Frances Patton Statham

This was one of my first historical romances. It's definitely a wild old bodice ripper. Lili is married by proxy to Robert and pretends to be a light skinned slave when he comes to the plantation as she is scared of this unknown man. He takes her as a mistress (oh why don't these romance heroine's just tell the truth?) then decides he has become too fond of her and sells her to a fur trader. That's when he learns who she really is and off he goes to rescue her and get her back. There's floods, amnesia, babies, jealousy, angst, repentance, nunneries, voodoo... there might even be elephants. Hard to remember. There's so much going on here.

I sold this book once in my "I'm too good for romances" stage. But I never forgot it and eventually had to replace my copy.

If you missed the bodice ripper phase the first time around, (oh you poor things!) and you're looking to give them a try, start here. You won't regret it.… (more)

I did end up enjoying the book even though there is a maddening lack of communication between the couple. Someone is always trying to come between them in the book and attempts are even made on people's lives. The amount of things that happen to these people is crazy, bear attacks, wild boar attacks, alligator attacks, hurricanes, British invasions, duels, nuns, amnesia, Indians, evil plots... the list just goes on. Not to mention Eulalie being sold as a slave by her own husband.

*Note: I don't know why the description of the book mentions Canada... they are never in Canada.. The vast majority of the book takes place around the Charleston, SC and Columbia, SC areas.. A small part takes place in New Orleans, LA.… (more)

Marigold and Maranta Tabor are twins, their night and day coloring mirroring the differences in their personalities. Golden-haired Marigold is all set to marry the man she loves when she is tricked into marrying her sadistic cousin, Crane. Dark-haired Maranta has plans to be a nun, but then she suddenly finds herself shipped off to the other side of the world, where she is expected to marry one man and produce an heir with another.

This book sounds fairly cheesy, but I really enjoy it. There are enough twists in the story to keep you going, although some of them are predictable. Quite romantic, although I'm sure feminists would abhor it.… (more)