Midnight Falcon

Rating:
Summary: A good read
Review: In 1700, still mourning the death of her husband, Chandra O'Banyon arrives in Jamestown from England to join her brother Jan Michael Neal and her niece Shannon. Through Shannon's secret friend Little Snow Feather, Chandra meets Powhatan Chief Midnight Falcon. He has already seen her before and thought that the sad-eyed white woman would make a regal queen as his wife.

With the push and matchmaking skills of two little girls, Midnight Falcon and Chandra begin to fall in love. However, chances of a permanent relationship seems slim as the Indians know the full lesson of Pocahantas and Jan Michael hates "red-men". With war eminent, Chandra risks her life to keep the peace and to be at her beloved's side forever.

Though an Americana romance, MIDNIGHT FALCON focuses much more on the historical and societal aspects of the era than the typical sub-genre novel. The story line is loaded with tidbits that provide unique perspectives and challenges to the growing love between the lead characters. The ensemble adds to the feel of authenticity even though the biases of secondary players seem unnecessarily extreme. One example is that Jan Michael did not have to loath Indians, only not desire one as a brother-in-law, to propel conflict. Still, Cassie Edwards has written an entertaining look at race relations circa 1700 within a romantic tale.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Unique idea, not a nice fit,
Review: This story lacked so much it's hard to pin point just where it went wrong. But the likelihood of this union happening is too great that it makes you want to cringe. It just would have never happened. The main characters seen to love each other with 100% faith one moment and doubt there entire love the next. Everything is made right with a few words and some violence. It was shallow with loving words and a pretty picture.

To give the author a slight benefit of the doubt, this was one of the first books I have read by her. But I have read many romance books and this just wasn't a great one. When I read a book I want to be swept away, I want to feel for the characters and fight for them. I just wanted this book to end. In most books I worried about what's going to happen to them next because I don't want anything to happen to the pair, in this book I worried about what's going to happen next because I didn't want the book to drag on.

My advice: take your money and go buy a Julie Garwood book.