Hope Tarr, Enslaved

Enslaved

Hope Tarr

Medallion, Jun 2007, $6.99

ISBN: 1933836121

In 1876 at the Roxbury House Orphanage in Kent, England, the four friends (Teenagers Patrick O'Rourke, Harry Stone and Gavin Carmichael and nine years old Daisy) meets in the attic whenever they can. Daisy believes they are a "real family" until Gavin's hard-nosed grandfather Friend St. John arrives to take him home with him. Gavin promises Daisy he will never forget her.

In 1891 now a barrister Gavin has almost given up his search for Daisy as even a private detective has not been able to find her since she was adopted by the Lakes in 1877. Gavin's two pals Harry and Patrick persuade him to attend a show starring Delilah du Lac. He is stunned to realize she is his Daisy; she is as shocked to realize he is her Saint Gavin. As they fall in love, Gavin remains upset she never wrote him and Daisy thinks he can do much better than her; however, both also dream that they can become a "real family", but first one of them must have the courage to step forward and explain their doubts to the other.

The likable lead couple makes for a fine Victorian romance that will have the audience rooting for the pair to find a way to remain together. Character driven, Gavin and Daisy struggle to overcome their past and their perceptions of what is best for the other. Although Gavin's his cold blooded interfering grandfather seems more like a Dickensian stereotype, the support cast especially his two pals Harray (see VANQUISHED) and Patrick (future tale) augment an enjoyable historical tale.

Harriet Klausner