Reviewer Comments: Setting – Virginia Colonies, 1643 --- Lady Constance Morrow snuck aboard a ship without a chaperone in order to say goodbye to her dearest Uncle Skelly who was being transported to the colonies. Naively believing no one would ever harm the daughter of an Earl, she had no idea of the danger she was in. Having left her maid behind, and with no footman in sight, the unscrupulous captain had her thrown in the hold along with the female felons who were earmarked as ‘tobacco brides’ for the colonist farmers.
Drew O’Connor, having grown up in colonies loved the land had but knew it was a harsh life and experienced all the sorrows along with the joy and knew full well that only the strongest survive. He had sworn to never love again, after having lost his beloved a week before their marriage. Therefore, he was unmoved by this latest ship full of brides, coming only in search for a maid to tend his house and look after his young sister. Though after a game of cards that very evening, what he ended up with was a wife who not only claimed to be the ‘kidnapped’ daughter of an Earl, but who demanded to be sent immediately back to England. Not only was she argumentative, but she’d no idea of how to cook or housekeeping skills - and to his horror – she had RED hair and freckles! She wanted nothing more than to spend time doing mathematical equations rather than housework.
Although they seemed to have nothing in common but their individual stubbornness and a love for mathematic puzzles, Drew and Constance came to admire one another with both wishing that their marriage of convenience would become a marriage designed in truth by the power of God’s great love.
*** In a most delightful way this new author has taken a small slice of American history and created a perfectly lovely romance. The heroine, Lady Constance, though educated and intelligent was in for the culture shock of her life when faced with the harsh life realities of early colonial America. As the pampered daughter of an Earl, the author clearly had a field day in being able to portray both the frustrations Constance went through as she struggled to adapt to her new life and the joys as she overcame those challenges. Drew, though morally strong had lost so much and so many loved ones that he’d thought the best way to protect his heart was to not let it become engaged and so the theme of faith in God during trials was extremely uplifting and very lovely indeed. This book was well written, well researched, emotionally engaging, and featured two wonderful protagonists. Along with a superb cast of secondary characters, the author opens the door for what I hope to see is a sequel featuring Drew’s brother Josh. I most definitely recommend this novel for anyone who is looking for an extremely satisfying and wonderful read.
