Winds of Change

December 10, 2012
In Australia's rural west, Miranda Fox, the old maid daughter of a miserly millionaire, goes to battle with her siblings after being cheated out of her father's inheritance. She struggles to assert herself against chauvinist brother Sebastian who, years earlier, helped have her committed to an insane asylum after Miranda was forced to give up her illegitimate child for adoption. Aiding her quest for independence is Lou, a kind, disabled neighbor who also happens to be a multi-millionaire. While the book is not a cookie cutter romance, Jacobs keeps the trope of the needy woman alive and well. Disappointingly, Miranda remains dependent on powerful men throughout: her brother and father both support and oppress her, a multi-millionaire neighbor saves her with his money and helps her out of her shell, and, when it seems that she'll make an independent life for herself in England with her sister and long-lost daughter, her child's father comes back to claim her heart. Though the characters fall a bit flat, the plot is helped by the presence of Miranda's niece, Nikki, and her career-woman sister, Regina, who bring balance to the portrayal of women in the book.

Starred review from July 1, 2012
Wallflower Miranda Fox has been bullied by her brother, Sebastian, and her father, a wealthy, powerful judge, her entire life. The two of them even put her baby up for adoption without her consent, demolished the life of the baby's father, and sent the teenage Miranda to an institution. At 47, Miranda's main job is to wait on her demanding, unappreciative father as his health and mental capacities weaken. Once he dies, Miranda hopes the money he's promised to leave her can give her the freedom she so desperately needs. Unfortunately, Sebastian, a greedy, conniving lawyer, has arranged to put her inheritance into a trust that he administers. But Sebastian doesn't foresee an unexpected friendship between his doormat sister and Lou Rayne, who has terminal cancer. Lou finds new purposeand pleasurein helping Miranda find her own voice and courage. Readers will be on the edge of their seats as tenacious villain Sebastian makes monstrous efforts to destroy his sister's newfound confidence and maintain control of her money and her life. Jacobs' novel will delight readers fond of Pygmalion tales and stories of second chances as well as fans of Danielle Steel, Fern Michaels, and Judith Michael.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)