A rain of death Book

This was a terrific book. The author has real writing talent, and tells a fascinating and compelling story. It's hard to believe that this is her first book. The historical research is impeccable, and is woven seamlessly into the story. It is, essentially, a spy story about the Napoleonic wars. The suspense element is as well done as the historical component. Both the hero (Richard) and heroine (Rachel) are sympathetic, engaging characters, and it is believable that Richard would defy his father and society to pursue Rachel. Further, while Richard is a sympathetic character, he is not without his flaws. He is hotheaded and rash. Rachel also has a quick temper, and the sparks and repartee between them are really enjoyable. The author also successfully juggles numerous secondary characters, who are equally well-drawn and compelling. Since this is a 5 book series, I assume some of them will get their own stories. And I can't wait to read them all.

Rachel is Jewish, a member of a great banking family. Richard is an aristocrat, a member of a class in England that was highly anti-Semitic well into the 20th Century. The novel depicts the plight of Jews in Regency England - they couldn't become officers, they couldn't serve in Parliament, and they couldn't be elevated into the peerage. Further, they were social outcasts. The obstacles to Rachel and Richard's marriage are very real and daunting.

My only criticism is that I would have liked to have seen more of the romance between Rachel and Richard. While well done and totally credible, it takes a back seat to the other elements of the story. However, this is a small complaint in an otherwise wonderful book.

Very few romance novels deal with the plight of Jews in Regency England. I am only aware of a trilogy by Carola Dunn (Miss Jacobson's Journey), and some secondary characters in the Regencies of Carla Kelly (The Admiral's Penniless Bride and Marrying the Royal Marine). While I love this period, it's always interesting to read novels where the obstacles to marriage are extremely serious (such as class, religion, or ethnicity), and are realistically depicted.

Update May 27, 2018: Since writing this review several years ago, I discovered another series that depicts the life of Jews in Regency England. Marjorie Farrell wrote a wonderful regency trilogy, which begins with Miss Ware's Refusal. There is a major secondary character who is Jewish and appears in - I believe - both the second and third books of the trilogy (Autumn Rose and Lady Barbara's Dilemma). In one of the two books (I can't remember which), his story gets almost as much time as the hero and heroine's. It, too, is a realistic depiction of the serious obstacles Jews faced, and beautifully written.