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A review by critterbee
Hamilton's Battalion: A Trio of Romances by Courtney Milan, Alyssa Cole, Rose Lerner
5.0
When I first heard about this book, I was so excited to read it, mainly because it contained stories written by Alyssa Cole, Rose Lerner and Courtney Milan. Also, as a child, I became an admirer of Alexander Hamilton, mostly because, to my juvenile, pre-teen mind, he figured as the cutest founding father and Oh, yeah! he participated in a most dashingly dangerous duel. But I have not seen Hamilton the musical.
Anyway, then the book showed up on Netgalley and I was lucky enough to obtain an ARC. I’m still pretty thrilled about that.
These three novellas are linked to each other through Alexander Hamilton. They also all took place around the same time and place in American history. Essentially the characters in this book were all with Hamilton at, or related to someone who was at, the siege of Yorktown. Years later, his widow Elizabeth Hamilton is collecting and documenting their memories of Alexander.
The first story was Promised Land by Rose Lerner, featuring what is just about my favorite trope, a woman disguising herself as a man in order to achieve a job or position that would otherwise be denied to her as a woman. Rachel has strong ideas about her destiny, and the possible future of the nation that she is fighting to help establish. She’s hiding her womanly womaness, and serving bravely and effectively as a corporal in the continental army. During the war. In combat. On the front lines. Constantly avoiding any and all situations that may expose her gender. Things are pretty complicated for Rachel.
Enter Nathan, her former love, who she remembers as being loyal to the crown, and immediately denounces as a spy. Nathan remembers Rachel quite vividly, and also remembers that she 'died' several years earlier. They are both Jewish, but with different levels of adherence to the tenets and rules of the religion. There are all types of lusty feelings flying about. Things get even more complicated.
Her insistence on calling him out as a spy showed the depth of faith to the cause, or perhaps an inability to resist reconnecting with him, although if it were only that, she would have waylaid him secretly. But she was willing to give up her secret of in order to protect the army.
Beautiful and evocative. I loved Rachel and Nathan, and their story, and read right through to the conclusion.
In Pursuit of… by Courtney Milan was the second story, and began at Yorktown, with a surreal cute meet, the best that I have read in years. It then turns into a journey story, as John must return home to his family after the war and Henry decides to travel with him, in part as repayment for John sparing his life.
I found this story to be the lightest and most humorous, which is odd considering it is a m/m, inter-racial love story set about 250 years ago, when ‘all men created equal’ clearly did not mean that all men were created equal. And yet still, the story was often pretty hilarious.
The balance between serious, taciturn John and ridiculous, garrulous Henry was entertaining. I liked this couple the best, especially the slow emergence of their feelings. I was really invested in their story, hoping that they would have a wonderful future together.
That Could Be Enough by Alyssa Cole
At the end of John and Henry’s story, we meet Mercy Alston. She works as a scribe for Elizabeth Hamilton. Her duties seem to cross over into the companion zone for Elizabeth and one of her daughters, Angelica. Mercy is very tightly-wound and sensitive, with an extremely artistic side that she meticulously hides. There are reasons.
Rather different than the hilarious meet cute of John and Henry, this one is replete with golden light and fireworks. Andromeda Stiel makes her entrance, gloriously and unexpectedly. Mercy’s (and our) first impression of her is of a magnificent force of nature. Andromeda makes an instant impact, all beauty, strength, assurance, and interest. It is safe to say that by this point I am already in love with Andromeda. Mercy takes a little longer to work through her feelings.
Andromeda is a dressmaker with a successful business, and is well-respected in the community, and by everyone she knows. She knows what she wants and works towards it. Mercy thinks a lot. About everything. She has issues communicating, which makes getting close to her difficult.
I liked the two very strong, very different women, but felt that the misunderstanding at the end could have been resolved with some plain speaking. That would absolutely NOT be in Mercy’s nature, though. Mercy needs to work on her verbal communication skills.
In short, loved the story, loved Andromeda, and am wishing for a graphic novel version on account of the description of the dresses and settings.
While the three novellas had distinctly different characters and conflicts, there was a strong feeling of hope, and faith in the country’s potential. Though there were challenges and inequality, and a few contemptibly despicable men, these characters lived and loved valiantly.
All three novellas had great characters, great meetings / introductions, and the couples just felt right for each other.
It feels like the authors took strength and inspiration from each other to make the novellas better and more cohesive. The length was perfect - not too short. I felt satisfied with how each concluded. Each author’s afterword was fascinating, and I appreciated the references that were cited there. The attention to historical detail and the research was outstanding, and did not overwhelm the storytelling.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. Highly recommended.
*eARC Netgalley*
Anyway, then the book showed up on Netgalley and I was lucky enough to obtain an ARC. I’m still pretty thrilled about that.
These three novellas are linked to each other through Alexander Hamilton. They also all took place around the same time and place in American history. Essentially the characters in this book were all with Hamilton at, or related to someone who was at, the siege of Yorktown. Years later, his widow Elizabeth Hamilton is collecting and documenting their memories of Alexander.
The first story was Promised Land by Rose Lerner, featuring what is just about my favorite trope, a woman disguising herself as a man in order to achieve a job or position that would otherwise be denied to her as a woman. Rachel has strong ideas about her destiny, and the possible future of the nation that she is fighting to help establish. She’s hiding her womanly womaness, and serving bravely and effectively as a corporal in the continental army. During the war. In combat. On the front lines. Constantly avoiding any and all situations that may expose her gender. Things are pretty complicated for Rachel.
Enter Nathan, her former love, who she remembers as being loyal to the crown, and immediately denounces as a spy. Nathan remembers Rachel quite vividly, and also remembers that she 'died' several years earlier. They are both Jewish, but with different levels of adherence to the tenets and rules of the religion. There are all types of lusty feelings flying about. Things get even more complicated.
Spoiler
I loved that it was a second chance love story, showing how they both had developed into more complex people. I liked that they had several differences to work out. There was so much conflict between the hero and heroine. They had to to overcome different political loyalties, her faking her death, the disparity in their religious devotion, strong physical attraction to each other, yearning to have children, wanting to be full citizens of the new republic, AND dealing with his mother. And all this while being in the middle of a war.Her insistence on calling him out as a spy showed the depth of faith to the cause, or perhaps an inability to resist reconnecting with him, although if it were only that, she would have waylaid him secretly. But she was willing to give up her secret of in order to protect the army.
Beautiful and evocative. I loved Rachel and Nathan, and their story, and read right through to the conclusion.
Spoiler
The flash-forward passages in the narrative showed bits of their life a great many years after the war, which was quite reassuring given the grave tone of the writing.In Pursuit of… by Courtney Milan was the second story, and began at Yorktown, with a surreal cute meet, the best that I have read in years. It then turns into a journey story, as John must return home to his family after the war and Henry decides to travel with him, in part as repayment for John sparing his life.
I found this story to be the lightest and most humorous, which is odd considering it is a m/m, inter-racial love story set about 250 years ago, when ‘all men created equal’ clearly did not mean that all men were created equal.
Spoiler
I was nervous for their safety during the encounter with the two yokels. It is sad how John expects the worst of people because that has been the only way he has experienced people to be.The balance between serious, taciturn John and ridiculous, garrulous Henry was entertaining. I liked this couple the best, especially the slow emergence of their feelings. I was really invested in their story, hoping that they would have a wonderful future together.
Spoiler
The extended ending sequence was just what I needed. I needed to know that they would be fine and have a happy future together. I really needed that.That Could Be Enough by Alyssa Cole
At the end of John and Henry’s story, we meet Mercy Alston. She works as a scribe for Elizabeth Hamilton. Her duties seem to cross over into the companion zone for Elizabeth and one of her daughters, Angelica. Mercy is very tightly-wound and sensitive, with an extremely artistic side that she meticulously hides. There are reasons.
Rather different than the hilarious meet cute of John and Henry, this one is replete with golden light and fireworks. Andromeda Stiel makes her entrance, gloriously and unexpectedly. Mercy’s (and our) first impression of her is of a magnificent force of nature. Andromeda makes an instant impact, all beauty, strength, assurance, and interest. It is safe to say that by this point I am already in love with Andromeda. Mercy takes a little longer to work through her feelings.
Andromeda is a dressmaker with a successful business, and is well-respected in the community, and by everyone she knows. She knows what she wants and works towards it. Mercy thinks a lot. About everything. She has issues communicating, which makes getting close to her difficult.
I liked the two very strong, very different women, but felt that the misunderstanding at the end could have been resolved with some plain speaking. That would absolutely NOT be in Mercy’s nature, though. Mercy needs to work on her verbal communication skills.
Spoiler
She does get there in the end, after a few false starts, and really is quite endearing.In short, loved the story, loved Andromeda, and am wishing for a graphic novel version on account of the description of the dresses and settings.
While the three novellas had distinctly different characters and conflicts, there was a strong feeling of hope, and faith in the country’s potential. Though there were challenges and inequality, and a few contemptibly despicable men, these characters lived and loved valiantly.
All three novellas had great characters, great meetings / introductions, and the couples just felt right for each other.
Spoiler
Each story had one believable, detailed love scene, that enhanced the story, and did not distract from the emotional bonding.It feels like the authors took strength and inspiration from each other to make the novellas better and more cohesive. The length was perfect - not too short. I felt satisfied with how each concluded. Each author’s afterword was fascinating, and I appreciated the references that were cited there. The attention to historical detail and the research was outstanding, and did not overwhelm the storytelling.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. Highly recommended.
*eARC Netgalley*