LATELY IT SEEMS a few brave romance
writers and their editors have taken on New England as a setting for their
stories. They’re also taking tentative steps outside the stereotypical by
casting unusual, even tragic women as their heroines. This column I review a new
novel situated in New England and one set in old tried and true England.
Wishing
By Miranda Jarrett (Sonnet – 1999, $8.99)
Wishing is the third in an historical series about the Fairbournes. You might
want to read the first two stories to get the background for this novel, but
Wishing delivers what the others didn’t _ a unique and strong heroine I’d
been wishing for.
Sea captain Samson Fairbourne makes a cynical wish to the gods to help him find
the perfect woman, vowing to marry her if he finds her.
When Polly Bray is dragged from the water hundreds of miles from her capsized
fishing boat, she seems far from ideal. She actually seems far from real. She is
not tempted by elegant gifts, she is practical, honest and even a skilled
sailor.
Samson falls for her, hard. He decides to make her his wife but plain Polly Bray
isn’t to be owned. She wants to get back to her shabby home and rebuild the
life she left behind in Massachusetts.
Every romantic heroine these days is beautiful, elegant and independent.
Polly Bray is much more than this. She’s steadfast and true.
Because of You
By Cathy Maxwell (Avon – 1999, $7.99)
In the mood for a
mystery? Go elsewhere, this refreshing story is a straight, sexy,
heart-brightening romance peopled by good guys who just don’t know it yet.
It’s 1806 and a stranger has brought the killer influenza to the village of
Sproule. The vicar’s daughter, Samantha Northrup is the stranger’s only
hope.
Events and fearful villagers conspire to force Samantha to nurse and then marry
the stranger, Marvin Browne. Samantha falls in love with Marvin but turns out
he’s not plain old Marvin, he’s the prodigal son of the earl.
Yale Carderock left England 11 years ago, disinherited and angry. After earning
his fortune in the Orient, he is back in Sproule distraught to find his father
has died.
Every Cathy Maxwell novel has at least a couple of good absurd scenes that,
depending on your bent, induce either a snicker or a guffaw. Because of You
hasn’t the slapstick of her last couple of novels but it’s snappy pace will
keep you glued to the page.
Maxwell is a pleasant companion as you commute, stir soup or pretend to be
working. Definitely search out her backlist in the used bookstores and
libraries.
Janine Taylor is a freelance writer based in
Halifax, Nova Scotia. She may be reached via e-mail at: romanticleads@hotmail.com
