Margaret Bailey, Diamond in the Sky

Diamond in the Sky

Five Star, Jul 2007, $26.95

ISBN: 1594145660

In 1895 in Leadville, Colorado, Juliet Corcoran and her ailing younger brother Larry arrive from Baltimore hoping the drier climate will help him with his fight to survive consumption. Shopkeeper Thaddeus McElwain and wealthy widower Noah Ralston are attracted to the lovely vivacious Juliet, who plans to open up a tailor shop unaware that the town is dying with its last hope being an ice castle to serve as the center of an annual winter carnival.

However, Thad's hopes to win the hand of Juliet take a setback when his nasty brother Zeb arrives in town. Soon afterward "Marsh" Marshall who opposes the ice castle is killed following a fire and a public argument with Thad. All evidence points towards Thad although Noah witnessed who killed the curmudgeon. He blackmails Juliet into becoming his fianc e if she wants him to help keep her beloved Thad out of prison.

Although Zeb's bitterness and jealousy makes him unlikely to seek out the object of his disdain, western romance readers will enjoy this fine tale of the gay nineties just after the Silver Panic. The lead triangle is a fine setup as each is fully developed and knows what they want and how to achieve it. Especially fascinating is Noah whose wealth comes from his late wife who died along with their offspring in childbirth. Margaret Bailey provides a solid look back through the interrelationships of her prime trio plus Zeb and Larry that enables the audience to watch a dying town grasping one last desperate attempt to survive.

Harriet Klausner