The Daredevil

4.5 stars
I simply thought I knew the sort of stories Maria Thompson Daviess wrote. Gentle, atmospheric, country tales—simple folk, stalwart young men, blushing ladies who run households and yearn for the cozy womanly things in life. Wrong!

Here we have a spicy young woman, ready to do and dare and grab life with both hands. If it's not a woman's place, then move aside...here comes Roberta 2.0, the young man Robert. She can just about get away with it, too, being a country-bred “lad” straight from France.

Another difference is the setting. Though it's still set in the Harpeth Valley (near Nashville, TN, for those unfamiliar with the Harpeth Valley area) as most of her other books are, it's transformed into a mythical State of Harpeth with its own Governor for the sake of the intrigue with French dignitaries. And a very good intrigue it is, involving mules of all things!

All in all, a really enjoyable and unique read.

Content: swearing; God's name taken in vain (hence four stars instead of five)