Hush McGillen has come from a long
line of women named Hush that revered the Sweet Hush apple in their apple orchards in the
Appalachian Mountains. She has put the
apple first in her life except for her son, Davis, and has turned it into a thriving
business. Her marriage had not been a happy
one but she always showed the best side of their lives to Davis so that she had produced a
remarkable and responsible son.
Hush is shocked when Davis arrives
home from Harvard speeding through the gate of the farm followed by the Secret Service. He introduces the girl by his side as Eddie, the
President of the United States’ daughter.
They are madly in love, Eddie is pregnant and the president and first
lady are not pleased with the marriage. Hush
is a strong willed woman as is the First Lady so that sparks fly between the two.
Nick Jakobek’s mother had run
away from home as a young girl. She was
pregnant, alone and had made some poor choices with her life. She died young leaving her rebellious son, Nick. Al Jacobs, his uncle, cares for the young
boy. He and his wife, Edwina, are lawyers and
accept him and love him despite all of his anger. Nick has a difficult time finding his
way but eventually joins the special forces of the army and later a more secretive
organization affiliated with the U.S. government. As
Al marches toward the presidency, Nick makes himself scarce so that he does not stand in
the way of his uncle’s progress. He is
always there for both Edwina and Al and when Eddie runs off, his uncle calls on him to
help bring her home. Early on Nick makes an
enemy of columnist and radio talk show host, Haywood Kenney, who shows his vindictiveness
and anger toward the family.
Deborah Smith has written an
exceptional book with SWEET HUSH. The
characters may not always be loveable but they are real and riveting and the reader learns
to love and empathize with them. Once you
start the book, it is impossible to put down. The
characters are fine-tuned and the pace is perfect. It
is a book about relationships, love, loyalty and redemption and Ms Smith has written a
stunning jewel in her crown. The
“sugar skin” of the heroine is so charming and how can the reader so anything
but love the hero who is always protecting his loved ones with no one ever protecting and
caring for him?
A few of the characters may sound
somewhat familiar, namely Hillary and Rush in our world.
The relationship between the First Lady and Hush is absolutely wonderful,
two such strong willed women protecting their own, so that their actions are sometimes
admirable, sometimes over the top but always comical.
You may need Kleenex for the touching scenes at the end and you will be
sorry to turn the last page of this terrific keeper.
Reviewed by
Marilyn Heyman for The Road to Romance
February 7, 2003
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