This was Henke’s second book in the Old California Couplet (Golden
Lady was her first). Love Unwilling
is really two romances in one and Henke presents them very well, entwining the
lives and loves of two brothers who make very different choices.
Set in 1848-1853, it tells the story of David and Miguel
Kane, heirs to the sprawling Cien Robles
(Hundred Oaks) ranch in Southern California. Their parents’ marriage had been
one of necessity in order for the Alvarez family to infuse money into their Spanish
land grant after California became a part of the US and subject to Yankee laws.
The marriage was so divisive that David was named and claimed by his father,
the rich Yankee sea captain, and Miguel by his mother the Californio aristocrat
(who’d planned for him to become a priest). Years later, when David gets into
trouble, killing a man after a card game and flees with an Irish lass he has
deflowered named Kate, Miguel’s father claims him as heir and tells him he’ll
marry the neighboring rancher’s daughter, Ellie St. Clair, originally intended
for David.
David and Kate flee to gold country where David supports
them on his gambling winnings and Kate keeps house, soon falling in love. The
other brother, Miguel, stays home to take on the ranch and finds he loves it,
but he’s not interested in marrying the St. Clair girl and she doesn’t want him
either.
We’ve all seen the family where the oldest son is expected
to be the one to assume control of the father’s business, but what if it wasn’t
so? What if it were the younger son? (Or, these days, a daughter?) Well, this
story shows what can happen when the apple cart is thrown off the intended
course. It’s about choices and second chances and making your own life, not
just fleeing the bad choices your family might force on you. I have to say my
favorite character was Kate…she had the strength of Irish womanhood and was beautiful
as well.
The brothers were both cads for much of the book, and for
all his faults, David was faithful to Kate. Miguel, on the other hand, had a
bad habit of visiting whores before and during his marriage to Ellie. And he
believed a cattle rustler over his loving wife. Argh!
Kudos to Henke who sets this story in the Old West at an interesting historical time when the Californio rancheros were fading and their
culture losing out to the Americans who were flooding into the state.
Meticulously researched, Love Unwilling
brings this time to life with great characters, engaging dialog and wonderful
descriptions.
Henke is truly a master storyteller. I recommend it!
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