Filmmaker Jesse
Spotted Horse is on a mission. He is
going to show the world the horrible truths about the Indian schools. Fortified with a generous amount of money from his
supporters, Jesse vows to expose, via documentary, the atrocities committed at these
supposed institutes of education.
Kathleen Prescott
is determined to protect and defend her family name.
And, as the last remaining Prescott, the burden is feeling heavier and
heavier. When Jesse appears in her office,
with his bad-boy looks and an attitude to match, Kathleen feels that burden grow heavier. How can she convince him that her ancestors had
started the Indian schools to do good, not to enslave his ancestors? Why won't he believe that no evil was intended
when the young Indian boys and girls were taken to the schools? Surely anyone could see that the schools
were only meant to help the Indians by teaching them skills such as reading and writing,
farming and cooking. But Jesse seems
determined to tarnish her family name, and Kathleen is even more adamant that he won't get
the chance.
After a slide into
the past, time teaches them both a few lessons, the greatest of which is that love really
can make a difference. Jesse and
Kathleen are both forced to take an intimate look at the past and reform their biased
opinions based on true facts. Along the way,
Kathleen becomes aware that Jesse's dangerous good-looks hide a heart of gold, and Jesse
gets a peek at the woman behind Kathleen's prim and proper façade and finds that he
definitely likes what he sees.
Judie Aitken has
done a truly remarkable job of weaving together a fascinating story filled with lively
characters and interesting historical facts. Her
hero, Jesse Spotted Horse, is all that romance readers desire in a man and her heroine is
both naïve and complex, adding that romantic spice that readers crave so much. According to Ms. Aitken, much of the
historical facts woven into the storyline come directly from her own mother's experience
in an Indian school in Oklahoma, which would account for the vivid mental pictures that
her writing invokes.
I enjoyed this
frolic into the past, seeing this period in history portrayed so dramatically through Ms.
Aitken's words was very interesting. Her
choice of time period and setting were particularly unique and refreshing, giving readers
of time travel romance a nice break from the usual tired themes. All in all, I would highly recommend this
novel to all those who love a good time travel romance.
Reviewed by Janean
Nusz for The Road to Romance
September 3,
2003 |
