Short and Sweet

February 15, 2012
Jacobs, the author of more than 40 novels, including License to Dream (2011), presents a collection of short stories written over the course of her career. Each story is prefaced with a note from the author about her inspiration for the piece and, in some cases, how characters were later used in her novels. Aspiring writers will appreciate this background information as well as reading a seasoned writer's less polished, early attempts. Like her contemporary romance novels, most of these stories feature amiable characters, small-town Australia settings, and romances developed through old-fashioned courtship. One character, Emily, is featured in two storiesfirst as a young woman meeting her husband, and then as a widow finding new loveshowing the author's adeptness at capturing women at different stages of life. This collection is a good bet for fans of Jacobs' novels and for those looking for an introduction to her genteel romance writing.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)