Novellas are tricky, little beasts. They are flashes in a pan, and the sparks can be beautiful or oh, so flat. Add to that the complexity of reading American historicals (why are they complex, you ask? I have no good answer for that. And that answer alone challenges me to continually revisit them) and many a reader could perhaps view this mini-anthology with trepidation. But please, give this a shot. You won't regret it.

Courtney Milan- Her historical novels are my favorite. Her characters, both main and supporting, brim with a depth that's just glorious. Plus, she tells a damn good story. She switches things up here with a Male/Male romance, 2 soldiers trekking home after the battle of Yorktown. She applies the same rigor to these characters as she has to all of her other historical couples and- no surprise here- I loved it. The banter between John and Henry was superb. Everybody NEEDS to read this story.

Alyssa Cole- In my opinion, Alyssa Cole's novella "Let It Shine" is, hands down, the best historical novella I've ever read and reading the latest from her here, a Female/Female romance between Eliza Hamilton's maid and a seamstress reaches similar heights. In fact, while I adore her long form novels, I am now convinced that Alyssa Cole does something magical when confined to a short form length. Something that no other author seems to do, and I don't know what it is. But I'll never not read a novella from this woman.

Rose Lerner- She writes about politics, religion, valets ... all the non-traditional themes I adore. A lot of people I respect love her... Yet, I always leave her worlds feeling like I've been poked, like it's full of hard edges. I know that's rather vague, but it's a feeling I've always associated this author. Her story here wasn't much different, for me. I love stories where the heroine dresses as a boy. I love that there was no annoying story lines about the heroine being caught while bathing or offensive storylines of fellow male soldiers being attracted to her and feeling uncomfortable with their attraction. She gave us a relationship of people we don't often see featured as protagonists (New York Jews) and beautiful world building. Still... it's the first story in the collection and while highly enjoyable, had my least favorite pairing.

These meaningful love stories fill a gaping hole in historical fiction as these marginalised voices present diverse characters navigating relationships no less dangerous than civil war itself!