Review: REVIEW - The Abolitionist Secret
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 14, 2013
Combined review of the first three books of this series featured at THE READING CAFEREVIEW:This book was my fave of the three books and I think it's because we really start to dig into what ignites the Civil War. Here we meet Heather Fitzpatrick who is northerner, abolitionist, the quieter twin sister to Jasmine, and generally a lovely human being. Heather and her twin sister Jasmine are both coming out this season and as many girls are, "husband hunting". Their mom meets our hero Lt David Whitman in the first book to this series and believes he would be a good match for either twin (she doesn't realize that David is the second son of a plantation, slave owning family). One look at Heather and he is SOLD on marrying this woman.As our heroine and hero are falling in love, the Fitzpatrick family has a secret. They are abolitionist's and have rescued a slave woman and her baby from slave mongers .. who just happen to be looking for a woman and a baby that have gone "missing" from David's family plantation.Through some debate and faith, David and Heather decide to become engaged. Though knowing that David's older brother has died and that his family hopes he will assume the plantation responsibility (David has no interest in this) the saving grace for Heather's family to agree to this union is that David has strong belief in slave freedom and new ways of the south. Soon a letter follows saying that David's dad isn't doing so well and that he needs to come south immediately. He convinces Dad Fitzpatrick to allow Heather to join him so she can meet his family and announce the engagement.Well ... Mom Whitman is a real bitch! I mean really nasty, and certainly not the gracious southerner. This mama has been planning for David to adopt the life that she had hoped for her deceased older son, which includes inheriting the plantation and marrying the girl next girl. Well she certainly isn't accepting of Heather and does some really horrible things in hopes of ensuring that the marriage between David and Heather doesn't happen. Heather, with David's encouragement stands by his side, and starts to teach the slaves how to read and write. This is ILLEGAL in the south and it is ammunition for mama bitch to use against her. You betcha she uses it and comes between David and Heather.Through deep beliefs, faith and understanding that times are changing and letting go of tradition, these two really have to fight to make this work. I was so impressed with Heather because at the beginning she is portrayed as somewhat of a timid creature but when she is facing conflict, she rises up and kicks some serious booty. She has a really great head on her shoulder and uses it for the greater good. David .. well he is just lovable. He goes out of his way to make sure that the world knows who he loves and who he intends to marry. He also stands up to mama bitch and has to make changes that go against typical south traditions and in my opinion that takes guts!Copy provided via TRC via Becky Lower