Salting the Wound

December 1, 2009
Much of the gossip in the harbor town of Poole in Dorset, England, centers on the Honeyman and Thornton families. Sea captain Nick Thornton grew up believing he would marry Charlotte Honeyman, but when he arrives back home to make her his wife, Charlotte greets him with a gun and the news that she is already married. Marianne, Charlottes younger and optimistic sister, decides to heal the breach between the families. But while searching for Nick aboard his ship, she falls into the hold and is not discovered for two days. Seeking revenge against Charlotte, Nick does not return to Poole. Instead he continues on to Boston, fully aware of the scandal that will ensue for Marianne, an unmarried lady in 1850 and unchaperoned on his ship for several weeks. Nick is a gentleman, however, until he begins to fall for Marianne. When she returns to Poole, Marianne is prepared for gossip, not the harsh words from her sister, who then throws her out of the house. Once again, Woods delivers a historical romance that leaves the reader wanting more; happily this page-turner hints that more is to come in a sequel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)