Joanne Sundell, A… My Name’s Amelia

A My Name's Amelia

Joanne Sundell

Five Star, Mar 2007, $26.95

ISBN: 1594145652

In 1874, young Amelia Anne Polley lost her hearing and in some ways her dreams. However, instead of wallowing in self-pity, Amelia decides she must find her way as she attends the Colorado Institute for the Education of Mutes. There she became the school's newspaper printer, which lands her a job at the Gazette.

Rancher Aaron Zachary arrives at the paper to take out an ad for a mail order bride. Amelia takes the order since the editor Benjamin Steele and the ace reporter Harvey are covering a fire. He is fascinated by the female printer, but assumes she is not cut out for ranch life; being a wife is not in her plans either as she assumes no man wants a woman who cannot hear his whispers of love. Still, they marry and fall in love in spite of the language barrier. However, he hides his inability to read from her while she conceals her fears that he would be better off with a wife who can hear as opposed to someone who lives in silence.

Amelia is a refreshing lead protagonist as she is deaf, but overcomes her "handicap" with her printing skills. Aaron is a fine, lonely rancher who needs someone who can handle his taciturn personality as well as the remoteness of his spread. Benjamin is also a wonderful support character whose original bias is gender oriented and not the hearing issue; but as a favor gives Amelia a chance and quickly realizes how talented she is. His adjustment in outlook and making their working relationship successful is a key to the heroine achieving her independence. These characters and other secondary players make for a fabulous western romance.

Harriet Klausner