Set in 1886, Dead
Horse, Wyoming, comes alive in SPEAK TO ME OF LOVE.
When actress Faith
Butler learns that her daughter, Becca, will die if she continues to travel with her
theatre troupe, she resigns from her job and searches for work in the dying town. The only
employment to be found is in the saloon, which Faith is unwilling to accept. So when she
learns that a recluse has need of a housekeeper and cook, she applies for the job.
Drake Rutledge has
been a recluse ever since he accidentally killed his mother and lost partial eyesight in
the tragic accident. Now he is running a thriving ranch but he refuses to see anyone or
leave the dark confines of his home. When Faith marches in demanding a job, he wants to
refuse and send her away, but something changes his mind, and he agrees she can stay—only
until Becca is well.
Drake’s home
is dreary, and the first thing Faith does is start removing the heavy draperies. As Faith
cleans his home, something changes inside Drake as he becomes less angry. He starts being
more involved in the ranch. It seems the sunlight has reached more than inside the home—it
has reached inside his heart.
But Faith’s
past is about to catch up with her. Will Faith and Drake be able to reach beyond the
horror of their pasts to have a future—together?
SPEAK TO ME OF LOVE
is the first novel I’ve ever read by Robin Lee Hatcher, but it won’t be the
last. At first I didn’t think I would care much for it, as Drake is a very angry man
and doesn’t seem to let anyone close. But as I continued reading, Drake and Faith’s
characters became more developed, and I came to care deeply about both of them.
SPEAK TO ME OF LOVE
is a tender, romantic, and touching romance, sure to delight readers of all ages. It was
originally entitled CHANCES ARE and published by Harper, in 1996, but has been completely
rewritten for the Christian market. Pick it up today. $9.99, 300 pages.
Reviewed by Laura
V. Hilton for The Road to Romance
October 31, 2003 |
