America in 2017 and America in 1781 aren't so dissimilar. Brutal and heinous and unjust. Yet for all her ugliness, America is also beautiful and resilient and hopeful. This anthology captures that essence. It reminded me that while America may be messy, she is mine. And she is worth fighting for. 
 Unless they are revisiting an established couple, I don't usually rate novellas 5 stars. The reason is simple: I'm greedy. I want more development than a novella can deliver. And, truth be told, I felt that each story was somewhat hindered by the shortened length. Each had uneven and shaky aspects. Overall, though, this was an inspiring and refreshing imagining of Americans who survived, thrived, and loved. 
 PROMISED LAND Rose Lerner 
 His eyes widened. "Your husband? Who, Mendelson? But he's-" 
 She didn't want to know how that sentence ended. Shorter than you-nervous-so Jewish-an annoying chatterbox. 
 "Yes," she said tightly, to all of them. "And I am damned if I will sit in camp in a cursed petticoat instead of trying to get in there and fetch him back out." 
 I enjoyed how Lerner turned a commonly used estranged spouses trope on its head. Rachel, who disguised herself as a man to fight in the Continental army, hadn't been pining away for Nathan, her stubborn husband who remained loyal to the Crown. She wanted - needed - more from life, and she was determined to get it. When Nathan and Rachel reunite at the battle of Yorktown, the subsequent reckoning and reconciliation were both hurtful and hopeful. And while there were moments in the romance that fell flat or dull, others were humorous and heartfelt. The ring? Pretty much perfect. 
 I found the descriptions of Jewish faith engrossing, sometimes more engrossing than the romance. Both Lerner's story and afterword provided a fascinating glimpse into Jewish history in early America. The culture, the traditions, the beliefs - in particular, what "being a Jew" meant for both Rachel and Nathan. I'd love to read more (hint, hint). This may sound trite, but I promise that while this was my first Rose Lerner story, it won't be my last. 
 THE PURSUIT OF... Courtney Milan 
 "If you need someone to say words for you," Henry said, "then I am your man." 
 "Henry." John's eyes shone. 
 "To be clear," Henry said, "I have never stopped being your man. Not since I started, sometime on the road from Virginia to Rhode Island." 
 Witty and winsome and wonderful. John and Henry are richly drawn characters, and I fell hard for them. John, whose father was also his master and sold his mother, doesn't shy away from confronting the inherent hypocrisy in America's founding. Henry, the British officer and wealthy noble, doesn't shy away from examining his privilege. For that reason, this story resonated particularly strongly with me. I loved the candidness. "Maybe sewing stars and stripes atop a flawed fabric didn't change the cloth." 
 As hard as I fell for Henry and John separately, I fell even harder for Henry and John together. They find value in each other where others couldn't and wouldn't. I literally started sweating with each subsequent letter that they traded, and I got the stuuupidest smile (and sense of relief) when John showed up on his doorstep. They were beyond endearing. I only wish that we had more. 
 Although an avid reader of Milan's Twitter feed, I've only made a small dent in her catalogue. I now realize that I need to rectify this immediately! And while this is her first foray into m/m, I hope it is not her only. 
 THAT COULD BE ENOUGH Alyssa Cole 
 "Each dark brown mark had filled Mercy with an unexplained joy. She hadn't kissed them, but she'd run her fingertips over them - as she had over every part of Andromeda - and felt a brief rush of bravery. The feeling that it was okay to be hurt, again and again, by our own recklessness. Perhaps that's what life was, and hiding from it as Mercy had been doing was living a half life." 
 Achingly beautiful. Having read Let It Shine and An Extraordinary Union, I was already a fan of Alyssa Cole's work. I find it passionate, painful, and poignant. This was a slower story, removed in time and proximity from the battlefield settings of the first two tales. It also devoted a bit more page time to the romance. 
 And what a lovely romance it was. This was the first f/f love story that I have read, and I found the love story was just as, well, lovable. Mercy's pain was haunting in its relatability. Watching the dashing Andromeda - who was vulnerable as well as brave- be the spark that reignited Mercy's fire? Once again, it was achingly beautiful. 
 I'm not going to lie. Cole's afterword made me teary-eyed. I thought back to the hopelessness and the devastation that I felt - and still feel - after the 2016 presidential election. Yet I took comfort in the persistent spirit. Cole's reminder about marginalized groups never seemed more apt: "They hope, though common sense may tell them not to, and sometimes America is worthy of that hope." 
 The presence of Alexander and Eliza Hamilton is felt in each story. This anthology will have to tide me over until Hamilton comes to my city of Cleveland next year (and I spend the morning that tickets are released with browsers open on a laptop, iPad, Kindle, and cell phone, furiously refreshing Playhouse Square's webpage).