Wishes on Water
Dana George
Leisure, Sep 2004, $5.99
ISBN: 0843954493

In 1856, after being in Kansas City, Samuel "Mac" MacCallister returns home to Lake Okoboji, Iowa, after being away for four months. His neighbor and best friend, Rowland Gardner, informs Mac that he "lent" his cabin to Sadie Pritchard, a widow with a child recovering from smallpox and another small son.

Instead of grieving for her abusive husband, with her child recuperating and the other one healthy, Sadie thinks the world is looking good though she knows she will need a home by winter when this Mac returns. However, when Mac arrives he allows Sadie to stay for now while the lad continues to heal, but once he does he expects her to join the next wagon train west. Mac does not trust women since his former wife hurt him, but admits the pretty Sadie is good with her kids and his baby. As they fall in love, a small band of Sioux begin a quest that will lead to bloodshed.

WISHES ON WATER is a fine western romance starring two delightful protagonists whose previous respective relationships left each of them with negative feelings towards marriage. The storyline contains two major subplots with the romance and intermingling of the families being the prime one while the confrontation between the Sioux and the white settlers the other. Though the latter is well-written, especially from the Indian perspective, that seems more like unnecessary angst and suspense that takes away from the fabulous principal plot. Still, sub-genre fans will treasure Dana George's strong historical.

Harriet Klausner