Harriet Klausner's Review Archive
The small town scene looks majestic to Alessi until she stops for gas only to suddenly find that her convertible and everything she owns is stolen except the clothing she wears. Stunned and frightened by the setback in this bucolic environs, Alessi begins to doubt the halo magic. Alessi meets rare book store owner Steve Bennet who thinks she is a con artist pulling a "Pollyanna" stunt. However, he hires her to take care of his customers as he catalogues a new estate purchase. As she begins to break through his cynicism, they fall in love, but she becomes the unfortunate victim of a previous tragedy allowed to fester just as Steve declares he needs her forever.
HALOS is a charming contemporary romance that is the perfect post holiday stuffer for those needing an inspirational lift from the January wintry blues. The story line focuses on the relationship and love between a Pollyanna Mary Poppins and a Doubting Thomas. Though a bit of suspense leads to the final "two" miracles, that feels out of place for this strong stirring "do you believe in miracles" romance.
Emma's Secret Barbara Taylor Bradford St. Martin's, Jan 2004, $24.95, 496 pp. ISBN: 0312307020
Paula McGill Harte Amory Fairley O'Neill runs the Knightsbridge Store of her family's chain. She is pleased that her two daughters Linnet (from her first marriage) and Tessa (from her second marriage) work there because like she did she hopes they will take over management of the company as that is surely a family affair. Paula understands the pressure on the next generation even if they are three removed from the matriarchal legend, Emma Harte.
Evan Hughes arrives from American seeking employment. She looks like a Harte descendent and so is hired. When Emma's great-grandson Gideon Harte, who works in the family newspaper business, meets Evan, he is very attracted to the Connecticut Yankee. However, the family becomes concerned about their potential relationship because Evan's grandmother was rumored to have a very close relationship with the family.
Over the last twenty-five years, four books including EMMA'S SECRET have chronicled the Harte foundation. However, as the novels have been released, each subsequent one seems to have less heart and more descriptions of frivolous details. Die hard fans of the author, series, or curious seekers (that is what kept this reviewer going) will want to read the latest, but for most readers this is a flat line and would be better off reading Barbara Taylor Bradford original novel A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE.