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Perpetual Rainbows: A Novel of the American Revolution
Elara Whitfield is good at keeping secrets. But she never imagined her talent could help turn the
tide of the war.
December 1776. Nineteen-year-old Elara’s family has relocated from Philadelphia to
Morristown, New Jersey to manage her late uncle’s general store. As outsider Roman Catholics,
they hoped to ride out the war for independence quietly, while secretly hiding a traveling priest
on his forbidden missionary journeys into New York City.
But everything changes when Elara steals an Army horse to deliver a local woman’s baby on
Christmas Eve. Her heroic actions are noticed by Dr. Gabriel Sinclair, who enlists her help for an
undercover mission to infiltrate a British camp. Meanwhile, General George Washington
chooses Morristown for his Army’s winter headquarters, taking refuge there after the battles of
Trenton and Princeton. Elara’s life is turned upside-down as her family is forced to quarter
soldiers and camp followers in the war she so desperately wished to avoid. Elara must navigate
disease, death, first love, and friendship as she decides how much she is willing to risk for the
Continental cause.
tide of the war.
December 1776. Nineteen-year-old Elara’s family has relocated from Philadelphia to
Morristown, New Jersey to manage her late uncle’s general store. As outsider Roman Catholics,
they hoped to ride out the war for independence quietly, while secretly hiding a traveling priest
on his forbidden missionary journeys into New York City.
But everything changes when Elara steals an Army horse to deliver a local woman’s baby on
Christmas Eve. Her heroic actions are noticed by Dr. Gabriel Sinclair, who enlists her help for an
undercover mission to infiltrate a British camp. Meanwhile, General George Washington
chooses Morristown for his Army’s winter headquarters, taking refuge there after the battles of
Trenton and Princeton. Elara’s life is turned upside-down as her family is forced to quarter
soldiers and camp followers in the war she so desperately wished to avoid. Elara must navigate
disease, death, first love, and friendship as she decides how much she is willing to risk for the
Continental cause.
380 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 30, 2025
3 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Jessika Caruso
3 books35 followersJessika Caruso moved to the greater Morristown area in 2022 and fell in love with its rich Revolutionary history. Jessika has a B.A. in writing, an M.S. in Library Science, and an M.A. in Theology. Her past jobs include a sales representative, public and school librarian, theology teacher, youth minister, and tutor. She is currently a full-time mom of a toddler while moonlighting as a librarian and book club host. Connect with her on Instagram @myhistoryjournal and on Substack at Catholic Safari.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 17, 2025
I used to judge authors who rated their own books (not really), but I take that back.😇
June 30, 2025
I was blessed to receive an ARC copy of this beautiful book, and am thankful for the opportunity to explore such a unique and captivating read. Written during the time of the Revolutionary War, I appreciated the historical accuracy and all the authentic historical people that were perfectly woven in to add more depth and realism to the storyline. I found the protagonist, Elara, to be very genuine and relatable, and often wondered what I would do if I were in her shoes. I appreciated that the author wrote about Elara’s fear of inadequacy and failure, as those are common human emotions that I feel often are overlooked in writings where it only makes sense that those feelings would arise. It made her character feel that much more real to me and allowed me even more of an emotional connection to her. My heart went out to her on so many occasions, and I admired her desire to stand firm in her Catholic faith and devotion to God through everything she endured. Her grace and grit throughout it all was inspiring. Her true devotion and dedication to those she loved was also so beautiful to behold. Gabriel, the love interest, had character traits that made him a perfect match for Elara. Their genuine connection and protective care of one another through their many adventures together showed the true chemistry these two had and made me love them and root for them that much more. The supporting characters were all genuinely lovable, and as they supported Elara in her espionage and all the struggles therein, you couldn’t help but to find yourself completely enraptured in what would happen to all of them. I found myself connecting with them as if they were real life friends and family, and I genuinely cared what their fates would be. This book is one that I feel has a little bit of something for everyone, and I definitely recommend it. 5 stars. Grab your copy on June 30th when this beauty releases. ❤️
May 3, 2025
Having written about the experience of Catholic during the American Revolution myself, I deeply appreciate a fellow Catholic author taking up the pen to offer another perspective on this sadly underrated aspect of British and North American history. I appreciate the way she was able to weave together a fictional Catholic young woman and her family with various historical characters who demonstrate many of their documented qualities, such as Benjamin Tallmadge's devout attachment to his Christian upbringing, lent visual evidence of through his reading of the Bible, and George Washington's adoption of quite progressive ideas regarding religious liberty for the time period, which she demonstrates through one of my favorite scenes in the book in which he protects an endangered priest who had come to minister to one of his ailing Catholic officers. She also accurately shows the way in which Catholics were automatically suspected as having conflicting loyalties due to their spiritual allegiance to the Pope, borne against them by both the British government and most American colonists. The trials of being a missionary priest are also addressed, often having to evade capture by assuming alternate identities and disguises, navigating the treacherous waters of a civil war and trying to maintain at least enough neutrality to serve souls in need on both sides, or neither. Another slice of history the book highlights is the difficulty of childbirth and the efforts of midwives to save mothers and their infants in this era and how discouraging that work could be due to the infamously high mortality rate. Since this is the first book in a projected series, I am very intrigued to see how the story progresses and look forward to the sequel!
June 25, 2025
I received an ARC of this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have always had an inclination toward learning about the American Revolution, but this fictional novel really made my knowledge run deeper in an entertaining way--I had no idea that Catholics had to worship in secret to avoid being outcast. I loved the main character Elara and seeing how she maneuvered herself out of tricky, dangerous situations, and I rooted for her romantic relationships, especially that with Gabriel. My favorite part was that the author posed two great questions: Is it morally okay to lie and deceive in the time of war, and does God choose a side? The answer to this is left open-ended, so I'm curious to see if it'll be addressed in the next book!
April 21, 2025
I had the honor of receiving an advance reader copy of Perpetual Rainbows, and I was thoroughly impressed by this beautifully crafted and original story. Set during the American Revolution, the narrative transports readers to a vivid and immersive historical world.
The protagonist, Elara, is immediately relatable and endearing, and I found myself deeply invested in her journey. I especially appreciated the thoughtful integration of Catholic themes and how Elara’s faith serves as a guiding force throughout the story. The inclusion of her work as a midwife added both depth and authenticity, shedding light on the challenges of childbirth in that era and the strength required to face them.
Gabriel, the love interest, is a compelling and honorable character—a perfect match for Elara. The thread of espionage woven through the plot added intrigue and kept me engaged from start to finish. As a history enthusiast, I found the historical elements to be both accurate and captivating, and I especially enjoyed the appearances of notable figures such as George Washington and Benjamin Tallmadge.
Perpetual Rainbows is a remarkable read with something for everyone—faith, romance, suspense, and history. I couldn’t put it down and highly recommend it. I’m already looking forward to the author’s next release!
The protagonist, Elara, is immediately relatable and endearing, and I found myself deeply invested in her journey. I especially appreciated the thoughtful integration of Catholic themes and how Elara’s faith serves as a guiding force throughout the story. The inclusion of her work as a midwife added both depth and authenticity, shedding light on the challenges of childbirth in that era and the strength required to face them.
Gabriel, the love interest, is a compelling and honorable character—a perfect match for Elara. The thread of espionage woven through the plot added intrigue and kept me engaged from start to finish. As a history enthusiast, I found the historical elements to be both accurate and captivating, and I especially enjoyed the appearances of notable figures such as George Washington and Benjamin Tallmadge.
Perpetual Rainbows is a remarkable read with something for everyone—faith, romance, suspense, and history. I couldn’t put it down and highly recommend it. I’m already looking forward to the author’s next release!
April 30, 2025
Firstly, I'll start this off by saying I read this while under the weather, and it kept my spirits up in the best possible ways. I naturally wish I'd been able to enjoy this without being feverish, but sometimes it added an extra layer of understanding, like when reading about the townspeople and soldiers being inoculated against smallpox. Thankfully, I do NOT have smallpox lol, but being sick while reading about the infirmed helped add an extra dimension of realism, especially coupled with Caruso's vivid storytelling.
With the main character, Elara, I loved how her convictions and faith were consistent throughout. She started off devoted to God, and based all of her decisions on how to please Him. While enduring her biggest struggle with a certain major (I won't spoil it), my heart went out to her as she prayed that God would forgive her for choosing to protect her family and loved ones. I also liked how her fear of inadequacy kept weaving in and out of the story. After feeling like a failure with her first midwifery experience, it stands to reason that this would haunt Elara's conscience, so to see it come up again and again, as well as her getting the chance to prove herself a second time were both realistic and favorable from a reader's POV.
Caruso's research on Morristown itself is impressive and admirable, because you can tell she really loves that town, and took exceptional care in depicting its rich history. Many of the characters featured in this novel are real, the most likely to be recognized being George Washington and Benjamin Tallmadge. I especially liked her depiction of Tallmadge -- I found him kind, and honorable, and a great addition to the story. I'll admit I wasn't expecting a love triangle, but I wasn't opposed either, since I honestly found myself thinking Ben and Elara had chemistry before he made his romantic intentions known. I had to laugh when Elara was told she was lucky for being pursued by two men, because it's like yeah, that's definitely not the worst predicament to be found in, lol!
Gabriel, Elara's other love interest, had many facets, because he could be warm and playful, dark and brooding, or quite angry, depending on what was at stake. Beneath his mysterious exterior, he puts family, duty, and honor first, which I think is part of what drew Elara to him in the first place. She also seemed to crave adventure, and his initial mystery very much beckoned to that chamber of her heart. Although they had a bit of a rocky relationship, their trials always brought them back into each other's orbit.
I also enjoyed the supporting characters, like Hannah, Catharine, the Lenape characters (I can't remember how to spell their names, sorry!), Miss Cooper, and Elara's parents. They were all a wonderful backdrop to Elara's espionage struggles, and I genuinely cared about what would become of each of them. Caruso's depiction of camp life was also fun, because I'd never seen a spy book like this go into a British encampment, rather than the American side. I was really intrigued and eager to see where the plot would go, cuz it was very, VERY reckless -- plausible, but DANGEROUS -- so I found myself waiting for everything to go south.
Without giving anything away, I'm very much looking forward to the second book, and seeing how the first book concludes. There's still so much I want to know and see unfold, so I'll definitely be reading more of Caruso's work in the future!
With the main character, Elara, I loved how her convictions and faith were consistent throughout. She started off devoted to God, and based all of her decisions on how to please Him. While enduring her biggest struggle with a certain major (I won't spoil it), my heart went out to her as she prayed that God would forgive her for choosing to protect her family and loved ones. I also liked how her fear of inadequacy kept weaving in and out of the story. After feeling like a failure with her first midwifery experience, it stands to reason that this would haunt Elara's conscience, so to see it come up again and again, as well as her getting the chance to prove herself a second time were both realistic and favorable from a reader's POV.
Caruso's research on Morristown itself is impressive and admirable, because you can tell she really loves that town, and took exceptional care in depicting its rich history. Many of the characters featured in this novel are real, the most likely to be recognized being George Washington and Benjamin Tallmadge. I especially liked her depiction of Tallmadge -- I found him kind, and honorable, and a great addition to the story. I'll admit I wasn't expecting a love triangle, but I wasn't opposed either, since I honestly found myself thinking Ben and Elara had chemistry before he made his romantic intentions known. I had to laugh when Elara was told she was lucky for being pursued by two men, because it's like yeah, that's definitely not the worst predicament to be found in, lol!
Gabriel, Elara's other love interest, had many facets, because he could be warm and playful, dark and brooding, or quite angry, depending on what was at stake. Beneath his mysterious exterior, he puts family, duty, and honor first, which I think is part of what drew Elara to him in the first place. She also seemed to crave adventure, and his initial mystery very much beckoned to that chamber of her heart. Although they had a bit of a rocky relationship, their trials always brought them back into each other's orbit.
I also enjoyed the supporting characters, like Hannah, Catharine, the Lenape characters (I can't remember how to spell their names, sorry!), Miss Cooper, and Elara's parents. They were all a wonderful backdrop to Elara's espionage struggles, and I genuinely cared about what would become of each of them. Caruso's depiction of camp life was also fun, because I'd never seen a spy book like this go into a British encampment, rather than the American side. I was really intrigued and eager to see where the plot would go, cuz it was very, VERY reckless -- plausible, but DANGEROUS -- so I found myself waiting for everything to go south.
Without giving anything away, I'm very much looking forward to the second book, and seeing how the first book concludes. There's still so much I want to know and see unfold, so I'll definitely be reading more of Caruso's work in the future!
June 30, 2025
I am so grateful to have been part of the advanced readers group that received an early copy of "Perpetual Rainbows" by Jessika Caruso in advance of its public release on June 30, 2025. "Perpetual Rainbows" is a novel inspired by and set during the Revolutionary War and explores the significance of Morristown, NJ during this pivotal time in our nation's history, along with critical themes of true love, loss, loyalty, and faith during uncertain and trying times. As a fan of historical fiction novels, I appreciated how well researched and thorough this book was and learned so much about the religious persecution, midwifery, disease, wartime strategies, and family hardships that took place during the Revolutionary War, namely in Morristown, which I had not known much about prior to reading this book. I also found the main characters - specifically Elara - but also Dr. Gabriel Sinclair and Benjamin and supporting characters like Papa, Mama and Father Steinmayer to be so well developed, fearless, endearing and strong, leading to a truly enjoyable reading experience. I enjoyed this book so much that I've actually already read it twice and am eagerly anticipating more great works by this outstanding author! I would highly highly recommend "Perpetual Rainbows" to all lovers of historical fiction - I can assure you you will not be disappointed! Beautifully written and captivating from cover to cover.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2026
Perpetual Rainbows was my first foray into Revolutionary War historical fiction, and it absolutely exceeded my expectations. The writing is engaging and immersive, with strong character development that made the story feel personal rather than distant or academic.
I appreciated how much I learned along the way without it ever feeling like a history lesson. The author weaves historical detail seamlessly into the narrative, making the era come alive in a very accessible way. It was also a pleasant surprise to see familiar local names, like Whippany’s Kitchell, which added an extra layer of connection for me as a reader.
This book struck a wonderful balance between education and storytelling. A thoughtful, well-written read that left me both informed and emotionally invested. Highly recommend, especially for readers new to historical fiction.
I appreciated how much I learned along the way without it ever feeling like a history lesson. The author weaves historical detail seamlessly into the narrative, making the era come alive in a very accessible way. It was also a pleasant surprise to see familiar local names, like Whippany’s Kitchell, which added an extra layer of connection for me as a reader.
This book struck a wonderful balance between education and storytelling. A thoughtful, well-written read that left me both informed and emotionally invested. Highly recommend, especially for readers new to historical fiction.
July 21, 2025
I throughly enjoyed reading Jessika Caruso’s fabulous book. This book captivated my attention from beginning to end. A well written story that weaves a tale of historical wartime fiction. A multi layered and intriguing story plot.
I didn’t want the book to end.
Looking forward to Jessika’s next book.
Love, love, love this book. ☺️
I didn’t want the book to end.
Looking forward to Jessika’s next book.
Love, love, love this book. ☺️
August 4, 2025
This historical fiction novel was so brilliantly written! There were so many twists and turns with the different subplots that I never knew what was coming next! Whether you’re looking for romance, educational tidbits, or spy adventures, you’ll love Perpetual Rainbows. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!
June 26, 2025
I had the privilege of receiving an advanced reader copy of Perpetual Rainbows. I thourally enjoyed Jessica's debut novel.
Themes of respect and admiration for the Catholic faith were seamlessly woven into the book without being overbearing. I appreciated learning about the struggles for catholics in the early days of this country and made me appreciate what our founders were fighting for.
Her passion for history and specifically local history leaps off the page. I appreciated her novels highlight of the importance of the new jersey region during the early days of the country.
And of course I have to express my delight in the adventures of Elara, Gabe and Ben. Thourally enjoyed their story arc and look forward to seeing what happens to them in follow-up works.
My only criticism of this novel is that I didn't not want it to end. Anxiously waiting her follow up works.
Themes of respect and admiration for the Catholic faith were seamlessly woven into the book without being overbearing. I appreciated learning about the struggles for catholics in the early days of this country and made me appreciate what our founders were fighting for.
Her passion for history and specifically local history leaps off the page. I appreciated her novels highlight of the importance of the new jersey region during the early days of the country.
And of course I have to express my delight in the adventures of Elara, Gabe and Ben. Thourally enjoyed their story arc and look forward to seeing what happens to them in follow-up works.
My only criticism of this novel is that I didn't not want it to end. Anxiously waiting her follow up works.
July 15, 2025
I really enjoyed the style and pace of this book! I lose focus pretty easily, so I love it when an author knows how to keep my attention.
The characters are SO well-written too. (Team Benjamin!! Sorry, not sorry Gabriel lol)
The author’s passion for this time period is so evident and I’m here for it. I enjoyed learning more about the prejudices against Catholics and how beautiful Elara’s faith was.
She really does a great job bringing history to life!
Love triangle, spies, war, it’s got everything!
The characters are SO well-written too. (Team Benjamin!! Sorry, not sorry Gabriel lol)
The author’s passion for this time period is so evident and I’m here for it. I enjoyed learning more about the prejudices against Catholics and how beautiful Elara’s faith was.
She really does a great job bringing history to life!
Love triangle, spies, war, it’s got everything!
July 2, 2025
I really enjoyed reading “Perpetual Rainbows” by Jessika Caruso. I found it entertaining and interesting to read.
There were many highlights for me as I read the story. One was the relationship between Elara and Gabriel. There was a genuine connection between them that never seemed forced. Their chemistry was thoughtfully developed throughout the course of the book as they embarked on different adventures. Their ability to maintain this true connection while acquiring intelligence to aid in the war effort demonstrated skill on the part of the author. I enjoyed reading about how they tried to protect and care for each other. The love triangle between Elara, Benjamin and Gabriel was thought provoking and interesting too. Another highlight for me was in reading about the plights that Elara endured during the war as they were all plausible. From her fear over her Papa joining the militia to watching Elara see her father sustain injuries from the musket ball, I truly felt a sense of sorrow and pity for her. It had me thinking about what I would do if I were in her shoes.
I also enjoyed how realistic the book was. From nods to real-life characters like the Whitfield family and Captain Tallmudge to reading about how soldiers were quartered in civilian’s homes or having to inoculate people from smallpox, it made the book and storyline much more plausible to the reader. In addition, the perils that Gabriel, Elara and the other spies endured as they gathered intel for George Washington’s army had me researching about Revolutionary War spies. It peaked my interest in the subject and had me eager to learn more!
Finally, I enjoyed the nods to Catholicism throughout the book. Despite all she endured, she never lost faith in God or in the love Jesus had for her. Her wanting to receive confession, and subsequently the Eucharist, in the end made her a more humble and sincere person than she already was. She is an example of how to live out one’s devotion to God and how the Holy Spirit is present even in the darkest of times!
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction and learning about the Revolutionary War.
There were many highlights for me as I read the story. One was the relationship between Elara and Gabriel. There was a genuine connection between them that never seemed forced. Their chemistry was thoughtfully developed throughout the course of the book as they embarked on different adventures. Their ability to maintain this true connection while acquiring intelligence to aid in the war effort demonstrated skill on the part of the author. I enjoyed reading about how they tried to protect and care for each other. The love triangle between Elara, Benjamin and Gabriel was thought provoking and interesting too. Another highlight for me was in reading about the plights that Elara endured during the war as they were all plausible. From her fear over her Papa joining the militia to watching Elara see her father sustain injuries from the musket ball, I truly felt a sense of sorrow and pity for her. It had me thinking about what I would do if I were in her shoes.
I also enjoyed how realistic the book was. From nods to real-life characters like the Whitfield family and Captain Tallmudge to reading about how soldiers were quartered in civilian’s homes or having to inoculate people from smallpox, it made the book and storyline much more plausible to the reader. In addition, the perils that Gabriel, Elara and the other spies endured as they gathered intel for George Washington’s army had me researching about Revolutionary War spies. It peaked my interest in the subject and had me eager to learn more!
Finally, I enjoyed the nods to Catholicism throughout the book. Despite all she endured, she never lost faith in God or in the love Jesus had for her. Her wanting to receive confession, and subsequently the Eucharist, in the end made her a more humble and sincere person than she already was. She is an example of how to live out one’s devotion to God and how the Holy Spirit is present even in the darkest of times!
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction and learning about the Revolutionary War.
July 16, 2025
This book was phenomenal! Incredibly well-written with lovable characters and an exciting plot that kept me engaged for hours! I love historical fiction novels, especially those set during the American Revolution! Perpetual Rainbows is definitely one of my favorites (if not my #1 favorite) of Revolutionary War novels I've read! I loved seeing the strong Catholic-faith presence in this book and Elara's selfless character and devotion to God. I highly recommend this novel as it is full of high-stakes adventure, rebellion, and romance! I'm so excited to read the next book! Don't leave Perpetual Rainbows sitting on your TBR!
✨Jessika Caruso's debut novel, Perpetual Rainbows, is the first novel in a series, with the second book expected soon! Suitable for young adult readers and older. ✨
✨Jessika Caruso's debut novel, Perpetual Rainbows, is the first novel in a series, with the second book expected soon! Suitable for young adult readers and older. ✨
December 13, 2025
Jessika Caruso's Perpetual Rainbows is a literary masterpiece. I have long been a picky reader, but the second I picked this novel up, I couldn't put it down. Caruso's labor of love has blown me away in every capacity. Her stylistic and creative choices invite the reader to inhabit the world of the novel rather than merely observe it. From her masterful command of perspective and persuasive narration to her extraordinary depth of knowledge of the period, Caruso utterly blew me away. I cannot recommend this novel enough!
May 20, 2025
I love books about the Revolutionary War and this is a new favorite. I really enjoyed how the author included so much historical information and so many historical people. There was even a little twist i didn't expect but was a good one. I can't wait for the next book to see what happens with our hero and heroine next.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews