Selah Banning has come of age on the West Indies island of Nevis, shaped by experiences far beyond the typical upbringing of a young British lady in 1777. With a heart for the slaves, Selah is drawn to Jedediah Reed, a young Methodist preacher who serves the slaves of Nevis and has settled at Selah's family's plantation. Their shared purpose brings them together--despite her guardians' concern with a romance that promises little security for the future. As Jedediah's faith and Selah's abolitionist leanings lead to changes on the plantation, the Revolutionary War continues to build in the States. With the threat of starvation and the conflict with island mogul Angus Shubert growing ever stronger, the future of the Double T and its people hangs in the balance.Selah is definitely a crusader, sometimes to her detriment. I really enjoyed Jedidiah's surprising musical skill, though like Selah, I was rather frustrated with his moment of noble hypocrisy. I liked Keturah and Verity a bit more than Selah over all, but it was nice to see them all together again.
What most sparked my interest in the story was the effect the American Revolution had on the British-held Caribbean islands. I would have never thought about the islands living in next-thing-to-siege status, as trade between the two colonies had effectively stopped. The only legal goods came on British ships, but they were scarce, thus smuggling was common (with British soldiers willing to look the other way, if it was their only source meals). As the British often sailed through the isles on way to the colonies, it was the perfect place for spies. Who'd have guessed?
While the story wraps up Selah's romance, I was left wondering about other things--like Ian as he is privateering for the American colonies; Verity's enemies on the sea; island politics; the Banning sisters' abolitionist leanings and where it might lead. If the author felt like continuing the series, there's certainly a lot there for it!
Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.
The Sugar Baron's Daughters
1. Keturah
2. Verity
3. Selah
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