Carolyn Davidson, Redemption

Redemption

Carolyn Davidson

HQN, Jan 2006, $5.99, 384 pp.

ISBN: 0373771495

He came back from the war wheelchair bound, but Jake McPherson's sweetheart Lorena pulled him out of his depression; they married and had a son Jason. However, in 1877 Lorena died and the spark she gave to Jake was buried with her. Three years later, Jake remains a recluse while his nine year old son gets into trouble.

Schoolteacher Alicia Merriweather takes Jake and Jason to task for the lad's behavior and the dad's neglect. Though she dislikes Jake, Alicia begins to take care of Jason and clean up their house. He soon out of the blue offers a marriage of convenience that she accepts. As they become better acquainted with one another, she sees the decent man hiding insider an acrimonious shell while he sees the caring nurturing woman hidden by her tall rigid spinster armor. Their admiration turns to love, but neither takes the first key step out of fear of ridicule and rejection.

REDEMPTION is a fine late Reconstruction Era romance starring a courageous take no prisoners heroine, a crusty angry war veteran whose deceased wife was a nice nurturing person, and a neglected preadolescent growing up too fast (mindful of a lock key child). The interrelationship between the trio makes the tale worth reading as Jake realizes how fortunate he is to find love for the second time pulling him out of his depression. Though he, in some ways mentally heals too easily, historical readers will appreciate this fine look at the therapeutic power of love.

Harriet Klausner