Bride of a Distant Isle

January 4, 2016
The traditional hallmarks of a Victorian gothic novel receive a fresh rendering in this lively second installment of Byrd’s Daughters of Hampshire historical series (after Mist of Midnight). Annabel Ashton returns to her ancestral home, Highcliffe Hall at Milford-on-Sea, hoping to elude her cousin Edward’s plans to marry her to his creditor Mr. Morgan. The morally corrupt Morgan gifts Annabel with ominous oddities such as a frog petrified in amber. While Annabel struggles to determine which of her friends will stand by her, her feelings grow for Marco Dell’Acqua, a dashing, mysterious ship captain who shares her mixed Maltese/English heritage and the Catholic faith that upholds her in her distress. Following the genre’s traditions, the courageous, capable heroine navigates a number of sinister challenges: family and staff who may or may not wish her well; closets, caves, and attic rooms in which people have been barricaded against their will; speculations of madness; poisoned honey; and personal items from her long-dead mother that strangely appear and disappear. Annabel’s quick mind and kind heart call to Marco, and the two find love and satisfaction in this sweet and gratifying read. Agency: Browne and Miller Literary Associates.

April 1, 2016

When teacher Annabel Ashton returns home for a visit, she learns that her cousin Edward plans to sell Highcliffe Hall and marry her off. Yet Annabel finds clues that indicate she might be the legitimate heir. This is the second volume in Byrd's Victorian romances (after Mist of Midnight).

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.