Celebrate Lit / November 27, 2024

A Calculated Betrothal

About the Book A Calculated Betrothal

Book: A Calculated Betrothal

Author: Denise Weimer

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: November 12, 2024

A Patriot scout, a Loyalist widow, and a desperate fight to save what matters most.

The death of her titled husband means that not only is Tabitha Gage no longer a lady—but she’s also abandoned on an isolated Southern Georgia plantation on the eve of the revolution. With the fine house and fields sold to a neighbour, she’s left with a log cabin on unsettled timberland.

Rather than marry the neighbour’s son, Tabitha is determined to make her own way—and never again be shackled to a man she doesn’t love.

Sergeant Edmond Lassiter is one assignment away from promotion when he comes to the aid of a red-haired beauty fending off cattle rustlers. Thrown together during an attack at a nearby fort, the Patriot scout and Loyalist widow are surprised by the values they share—including honesty, loyalty, and equality.

When Edmond learns the same man who ruined his family is after what little Tabitha has left, he convinces her they should work together to make her land profitable—all while fighting off the British from East Florida and her greedy neighbour, who sabotages their every effort to succeed. Their work together will be a business arrangement…nothing more. But as a British invasion threatens, the truth soon becomes clear—continuing the connection between them will risk far more than their hearts.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts on A Calculated Betrothal

A Calculated Betrothal is part of a wonderful series that focuses in on the period of time before the Revolutionary War. This is book five I believe. I’ve had the pleasure of reading this whole series and love how it flows. The characters grow and change throughout not just one book but the series.

This book focuses on the second twin that we’ve met before. Her sister was the good one. The one who does the good deeds and fights the good fight.

Tabitha just wanted to be loved.

She married her father’s choice for her. But it wasn’t a good choice. Her life wasn’t good. They started off with money but her husband spent most of it or sent it to his brother in England. And now he’s dead. And Tabitha is free. But she’s not really free because she’s a widow with nothing.

Except for a neighbour who wants to marry her.

She refuses to marry for anything less than love. And he doesn’t want to take no for an answer. As he and his family threaten her and make her life difficult she’s just trying to survive.

Enter an American soldier. Well, okay, so technically he’s not because there isn’t an America yet. But he’s a soldier. And he’s a Patriot. But most importantly he doesn’t like this neighbor either. This nasty family ruined his family and when he sees them trying to ruin Tabitha he steps in and asks if she wants to join forces.

And from there, it moves so quickly. You’re going to love this book! I think there’s at least one more book coming in the series. And yes, you do need to read these books in order.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

About the Author of A Calculated Betrothal

North Georgia native Denise Weimer has authored around twenty traditionally published novels and novellas–historical and contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and time slip. As a freelance editor and Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books, she’s helped other authors reach their publishing dreams. The mother of two wonderful young adult daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.

More from Denise

There were only going to be four books in my Scouts of the Georgia Frontier Series.

But have you ever had a character take over a story?

That’s what happened for books four and five.

Temperance Scott, the shy but principled heroine of A Conflicted Betrothal who started her own Daughter of Liberty group during Savannah’s 1765 Stamp Act Protests, had a feisty twin sister named Tabitha. Tabitha kept marching all over the page in her bright silk gowns, making Temperance feel pale by comparison, jockeying to maintain her position as Daddy’s favourite, and plotting to steal Temperance’s beau.

When that failed, she stole the end of the novel instead, saving her sister from authorities tracking down the spy who wrote the Townsman Letters that accused prominent Loyalists of supporting the Stamp Act. Then she wed her father’s choice for her, the much older Henry Gage, Lord Riley, and sailed away on his sloop to avoid punishment.

As the book closed, Temperance got to marry her Royal Ranger-turned-Patriot, Ansel Adams, while Tabitha was left to an unknown fate in swampy South Georgia. I kept wondering whatever became of the Savannah belle down there with the snakes and gators.

When I learned that Fort Barrington on the Altamaha River changed hands several times during the American Revolution, becoming Fort Howe while under Patriot control, I had to write book five, A Calculated Betrothal.

Fast forward ten years, and Tabitha is newly a widow.

The intervening years have not been kind, as her husband marginalized her when it became clear she would not provide him with the heir he desired. Their finances have dwindled as he continually sent money to his wastrel brother-in-law in England.

Upon his death, she discovers the fine rice plantation has been sold to their greedy neighbours, Loyalist father and son Hugh and Julian Jackson. Julian has an alternate plan in mind, but Tabitha has no intention of yoking herself to another man she doesn’t love—particularly a cruel slave owner and womanizer. She takes her maid-slash-best friend Dulcie and flees to the cabin Dulcie’s husband occupies on the south side of the river. This land, at least, is still hers…even though it offers only undeveloped timberland and swampland, free range for the Spanish cattle Dulcie’s husband herds.

But there’s an enemy more dangerous than the snakes and gators, and maybe even than the Jacksons…the British-allied East Florida Rangers that raid into South Georgia—burning, stealing, and rustling cattle. A confrontation with their vengeful colonel puts Tabitha at the top of their list.

With enemies all around, how will Tabitha establish her independence?

Enter Fort Howe’s Sergeant Edmond Lassiter, a man determined to settle his own score with the Jacksons. He offers the help Tabitha needs, but with their hidden wounds and differing backgrounds, can they learn to trust each other enough to defeat their common enemies?