First published in 1970, this is a
wonderful story that begins in England but eventually sweeps you to the South
Pacific. Set in the late 19th century in the Victorian era, it’s the
story of Anna Brett who was born in India but whose parents sent her to live
with her maiden Aunt Charlotte, an antique dealer who populates her old house
with furniture in the process of being sold.
Anna’s one
solace is her friend Chantal Loman, the beautiful nurse who tends Anna’s ailing
aunt. When Aunt Charlotte suddenly dies, Anna takes a job suggested by Chantel,
as a governess in the home of a wealthy English family in the shipping
business. The family has two sons, one legitimate, Rex Crediton, and one a
bastard, Redvers Stretton. Anna is very attracted to Red, but then she learns
he is married.
Rex is the
heir apparent, consumed with the business, but Red is not unhappy about that
since he loves his ships and the sea. It was on one of those South Pacific
islands, however, where Red met his wife, and island beauty whose family forced
him to wed her when she came up pregnant.
In this fascinating story, it seemed
everyone harbored secrets, even Anna, who hid from her friend her love for Red
Stretton. And even though I knew Chantel was capable of doing wrong to
accomplish her purposes, I was surprised at all the twists at the end.
Holt did a good job of bringing us into
the drama and the places to which the characters traveled. I could feel the
heat of the island and Anna’s exhilaration with the wind on her face while they
were at sea. As she and Red finally admitted their love, I could feel her
emotion at finding herself in love with another woman’s husband.
No one does Victorian suspense and
mystery like Holt and this is a great one!
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