This is a historical fiction work set during the time of the American Revolution. I haven't seen too many novels set in this time period, which made it an exciting choice.

The detailing is strong, and real historical figures, specifically John Hancock and Ben Franklin, play a large role in the story.

What was great:

The time period and the interesting way the author brings it alive.

What could have been better:

The story itself fell short and was somewhat sacrificed through the strong emphasis on historical details. I had trouble figuring out exactly what the plot was until about halfway through. This seems to be the third in a series about Faith Clarke, but although she seemed to be a main character at the beginning, her story seemed to disappear at some point, and her sister Hannah's story took front and center. It was intertwined with the story of Jeremy Butler, who was hired by George Washington to figure out a seeming conspiracy against the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Faith's viewpoint pops up again at the end, which came out of left field.

The plot was rife with coincidences and holes, including a severe one toward the end when Hannah should have realized a close family member's life was in danger. There was the typical ending where the bad guy tells all just before killing the prisoner, only for the prisoner to escape with the information. The focus on how the women in the story were free and independent, unusual for the time, was kinda anachronistic and overkill.

Altogether, I recommend this for readers who enjoy this time period.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Julie Bates for an advanced copy for review.

This is a new author to me and I will be reading more of her books! This book is part of a series, it was readable as a stand alone.

The storyline is based in July of 1776 during the American revolution and has a strong mix of historical figures, a 2 mystery's to solve and a budding romance between 2 very different characters.
One mystery is solving who is trying to harm the Continental Congress delegation members and the other is based on a Quaker family and a possible 1/2 sibling. It is skillfully integrated by Faith, Hannah , Quaker sisters and Jeremy Butler, with all their stories evolving throughout the book.

The historical story was the strongest element, drawing you into the emotions, choices, fears and divisions created among families, friends and neighbors, as they choose what side to support and the consequences it brings.
It brought to life several famous historical figures and made realistic their fictional characters and deftly woven into the story.
It delves into the culture including slavery, British influences, a budding American identity, Quaker beliefs and class divisions. It was full of suspenseful twists and turns with the plot thickening as the story progressed, and making it a real page turner!
There is some violence as appropriate to the era, not terribly graphic, clean language and romance.
Overall, a great book, I highly recommend it to those who enjoy historical and women's fiction and a well written suspense story.. A big thank you to
Level Best Books and NetGalley for the ARC, I'm grateful to be introduced to this author. All opinions expressed are my own.

Julie Bates is a new author (for me), and I loved Rise to Rebellion. I can’t wait to read this author's other books. She hits all the high notes of the intricacies of a family as Faith travels back to her family home from Virginia, where she gets word that her mother is ailing. The raw emotions of her relationship with her mother and the pain of the family dynamic come alive as Jeremy Butler arrives on the scene to help the Constitutional Convention forefathers discover who is behind the attempts on Ben Franklin’s life. The way Julie Bates mingles her made-up characters with real-life historical figures had me sitting in the great hall in Philadelphia, picturing the sights and sounds of cobblestone streets, Jefferson’s place on Walnut Street, and a few of the pubs that these great men frequented.

The story has a few twists and turns, like finding a sister from her mother’s past, a most unusual and painstaking challenge for any Quaker, a budding love affair, and two sisters who are as different as night and day, both affected differently by their stern and stoic, almost compassionless mother. I could feel the family strife jumping off the page.

I read this back as a standalone, and it works. The writing evokes a sense of going back to when democracy was a concept, not assured, presenting the men in that stuffy Convention Hall as potential enemies of England and traitors to the crown. With immersive settings, believable dialogue, and well-developed characters, the book was a one-day, easy, breezy read you will love, especially if the history of the American Revolution is a period in our history that calls your name.

I highly recommend this book for all American history lovers and even a few history lovers unfamiliar with the angst, turmoil, and fears of the distinguished men who had a dream and founded a nation. Five stars.

I received this advanced copy of Rise to Rebellion from Net Gallery for free. This review is voluntary and mine alone.

A quite intricate and explorative book which really makes you feel like you are living through the American Civil War. That's exactly what I look for in my historical fiction books! The writing style is not one I love the most, but it is not too big of a problem! I do hope this book ends up on Goodreads, eventually!

You’re driving from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania on your way from your farm to go see your mom. It's been awhile and you have recently been widowed. Suddenly behind you local law enforcement flags you down forcing you to pull over. As you pull over you are ordered out of your vehicle. One of the law enforcement pulls a blade slashing a passenger in your vehicle to fall to the ground, followed by the butt of a rifle. You are in the 1700s and under British Rule.

Compelling from the very beginning. This book showcases the dirty aspects of life in Colonial America under British Rule in the lead up to the American Revolution. The main character Faith is everything a woman could be and more for the time period this story is set. Excellent details and the book reads as a painter paints on a canvas. If you like murder mystery, twisted into a story of family and jaw dropping twists, then this book is for you. From the first page to the last, I can truly say I am hooked!

This is an exciting historical mystery rich with detail. The characters were very interesting and the author generally balanced multiple perspectives well. Even though I had not read the previous books in the Faith Clarke series, this one can definitely be read as a standalone.
The story had a few surprising twists, and all of the threads of the plot were tied neatly together by the end. By the last part of the story, I was racing to see what happened next. However, a few actions near the end did not seem at all consistent with the characters' previously-established personalities and motives; they seemed more for dramatic effect.

The book was too graphic in its descriptions of violence for my preference, but that did not impact my rating. Additionally, there were quite a few ambiguous pronouns and errors in comma usage that made the writing confusing at times - but as I expect those will be corrected by the time of publication, they did not impact my rating, either.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and seeing historical figures (both real and fictional) come to life. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free eARC. This review contains my honest opinions.