Straw in the Wind

June 15, 2010

Hired by sea captain Erasmus Thornton to investigate his suspicion that the daughter he had fathered 18 years earlier may not have died at birth as he'd been told, Det. Adam Chapman sets out to learn the truth and ends up falling for housekeeper Sara Finn, the mystery woman he has been sent to find. Vivid descriptions, a fascinating assortment of secondary characters, and snappy, clever dialog make this a memorable treat. VERDICT Woods's touching, mystery-laced story features a plucky, outspoken heroine and an intriguing plot and satisfactorily continues the tale begun in Salting the Wound. Although a sequel, this novel stands on its own; thoroughly rewarding. Woods, particularly known for her well-researched, emotionally rich historical novels, lives in Perth, Australia.

Copyright 2010 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2010
Who is Sara Finn? Is she the baby sister long thought dead by the Honeyman sisters in Salting the Wound (2010)? Adam Chapman sets out to determine if the baby exists and is truly the love child of sea captain Erasmus Thornton. Sara is happy to find a good position as a housekeeper at Leighton Manor in Dorset County. Her early life is a blur: first the home she hardly remembers, then the farm where she labored incessantly, followed by the workhouse, and lastly her position as an unpaid maid for a reverend by whom she was summarily dismissed when his oldest son tried to kiss her and she slapped him. Adam finds Sara at Leighton Manor and immediately falls in love with her, not knowing for certain whether she is the woman he is searching for. Once again Woods gives her readers an appealing historical romance with intriguing, multidimensional characters.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)