Lawson’s review of The Rebel and the Lady by Kathryn Albright
Historical romance released by Harlequin Historical 1 Sep 08

I read this book over a month ago, but I put off writing the review. Why? First, I grew up around and currently live in San Antonio, Texas where much of this book takes place. Second, I didn’t really know how objective I could be since I’ve heard the history for many years. Third, it was hard to figure out exactly what to say about this book. Or maybe I was distracted by the oh so beautiful cover . . . It was better than expected and gives another reason for anyone, including myself, that Harlequin Historicals are a wonderful source of historical romance.

Wendy has already written a review of this book, so I’ll keep the summary to a minimum. Victoria Torrez has been sent by her family to San Antonio de Béxar (pronounced BAY-har) when the Mexican army marches through their ranch on the way to stop the Texian revolt. She meets her cousin Juan Seguín (pronounced seh-GHEEN), whom she tells of the march of the army into Texas, most likely on the way to San Antonio.

Jake Dumont is in San Antonio to look for his brother. He feels it’s his fault his brother fled from South Carolina, and he wants to take him back to his fiancee. Following his brother to Texas and tracking him to San Antonio, Jake has only one thing on his mind and when he gets caught in the Texian’s fight, he doesn’t know really what to do, but like everyone else he flees into the Alamo in the hope that he can protect Victoria and lend some help, where it’s desperately needed.

What I enjoyed about the book was the history that was woven into the story, but it didn’t overwhelm it. Those of Spanish decent living in Texas at the time were just as likely as the American immigrants to want to overthrow the Mexican rule. The portrayal of Victoria and Juan’s fervor for the fight as well as her friend Esteban’s desire to remain in Santa Anna’s good graces are not overdone, though Victoria, like anyone not used to fighting or lengthy wars, is naive about what the outcome of the Alamo could be.

Jake fit the bill for a loner hero who has a noble streak. When things get tough, Jake is still enough of a realist to know what the future probably holds and instead of dreaming of what can’t be, like Victoria tends to do, he instead protects what he holds dear. His realism and Victoria’s idealism play off each other well, and though Victoria does act young some times, she’s not afraid of the sacrifice for her dream of a free Texas.

They do get separated for a time during the last half of the book and Jake does seem to take too long to have his turn around, but that is because of Victoria’s haughty manner at times and also her demand of Jake’s trust without sometimes giving her own. Which is probably the one thing that bothered me the most in reading the story. Things work out well enough at the end, but Victoria still goes more with her station rather than her heart.

The history itself, while more accurate than most movies made about the Alamo, is more of a setting rather than a major part of the story. Some of the historical figures may not have been presented as they truly were (most notably Capt. Travis, who has more of a backbone and drive than historical accounts have given him), but they are just characters in the story helping the setting, again, rather than being there for anything more. I do admit that another thing that might be nitpicky that bothered me was the mention of the Guadalupe River in Goliad being “cold from the snowmelt”, which many people may assume, but the Guadalupe is spring fed, there is not enough snow in the places where snow does fall to feed a river (this applies to all rivers that originate in Texas). 

[Ed. Gwen: Leave it to Texans to find the errors.  😉  The San Antonio River is what goes thru Goliad, not the Guadalupe. Plus, this part of Texas very seldom, if ever, gets any snow (we’re roughly on the same latitude as Northern Africa), not even further up-river at the Guadalupe’s headwaters in what is now Hunt, Texas – my home town.  But we’re reading for the romance, not the history, right folks?]

It’s a good story and though it does a few minor problems, it’s nice to see Texas in a historical that’s more than just cowboys, ranches, and cattle drives. Kathryn Albright is an author I would buy again for good characters, an interesting setting and a good love story.

Grade: B+

Summary:

Victoria Ruiz is on the run. Fleeing Santa Anna’s army, which is invading Texas. But Victoria is a lady, of aristocratic descent. And this is no place for a lady.

Jake Dumont is a rebel. A loner. And a crack shot. He’s never stayed in one place for long. Never let anyone close enough to break through his guarded heart. Until now…

When Jake lays eyes on stunning Victoria, he’s rocked to the core. Here is a woman who will lay her life on the line for what she believes. Finally he’s found something worth fighting for. The lady has stolen his heart. But can a rebel gunslinger claim an aristocrat as his bride?

Read an excerpt.