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Ladies of History #3
Washington's Lady
She dreams of a quiet life with her beloved George, but war looms... Though still a young woman, Martha Custis is a widow. But she is not without means and has no desire to remarry. Not, that is, until a striking war hero steps into her life and she realizes she is ready to love again. Yet she wonders whether this man, accustomed to courageous military exploits, can settle down to a simple life of farming and being a father to her children. Even as she longs for domestic bliss, Martha soon realizes she will have to risk everything dear to her and find the courage to get behind a dream much larger than her own. Known for moving first-person novels of Nannerl Mozart and Jane Austen, Nancy Moser now brings to life the loves and trials of the First First Lady of the United States.
416 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2012
628 people are currently reading
1802 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Moser
77 books764 followersNancy Moser is the author of over forty books. Her award-winning stories will inspire you to discover your unique God-given purpose. Her genres include both contemporary and historical stories, inspirational humor, and children's books.
Her newest release, "An Undiscovered Life" is about an elderly woman who wants her family to know about her "before" life—her life before them. It's inspired by Nancy's mother who died in 2020 at age 99. It's a poignant, inspiring family story.
Another newer release is "Eyes of Our Heart" which showcases a group of ordinary people who are called to discover where God is working in their lives--and join Him.
Another recent release is "The Shop Keepers", book #3 of the Pattern Artist series about a group of women designing fashion and opening their own store in 1911-19 New York City. The first book in the series, "The Pattern Artist", was a finalist for a Romantic Times award.
Other titles include the time-travel historicals, "Where Time Will Take Me", "Where Life Will Lead Me", and the Downton Abbey-inspired Manor House Series beginning with "Love of the Summerfields."
Her historical bio-novels allow real women-of-history to share their life stories: "Just Jane" (Jane Austen), "Mozart's Sister" (Nannerl Mozart),"Washington's Lady" (Martha Washington) and "How Do I Love Thee?" (Elizabeth Barrett Browning.)
"An Unlikely Suitor" was named to Booklist's Top 100 Romance Novels of the last decade. Nancy's time-travel novel, "Time Lottery", won a Christy Award, and "Washington's Lady" was a finalist. Her contemporary books are known for their big-casts and intricate plotting.
Some contemporary titles are "The Invitation", "John 3: 16", "The Sister Circle", and "The Seat Beside Me."
Nancy and her husband live in the Midwest. She's earned a degree in architecture, traveled extensively in Europe, and has performed in numerous theaters, symphonies, and choirs. She is a fan of anything antique--humans included.
Website: nancymoser.com
Her newest release, "An Undiscovered Life" is about an elderly woman who wants her family to know about her "before" life—her life before them. It's inspired by Nancy's mother who died in 2020 at age 99. It's a poignant, inspiring family story.
Another newer release is "Eyes of Our Heart" which showcases a group of ordinary people who are called to discover where God is working in their lives--and join Him.
Another recent release is "The Shop Keepers", book #3 of the Pattern Artist series about a group of women designing fashion and opening their own store in 1911-19 New York City. The first book in the series, "The Pattern Artist", was a finalist for a Romantic Times award.
Other titles include the time-travel historicals, "Where Time Will Take Me", "Where Life Will Lead Me", and the Downton Abbey-inspired Manor House Series beginning with "Love of the Summerfields."
Her historical bio-novels allow real women-of-history to share their life stories: "Just Jane" (Jane Austen), "Mozart's Sister" (Nannerl Mozart),"Washington's Lady" (Martha Washington) and "How Do I Love Thee?" (Elizabeth Barrett Browning.)
"An Unlikely Suitor" was named to Booklist's Top 100 Romance Novels of the last decade. Nancy's time-travel novel, "Time Lottery", won a Christy Award, and "Washington's Lady" was a finalist. Her contemporary books are known for their big-casts and intricate plotting.
Some contemporary titles are "The Invitation", "John 3: 16", "The Sister Circle", and "The Seat Beside Me."
Nancy and her husband live in the Midwest. She's earned a degree in architecture, traveled extensively in Europe, and has performed in numerous theaters, symphonies, and choirs. She is a fan of anything antique--humans included.
Website: nancymoser.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 248 reviews
February 29, 2016
I really enjoyed this book so much! Moser gave this the voice of a real person, which sometimes means it was a bit choppy, but it felt so real. she obviously spent a lot of time researching and poured both her imagination and history into this book.
Highly recommend for those who love history, and Martha Washington.
Highly recommend for those who love history, and Martha Washington.
December 24, 2009
If you like your American history in the 'American colonists=good, British=bad', you'll enjoy this book. If you like your history delivered in a non-jingoistic manner where both sides exist in a shade of grey, you'll probably find the second half of this novel just as grating and hard to tollerate as I did (which is why I skipped most of it and went straight to the end). In that, she seems to have taken after Gilbert Morris. It suffers from all the same faults most Christian fiction does (sappiness, characterization that's lacking, plot that doesn't flow smoothly), though to a lesser degree than some, such as Janette Oke. If you want to get an idea about the life of Martha Dandridge Custis Washington, give this a read. I'd go find a non-fiction autobiography about Mrs. Washington if you're looking for a book you know you can trust for accurate information.
February 7, 2009
What struck me about this book was that Martha Washington was an incredibly hard worker. She was courageous and even in the face of adversity she didn’t give up. She was completely devoted to her children and her husband and making them happy was what drove her. You cannot read this book without developing a strong admiration for George and Martha Washington. The book gives you an insight into what life was like for the people and especially women of those times.
Not being from America so therefore having limited knowledge of American history, I found this book to be very informative. I learned much about America’s fight for freedom and the tyrannical way in which the British behaved, but on the other hand so many wonderful countries have become developed nations as a result of Britain’s expansion of the colonies.
Whilst this was an interesting book I found it to really drag in places and at times seemed almost repetitive. Still a good read if you have an interest in American history.
Not being from America so therefore having limited knowledge of American history, I found this book to be very informative. I learned much about America’s fight for freedom and the tyrannical way in which the British behaved, but on the other hand so many wonderful countries have become developed nations as a result of Britain’s expansion of the colonies.
Whilst this was an interesting book I found it to really drag in places and at times seemed almost repetitive. Still a good read if you have an interest in American history.
May 3, 2010
Washington’s Lady takes a very interesting, yet fictional view, into the life of Martha Washington (1731-1802), George Washington’s wife. It begins right after the death of her first husband, Daniel Custis, and ends with the death of George (I’m going to add that this is one reason I love historical books: no spoilers. We all know that George Washington died. Gasp!) In between, we follow her through fifty years of her exciting and heroic life.
Two things stood out to me about Martha. The first was how brave she was. Being the wife of the much loved war general, she was widely respected and loved for being caring and generous. Soldiers practically worshipped her and begged to speak with or get a glimpse of her when she came to their camps. The wives of soldiers were awed by her, yet afraid to be her friend because of her greatness. She was treated as the future Queen of America (the first First Lady isn’t such a bad title either).
The second thing is that despite her selflessness and kindness, death followed her everywhere. Throughout the book, her mother, siblings, children, grandchildren, and husbands die. We of course know that family deaths are inevitable over a long period of time, yet I was still amazed at the number of deaths she had to deal with. To me, this only made her a stronger figure.
As good as the story was, the writing style really turned me off. I am not a fan of short, choppy sentences and this book is FULL of them. Example: "I started to turn the knob...I stopped myself. I shook my head. No. I would not enter. Ever. Ever again." Too many sentences start with And or But. However, the biggest no-no is the use of the most cliché phrase in the entire English language: "It was quiet. Too quiet." Yikes!
I applaud Nancy Moser on picking a very interesting figure to write about. She has also written books about Nannerl Mozart and Jane Austen. I would recommend Washington’s Lady to get good, simplified background information on Martha Washington, her husband, and the American Revolution. I also gained infinitely more respect for the entire Washington family and the grounds on which our country was founded.
3 stars.
Two things stood out to me about Martha. The first was how brave she was. Being the wife of the much loved war general, she was widely respected and loved for being caring and generous. Soldiers practically worshipped her and begged to speak with or get a glimpse of her when she came to their camps. The wives of soldiers were awed by her, yet afraid to be her friend because of her greatness. She was treated as the future Queen of America (the first First Lady isn’t such a bad title either).
The second thing is that despite her selflessness and kindness, death followed her everywhere. Throughout the book, her mother, siblings, children, grandchildren, and husbands die. We of course know that family deaths are inevitable over a long period of time, yet I was still amazed at the number of deaths she had to deal with. To me, this only made her a stronger figure.
As good as the story was, the writing style really turned me off. I am not a fan of short, choppy sentences and this book is FULL of them. Example: "I started to turn the knob...I stopped myself. I shook my head. No. I would not enter. Ever. Ever again." Too many sentences start with And or But. However, the biggest no-no is the use of the most cliché phrase in the entire English language: "It was quiet. Too quiet." Yikes!
I applaud Nancy Moser on picking a very interesting figure to write about. She has also written books about Nannerl Mozart and Jane Austen. I would recommend Washington’s Lady to get good, simplified background information on Martha Washington, her husband, and the American Revolution. I also gained infinitely more respect for the entire Washington family and the grounds on which our country was founded.
3 stars.
May 30, 2023
Let me first start out by saying that I have been in a reading slump since I found out I'm pregnant. This was the PERFECT book to help me get out of that!
I had so much appreciation for Martha and her desire to just BE. AT. HOME. She just wanted to run a house and plantation with her husband by her side, but God had different plans. I admired how she supported her husband through anything that he felt was his duty and that he believed he was called to do. The amount of loss God called them through is incredible. I very much understood her fear that God would take away all of her loved ones in the blink of an eye.
The ending made me cry. Also, the symbolism of her burning all her letters from George really spoke to me too of her great love for him.
The author did a great job of not only portraying Martha as a great lady, but also as a human being who made mistakes, especially when it came to her son and grandson.
I loved this book. It now has a permanent place on my shelf!
I had so much appreciation for Martha and her desire to just BE. AT. HOME. She just wanted to run a house and plantation with her husband by her side, but God had different plans. I admired how she supported her husband through anything that he felt was his duty and that he believed he was called to do. The amount of loss God called them through is incredible. I very much understood her fear that God would take away all of her loved ones in the blink of an eye.
The ending made me cry. Also, the symbolism of her burning all her letters from George really spoke to me too of her great love for him.
The author did a great job of not only portraying Martha as a great lady, but also as a human being who made mistakes, especially when it came to her son and grandson.
I loved this book. It now has a permanent place on my shelf!
July 9, 2015
Martha Washington’s story surprised me. I knew nothing of this women and her great love for George Washington. I gained a new appreciation for America and how it was formed, who formed it and their amazing fight for the freedom I enjoy. This was an exciting, powerful, heartfelt story told in first person; of one women’s life filled with tragedy and triumph that would affect so many around her. Without the deep convictions George Washington had and Martha decision to allow her husband to be all he could be for himself and this country; none of us would be enjoying, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness we have today. Nancy Moser brings history to life in a fresh new way.
Through the eyes of Martha Washington I learned how determined, courageous and vital she was in getting the women together to fight just has hard as their men. History blanks were filled in for me as Martha Washington lead the women of her time to do their part in building the “United” States of America. I loved that Nancy Moser helped me learn even more about history by having the fact and fiction section in the back of the book, (before the discussion questions) it is there she reveals what exactly the “facts” were and what she made up to help the story flow.
Nancy has brilliantly brought fact and fiction together in Washington’s Lady to create a story you will never forget. Every time someone mentions George Washington you will automatically recall a woman’s deep love for her husband and this country. The sacrificial story of Martha and George Washington and how they rose above their circumstances to answer the call this country put on their lives. You’ll remember that with God’s help all things were made possible for them and for us.
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St.Laurent
The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
Through the eyes of Martha Washington I learned how determined, courageous and vital she was in getting the women together to fight just has hard as their men. History blanks were filled in for me as Martha Washington lead the women of her time to do their part in building the “United” States of America. I loved that Nancy Moser helped me learn even more about history by having the fact and fiction section in the back of the book, (before the discussion questions) it is there she reveals what exactly the “facts” were and what she made up to help the story flow.
Nancy has brilliantly brought fact and fiction together in Washington’s Lady to create a story you will never forget. Every time someone mentions George Washington you will automatically recall a woman’s deep love for her husband and this country. The sacrificial story of Martha and George Washington and how they rose above their circumstances to answer the call this country put on their lives. You’ll remember that with God’s help all things were made possible for them and for us.
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St.Laurent
The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
April 18, 2024
Wow, what a book! The author did a tremendous job of bringing us into Martha Washington’s world. The historical feel of the narration and dialogue was perfect, and I loved how she included real letters complete with their actual spelling. The historical note at the end was so helpful—this author really did her research and was extremely careful not to take too many liberties with her interpretations of events.
It’s not a fast story, and at times I would have liked to see more detail of certain events, such as when Benedict Arnold was exposed as a traitor. I wonder what the emotional impact of that would have been on George and Martha, and it’s barely touched on here. At the same time, there is a wealth of emotion in other ways—so many losses in Martha’s life, so much strength to carry on. This book covers a lot of ground, from the death of Martha’s first husband to after George’s presidency. It was fascinating to see George through Martha’s eyes, and I wanted the story to end in a different place. I know it had to end that way, but I didn’t want it to.
Having just read a novel that made strong womanhood a matter of pushing back against all convention, I really enjoyed the strength and wisdom and graciousness Martha displayed in complementing George and embracing her role in the sphere she was given. The glimpses of other officers’ wives and their lives during the war was also interesting to me. There is a lot of sorrow and death in this book, but it’s well written and showcases strength and honest faith in a way that’s not overly despondent.
In short, this novel offers fascinating insight into a different aspect of early America and the strength of those who stood behind the famous names. Highly recommended for lovers of history.
Content warnings: death, grief, romance, mentions of marital intimacy
Join my newsletter list for monthly reading roundups and author updates, plus a free short story.
It’s not a fast story, and at times I would have liked to see more detail of certain events, such as when Benedict Arnold was exposed as a traitor. I wonder what the emotional impact of that would have been on George and Martha, and it’s barely touched on here. At the same time, there is a wealth of emotion in other ways—so many losses in Martha’s life, so much strength to carry on. This book covers a lot of ground, from the death of Martha’s first husband to after George’s presidency. It was fascinating to see George through Martha’s eyes, and I wanted the story to end in a different place. I know it had to end that way, but I didn’t want it to.
Having just read a novel that made strong womanhood a matter of pushing back against all convention, I really enjoyed the strength and wisdom and graciousness Martha displayed in complementing George and embracing her role in the sphere she was given. The glimpses of other officers’ wives and their lives during the war was also interesting to me. There is a lot of sorrow and death in this book, but it’s well written and showcases strength and honest faith in a way that’s not overly despondent.
In short, this novel offers fascinating insight into a different aspect of early America and the strength of those who stood behind the famous names. Highly recommended for lovers of history.
Content warnings: death, grief, romance, mentions of marital intimacy
Join my newsletter list for monthly reading roundups and author updates, plus a free short story.
August 28, 2009
I consider myself a fan of Nancy Moser, now having read and own three of her books. The first two were Mozart's Sister and Just Jane (Ladies of History Series #2). This third book of hers did not disappoint.
If you are unfamiliar with her work, Nancy Moser takes a historical figure, like Martha Washington, and instead of writing a biography of her (which has already been done) she instead writes about her life in the form of a novel. A novel that has a lot of truth in it, in fact she finds as much true evidence as she can to include in her books and only adds or recreates when necessary. In most cases it is hard to find enough documentation to piece together a person's whole life and it doesn't help that Martha Washington burned all the correspondence she had with George. But I applaud her efforts in tackling the challenge and commend her on a job well done. I immensely enjoyed learning about Martha Washington, George Washington, and their life before, during, and after the American Revolution. I have come to admire Martha and George; and I feel that I understand them and their lives so much more after reading this book. At the end of the book Nancy Moser, includes a section where she explains to the readers what was factual about her book and what she recreated. She goes into the thorough detail and I appreciate her honesty.
The only complaint I have with the book (and this is the reason I am not giving it 5 stars) is that the ending came too abruptly. We traveled with Martha and George through the first years of their marriage, the start of the Revolutionary War, the end of the Revolutionary, George Washington being elected President, and then the last chapter says "10 years later" under it. I was disappointed the author left out all of the years where George was out first president. I don't know if she thought it would make the book to long, but I wouldn't have minded! I think the Presidency was something very important in both their lives, and not something to be summarized in a few paragraphs. Especially when she was so thorough in the years 1775-1788, it seems wrong to not continue to be thorough in the years 1789-1799. It feels inconsistent.
Overall, if you enjoy learning about history, but you aren't a fan of reading biographies, you will enjoy this book, I call it a "bio-novel."
I look forward to Nancy Moser's next release about Elizabeth Barrett Browning How Do I Love Thee?.
If you are unfamiliar with her work, Nancy Moser takes a historical figure, like Martha Washington, and instead of writing a biography of her (which has already been done) she instead writes about her life in the form of a novel. A novel that has a lot of truth in it, in fact she finds as much true evidence as she can to include in her books and only adds or recreates when necessary. In most cases it is hard to find enough documentation to piece together a person's whole life and it doesn't help that Martha Washington burned all the correspondence she had with George. But I applaud her efforts in tackling the challenge and commend her on a job well done. I immensely enjoyed learning about Martha Washington, George Washington, and their life before, during, and after the American Revolution. I have come to admire Martha and George; and I feel that I understand them and their lives so much more after reading this book. At the end of the book Nancy Moser, includes a section where she explains to the readers what was factual about her book and what she recreated. She goes into the thorough detail and I appreciate her honesty.
The only complaint I have with the book (and this is the reason I am not giving it 5 stars) is that the ending came too abruptly. We traveled with Martha and George through the first years of their marriage, the start of the Revolutionary War, the end of the Revolutionary, George Washington being elected President, and then the last chapter says "10 years later" under it. I was disappointed the author left out all of the years where George was out first president. I don't know if she thought it would make the book to long, but I wouldn't have minded! I think the Presidency was something very important in both their lives, and not something to be summarized in a few paragraphs. Especially when she was so thorough in the years 1775-1788, it seems wrong to not continue to be thorough in the years 1789-1799. It feels inconsistent.
Overall, if you enjoy learning about history, but you aren't a fan of reading biographies, you will enjoy this book, I call it a "bio-novel."
I look forward to Nancy Moser's next release about Elizabeth Barrett Browning How Do I Love Thee?.
January 2, 2009
This is a very enjoyable book. The geneology information gets a bit confusing but it is a tiny part. The author makes Martha Washington come alive while integrating historical information in a very interesting way.
August 6, 2017
This was SUCH a good and exciting read! Makes you thankful for the founding women of this country. We are visiting Mount Vernon soon! 🇺🇸
May 7, 2016
"It is said that without George Washington there would be no United States, but without Martha, there would be no George Washington."
I have always held a particular fascination for early America, from about the time the first settlers came to the continent to the establishment of our country some hundred years later. I have really been enjoying TURN: Washington's Spies and how it focuses not just on people living during the 18th century, but actual historical people such as George Washington and others who were part of the Culper Ring. So when I heard about this book, I got really excited because I've never seen anything written from the point of view of the true First Lady. So I picked it up and despite a slow beginning, I read this in only a couple hours.
The historical detail in this book is so well done, but not overdone, and even in the slow parts, it keeps you interested. I love having books that have real historical events tied to them, whether it be a war, a tragedy such as the Titanic, or something fun like the World Fairs. But this book is labeled as fiction if you look at it through the Goodreads website. The book is mostly truthful, but it also has fictional elements that the author clears up at the end.
I really loved Martha's story. I had always thought of George and Martha together, not exactly realizing she was an individual and had a life before him. While I wouldn't consider her story in itself a feel good story, because she endured so many hardships in her life, but there are some fun and humorus parts of the story that kept it from being too much of a downer.
I think people who are learning about the American Revolution and/or George Washington will really enjoy this non/fiction book about America's First Lady.
I have always held a particular fascination for early America, from about the time the first settlers came to the continent to the establishment of our country some hundred years later. I have really been enjoying TURN: Washington's Spies and how it focuses not just on people living during the 18th century, but actual historical people such as George Washington and others who were part of the Culper Ring. So when I heard about this book, I got really excited because I've never seen anything written from the point of view of the true First Lady. So I picked it up and despite a slow beginning, I read this in only a couple hours.
The historical detail in this book is so well done, but not overdone, and even in the slow parts, it keeps you interested. I love having books that have real historical events tied to them, whether it be a war, a tragedy such as the Titanic, or something fun like the World Fairs. But this book is labeled as fiction if you look at it through the Goodreads website. The book is mostly truthful, but it also has fictional elements that the author clears up at the end.
I really loved Martha's story. I had always thought of George and Martha together, not exactly realizing she was an individual and had a life before him. While I wouldn't consider her story in itself a feel good story, because she endured so many hardships in her life, but there are some fun and humorus parts of the story that kept it from being too much of a downer.
I think people who are learning about the American Revolution and/or George Washington will really enjoy this non/fiction book about America's First Lady.
December 12, 2008
Washington's Lady by Nancy Moser
Amid all the anticipation and dazzle surrounding our new First Couple, reading about the first-First Couple has been especially moving. Laying the foundation for leadership was a daunting challenge for George and Martha Washington. I've read so little about Martha that I was completely enthralled by this historical fiction related in her first person voice.
The narration of daily life in mid-to-late 1700's opens a world of hard work, war, teeth-rattling travel, unchecked disease, and family relationships that speaks to us through time. Their love and devotion to one another cascades to others in caring acts of kindness and consideration. What a marvelous couple! They complemented each other and built a solid life for Martha's children from her first marriage and a soothing home for George's weary returns from battles.
The story covers Martha's grief at the loss of her first husband, her courtship and marriage to George, and their lives as people of strength and courage. I feel I have at least some notion of this incredible woman who has been lost in the mists of time for far too long.
Amid all the anticipation and dazzle surrounding our new First Couple, reading about the first-First Couple has been especially moving. Laying the foundation for leadership was a daunting challenge for George and Martha Washington. I've read so little about Martha that I was completely enthralled by this historical fiction related in her first person voice.
The narration of daily life in mid-to-late 1700's opens a world of hard work, war, teeth-rattling travel, unchecked disease, and family relationships that speaks to us through time. Their love and devotion to one another cascades to others in caring acts of kindness and consideration. What a marvelous couple! They complemented each other and built a solid life for Martha's children from her first marriage and a soothing home for George's weary returns from battles.
The story covers Martha's grief at the loss of her first husband, her courtship and marriage to George, and their lives as people of strength and courage. I feel I have at least some notion of this incredible woman who has been lost in the mists of time for far too long.
April 18, 2015
Added 4/18/15.
Read during March and April 2015.
An interesting story told from the point of view of Martha Washington during the time George Washington was involved with the colonies. He became Commander of the Colonial forces and then President of the newly formed USA. They both made great sacrifices for their country.
Another aspect of life at that time was that so many people (including babies & children) died because of medical problems which are curable today.
See the following GR review for more details:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Among other things it says:
"...Martha Washington was an incredibly hard worker. She was courageous and even in the face of adversity she didn’t give up. You cannot read this book without developing a strong admiration for George and Martha Washington."
The book is not a page-turner but it was interesting enough to keep me reading, especially the parts about Washington's part in the American revolution.
Read during March and April 2015.
An interesting story told from the point of view of Martha Washington during the time George Washington was involved with the colonies. He became Commander of the Colonial forces and then President of the newly formed USA. They both made great sacrifices for their country.
Another aspect of life at that time was that so many people (including babies & children) died because of medical problems which are curable today.
See the following GR review for more details:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Among other things it says:
"...Martha Washington was an incredibly hard worker. She was courageous and even in the face of adversity she didn’t give up. You cannot read this book without developing a strong admiration for George and Martha Washington."
The book is not a page-turner but it was interesting enough to keep me reading, especially the parts about Washington's part in the American revolution.
August 21, 2015
Loved this book! It was a fascinating read and even the slow parts were brimming with enough historical detail to keep me reading. Martha worked so hard alongside her husband and the soldiers of the revolution. Her life was not an easy one, especially considering her position in society. I have recommended this book to so many people, just to get a better understanding of this figure of American history. Such a contrast from today's political leaders! I especially loved the back section where the author talked about her research.
July 13, 2013
ohno! this is the third of a series! guess I would have to see who the other books are about.. this was 396 pages of Martha.. probably more than I would choose to know if it were not for being a book group book.. it will be interesting to hear the discussion.. it was written as I guess people talked back in that day.. the cover is sooo wrong compared to the content... I just can't give it a glowing review...
May 29, 2019
Disappointing. And, I have to admit that I didn't finish the book (but I did stay with it for more than 100 pages). The characters are poorly developed and the text doesn't ring true for the times. Overall: hokey.
p 44: The colonel stood and meandered to the mantel, where he straightened a candle.
Really?
Is this typical of books from Bethany House Press?
p 44: The colonel stood and meandered to the mantel, where he straightened a candle.
Really?
Is this typical of books from Bethany House Press?
August 16, 2009
This is a ok book if you like George Washington and his wife and want to learn about there family. It was interesting at first but toward the end it started boring me to tears. No offence to the author. I have enjoyed other books by Nancy Moser.
March 3, 2012
Check out my review that I posted on my blog!--- http://writingchristiannovels.blogspo...
April 8, 2020
Author Nancy Moser wrote one of my favorite books, Mozart’s Sister. So, I was happy to discover this book is the third book in her Ladies of History series. (I now cannot wait to read the second book: Just Jane.) However, if you love historical fiction as much as I do, you will enjoy this book! Having been to Mount Vernon, rocked on the back porch of the Washington home overlooking the Potomac River, and seen the room in which George died, made this book even more meaningful to me. “I wish for the first prospect of Mount Vernon to take one’s breath away with its beauty, with trees lining the road, and flowers accompanying the guest’s journey closer.” Mount Vernon does take one’s breath away, and I so want to visit again but with my husband this time. Martha was a wonderful complement to her husband in every way. I love this: “...I was determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I found myself because I had long found the greater part of our happiness or misery depended upon our dispositions and not upon our circumstances.” Read this book! You will not be disappointed!
July 28, 2025
This was quite an interesting book. It read like a novel, but is what I would call fictionalized history. The author did much research and sought to be as accurate as possible in describing the scenes and the times in which they lived, along with as much of the dialogue and actions as possible. I knew very little about Martha Washington and found her to be an interesting woman of character and resolve - and she certainly did love George during the 40+ years of their marriage. Martha's life was marked by many great losses - a young husband, young children, and many more I won't mention because they are recounted later in the book. We also see in the book a close-up view of the beginnings of the Revolutionary War and how it played out amongst this young nation and the colonists. I feel like I know a LOT more about George and Martha and Mount Vernon and the War than I previously knew - and that's a good thing.
November 14, 2022
This was interesting, but Martha really got on my nerves. She made some horrible decisions. Why she couldn’t scold her son baffled me, and then she repeated this with her grandson. Just awful. Live and learn! Don’t repeat past mistakes.
The Washingtons were great people, and I enjoyed learning more about them. It was nice reading how Mount Vernon continued to grow, the cost of war and how Washington became the first President of a brand new country. I really enjoyed reading this historical stuff the most.
The Washingtons were great people, and I enjoyed learning more about them. It was nice reading how Mount Vernon continued to grow, the cost of war and how Washington became the first President of a brand new country. I really enjoyed reading this historical stuff the most.
February 19, 2018
This was a nice surprise.... I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I did but all in all it was a very good read and I learned a lot about American history (I'm Canadian) and Martha is a strong and powerful woman.... an amazing role model ❤
January 12, 2020
I'd truly rate this a 3.5. This is a standalone even though it's listed as third in a series. This novel takes a lovely look into the life of Martha Custis. I never realized how much loss she endured throughout her lifetime. The author weaves Martha's tale of loss and love in a way that made me want to reach through the pages and just hold her to my chest in comfort. The only downfall is the filler. I found my mind wandering off into the great blue yonder a few hundred times and found I didn't miss much when I came back around.
If you're a lover of historical romance and always wondered about our very first First Lady of the United States. I'd recommend this novel to you.
If you're a lover of historical romance and always wondered about our very first First Lady of the United States. I'd recommend this novel to you.
December 6, 2018
I had a hard time getting into this book, never really warmed up to Martha. Maybe I will have to try it at a later date.
March 19, 2014
This is a reasonably good fictionalized biography of Martha Washington. If you want more solid historical material I recommend Elswyth Thane's biography, but if you want something lighter, this book is clean and harmless.
Basically the novel is like a rather bland Masterpiece Theatre dramatization of Martha's life--kind of like The Adams Chronicles, minus the great lines. I've always liked the Washingtons, so I enjoyed it. If I had been younger--like 12, or 13--I would have been more thrilled by the romance element ( What an honor to be known as Lady Washington!) but the adult me found Nancy Moser's attempt at their love story to be a bit sedate and predictable.
Ok, good points and bad points coming up:
Good Points:
1: The author has most of her facts straight, although she's noticeably lacking in a grasp of the big picture of what went on during the Revolution. I've seen much worse attempts at historical fiction than hers. At any rate she doesn't smear filthy slurs and silly feminism into everything.
2: All scenes involving very young children are good. In fact, I feel her ability is much stronger with younger characters. She should emphasize the child's point of view more.
3: The sections involving Martha's grief at the death of her daughter Patsy were surprisingly strong. Death is a hard theme to handle and Nancy Moser did not disappoint me.
4: The ending line is effective, also some of the scenes with George's teeth problems are surprisingly cute.
5: The author characterizes Martha realistically as an ordinary woman, interested in clothes and babies and her life at home, not as some impossible warrior lady or bragging intellectual. This is true to Martha's personality and makes her relateable.
Bad Points:
1: Martha is really the only character in the book. It doesn't help that the novel is written in first person, but I don't want to blame everything on style. Nancy Moser doesn't develop any of the other characters much at all. They are all seen, rather blurrily, through Martha's eyes, and we don't get to know any of them deeply. Sadly, this includes George himself, who remains an admirable stick of wood from beginning to end. ( At least, that's my opinion. If anyone reading this felt he was a thrilling male lead, please forgive my insulting him. :P )
2: On the whole, the presentation of Britain was self righteous and unfair. And the presentation of the Revolution as God's plan--as if God was also Britain's enemy--was a bit childish. God cared about the outcome of the war, of course, but I imagine His way of caring about it was not much like the way of the people involved. ;)
3: All areas with Sally Fairfax were silly. The only thing I can say for the author here is she didn't try to steam up the rumored affair between George and his friend's wife. But she did nothing to make Martha look like a poised, intelligent woman during this episode, and the general idea that George William wouldn't mind if Sally cheated on him--because he was English, and the English are a morally corrupt people, unlike the incorruptible Americans--I found just hilarious. As for the rumor that George William wanted Washington to give Sally a baby, since Sally had given him no heirs, most responsible people have considered it to be unlikely and I am inclined to agree with them. Old gossip is still gossip, and some stories are harder to believe than others. If a thousand years from now people read rumors that Michelle Obama had an affair with Robert Downey Jr ( and Barack, of course, didn't object at all to the proceedings), it would still be a dumb story and smart people would dismiss it as speculation. :P
4: The opening of the book was a bit angsty and smacked of the Brontes. Martha's first father-in -law may have been a difficult man, and her mother-in-law ( George's mother) may have been a difficult woman, but in this book they didn't come across as difficult. They came across as unmotivated.
Overall, this was a nice book in some ways. I liked the way it honored the hard work that ordinary women do every day. But it wasn't perfect. No book is. That doesn't make it not worth reading, if you're a fan of the Washingtons. :)
Basically the novel is like a rather bland Masterpiece Theatre dramatization of Martha's life--kind of like The Adams Chronicles, minus the great lines. I've always liked the Washingtons, so I enjoyed it. If I had been younger--like 12, or 13--I would have been more thrilled by the romance element ( What an honor to be known as Lady Washington!) but the adult me found Nancy Moser's attempt at their love story to be a bit sedate and predictable.
Ok, good points and bad points coming up:
Good Points:
1: The author has most of her facts straight, although she's noticeably lacking in a grasp of the big picture of what went on during the Revolution. I've seen much worse attempts at historical fiction than hers. At any rate she doesn't smear filthy slurs and silly feminism into everything.
2: All scenes involving very young children are good. In fact, I feel her ability is much stronger with younger characters. She should emphasize the child's point of view more.
3: The sections involving Martha's grief at the death of her daughter Patsy were surprisingly strong. Death is a hard theme to handle and Nancy Moser did not disappoint me.
4: The ending line is effective, also some of the scenes with George's teeth problems are surprisingly cute.
5: The author characterizes Martha realistically as an ordinary woman, interested in clothes and babies and her life at home, not as some impossible warrior lady or bragging intellectual. This is true to Martha's personality and makes her relateable.
Bad Points:
1: Martha is really the only character in the book. It doesn't help that the novel is written in first person, but I don't want to blame everything on style. Nancy Moser doesn't develop any of the other characters much at all. They are all seen, rather blurrily, through Martha's eyes, and we don't get to know any of them deeply. Sadly, this includes George himself, who remains an admirable stick of wood from beginning to end. ( At least, that's my opinion. If anyone reading this felt he was a thrilling male lead, please forgive my insulting him. :P )
2: On the whole, the presentation of Britain was self righteous and unfair. And the presentation of the Revolution as God's plan--as if God was also Britain's enemy--was a bit childish. God cared about the outcome of the war, of course, but I imagine His way of caring about it was not much like the way of the people involved. ;)
3: All areas with Sally Fairfax were silly. The only thing I can say for the author here is she didn't try to steam up the rumored affair between George and his friend's wife. But she did nothing to make Martha look like a poised, intelligent woman during this episode, and the general idea that George William wouldn't mind if Sally cheated on him--because he was English, and the English are a morally corrupt people, unlike the incorruptible Americans--I found just hilarious. As for the rumor that George William wanted Washington to give Sally a baby, since Sally had given him no heirs, most responsible people have considered it to be unlikely and I am inclined to agree with them. Old gossip is still gossip, and some stories are harder to believe than others. If a thousand years from now people read rumors that Michelle Obama had an affair with Robert Downey Jr ( and Barack, of course, didn't object at all to the proceedings), it would still be a dumb story and smart people would dismiss it as speculation. :P
4: The opening of the book was a bit angsty and smacked of the Brontes. Martha's first father-in -law may have been a difficult man, and her mother-in-law ( George's mother) may have been a difficult woman, but in this book they didn't come across as difficult. They came across as unmotivated.
Overall, this was a nice book in some ways. I liked the way it honored the hard work that ordinary women do every day. But it wasn't perfect. No book is. That doesn't make it not worth reading, if you're a fan of the Washingtons. :)
June 20, 2014
The life of Martha Washington makes for fascinating reading. It is clear that George Washington was a man for his time, whose humility and dedication to God led to great things, and partnering with George with his beloved Martha. I learned many things about her in this novel, and would recommend this book to all history lovers.
The story starts just after Martha Custis loses her first husband, leaving her a young widow with two small children. Martha was the wealthiest widow in Virginia at the time and was sought by several suitors, but it was the quiet and dignified colonel George Washington who won her hand. Together they raised Martha's two children and worked to expand Washington's Mount Vernon estate for several years while George served in the Virginia House of Burgesses.
We get to follow along with the major events that led up to the Revolutionary War, and watch with Martha as George is named Commander in Chief of the entire Continental Army. Throughout the long years of the war, Martha spent many winters camped with George and the Army, which is something I hadn't realized before. The war basically came to a halt each winter, making it relatively safe for Martha to travel and stay with her husband during those cold months. Her presence appears to have been a great morale boost not just to George but to the whole Army, who looked forward to her visits and the aid that she brought.
It was interesting to me to get a closer, personalized view of George and Martha both, because George had the same Myers-Briggs personality type as I do (ISTJ). Martha, of course, had a different view of life because she had a different personality that balanced out the more stoic parts of George's character. In some ways I had a harder time connecting with Martha in the novel because the way she made decisions was so different than my own approach. I could see that some of the choices she made in grief would come back to be regrets later, and indeed they did. But overall Martha was a capable, gracious, and friendly woman who was able to work through great personal difficulties to support her husband through the birth of a nation, and to become a widely known and respected figure in her own right as she played her part in history.
I enjoyed brushing up on my eighteenth century history and this look at America's first president and his lady. This is the second Nancy Moser novel I have read, and I believe she does an excellent job bringing historical figures to life. I look forward to reading more of her works in the future.
This review originated at http://reviewsbyerin.livejournal.com
The story starts just after Martha Custis loses her first husband, leaving her a young widow with two small children. Martha was the wealthiest widow in Virginia at the time and was sought by several suitors, but it was the quiet and dignified colonel George Washington who won her hand. Together they raised Martha's two children and worked to expand Washington's Mount Vernon estate for several years while George served in the Virginia House of Burgesses.
We get to follow along with the major events that led up to the Revolutionary War, and watch with Martha as George is named Commander in Chief of the entire Continental Army. Throughout the long years of the war, Martha spent many winters camped with George and the Army, which is something I hadn't realized before. The war basically came to a halt each winter, making it relatively safe for Martha to travel and stay with her husband during those cold months. Her presence appears to have been a great morale boost not just to George but to the whole Army, who looked forward to her visits and the aid that she brought.
It was interesting to me to get a closer, personalized view of George and Martha both, because George had the same Myers-Briggs personality type as I do (ISTJ). Martha, of course, had a different view of life because she had a different personality that balanced out the more stoic parts of George's character. In some ways I had a harder time connecting with Martha in the novel because the way she made decisions was so different than my own approach. I could see that some of the choices she made in grief would come back to be regrets later, and indeed they did. But overall Martha was a capable, gracious, and friendly woman who was able to work through great personal difficulties to support her husband through the birth of a nation, and to become a widely known and respected figure in her own right as she played her part in history.
I enjoyed brushing up on my eighteenth century history and this look at America's first president and his lady. This is the second Nancy Moser novel I have read, and I believe she does an excellent job bringing historical figures to life. I look forward to reading more of her works in the future.
This review originated at http://reviewsbyerin.livejournal.com
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April 26, 2019My mother is a Virginia history librarian, so the bones of this story are familiar to me. Author Nancy Moser brought Martha Washington to life! She filled in the details beautifully, showing not only the relationship between the Washingtons, but the birth of the United States. I was moved to tears!
August 18, 2009
I have written historical biographical fiction and can totally appreciate and understand the tremendous work and research that went into this book. Not to mention telling it all in the first person. And for that I gave it four stars. To try and condense the life of George Washington into 400 pages is tough enough as it is. And that is probably why the author had difficulty bringing to "life" the characters in this novel. While knowledge was present in vast amounts, a third dimension to the book proved elusive - the ability for the reader to feel, understand and relate to these real life icons of history. I did not truly understand Martha Washington even though she went through so much. I wanted to grasp her as a real person and not just a fact of our historical past. Even in this book she still felt like that painted portrait in many ways, even if her life's struggles were spelled out. I could not sense her a living, breathing person. Nor did I truly get a sense of her marriage to her husband, what it meant to her, how she felt about it and experienced it, not just by stating facts but by the description of emotion.
It is difficult for an author to breathe life into a historical figure. You truly have to imagine it and then put it into words so a modern day reader will understand. And that is really where the "fiction" must come into play.
It is difficult for an author to breathe life into a historical figure. You truly have to imagine it and then put it into words so a modern day reader will understand. And that is really where the "fiction" must come into play.
January 16, 2016
It caught my attention at first. After a few chapters I almost began another book. I'm so glad I did not. I read it quickly, partly because I have a couple of other books waiting in the wings and partly because it is a great historical Novel.
I like how the author shared fact or fiction at the end of the novel. It's always more interesting to read what is actually fact and what is decided on by the author to make the story logical and interesting. I think this is a great gift, that someone can study facts and the put together a story that makes sense and that flows along with the times and the people living then.
I always look up facts and photos as I read historical novels like this. It's good for me to brush up on my history. One of the many reasons I love well-researched and written historical fiction
By the last chapter, I felt tingles in my body. I have the utmost respect and gratitude to George and Martha Washington for all they sacrificed for our country so we can live as we do. I'm sure that We don't know the half of it.
So much loss. So much sacrifice. If only our presidents since, specifically the one we unfortunately have now, had the ethics, morals, integrity, passion, humility and Belief in God that not just George and Martha had but all of the founding fathers .... We would be a thriving, happy, productive and God fearing nation.
Incredibly inspiring.
I like how the author shared fact or fiction at the end of the novel. It's always more interesting to read what is actually fact and what is decided on by the author to make the story logical and interesting. I think this is a great gift, that someone can study facts and the put together a story that makes sense and that flows along with the times and the people living then.
I always look up facts and photos as I read historical novels like this. It's good for me to brush up on my history. One of the many reasons I love well-researched and written historical fiction
By the last chapter, I felt tingles in my body. I have the utmost respect and gratitude to George and Martha Washington for all they sacrificed for our country so we can live as we do. I'm sure that We don't know the half of it.
So much loss. So much sacrifice. If only our presidents since, specifically the one we unfortunately have now, had the ethics, morals, integrity, passion, humility and Belief in God that not just George and Martha had but all of the founding fathers .... We would be a thriving, happy, productive and God fearing nation.
Incredibly inspiring.
October 4, 2010
I really enjoy Nancy Moser's fictional biographies. This was another great one. I thought I knew a thing or two about Martha Washington. We live near DC and have had a couple annual passes to Mount Vernon and spent much time exploring every corner of that fabulous estate. But it turns out I had always thought about Martha in relation to George. I forgot that she had a whole life before she met George, which forced her to carry certain baggage of old in-laws and single parenting into her new marriage. I didn't think about all the years that they were married before he became our country's hero and then president. There was so much more to her life and family. It made me grateful for strong women that are willing to sacrifice their husband's time in a way that I struggle to do!
One feature of these fictional biographies that I love is that at the very end Moser includes a chapter about which parts of the book are true to historical fact and which parts are fictionally filled in. In this one, she also included a chapter that personalized her own journey to know Martha Washington. In her search she was led on a search to know her own roots better, and left the reader with a challenge to do the same. Great take away. Go read it!
One feature of these fictional biographies that I love is that at the very end Moser includes a chapter about which parts of the book are true to historical fact and which parts are fictionally filled in. In this one, she also included a chapter that personalized her own journey to know Martha Washington. In her search she was led on a search to know her own roots better, and left the reader with a challenge to do the same. Great take away. Go read it!
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