Victoria Gordon, Finding Bess

Finding Bess

Victoria Gordon

Five Star, Apr 2004, $26.95, 278 pp.

ISBN: 1594141010

After her spouse beat her because she was pregnant with a girl, he committed suicide and she lost the child. Historical romance author Bess Carson leaves her father and Manhattan to start anew in Colorado Springs. She begins an Internet debate with historical author Australian Geoffrey Barrett. The Tasmanian knows that he loves Bess though he has never met her. Using the excuse of teaming up to write a book together, he invites her to his home, but she refuses. Bess changes her mind when she realizes that her tycoon father Dover "War" Cornwell expects her to produce an heir with his handpicked mate for her. His current choice is British industrialist Reginald Bingham.

In Tasmania, Bess finds herself attracted to Geoff, but is wary, as she has learned the hard way how men behave. Back in the States, her father goes ballistic when he learns that his daughter fled to the Southern Hemisphere. He will stop at nothing including abduction of her and killing anyone who gets in his way to make sure she provides the male offspring sired by a mate of his choice. Only Geoff stands between her and War's troops.

Though War is so obsessed he becomes a caricature, fans of terse romantic suspense in an intriguing location will appreciate FINDING BESS. The story line is action-packed, but also enables the audience to believe that Geoff fell in love over the Internet. Though she reciprocates, Bess fears a relationship following the lessons of her father and her deceased husband taught her. Victoria Gordon furbishes a strong tale that takes the audience on a wild Tasmanian trek while rooting for Bess against the devil, her own sire.

Harriet Klausner