Review: An Historical Romance of Early Canada
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 30, 2011
This novel is set in 'New France' in the early part of the 28th Century. Robert, a miller, and Emilie are engaged to be married, but the shy bride has attracted the attentions of Seigneur Richard Tonnaceur, a ruthless and wealthy nobleman who threatens the priest engaged to perform the ceremony that the marriage must not go ahead.Terrified of his overlord, the priest succumbs, but this is not the end of Seigneur Richard's plans,who  will stop at nothing to have Emilie, including blackmail, kidnapping, and violence involving a cast of characters whose lives are hopelessly intertwined.The plot is complex, with many twists and Ms Patzer describes a smallpox epidemic in such tragic detail, the reader cannot help but be moved by the victims' plight. The lovers are determined to fight their enemy no matter what is thrown at them and marry, though their mettle is sorely tested.Based on a traditional Canadian story, Ms Patzer's interpretation is emotional and satisfying, her characters more modern in their outlook than the original in that Emilie has a mind of her own instead of simply being an innocent victim manipulated by others. The characters stayed with me for  after I had finished this story and I even felt sympathy for the torn, if weak priest who becomes a victim of his own cowardice.