A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter

Kristi Ann Hunter is rapidly turning into one of my favourite historical fiction authors. A Defense of Honor is her latest book, just out, and I loved it. The story starts with plenty of action, as Katherine ‘Kit’ FitzGilbert almost literally runs into Lord Graham Wharton, and shortly thereafter narrowly escapes from two men who are clearly looking to do her harm.

The story surrounds Haven Manor, a place where three women are raising a group of children born to unmarried mothers at a time when bearing an illegitimate child had devastating consequences for both mother and child. Kit and her friends and co-workers Daphne and Jess arrange for shelter for unmarried mothers, hiding them away from society throughout their pregnancy and delivery, in order to save them from being cast aside as ‘ruined’, with all the resulting shame and poverty which that fate usually brought with it. The resulting children end up living at Haven Manor. But keeping them secret and safe is an enormous challenge. Although we learn little of most of the mothers, we come to know the children very well indeed, because their personalities shine throughout the story and the reader really feels as though they come to know and care about them.

Graham is intrigued by the strange woman who has literally dropped into his life and then out again, and their paths cross once more when he sets out with his friend Oliver to discover where Oliver’s missing sister has gone…

This is a warm-hearted, captivating read, and if it does require the reader to suspend their disbelief a bit, it’s so well written that this particular reader was very happy to do so. It makes you think about trust, about consequences, about jumping to conclusions, and about doing the wrong things for what appear to be the right reasons. I like a book which, along with being a roaring good read, also challenges the readers responses.

Aside from the use of ‘gotten’ (I really, REALLY wish American authors wouldn’t have their English characters use this word!), the mention of cream in tea, and ‘pavement’ for road, this was very well positioned in its British setting. Although there was a rather astonishing reference to two well born ladies spitting out something they disliked onto the floor(!)

I look forward to finding out more about Daphne in the next book in the series (A Return of Devotion, Spring19) and – presumably – Jess in book 3.

Finally, in this case, definitely don’t judge the book by its cover! This is a 5* read, and much punchier and more dynamic than the rather pale and dated cover may imply.