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From London to Queensland to the South of France, Maddy searches for her memory and her identity in Margaret Blake’s Eden’s Child. Following a hit and run in the back alleys of London, Maddy is whisked away to rural Australia. Complicating her life is her estranged ‘husband’, the enigmatic owner of Mandorah – Nevis Ballantyne. Amnesiacs seem to be a specialty in Whiskey Creek books and this book is an interesting play on this oft- repeated theme.
Although a contemporary romance, there is a definite element of horror and suspense spicing up the blossoming relationship between Maddy
and Nevis. Overall Eden’s Child is a fast paced and
engrossing tale that keeps you hooked to find out the path the heroine’s
life will take. Nevis comes across the strong cynical type who is
reluctant to trust after being betrayed yet Maddy’s sweet ‘soul’ makes
her irresistible to Nevis.
The biggest flaw in this tale is that the hero of the tale goes incommunicado when the heroine is facing her biggest threat; he arrives on the scene only after the danger is well and truly past. Adding to the negative quotient is that fact that the true villain of the tale –you’ve got to read the book to figure this canny devil out – gets to take many potshots at both Maddy and Nevis before the author allows for nemesis and the furies to catch up to deliver justice in the unforgiving Australian Outback!
Just as every romance has a happy ending I’ll end this review on a positive note. Overlooking the facts that Maddy is too trusting and Nevis takes too long to respond, the plot still holds it own by being fast paced and makes for a very entertaining read. And if anyone’s planning trips to Queensland, London or Provence, this book will definitely make you eager to experience the place and the people soon.
Editor's note -- most
of reference to plot has been removed at the publisher and author's
request.
Reviewed by Raakhee Suryaprakash
for The Road to Romance
February 14, 2007
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