WHERE SEAGULLS SOAR

Author: Janet Woods ISBN: 1416502521 5/2006 HISTORICAL Publisher: SIMON & SCHUSTER UK
Time Period: 1858

Following a romantic shipboard marriage, Joanna Morcant has everything her heart could desire. But just as she's beginning to settle into a new life with her dashing husband and their adored son, Toby, an unforseen tragedy leaves her destitute. Joanna has no choice but to return to her childhood home, the Isle of Portland off the Dorset coast, a place which holds disturbing memories for her. The past rises up to haunt her. Toby's grandfather, the dissolute Lord Durrington, has vowed to take the boy and make him his heir - whether Joanna agrees or not. And he's not the only sinister figure to emerge, determined to cause trouble . . . In Joanna's darkest hour she prays for a knight in shining armour to come to her rescue - but when he does, her defender is someone she least expects.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Having read THE STONECUTTER'S DAUGHTER, I was thrilled to be able to read this newest offering from Janet Woods. Ms. Woods did not let me down with WHERE SEAGULLS SOAR.

We start at the beginning of the book with Joanna Rushmore marrying Alex Morcant onboard the Joanna Rose, the ship that her father had named for her. It is bittersweet and beautiful, and we finally get to see Joanna with a possible happily-ever-after. But, it was not to be with Alex, as a terrible tragedy takes him from her early in their marriage when their son is just a few months old. This was perhaps the most bittersweet part of the book, and I cried tears for Joanna's lost love. The depth of feeling that Ms. Woods gives us in this instance and throughout the entire book, is astounding. I felt the raw pain and despair as if it were my own. Joanna is forced—through circumstances that are not of her doing—to move back to her childhood home and live in the cottage where she grew up, effectively leaving behind her husband in his grave and everything that he loved.

At this horrible time in her life, Joanna meets Seth Adams. He seems to be a kind gentlemen and one she feels she could truly like, until she finds out that he is working for the man who is trying to take her son from her. Unbeknownst to Joanna, Seth begins to fall for her and makes a huge decision concerning his alliance with Alex's evil father. Seth is a wonderful character, unafraid of anyone or anything and willing to do anything for Joanna and her son. He loves Toby as his own, and in return Toby loves him, and it becomes a beautiful relationship.

Joanna is a wonderful character as well. She is a survivor, never once letting her situation defeat her. She is plucky and strong and knows that no man is going to take her son from her.

I find it hard to put into words how much I loved this sequel to THE STONECUTTER'S DAUGHTER. Janet Woods evokes this entire story and all of her characters with such life, passion and emotion, that I couldn't help falling in love with these people and found it absolutely impossible to set this book down once I started reading it.

Kristal Gorman