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Destiny's Thunder
4 1/4x7 x 1 inch.
- GenresRomance
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
16 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Bright
12 books5 followersAmerican author named Tim Myers who writes under the pen names Chris Cavender, Jessica Beck, Elizabeth Bright, Melissa Glazer, Casey Mayes, D. B. Morgan.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 4, 2022
I'm giving this book four stars both for what it did, and what it didn't do. Set during the American Revolution, the novel gives a good historical background into the causes of the Revolutionary War, by having them discussed in conversations that include famous historical figures, such as Paul Revere, Joseph Warren. John Hancock and on the opposite side, General Gage. I found that as effective as narrative pages of facts would have been. Other prominent people are referred to throughout the book, which takes place in Boston. They all fit into the story, and aren't just thrown in for effect. The novel culminates in the famous battle of Lexington and Concord, and Paul revere's ride, including all the events and preparation leading up to it.
The love story of Olivia James and Ted Manning (one of the British officers quartered in her family's home) is written more like real life, without all the usual stuff that HR novels are made of. You won't find shouting matches, feigned indifference, temper tantrums, "forced seductions", kidnapping, attempted escapes or any of those over-the-top events you come to expect, and the book gains by this. The same goes for the way they handle the fact that they're on opposite sides, never with anger or insults, always with the knowledge that they love each other no matter how difficult that may be.
Neither character is larger than life, which again is usually the case in HR books. Olivia's lovely, but not the stunning beauty that captures the heart of every man, nor is she an expert horsewoman, with a host of other extraordinary talents. She's a young woman, caring for her widowed father, young brother and teenaged sister, taking care of everyday things (no spoiled, pampered heiress.) She doesn't don a uniform and follow the Patriots into battle, or anything else melodramatic. Se makes the decision to help the American cause by joining the Daughters of liberty, and keeping her ears open for information, but she doesn't become a notorious Patriot Spy "Silver Sparrow" or some such nonsense, like in other novels. She acts as no doubt a lot of real life Patriot women acted, doing their bit to help however they could, no fame or fanfare involved.
For his part, Captain Manning was handsome, but there's no talk of his being a heartbreaker, with more women in his past than he can possibly count. His exploits were much more modest. He was an excellent soldier, but didn't have fame throughout the colonies, nor was there any talk of heroic deeds and daring. There's no zeal for his cause, as he can see both sides of the war and can understand how the Rebels feel. The strongest emotion he feels is his love for Olivia and his determination never to let her go.
This book is so much more like real life than most of its genre, and for that it earns four stars.
There's also a good secondary love story, with Olivia's younger sister, Amanda and Son of liberty John Lowell, her childhood sweetheart, whom she helps on an important mission.
Ms. Bright manages to tell a good story that captures your attention and moves along fast, never failing to hold your interest.
The love story of Olivia James and Ted Manning (one of the British officers quartered in her family's home) is written more like real life, without all the usual stuff that HR novels are made of. You won't find shouting matches, feigned indifference, temper tantrums, "forced seductions", kidnapping, attempted escapes or any of those over-the-top events you come to expect, and the book gains by this. The same goes for the way they handle the fact that they're on opposite sides, never with anger or insults, always with the knowledge that they love each other no matter how difficult that may be.
Neither character is larger than life, which again is usually the case in HR books. Olivia's lovely, but not the stunning beauty that captures the heart of every man, nor is she an expert horsewoman, with a host of other extraordinary talents. She's a young woman, caring for her widowed father, young brother and teenaged sister, taking care of everyday things (no spoiled, pampered heiress.) She doesn't don a uniform and follow the Patriots into battle, or anything else melodramatic. Se makes the decision to help the American cause by joining the Daughters of liberty, and keeping her ears open for information, but she doesn't become a notorious Patriot Spy "Silver Sparrow" or some such nonsense, like in other novels. She acts as no doubt a lot of real life Patriot women acted, doing their bit to help however they could, no fame or fanfare involved.
For his part, Captain Manning was handsome, but there's no talk of his being a heartbreaker, with more women in his past than he can possibly count. His exploits were much more modest. He was an excellent soldier, but didn't have fame throughout the colonies, nor was there any talk of heroic deeds and daring. There's no zeal for his cause, as he can see both sides of the war and can understand how the Rebels feel. The strongest emotion he feels is his love for Olivia and his determination never to let her go.
This book is so much more like real life than most of its genre, and for that it earns four stars.
There's also a good secondary love story, with Olivia's younger sister, Amanda and Son of liberty John Lowell, her childhood sweetheart, whom she helps on an important mission.
Ms. Bright manages to tell a good story that captures your attention and moves along fast, never failing to hold your interest.
November 6, 2022
I gave this four stars for the excellent way it combined history (the American Revolution) with the love story of Bostonian Olivia James and British army officer Theodore Manning; the whole thing was worked so well, you feel like it all could have really happened, as Ms. Bright doesn't go in for impossible situations or melodrama. Everything feels like a glimpse back in time, and the characters' involvements in historic events (such as the battle of Lexington and Concord and Paul Revere's ride) come across as real, not exaggerated and overblown.
Olivia shoulders a lot of responsibility, caring for her younger brother, teenaged sister and widowed father, who's not in the best of health. She has to play hostess to the British officers quartered in her home, and then finds herself falling for one of them. When her sister, Amanda becomes a Daughter of Liberty and assists her Son of Liberty childhood sweetheart, John Lovell in a dangerous raid, Olivia's own patriotic feelings come to the surface, and she decides to help the cause as well. It then becomes more of an obstacle that she and Ted are on opposite sides.
Our H and h are not larger than life, a refreshing change from the usual devastatingly handsome heartbreaker and gorgeous society belle. (They're fun, but you need a break once in a while.) Olivia's pretty, Ted's handsome, that's it. She doesn't have dozens of eager suitors, he's had a few women in his past but not countless numbers. He's a good British officer, but not England's secret weapon, and when Olivia takes up the Rebel cause, she doesn't become a legendary spy with a silly name like, "The Silver Sparrow", or some such thing. She keeps her ears open for whatever info may be useful, and does it in a way that you can imagine women in that time actually helping out. No feats of daring do, miraculous escapes, nothing over the top. (This, too, was a refreshing change.) Olivia and Ted have their difficult moments, but there's none of the usual histrionics, temper tantrums, snarky comments, insults, pretended indifference, "forced seduction", or other drawn out melodrama. And still, their story captures your attention and keeps it. Thank you, Ms. Bright!
I like the way Ms. Bright put historical characters into the story, like Paul Revere, Joseph Warren, and General Gage. (He's quartered in the James' home, and much of the history and background info is given through conversations he has with Olivia's father. This is also true of talks Olivia has with both Paul Revere and Joseph Warren.) The events leading up to the famous midnight ride, and the ride itself, as well as its aftermath, blend into the story perfectly. You get a great history lesson, while being entertained by the story.
Don't pass this one up!
Olivia shoulders a lot of responsibility, caring for her younger brother, teenaged sister and widowed father, who's not in the best of health. She has to play hostess to the British officers quartered in her home, and then finds herself falling for one of them. When her sister, Amanda becomes a Daughter of Liberty and assists her Son of Liberty childhood sweetheart, John Lovell in a dangerous raid, Olivia's own patriotic feelings come to the surface, and she decides to help the cause as well. It then becomes more of an obstacle that she and Ted are on opposite sides.
Our H and h are not larger than life, a refreshing change from the usual devastatingly handsome heartbreaker and gorgeous society belle. (They're fun, but you need a break once in a while.) Olivia's pretty, Ted's handsome, that's it. She doesn't have dozens of eager suitors, he's had a few women in his past but not countless numbers. He's a good British officer, but not England's secret weapon, and when Olivia takes up the Rebel cause, she doesn't become a legendary spy with a silly name like, "The Silver Sparrow", or some such thing. She keeps her ears open for whatever info may be useful, and does it in a way that you can imagine women in that time actually helping out. No feats of daring do, miraculous escapes, nothing over the top. (This, too, was a refreshing change.) Olivia and Ted have their difficult moments, but there's none of the usual histrionics, temper tantrums, snarky comments, insults, pretended indifference, "forced seduction", or other drawn out melodrama. And still, their story captures your attention and keeps it. Thank you, Ms. Bright!
I like the way Ms. Bright put historical characters into the story, like Paul Revere, Joseph Warren, and General Gage. (He's quartered in the James' home, and much of the history and background info is given through conversations he has with Olivia's father. This is also true of talks Olivia has with both Paul Revere and Joseph Warren.) The events leading up to the famous midnight ride, and the ride itself, as well as its aftermath, blend into the story perfectly. You get a great history lesson, while being entertained by the story.
Don't pass this one up!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews