LOVE REMEMBERED

Author: Ellen Fisher ISBN:1586084194 10/2003 HISTORICAL Publisher: NEW CONCEPTS PUBLISHING

Born into poverty in colonial Williamsburg, Gwaltney Harris has struggled all his life to acquire wealth, but all his money isn't enough to purchase the respectability he desires. Desperate for social status, he weds the shrewish but well-bred Cordelia Ashton. He gets more than he bargained for when he finds that Cordelia has concealed her warm, loving nature beneath a spinsterish exterior. Gwaltney, however, has secrets of his own, and he doesn't dare grow too close to Cordelia. Though they struggle against their feelings, they begin to fall in love, but can their relationship survive when a mysterious assailant who will stop at nothing tries to kill Gwaltney? Read more about Ellen Fisher at her website http://users.erols.com/ellenfisher/Default.htm.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Gwaltney Harris craves respectability, but because of his lower class birth, even after acquiring great wealth, the upper class still snob him. He believes a gentry wife will open the doors of society. His friend, Jonathan, has the perfect woman for him to court: Jonathan's fiancee's spinster sister, Cordelia.

Cordelia Ashton plans to never marry. Instead she plans to run her father's tobacco plantation, remaining a spinster and having the freedom to do as she pleases. She dresses in gray unadorned gowns, wears spectacles when she has perfect sight, and wears her hair in a tight bun hoping to keep suitors away. If her uncomely disguise doesn't work, her sharp, insulting tongue cutting her suitors to ribbons hopefully will run them off. But to her dismay, neither seem to effect Gwaltney from courting her.

I enjoyed stepping into Colonial Virginia to a time of large plantations, powered hair, wigs, slaves, and southern charm. Cordelia and Gwaltney have a love/hate relationship throughout the book, but join forces when someone starts trying to kill him. I really enjoyed the humor that escapes during the unblunted banter between Cordelia and Gwaltney; at some points the degrading words they toss at each other will bring tears to your eyes. Ms. Fisher keeps the dialogue fresh and engaging as she weaves twists and turns into the romance and mystery of this well written novel.

DeeKay