Genres: historical fiction, romance
Age: adult
Content: Seeing as this is a war book, there were descriptions of battle and death. There are some fade-to-black scenes between a married couple. There might have been one before marriage but it was vague enough that I am not sure.

I have seen rating after rating for this book, all five stars. I hate the be the one that doesn't but this one had a dreadfully slow start. I put it down for a couple weeks before I decided to just finish it. The book really started picking up after the 25% mark; before then was all descriptions of her life as a child and then teen. I do wish there had been a greater focus on the war and less on the romance.

Rating: 3/5 Stars ( )

If you are looking for a historical romance, this is a novel for you. Deborah Samson was a real person who passed herself off as a young man so she could fight in the American Revolution. As an indentured servant and young woman, she resisted the many restrictions placed on her, and ran off from the loving family she lived with. At the beginning the book seemed somewhat overly detailed and slow-moving about life at the time, reflecting that the author did a great deal of research. The pace picked up about midway through when the relationship between Deborah and General Patterson began and evolved.

Spoiler alert:
However, I was familiar with the true story of Deborah Samson, and knew that her life could not have happened as described, I was not able to suspend my disbelief in the plot, and I found the romance overdone. ( )

This is an excellent book, based on the true story of Deborah Samson, who indeed became a soldier during the revolutionary war. I’m very glad I read this book because I learned a great deal about our country’s history, the conflicts between those fighting for independence and those believing the British should remain in control. I also gained insight into the rigors of a soldier’s life - and am amazed at all Deborah had to endure as a female soldier and how she learned to “hide in plain sight”. Life was hard back then for women who wanted adventure because their role was set - be a wife and mother. Deborah experienced it all and lived to tell her tale.

The author writes a compelling story about a part of our country’s history and a woman who dared to dream and work hard. I really enjoyed it. ( )

Always fascinated to read about women who disguised themselves in order to accomplish a goal that women were (are) bared from.

This is based on a real person, and her disguise lasted longer than most. Abandoned by their father, their mother gave her children up and Deborah becomes an indentured servant at five.

More than anything, she wants the freedom she has been denied, especially because of her sex.

She is determined to help her country win it's independence and she is smart and hard working - she is an amazing woman - not looking for rescue by a man.

FROM AMAZON: In 1760, Deborah Samson is born to Puritan parents in Plympton, Massachusetts. When her father abandons the family and her mother is unable to support them, Deborah is bound out as an indentured servant. From that moment on, she yearns for a life of liberation and adventure.

Twenty years later, as the American colonies begin to buckle in their battle for independence, Deborah, impassioned by the cause, disguises herself as a soldier and enlists in the Continental Army. Her impressive height and lanky build make her transformation a convincing one, and it isn’t long before she finds herself confronting the horrors of war head-on.

But as Deborah fights for her country’s freedom, she must contend with the secret of who she is—and, ultimately, a surprising love she can’t deny. ( )

Always fascinated to read about women who disguised themselves in order to accomplish a goal that women were (are) bared from.

This is based on a real person, and her disguise lasted longer than most. Abandoned by their father, their mother gave her children up and Deborah becomes an indentured servant at five.

More than anything, she wants the freedom she has been denied, especially because of her sex.

She is determined to help her country win it's independence and she is smart and hard working - she is an amazing woman - not looking for rescue by a man.

FROM AMAZON: In 1760, Deborah Samson is born to Puritan parents in Plympton, Massachusetts. When her father abandons the family and her mother is unable to support them, Deborah is bound out as an indentured servant. From that moment on, she yearns for a life of liberation and adventure.

Twenty years later, as the American colonies begin to buckle in their battle for independence, Deborah, impassioned by the cause, disguises herself as a soldier and enlists in the Continental Army. Her impressive height and lanky build make her transformation a convincing one, and it isn’t long before she finds herself confronting the horrors of war head-on.

But as Deborah fights for her country’s freedom, she must contend with the secret of who she is—and, ultimately, a surprising love she can’t deny. ( )