but to be honest I wasn't thrilled with it. Plus, not reading the first book in the series I really couldn't relate to the characters. Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved the idea and concept of this. Annalisa’s story is heartbreaking but she is such a strong character that I loved reading about her. The twists kept the story moving, helping to become invested in the characters.
While I had a fun time reading this book, there were some places where I struggled. There are a lot of characters, and they are all interrelated. Having not read Muskets and Minuets, they were not well introduced nor able to be separated. Having little background knowledge of the civil war, it was difficult to follow the progress of characters and track their locations, and I felt I was missing the background information.

This book had the makings of a great historical romance. But I felt that it was too soap opera-ish. The characters were very immature and vindictive. Just not for me.

so so much happens and I don't care for the characters 500 worth.
Jane is awful. The whole weaponizing pregnancies is just I hate it

please note that the trigger warnings and topes/themes may contain spoilers
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
FMC: Annalisa- after travelling with her husband Jack, their ship crashes, she loses all her memories (doesn’t even know her name), and winds up in France trying to piece her life back together and remember who she is.
MMC: Jack- after their shipwreck, Jack is taken captive and tortured for answers while presumed to be a rebel spy. He attempts to find his wife Annalisa but is told she died on the journey so he resolves to saving a family member and her son from the ship to find a better life.
POV: 3rd person, multi POV (mostly Annalisa and Jack, with some George thrown in)
HEA: I mean if you squint, I guess?
spice: barely-there steam, not a spicy book
TWs: infertility, miscarriage, torture, death, war, sexual assault (recounted by 3rd party), verbal abuse (not MCs), emotional abuse (not MCs), spousal abuse (not MCs), cheating? Kinda? It was more so non-consent, drug use, multiple “cheating” scenes due to confusion and drug use
standalone: book 2 in the Muskets and Minuets series
final thoughts: I had a hard time connecting with the characters. And I truly don’t think that it was because I didn’t read book 1. There was a beautiful “Cast of Characters” before the start of the book that gave a brief description, and it truly didn’t feel like a continuation of a story (in a good way)- though I’m sure readers who read book 1 would disagree. I felt that there were a lot of plot holes that were never discussed which I’m sure they mean to finish in the final book of the trilogy. The “oh they died” mentality by everyone is so wild in this book and the drama felt so unrealistic for a book that was meant to be more “historical”. If you like history this book may be for you but I simply couldn’t get into the story or characters, but the writing style was very well done and easy to read. I did struggle very hard to finish this book since I didn't enjoy the content though.

read this book if you love

😬 angst
🌀 plot twists
🌍 world building
🤫 hidden truth
🕰️ historical

It has the perfect combination of historical fiction and romance. Very atmospheric you can feel how to live in that era. Plot and pace wise, this book is very enjoyable to continue👌

Phew, Muskets and Masquerades took me longer to read than I anticipated. I kept putting it down and cannot really pinpoint why. I didn't really connect with anything or anyone and felt frustrated at times. I also had a hard time reading about themes such as infidelity, therefore I am giving this two stars with the note that this might be a case of "it's me and my squicks and not the book" and therefore other readers might absolutely love it!

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

It's after 1:00am, and I've just finished this book. Last night I was awake reading it until about 2:00am. I believe the last time a book consumed so much of my time (and potential sleep) was the first book in the series. Despite the roller coaster of that book, I was content with the ending and excited when I discovered there was a sequel. Rather than another roller coaster, however, I found this book to be more like what I would expect to experience in a burning airplane and then during my fall through lightning-streaked skies, unsure whether or not my parachute would open. Also knowing that the vast, storm-agitated ocean below me was infested with sharks. By the way, I am afraid of heights and being in the middle of the ocean, out of sight of land. So consider that, as I find my ridiculous analogy to be quite fitting of this book and the reason I could only grant it 3 stars rather than the 4 of the first book. It became too much, in my opinion. I only hope the finale doesn't continue the upward trend of miserable drama these first two have laid out. I suppose the adage of "all's well that ends well" is in play, but I confess I struggle with it.

This book spans the space of three years shortly after the end of the first book, and Annalisa (19-22 ) and Jack (23-26) experience even more trials and devastation than the previous book, if you can believe it possible (believe it). I absolutely hate Jane, far more than even in the first book--I have no kind words for her, and I wouldn't be sad to see her completely ruined in every way possible. To be honest, I'm not sure I've ever harbored such a strong dislike to any fictional character as I do for her. And I quickly came to hate Jack, as well. One of them was mildly redeemed but still, in my opinion, has an incredible distance to cover before being worthy of forgiveness. Another character whom I previously disliked has found a measure of redemption. I retain my mixed feelings about George from the first book; were it not for his dalliances with prostitutes and camp followers, I'd like him more. If nothing else, he is a devoted and protective brother. Annie, though imperfect and with her fair share of poor choices and secrets, was the best of them aside from Quinn.

It became a tangled, tangled web, and I found myself genuinely wondering if it would redeem itself or I would figuratively throw it across the room (no wish to harm my Kindle). But it did keep me reading, and I finished a 500-page book relatively quickly for my current schedule. Hopefully now I'll be able to sleep better. I still wonder, however, how Annalisa came to be in France after the shipwreck; that question is never answered.

As with the first book, it's filled with 18th century slang, some of which is rather colorful. It took a little while for me to stop chuckling over how silly it sometimes sounded (though our modern-day slang isn't much better--it's just what we're used to).

I hope I notice when ARCs of the third book become available as I would very much like to read it, and my hope of finding it at the library is negligible since mine doesn't have either of the first two books. As long as I don't splat on the pavement from a failed parachute while reading it, I expect I should be able to award it more than 3 stars.

Note: War violence. Some language and a fair bit of 18th century dirtiness. Some mildish sex scenes. Completed adultery.

*4.25 stars*

This is the continuation to “Muskets and Minuets” that I’ve been eagerly waiting for!!! I can’t tell you how happy I am to have read it!!!

The way Lindsey S. Fera writes is just mind blowing to me. She is capable to write a story that it’s so easy to follow, but at the same time the author creates such a beautiful and atmospheric prose that makes you wish you were inside the story! And don’t get me started on how the historical aspects are so well woven into the writing that can really transport the reader to a different time and place!

For historical fiction lovers and haters, do read this book (and while you’re at it read “Muskets and Minuets” as well)! You’ll not regret it, and if you do… you’ll not 😁!

In the meantime I’ll be here, waiting to see what Lindsey S. Fera comes up with next!

Thank you to @netgalley and @bostonduchess for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review before I realized that this is the second book in a series. I don’t think familiarity with book one would have changed my review, because this book does a good job of providing the necessary context for the narrative.

I can’t really review this one the way I usually would… it’s definitely not my normal taste, in the sense that it is very much a soap opera. This book is what would happen if Telemundo decided to a set a story during the Revolutionary War. It’s high drama and nonstop chaos. I can only think of a couple of daytime soap opera tropes that don’t make it into this book… it’s got people who return from the dead, plot-convenient amnesia, accidental infidelity, secret babies, hidden identities, and the list goes on. I was cackling the whole time. Was that the author’s intention? I don’t know, but the number of times I shouted, “WHAT!?!?” while reading this… It was definitely entertaining.

So basically, the story was over-the-top and unbelievable, but it was fun as heck. I can absolutely see this being made into a limited series. I have some mild thoughts on how race and diversity is handled in this book, but given the sheer camp factor, I’m not going to dig too deep on that. Thanks, NetGalley, for giving me a chance to experience this book. I don’t plan to backtrack to book 1, but if the series continues (which it seems like it will) I will probably read the sequel so that I can be fully scandalized by whatever happens next.

I wish I could give this book 3,5 stars. 3 stars does not really do it justice, but four stars is just a bit too much. I really loved the idea of the book and that it gave me the opportunity to imagine a different place and time. It reminded me of a more realistic version of the tv-show Outlanders (so if you liked that tv-show, you should definitely read this book). I got invested in the storylines of the different characters. What was especially well done was how the author used the perspective of different characters to tell about different events. Especially in the second half of the book that lead to some serious suspense. What I found difficult for me as an European reader, who doesn't know so much about American history, is that the writing could be difficult to follow at times as I felt I was missing background information. Furthermore I sometimes felt there were too many coincidences. Yes I realize I am reading fiction, but at some points it became too much and started to annoy me.

All in all I had a fun time reading this book, and the positive sides of the book outweigh the negatives. I will definitely be looking forward to a second book (as I understand is to be expected).

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a free book of the copy in exchange for my honest review.

I didn’t realize there was a book before this one (no series listed) but I was able to pick this story up without feeling lost or like I missed to much.
This one began a bit slow for me in the first few chapters but once it started to pick up I became invested quickly. There was a lot going on -layers of overlapping character arcs. There were lots of little twists that kept the storyline moving. Some I saw coming but most were unexpected. I enjoyed it and will most likely go pick up the first book now. I did appreciate both the list of characters/families at the beginning of the book and the glossary of English terms and slang at the back.

Thank you to the author, the publishers and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC to review for my honest opinion.

I really wanted to like this book as it sounded really interesting and I adore revolutionary war books.
But I just couldn’t get past the heavy themes and infidelity in this one.

In this sequel, the story unfolds slowly, but it does eventually pick up. The characters build and evolve from the first book adding depth and change.
I enjoyed the plot, but some of the details throughout got a bit confusing when switching between povs' for each chapter.

Overall, this is a solid sequel and a solid historical fiction. I can see this appealing to a lot of different readers.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Pompkin Press for a digital ARC - pub date 4/18/2023. Trigger Warnings : violence, miscarriage, drugs and alcohol abuse
<spoiler>
Noticing this was only the second book in the series, a planned trilogy, I eyed my calendar and snapped up the first to read before I moved on to this ARC. I am glad I did. Reading the first one, definitely gave me a better basis for keeping the large cast straight and what baggage they brought along to this phase of their lives.

And, believe me, they all have baggage! However, it makes sense because, given the time period and the lifestyles, the book would have been false-seeming if everyone was happy and carefree. Set during the early years of the Revolutionary War, 1776 and 1777 mostly, this book weaves in the lives of the Howletts and the Perkinses to the greater story of a nation trying to emerge. Within these two families, you continued to have small scale versions of the divides rocking the colonies. You had Patriots and Loyalists and those who were not quite either but just trying to live their lives... or not alienate their loved ones. Again the author does a phenomenal job with showing off her research. You can tell she knows her stuff AND she conveys it without the sensation of a dry history lecture. She exhibits the every day life things as well as the horrors of war. The balance remains, too, from the first book; the characters, while fictional and inserted into a lot of big events, never become THE Big Event themselves. They are participants or witnesses but rarely the drivers. When the characters drive things, it is generally their own more homely stories.

I am pleased to say that Annalisa really grows up in this book and develops into a more well-rounded and realistic character. She still has her idealism and her moments of unreasonableness but, overall, she has become an intelligent, witty, and dependable character. This growth also served to make the book itself feel more adult and balanced. Even as the episodes pile on top of each other like some sort of Colonial All My Children run.

Seriously. There are a lot of soap opera tropes here so brace yourself for everything from amnesia to consent-compromised sex to "I'm not dead, surprise!"

A lot of the other characters also grew and matured. George, to my relief, drinks less and uses his brain more. William and Mary and Henry have actual personalities and Mary is downright brilliant as she shows exactly why you should never discount a younger sibling. Oliver grows more depth. New babies appear to be dandled. We meet a few more delightful historical figures that are charmingly brought to life.

Unfortunately, Jane becomes even more of a heinous, selfish stock-character bitch... And Jack...

Jack disappointed me in so many ways and I have to agree with him that he does not deserve Annalisa at all. It is one thing to be flawed. It is another thing entirely to continue to blame your decisions and actions on everyone else. Yes, I know there are societal rules etc but I think ending last book with a bloody elopment should have put him a bit beyond cowering to those rules all the time. I think he just likes having an excuse for every poor decision he makes. Jack Perkins is a terrible book boyfriend.
</spoiler>

Zounds! I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn’t the ride this book took me on.

This is a multi-point of view novel set during the American Revolution, with lots of twists and turns. Lost love, found friendship, pregnancies and childbirths and war oh my!

Things I loved about this story:

🇺🇸 These characters!! They are so well formed and thought out, each one is so different from the others.
🇺🇸 multiple points of view! I always love this, but it’s especially effectual because they aren’t physically in the same place, and the readers get to know all of the secrets before they’re confessed.
🇺🇸 the setting. I dig period pieces and this one is especially immersive. There’s even a glossary for unknown words (or other usages for known words) in the back of the book!
🇺🇸 the writing! There were so many twists!! I didn’t see any of them coming.

Apparently this is the second in the series, and now I have to backtrack and read the first. 😅 But I’m excited because this one was so good!! Definitely pick this up if it sounds like your cup of tea!

⚠️ WARNINGS ⚠️ (and therefore possible spoilers)
⛔️Trigger warning for pregnancy loss. As someone who has gone through it, I always like to know when that’s in books.
⛔️minimal spice and course language.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lindsey Fera for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Muskets and Masquerades coming out April 18, 2023. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Jack and Annalisa have only been married for five months when they decide to take a ship to France to help with the war effort. They never make it to France together because a shipwreck separates them. On different shores, they believe the other dead. But when Annalisa learns Jack is alive, she immediately decides she must return to America. Unfortunately, much has changed since she last saw Jack. After a betrayal, she flees the city as her alter ego, Benjamin Cavendish, and joins the Continental Army.

Unbeknownst to Annalisa, Jack has also joined the Continentals, harboring shameful secrets from his days in mourning. Against the backdrop of war with Britain, façades mount between Jack and Annalisa, and the merry minuet of their adolescence dissolves into a masquerade of deceit, one which threatens to part them forever.

This is my first book by this author. I didn’t realize it was book 2, so I haven’t read the first one. I think I would’ve given this book 5 stars if the plot hadn’t gotten so crazy and telenovela. It started off so amazing. I love American Revolution books. I love women being involved as patriots and spies. Turn is a fun series that comes to mind. I definitely thought this book was going a different direction.

I just wasn’t a fan of most of what happened after the shipwreck. Oliver and Jane were awful characters. The adultery, marriage and child plot were a little too crazy for me. It was also a little too “all in the family”. Brothers marrying sisters and sisters getting with brother-in-laws was icky. Things just kept getting crazier until the end.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys American Revolution and Soap Operas.